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Ramayana: Divine Loophole
by
Sanjay Patel
Artist and veteran Pixar animator Sanjay Patel lends a lush, whimsical illustration style and lighthearted voice to one of Hindu mythology's best-loved and most enduring tales. Teeming with powerful deities, love-struck monsters, flying monkey gods, magic weapons, demon armies, and divine love, Ramayana tells the story of Rama, a god-turned-prince, and his quest to rescue ...more
Hardcover, 208 pages
Published
February 10th 2010
by Chronicle Books
(first published 2010)
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(More pictures at parkablogs.com)
Sanjay Patel's take on the classic Sanskrit epic is refreshing and engaging. Adapted and written in a lighter prose, the book is inviting to any readers who want learn more about the tale. The story is fascinating and gets increasingly so towards the end, with lots of nice surprises. For someone like me who knows nothing about any Hindu stories, I felt like I know a lot more after reading this book.
The story is well paced and laden w...more
The only familiarity I had with the Ramayana prior to reading this book was the names of some of the gods -Vishnu and Brahma and a few of the other characters, Sita and Hanuman, but I had no idea what their story was or how they related to one another. This is an epic tale and from what I gather from the introduction, the author of this version, Sanjay Patel, has streamlined the story. I have no idea what he's left out, but what he's left in makes a fun and exciting read. The author's great ac...more
the cover art on this book caught me at the oakland museum gift store.
apparently the artist works for pixar, thus it is being featured during that
exhibit. the art inside is the same: awesome, reminiscent of samurai jack.
figured i should buy from the museum to support them instead of helping
amazon transform into a 10-headed demon, then found out at the register
that the copy is signed. bonus! karma!
the text is very sparse, like a children's book, but sin...more
apparently the artist works for pixar, thus it is being featured during that
exhibit. the art inside is the same: awesome, reminiscent of samurai jack.
figured i should buy from the museum to support them instead of helping
amazon transform into a 10-headed demon, then found out at the register
that the copy is signed. bonus! karma!
the text is very sparse, like a children's book, but sin...more
OK...I haven't paid this much for a book in a long, long time. Especially one that I'm going to use for school But $30 seemed like a good deal when I looked at this book.
I have to teach ancient India and I really want to do a good job. It seems to me that understanding the culture's myths is key to understanding the whole culture. This book does that in a way that I think I'll understand and that is visually appealing to my 6th graders.
This book is illustrated by a Pixar animator a...more
I have to teach ancient India and I really want to do a good job. It seems to me that understanding the culture's myths is key to understanding the whole culture. This book does that in a way that I think I'll understand and that is visually appealing to my 6th graders.
This book is illustrated by a Pixar animator a...more
Five stars for the illustrations, three for the story. This is a watered-down version of the great Hindu epic, and while Patel—who was raised Hindu but rejected the faith— is mostly factually correct in his retelling, it reads as a summary and not as a story. Creating both the Ramayana and his other adorably illustrated (but slightly irreverent) book helped Patel understand his faith, and while they may provide curious readers with a general overview of their subjects, they just scratch the surf...more
This book is just all that and a bag of chips...
The illustrations are phenomenal, and the author shares his sketches and methodology in an appendix following the book which was enjoyable and fun as well. Clearly, Pixar is getting over having this dude on staff...
The story of the Ramayana has been highly distilled down for narrative purposes, but it is a great introduction to the story and the major players. The art is so pretty, and the story so timeless, I'm sure any c...more
The illustrations are phenomenal, and the author shares his sketches and methodology in an appendix following the book which was enjoyable and fun as well. Clearly, Pixar is getting over having this dude on staff...
The story of the Ramayana has been highly distilled down for narrative purposes, but it is a great introduction to the story and the major players. The art is so pretty, and the story so timeless, I'm sure any c...more
Illustrations are wonderful, interesting and something I could look at over and over again finding some new detail. I also learned new characters in the Ramayana that I didn't know about. I enjoyed the sections at the end of the book that explain briefly various gods, origins of gods, demons and animals that are in the story. I think it is another version of the Ramayana that brings such an ancient story to the present.
