author: ashok banker
reading time: 10-12 metro rides
siege of mithila is book 2 of banker’s ramayana.. i had written about the first one in this blog on feb 9, 2010. the book is captivating. but would have been more so if i had not read the ramayana and the harry potter series. it is definitely banker’s ramayana coz it deviates so significantly from the original text that even if you dont know each episode of the original story (much like me), i think you would know it is vastly untrue.. an androgynous sita, a super vain sumitra, an almost silly dasaratha and an almost larger than god ravana… sometimes, particularly if you are staunchly hindu, the book would make you wrench… but otherwise, it could have been entertaining… sadly, although it was one of those un-put-downable books, it has put me in a dilemma.. i have started a series that i want to finish, if only to know how much can banker deviate from the original… on the other hand, it does not seem worth the time, money or effort…
favourite quote: none.. but i like the way rama and sita’s relationship is shown to be… almost post modern…
final analysis: readable… if you are ok reading anything…