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A review by lucybmn
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a very interesting story, and I'm glad that someone took the time to examine this character in legend rather than leaving her to hatred and possible misunderstanding. I definitely learned a lot about Hindu myths in general, and the culture of ancient India. I think this book is well-executed and was very thoughtfully done. And some ace rep, whoop whoop!! 🥳
However, for a couple of reasons, it just didn't quite align with what makes a book "unputdownable" for me. For my brain and my experience, I found it quite slow and not very gripping.
1) This read like someone telling me their life story around a campfire. And as charming as that sounds... in real life, I would fall asleep. Or zone out into a different dimension. And that is a me problem, for sure, but it's still a problem that kept me from really getting into this book. I had the same feeling with both of Madeline Miller's books, so I think it's just a narrative decision in some myth retellings that doesn't work for me personally. The telling was so matter-of-fact that I never really got a sens of stakes, nor did I get emotionally invested. Oral history is incredibly important, and there is certainly a place for stories that emulate that. It just doesn't really mesh with my brain, unfortunately.
2) At this point in my life, I'm not really drawn to simple stories with feminism as a main theme. Only because I am already very firm in my feminist beliefs, and so stories like this often just feel preachy to me. I obviously believe they are important and need to exist, but they are not for me. I just don't need them in order to strengthen or embolden my own beliefs. Nor do I feel the need to bolster my feminine rage. At least not right now.
Again, all of that is a me problem & personal preferences, and nothing wrong with the book. I definitely recommend it to those who are big into myth retellings (especially if they loved Circe) and/or those who like to consume feminist stories in this era or all eras of their life. More power to ya. ✊🏻
However, for a couple of reasons, it just didn't quite align with what makes a book "unputdownable" for me. For my brain and my experience, I found it quite slow and not very gripping.
1) This read like someone telling me their life story around a campfire. And as charming as that sounds... in real life, I would fall asleep. Or zone out into a different dimension. And that is a me problem, for sure, but it's still a problem that kept me from really getting into this book. I had the same feeling with both of Madeline Miller's books, so I think it's just a narrative decision in some myth retellings that doesn't work for me personally. The telling was so matter-of-fact that I never really got a sens of stakes, nor did I get emotionally invested. Oral history is incredibly important, and there is certainly a place for stories that emulate that. It just doesn't really mesh with my brain, unfortunately.
2) At this point in my life, I'm not really drawn to simple stories with feminism as a main theme. Only because I am already very firm in my feminist beliefs, and so stories like this often just feel preachy to me. I obviously believe they are important and need to exist, but they are not for me. I just don't need them in order to strengthen or embolden my own beliefs. Nor do I feel the need to bolster my feminine rage. At least not right now.
Again, all of that is a me problem & personal preferences, and nothing wrong with the book. I definitely recommend it to those who are big into myth retellings (especially if they loved Circe) and/or those who like to consume feminist stories in this era or all eras of their life. More power to ya. ✊🏻