Customer Reviews:
 Book of splendour May 7, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
True to its title, 'Seasons of Splendour' brings readers a taste of the colourful myths and folktales of the subcontinent in their most glorious, imaginative form.
I read this book when I was a pre-teen, but its appeal spreads much further than a child audience thanks to the subtle messages embedded within the texts - humility, compassion and the strength of family. Whether you are familiar with the stories, having heard them from your grandmother after dinner (as my sister and I have) or are encountering them for the first time, Madhur's accomodating narration draws readers into the sense of a land far far away; one in which you marvel at the love of the sister who sacrifices her street cred for the life of her younger brother (unbeknownst to him), and the wonderful re-working of the age-old story of how Lord Ganesh got his elephant head, and the more-than-famous story of Lord Ram and demon Ravan.
Adults: read this book to glimpse visions of India from days long gone by. Youngsters - read this to experience the skill of marvellous story-teller Madhur Jaffrey.
 A good, concise collection of ancient Hindu tales December 5, 2001
30 out of 30 found this review helpful
Multi-talented Madhur Jaffrey has provided those of us who know little of Indian mythology with a straightforward, concise (very) version of ancient Hindu tales. It is easy to read, especially for children - my 9 year old daughter has been enjoying it for two years or so - and is a good starter for anyone interested in India. Not all Indians might agree with every word written in the book, but then not every scholarly book has exactly the same version anyway. If your interest is of an academic kind, you won't learn anything new, but it is an enjoyable introduction to such epics as the Ramayana, Mahabharata and so on, and includes rosy memories of Ms Jaffrey's childhood between each chapter.
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