2007-05-07 Book of splendour

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.