Ramayana: Divine Loophole

I have had several encounters with the Ramayana over the years, first in a Hindu mythology course in college, later through its Thai incarnation--The Ramakhien. And then, through visits with its various characters at several museums with Asian collections. It has, for a long time, been one of my favorite adventure stories.

I think it's fair to say that Sanjay Patel's rendition of the Ramayana is my absolute favorite. Admittedly, Patel has produced an abridged version (3,000 pages down to 120 ), that is the perfect size to read to one's children--as I have done. It is complete enough to cover all the main events, yet not so detailed that a young reader would get bogged down in the minutiae. As the subject matter involves some rather show more scary demons, it might not be right for the youngest kids however.

Reminiscent of one of my son's favorite cartoons--Samurai Jack--Patel's artwork continually draws me back to the book. His use of shapes creates a kind of dynamism, that combined with the compelling story-telling, generates the best kind of storybook.

Besides being the perfect story to read to kids of a certain age, The Ramayana has become a favorite of my coffee table books. I find that guests are often entranced by the vibrant colors, complex geometrical shapes, and fierce beauty of the work.

If that were all, it would be enough. But Patel includes a glossary/cast of characters including the famous gods, warriors and demons. He also has included a narrative map which points out the various story locations. He concludes the book with several pages of his sketches, and a description of how he put the story together (my favorite of the "extras").

I have been so pleased with this book that I look forward to future projects of Sanjay Patel with great anticipation. show less

A beautifully, charmingly illustrated retelling of the Ramayana by Pixar animator Sanjay Patel. Patel's drawing style is distinctive (reminiscent of some of the opening sequences of Monsters, Inc.) and well-suited to this lighthearted retelling. It is not intended to cover the full story, but to hit the highlights; the illustrations are definitely the star here. (I especially loved the page showing the bears and monkeys searching for Sita.)

This version of the Ramayana, abridged and illustrated by Sanjay Patel, is a very enjoyable and visual introduction to the great Hindu epic tale. Using simple everyday words and evocative art, Patel creates a narrative that appeals to all generations and cultures. A very handy guide to all the characters of the story is provided at the end of the book. While the text can sometimes verge on the simplistic, the beautiful illustrations more than adequately redeem this. I can't wait to read the other adaptations of Hindu mythology by the same author!

beautifully illustrated and very approachable retelling of an Indian classic. can easily be read to kids or as a first introduction to Hindu mythology.

Great art but the writing is nothing much to rave about

Patel applies the artistic talent he brought to The Little Book of Hindu Deities to the Ramayana, distilling the epic into a well-illustrated, engaging tale that you can read in an evening to refresh your memory before Diwali. Patel intends this illustrated version as something to whet your appetite for the full story, and recommends Ashok K. Banker’s three thousand page English-language adaptation.