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The Rain-Maiden and the Bear-Man: and Other Stories
In Easterine Kire’s stories, the boundaries between magic and reality drift away, leaving us to marvel at simple yet fantastical folktales about human connection. The title story in this collection is about feeling trapped by other people’s definitions of who we are. The Bear-man finds love in the beautiful and compassionate Rain-maiden but thinks he would never be good enough for her. He concludes that if he reveals his true feelings she would ridicule him like everyone in his life has always done. He grows gruff and antisocial, believing that he could never find friendship—least of all, love.
The other stories in this collection represent oral narratives from the people of Nagaland in northeast India, stories shared privately around a glowing hearth—spirit stories that the narrators swear are true encounters. While “Forest Song,” “New Road,” “River and Earth Story,” and “The Man Who Lost His Spirit” were narrated to the author by local storytellers, “The Man Who Went to Heaven” and “One Day” are entirely based on Naga folktales. “The Weretigerman,” meanwhile, is woven around the pre-Christian Naga tradition of certain men becoming dual-souled with the tiger.
In these stories, illustrated in full color by graphic artist Sunandini Banerjee, Kire brings Nagaland come alive with her rich portrayal of both the natural and the spiritual world, which, to the Naga mind, harmoniously coexisted until the recent past.
The other stories in this collection represent oral narratives from the people of Nagaland in northeast India, stories shared privately around a glowing hearth—spirit stories that the narrators swear are true encounters. While “Forest Song,” “New Road,” “River and Earth Story,” and “The Man Who Lost His Spirit” were narrated to the author by local storytellers, “The Man Who Went to Heaven” and “One Day” are entirely based on Naga folktales. “The Weretigerman,” meanwhile, is woven around the pre-Christian Naga tradition of certain men becoming dual-souled with the tiger.
In these stories, illustrated in full color by graphic artist Sunandini Banerjee, Kire brings Nagaland come alive with her rich portrayal of both the natural and the spiritual world, which, to the Naga mind, harmoniously coexisted until the recent past.
88 pages, Hardcover
Published April 30, 2021
1 person is currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Easterine Kire
33 books99 followersEasterine Kire (Iralu) is a poet, writer, and novelist from Nagaland. She is one of the finest story tellers from the region and has written several books in English including three collections of poetry and short stories. Her first novel, A Naga Village Remembered, was the first-ever Naga novel to be published.
Easterine has translated 200 oral poems from her native language, Tenyidie, into English. She has been actively involved in working on creating better opportunities for the Naga youth and nurturing and evangelizing the Naga folktales.
She is also the Founder-partner of the publishing house called Barkweaver, which publishes Naga folktales, children’s stories and real stirring stories of ordinary people. Easterine Kire has a Ph.D in English Literature from University of Pune.
Easterine has translated 200 oral poems from her native language, Tenyidie, into English. She has been actively involved in working on creating better opportunities for the Naga youth and nurturing and evangelizing the Naga folktales.
She is also the Founder-partner of the publishing house called Barkweaver, which publishes Naga folktales, children’s stories and real stirring stories of ordinary people. Easterine Kire has a Ph.D in English Literature from University of Pune.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 10, 2022
This book is gorgeous in and out.
It often feels like you're looking into a kaleidoscope. Its swirling colours and mesmerizing stories are bound to pull you in making it impossible not to believe folklore and spirits.
Kire brings Northeast folklores and sprinkles magic into them. You see the characters enacting in front of you while the sky takes shapes of spirits and maidens. The description is so vivid that she truly blurs the line between magical realism and folklore. The graphic artist, Sunandini Banerjee has done a spectacular job in creating art that matches Kire's stories. Both, extremely beautiful.
I have so much to say about these strange yet fascinating stories but I'll let you read it on your own.
Every time I read Kire, she reminds me that magic and spirits may very well exist 🧚🏼♀️✨
It often feels like you're looking into a kaleidoscope. Its swirling colours and mesmerizing stories are bound to pull you in making it impossible not to believe folklore and spirits.
Kire brings Northeast folklores and sprinkles magic into them. You see the characters enacting in front of you while the sky takes shapes of spirits and maidens. The description is so vivid that she truly blurs the line between magical realism and folklore. The graphic artist, Sunandini Banerjee has done a spectacular job in creating art that matches Kire's stories. Both, extremely beautiful.
I have so much to say about these strange yet fascinating stories but I'll let you read it on your own.
Every time I read Kire, she reminds me that magic and spirits may very well exist 🧚🏼♀️✨
June 18, 2022
"The old ones always say that names have power over our destinies "- From story-Forest Song
Every reader deserves an interesting &refreshing read. A book which provides you dimensions of different worlds, manages to hold you till the last story.
The rain maiden & the bear man is a collection of short stories; folklores from the state of Nagaland in North East India. Some stories are true encounters others are narrated to Author by local storytellers.
I believe when it comes to these kind of stories, the Author's writing style plays a very important role because now, the reader is seeing a world through Author's lens.
A reader can't connect something like this through their daily life. In that case, there are high chances that reader will move to next story if the given story is not impactful enough.
That's where I appreciate Kire's writing style, she always keeps the story simple, easy to read, interesting yet impactful.
She will take you with her in a different world where the Sky is dancing, trees are talking to each other, spirits are roaming around yet you are enjoying.
On that note;
My dear Reader ♥️
I hope this book finds you well
Best wishes,
Ayu 💖
Every reader deserves an interesting &refreshing read. A book which provides you dimensions of different worlds, manages to hold you till the last story.
The rain maiden & the bear man is a collection of short stories; folklores from the state of Nagaland in North East India. Some stories are true encounters others are narrated to Author by local storytellers.
I believe when it comes to these kind of stories, the Author's writing style plays a very important role because now, the reader is seeing a world through Author's lens.
A reader can't connect something like this through their daily life. In that case, there are high chances that reader will move to next story if the given story is not impactful enough.
That's where I appreciate Kire's writing style, she always keeps the story simple, easy to read, interesting yet impactful.
She will take you with her in a different world where the Sky is dancing, trees are talking to each other, spirits are roaming around yet you are enjoying.
On that note;
My dear Reader ♥️
I hope this book finds you well
Best wishes,
Ayu 💖
April 27, 2023
Jakie to jest piękne! Niesamowite kolaże i 10 opowieści z ustnej tradycji Nadów z północno-wschodnich Indii, pełnych duchów, natury, i ludzkiego zła kryjącego się pod ludowymi wierzeniami o istotach i zjawiskach nie z tego świata. Najlepsze: historia mężczyzny, który na drzewie zgubił swojego ducha i opowieść o pieśni lasu.
February 10, 2022
Magic realism meets oral narratives from Nagaland in this short stories collection which also has beautiful illustrations by Sunandini Banerjee of Seagull Books
July 15, 2023
This is a collection of 10 stories. The stories deal with the culture of Nagas. Stories depicting nature, humans, and the world of spirits and the connection and the relationship including modern day and the transition. Well-written with amazing illustrations for the beginning of each story.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews