‘The Forest Of Enchantments’ by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (C) Aishwary Mehta.
The story behind this photograph – The photograph is from a local temple in my hometown and as always the 4 remains together (Ram, Sita, Laxman and Hanuman) whenever and wherever they are being showcased, just like the story they are in.
Author – Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni | Genre – Mythological Fiction
Publishing House – HarperCollins India
Source – Purchased | ISBN – 9789353573577
Published in – August 2021
Format – Paperback | Pages – 372
Quote from the book I Liked –
The more love we distribute, the more it grows, coming back to us from unexpected sources. And its corollary: when we demand love, believing it to be our right, it shrivels, leaving only resentment behind. (Page no. 97)
*Important take from the book* (New segment) –
We come into the world alone, and we leave it alone. And in between, too, if it is destined, we’ll be alone. Draw on your inner strength. Remember, you can be your own worst enemy—or your best friend. It’s up to you. And also this: what you can’t change, you must endure.’ (Page no. 75)
Stars – 2 Stars
Plot Summary –
The Ramayana, one of the world’s greatest epics, is also a tragic love story. In this brilliant retelling, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni places Sita at the centre of the novel: this is Sita’s version. The Forest of Enchantments is also a very human story of some of the other women in the epic, often misunderstood and relegated to the margins: Kaikeyi, Surpanakha, Mandodari. A powerful comment on duty, betrayal, infidelity and honour, it is also about women’s struggle to retain autonomy in a world that privileges men, as Chitra transforms an ancient story into a gripping, contemporary battle of wills. While the Ramayana resonates even today, she makes it more relevant than ever, in the underlying questions in the novel: How should women be treated by their loved ones? What are their rights in a relationship? When does a woman need to stand up and say, Enough!
About the Author –
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an award-winning author and poet. Her themes include the Indian experience, contemporary America, women, immigration, history, myth, and the joys and challenges of living in a multicultural world. Her work is widely known, as she has been published in over 50 magazines, including the Atlantic Monthly and The New Yorker, and her writing has been included in over 50 anthologies. Her works have been translated into 29 languages, including Dutch, Hebrew, Hindi and Japanese. Divakaruni also writes for children and young adults. Her novels One Amazing Thing, Oleander Girl, Sister of My Heart and Palace of Illusions are currently in the process of being made into movies.
My Review –
Another book on the story of Ram, Laxman and Sita but this time with the perspective of Sita, thus, Sitayan. But does this book offer what the ‘Palace of Illusions‘ did for Panchali/Draupadi? I guess not so much. From our own childhood to probably our elderhood as well, Sita’s role in traditional Raman is less prominent than that of Ram even after being central to the whole. Yet, we hear and know lesser details of her adventure and her joys and tragedies. Thus, this book. But did it enthral me or enlighten me to more of Sita than already I think I read and knew? I guess not so much.
The book I felt was yet another retelling of Ramayan, yes from Sita’s point of view, but with mostly those details and stuff which we already knew or felt. Like her sympathy for Surpankha or Ravan. Or her take on Mandodari and Urvashi. But being an empath, one can easily feel what she feels for others. And that feeling didn’t give much to me as a reader to have loved this book. Yes, the writing of Author Chitra is well known among the reading community but this story didn’t do justice to what I, as a reader, expected. Coming from reading and loving ‘The Palace of Illusions‘ this book felt like an easy pass. The stories and books in the Sati Series by Author Koral Dasgupta do more justice to the females of our Long-known stories.
Yes, the author tried to tell the story from the perspective of Sita but I guess the story of Ram is so deeply ingrained in our minds from our birth that other characters are just overshadowed by him. Their stories are important to their unique perspectives as well, yet whenever their stories are being spoken, one can’t let the Protagonist Ram aside. Thus making them again a retelling of Ramayana.
In ‘The Palace of Illusions‘, it was Draupadi, an already known character yet her life was not spoken for. Also, Mahabharat was not a story revolving around a single person, it was an epic with not one but tens of protagonists. Thus, while writing Draupadi, her story was unique and separate from the events of Mahabharat’s classic storytelling. The same will be true for other characters if written for. Thus, my disappointment or rather “Retelling feels” in ‘The Forest of Enchantment’.
I wouldn’t recommend this to the lovers of Mythology and Mythological fiction. It felt more like just another retelling with not so much to offer.
What I liked – Bits and bytes from Sita’s life.
What could’ve been better – The topic chosen, maybe?
2nd BOOK of 2024 (207 books read overall)
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Review of my previously read books –
Book Review #118: ‘Ahalya’ by Koral Dasgupta
Review: Sita – Warrior of Mithila
The Tales of Fugitive Biker 