The Glass Tree

by M. Mukundan

Unni has lots and lots of stories to tell. And his grandmother cannot go to sleep
without one of little Unni’s colourful tales.
A delightful retelling of the original prize-winning story by one of the best
Malayalam writers today to inspire all storytellers!

36 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2011

About the author

M. Mukundan(Malayalam: എം. മുകുന്ദൻ) is one of the pioneers of modernity in Malayalam literature. He was born on 10 September 1942 at Mayyazhi in Mahe, a one-time French territory in Kerala. He served as the president of Kerala Sahitya Akademi from October 2006 until March 2010.
Mukundan is known in Kerala as 'Mayyazhiyude Kathakaaran' (The story-teller of Mayyazhi). His native village of Mayyazhi figures in his early works: 'Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil', 'Daivathinte Vikrithikal', 'Appam Chudunna Kunkiyamma' and 'Lesli Achante Kadangal'.
His first literary work was a short story published in 1961. Mukundan has so far published 12 novels and ten collections of short stories. Mukundan's latest four novels 'Adithyanum Radhayum Mattu Chilarum', 'Oru Dalit Yuvathiyude Kadanakatha','Kesavante Vilapangal' and 'Nritham ' carries a change in structure and approach.
'Oru Dalit Yuvathiyude Kadanakatha' reveals how Vasundhara, an actress has been insulted in the course of acting due to some unexpected situations. It proclaims the postmodern message that martyrs are created not only through ideologies, but through art also.
'Kesavante Vilapangal' one of his most recent works tells the story of a writer Kesavan who writes a novel on a child named Appukkuttan who grows under the influence of E. M. S. Namboodiripad. 'Daivathinte Vikrithikal' bagged the Kendra Sahithya Academy award and NV Prize. 'Ee Lokam Athiloru Manushyan' bagged the Kerala Sahitya Academy award. Daivathinte Vikrithikal has been translated into English and published By Penguin Books India.
In 2008, Mukundan's magnum opus Mayyazhi Puzhayude Theerangalil fetched him the award for the best novel published in the last 25 years. Three of his novels were made into feature films in Malayalam . Mukundan wrote the script and one of them bagged a state film award.
Mukundan's latest novel is "Pravasam" (sojourn in non-native land) and tells the story of a Malayali whose journeys carry him around the world.
The French government conferred on him the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 1998 for his contribution to literature.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I am the only person who's going to write the review of this very underrated Indian storybook. It seems like that. And my heart is actually breaking because the rest of the world is so deprived of this book.

I simply adore the artist and the storytelling.

If this book can make its place in every household like any other basic ABC book for each child, I would be really happy.

Translated from Malayalam, the storybook tells a story made up by a kid when his grandma asks him to tell her a story as she cannot fall asleep without hearing one of his stories (yes, it's the other way round).

The imagination of this kid. Wow. And wow. The story tells us a very basic lesson as well.

Nothing can replace nature.

And the flowers shown in the story are in full bloom these days! Around my house. This feels so perfect. So magical.

I want to distribute this book. So bad. Now.

[Sneha]

Translates from Malayalam. It's the most unique story. In every children's story, it's the grandparents who narrate stories to their grandchildren. But here the grandmother asks her grandson Unni to tell her a story. And then starts the wonderful imagination of a kid. He narrates and she imagines the story. I must say those illustrations are so so beautiful. It's a story with a moral that nothing can replace Nature.