Nice Magazine.
I went through the review of Radha (pp. 20) and realized that Puspha Acharya has missed many points. In case other folks in Sajha are interested in reading "Radha", here is MY review.
Kudos:
1. His approach is worth praising, just like P. Acharya mentions in the review. He has dared to "humanize" the characters of Mahabharat, be it Krishna or Radha or Balaram or even Kansha. Good imagination. Good story. Good message - stands alongside women.
Boos:
1. Writing style
Just pathetic for a writer of his like. There are many sentences which are not grammatically sound. And, the book lacks uniformity in narration. At one instant, he describes each and every conversation and suddenly he skips lots of events in just a matter of sentences. I doubt if the book was proofread well. I have the impression that this book was brought to publication in haste.
2. Verbose
This book is 261 page long. If I were to review it, I am pretty sure I can shorten it to 200 pages. This guy repeats the same sentiment in different places. Mainly, it's about the same argument on feminism that the readers are burdened with reading again and over again. Also, in hundreds of places, he uses the same/similar sentences to lambaste Krishna for his "villain" character.
3. Fiction or Fantasy?
I read this book as fiction. But in the end, when the author reveals that the sage is Aswasthama, I was really disappointed. This guy portrays even Krishna as a commoner. Just like P. Acharya mentions, the war that Krishna started was Maobadi style. But in the end, he brings such a myth. This has greatly reduced the book's value in terms of the message it wants to send.
4. Comparing it with Madhavi???? Oops, if Madhavi is Mt Everest, I find Radha no taller than Swayambhu ko dada. I wonder how this book, in this current form (First edition 2062), could have good the prestigious Madan puraskar.
But a great piece to read....