Read this with my 6 year old and he loved it. Heroes and demons, battles and magic. And a blizzard of Hindu gods and goddesses. It works as a children's book, but adults will love it also. Patel is an Oakland-based graphic artist who works with Pixar. He brings the magic to life with cool contemporary images.
Really cute intro to the story, and I loved the illustrations! But I expect nothing but the best from a Pixar animator. My only complaint is that there were a bunch of typos in the text. If the text were as detailed as the pictures, I would have given it 5 stars.
I read this to my six-year-old son, who has been interested in D'Aulaire's mythology, and this is a nice complement to the D'Aulaire volumes. It gives an account of a famous Hindu myth that's interesting to child and adult alike. Fresh original illustration style.
A gorgeously illustrated, easily digestible telling of one of the greatest stories of Hindu mythology. From princesses whose purity allows them to burn and live to 10-headed enemy gods to the lovable flying monkey Hanuman, this rich story will capture your heart.
A great introduction to the Ramayana. Patel's graphic illustrations help make sense of this complex tale and are visually stunning. His breakdown of the Hindu gods, demons and other characters is a useful primer for newbies and helps keep everyone straight.
I read this for Diwali prep but it's great for anyone interested in global myths & folklore.
I read this for Diwali prep but it's great for anyone interested in global myths & folklore.
David
rated it
A fantastically illustrated, deftly retold Ramayana that is extremely accessible for kids and rewarding for adults. If you are unfamiliar with the Indian epic, I can't think of a more enjoyable introduction.
This book was awesome. The pictures are really good and the story is awesome. I have read the original story and I loved every bit of it, but seeing it in pictures helped me to really see what was going on. Good book!!
This book was worth the buy just for the beautiful artwork. I love the idea of an epic story like this being set in the context of a graphic novel, and Sanjay Patel did not disappoint.
The story is concise, but all the important bits are there. The artwork is amazing and that's really why you should read this book in the first place.
beautifully illustrated and very approachable retelling of an Indian classic. can easily be read to kids or as a first introduction to Hindu mythology.
I'm a little embarrassed to be reviewing an illustrated version of this book, but it was actually really good. Especially when read aloud...
I love the pictures, and it was really fun to learn a bit about Indian Mythology. The story was interesting, but my goodness what divine art work!
The story is the same but simpler so you can focus on the art more, which is great. I love his unique take and his attention to detail.
The designs in this book are amazing and inspiring, and it was fun to finally read the actual story of the Ramayana.
Gorgeous book! Colorful, papercut style illustrations tell the famous Hindu tale of Rama and Sita.
A concise re-telling of the Hindu epic Ramayana, with gorgeous illustrations.
The graphic novel format and the witty prose were a delight.
Patel does a marvelous job making Hindu mythology hip & visually accessible. His personal deity? Mary Blair. She would be proud of him!
Gr8 gift for a keener on Hindu mythology.
Awesome art work, beautiful story
Visually, this book is beautiful. The art is stunning, I really enjoyed it. And the updated approach to the first parts of the story are great.
But like the actual, its focus is on Rama. Which is the point of the story, I guess, since it is the Ramayana. But the last bit of the story, where Sita becomes pregnant, gets kicked out, and proves herself more than worth of Rama's love, though he doubts her.
I guess I'll just have to watch Sita Sings the Blues again.
But like the actual, its focus is on Rama. Which is the point of the story, I guess, since it is the Ramayana. But the last bit of the story, where Sita becomes pregnant, gets kicked out, and proves herself more than worth of Rama's love, though he doubts her.
I guess I'll just have to watch Sita Sings the Blues again.
This book is super cute. The illustration style is just begging for this to be made into a proper cartoon. I would watch that.
A beautiful comic style book that is an excellent introduction to the Ramayana. Sure, it is simplified version of the text but nonetheless provides a basis for reading the full length epic. I love all of Patel's comments about these mythological characters and how there is a glossary of the gods, goddesses, demons and animals. His style is unique, modern, stylish and just so adorable. I couldn't stop reading and looking at the drawings. Hopefully, he'll do the Mahabharata next!
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