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The Puffin Book Of World Myths And Legends
Timeless stories told anew Find out how the world was created, why the sun and moon never meet each other though they live in the same sky, how clouds appear to save mankind from the sun s scorching rays, and why living creatures shed tears when they are in pain. Retold by bestselling author Anita Nair, these ageless tales come alive with a freshness and exuberance that is sure to delight and captivate.
178 pages, Paperback
First published September 22, 2004
About the author
Anita Nair
118 books483 followersAnita Nair is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of the novels The Better Man, Ladies Coupé, Mistress, Lessons in Forgetting, Idris: Keeper of the Light and Alphabet Soup for Lovers. She has also authored a crime series featuring Inspector Gowda.
Anita Nair’s other books include a collection of poems titled Malabar Mind, a collection of essays titled Goodnight & God Bless and six books for children. Anita Nair has also written two plays and the screenplay for the movie adaptation of her novel Lessons in Forgetting which was part of the Indian Panorama at IFFI 2012 and won the National Film Award in 2013. Among other awards, she was also given the Central Sahitya Akademi award and the Crossword Prize. Her books have been translated into over thirty one languages around the world. She is also the founder of the creative writing and mentorship program Anita’s Attic.
Anita Nair’s other books include a collection of poems titled Malabar Mind, a collection of essays titled Goodnight & God Bless and six books for children. Anita Nair has also written two plays and the screenplay for the movie adaptation of her novel Lessons in Forgetting which was part of the Indian Panorama at IFFI 2012 and won the National Film Award in 2013. Among other awards, she was also given the Central Sahitya Akademi award and the Crossword Prize. Her books have been translated into over thirty one languages around the world. She is also the founder of the creative writing and mentorship program Anita’s Attic.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 7, 2021
Simple writing but beautifully delivered. This book taught me to appreciate Japanese's stories and imagination. Favourite Stories within - Talking Brought Me Here and The Hare On The Moon
January 5, 2022
31 stories, mostly directed towards young readers from the vast treasure of world mythologies.
Retold with lucid prose and accompanied with immersive illustrations, this book was a great read to start the year with.
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As bedtime stories go, the tales are titled with Who/Why/How/When/What and proceeds quickly towards "concluding the answer"
The joy of these quick reads, would make you want to keep on turning the pages and compare the last-read fable with the legends you have heard from your grand(parents).
.
While certain stories do have hints of sexism, chauvinism, racism, deception, biasness - adult readers should take them with a pinch-of-salt, and the understanding that the history and lore of these myths are layered with the privilege, suffering and sustenance of the surviving race, through which these stories travelled to future generations.
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For me though, the only complain is with the illustrations in monochrome.
Retold with lucid prose and accompanied with immersive illustrations, this book was a great read to start the year with.
.
As bedtime stories go, the tales are titled with Who/Why/How/When/What and proceeds quickly towards "concluding the answer"
The joy of these quick reads, would make you want to keep on turning the pages and compare the last-read fable with the legends you have heard from your grand(parents).
.
While certain stories do have hints of sexism, chauvinism, racism, deception, biasness - adult readers should take them with a pinch-of-salt, and the understanding that the history and lore of these myths are layered with the privilege, suffering and sustenance of the surviving race, through which these stories travelled to future generations.
.
For me though, the only complain is with the illustrations in monochrome.
June 6, 2018
Great illustration and good child-read
May 16, 2022
The Puffin Book of World Myths and Legends
Anita Nair
Definitely a 5 ⭐ read!
In the beginning, humans wondered and questioned the natural phenomena. And gradually, they created stories to answer those questions. Across the cultures, we have found fascinating tales that keep us enchanted till the date. This particular book is one such wonder. The author has collected stories from across the world, from Siberia to India, from Japan to Mesopotamia and put them all in one place.
The book is small and an easy read. If you're feeling heavy with all the large books, take a little pause and go on this adventure. It has around 30 fascinating stories in just 170 pages.
Even though the book is targeted for the young readers, I personally loved reading them...some were known to me, and some gave me a new perspective. The stories were written in lucid yet firm language which was amazing! I love how this book has the advantage of captivating the minds of readers irrespective of their age!
Anita Nair
Definitely a 5 ⭐ read!
In the beginning, humans wondered and questioned the natural phenomena. And gradually, they created stories to answer those questions. Across the cultures, we have found fascinating tales that keep us enchanted till the date. This particular book is one such wonder. The author has collected stories from across the world, from Siberia to India, from Japan to Mesopotamia and put them all in one place.
The book is small and an easy read. If you're feeling heavy with all the large books, take a little pause and go on this adventure. It has around 30 fascinating stories in just 170 pages.
Even though the book is targeted for the young readers, I personally loved reading them...some were known to me, and some gave me a new perspective. The stories were written in lucid yet firm language which was amazing! I love how this book has the advantage of captivating the minds of readers irrespective of their age!
July 31, 2025
actual rating -2.5
May 30, 2019
I read somewhere that reading children's books gives great joy mostly because all is always right at the end of the book. There is no cynicism and real life complications in a children's book. I needed a little bit of unbridled joy in my life and I decided to start reading children's books more.
This book is made up of short and sweet stories that are ancient myths and legends from around the world. Nair has compiled an interesting set. I liked that she points out where each story comes from. It was interesting to hear stories from around the world and they reminded me of the easy tales my grandmothers told me when I was younger. So many of the legends seem familiar and it makes the world feel like a smaller place.
I would highly recommend it for children and any adults looking for a light read or those who have an interest in ancient folklore.
This book is made up of short and sweet stories that are ancient myths and legends from around the world. Nair has compiled an interesting set. I liked that she points out where each story comes from. It was interesting to hear stories from around the world and they reminded me of the easy tales my grandmothers told me when I was younger. So many of the legends seem familiar and it makes the world feel like a smaller place.
I would highly recommend it for children and any adults looking for a light read or those who have an interest in ancient folklore.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews