Week 4: Reading Diary B

Week 4: Reading Diary B

THE TWO WISHES

I thought it was kind of funny how King Dasaratha asked for them to allow him to make Rama the King, but when they happily cheer yes, he becomes all upset that they’re so willing to let Rama become the King. Often, you hear of unjust or cruel kings in stories like these. I think it is amazing that the people of Ayodoyah love their king and his sons so much. It makes me think of the question, would you rather people fear you or love you. I think for Dasaratha and his sons, they would rather their people love them than fear them.

I find it so strange how Dasaratha’s three wives are so content with all being married to the same man. It just seems so unnatural and foreign to me. I also thought it was strange that the woman who was called Kooni in Narayan’s version is called Manthara in Buck’s version. I wonder why that is. After the description of Manthara, I’m rather surprised that she was able to have an influence over Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi was way too easily convinced to change her mind. While I still find it irritating that Kaikeyi forces Dasaratha to make Bharata king, instead of Rama, I now know that it is what was necessary for Rama to fulfill his destiny.

I also found the idea of an angry-room really funny! Maybe we should all have one of those, and the walls could just be covered with pillows for us to punch when we are angry!

It’s amazing how Rama is so carefree about the whole situation, he doesn’t have a bit of anger in him! It was also cool how the city was so loyal to him!

This author definitely uses much more detail than Narayan! I think this detail adds a lot to the story, but sometimes it seems so drawn out!

LORD OF THE WILD TREES

I thought Guha was an interesting new character. I like that there is some new content in this book, as well as the same plot from Narayan’s version. It also was interesting to learn more about Kaikeyi through Guha. She seems to have quite a bit of evil within her. How could she continue to ask him that of her when it would have brought his death! I’m glad he stood up for himself at least then.

Week 4: Reading Diary A

Chapter 1: Born as a Man

The first thing I noticed that was different about this book compared to Narayan's is that the whole book is a story within a story. The storytelling style is of someone telling the story of Ramayana to someone else. I also think it's interesting how Valmiki becomes not just the poet, but also an important part of the story. I like that this version of Ramayana gave us more background on Valmiki.

Now I'm really confused. Last I heard from Narayan's Ramayana, Rama and Sita were still together after Rama defeated Ravana. What could have happened to them to cause Rama to banish her and their unborn children to the forest! After everything she did for him and all the loyalty she showed him, I find that to be really terrible! It makes me sad that Lava and Kusa don't get to grow up with both of their parents, but I think it's wonderful that they will be told all about their father through Valmiki's poetry.

I wish Rama could know that those two boys were his son. I hope that the whole family is reunited by the end of the book!

I thought that the description of heaven after Ravana attacked really helped me better understand the gods' motives in sending Rama to destroy the rakshasas. It was so sad to hear Indra's account of what had happened to his home. I always thought it was weird that Brahma would give Ravana invincibility to the gods, so I am glad this book addressed that.

I have really enjoyed how this book has given us so much more background and explanation compared to Narayan's version. I thought it was really interesting to hear the conversation between Indra and Vishnu before Vishnu takes his human form.

I thought it was interesting how Dasaratha gave two servings of rice to Sumitra and she ended up having two sons.

Chapter 2: The Thorn in the World's Side

I thought the history of the creation of Rakshasas was really interesting, especially how they are conceived and born in one day and reach their mothers' age the day they are born. How crazy would that be! I'm not sure how I felt about the removal of all of the rakshasas from earth. It's not like they were all bad, just the human-eating ones. Why were they all forced out of Lanka City?

I think this chapter was really interesting to me because it explained how Ravana and his siblings came to be. It seems that this book will go much farther into Ravana's family, his siblings, wives, and children. Under Ravana's rule, the rakshasas are out of control! They have no honor or morals! I didn't even know of the Yakshas from Narayan's version, but I thought it was really sad when they were destroyed. I wish that Shiva had kept Ravana as a prisoner, it could have saved so many lives! Who cares if he can sing pretty? He is evil!

I hate to say this, but I have definitely found Buck's version to be much more difficult to stay interested in. I think this is likely because I cannot relate at all to Ravana, and that is all the story has been about so far. It's been frustrating how easy it is for him to go around conquering everybody because they just surrender to him. He doesn't deserve the power that he has. It is interesting, however, to learn how many of the gifts bestowed by Brahma, like the chariot given to Indrajit during the war against Rama, originated.

Chapter 3: Taste This Water

Finally, we get to hear about Rama! I think it's interesting how Thataka is not even in this chapter, only her sons. I also didn't realize that Sita was not born to a human mother! She's actually half-divine. I think it's wonderful that King Janaka informed Rama that "Sita has the final consent." That definitely isn't common in stories like these where women are just given away to men without any thought for how they feel. I liked that in their wedding vows, Janaka said,"Sita, love him well forever, walk with him as his wife and follow him like his own shadow forever." I thought that was really appropriate because she refused to be separated him when he was banished, instead walking with him and following him anywhere.

Week 3: Famous Last Words

This week was pretty good! I still haven’t finished my Storybook assignment, but I think I have a couple ideas for storytelling styles. My favorite storytelling post that I read this week was Jatayu and Sampathi by Austin Clanton. I really liked the storytelling style of a bedtime story that he used. I am considering using that style of storytelling for my storybook.  I felt decent about my storytelling post this week. I decided to fill in the gap about what happened to Sita while she was kidnapped by Ravana because I thought that was really important. 

I have felt decent about my other classes. Nutrition has been really interesting. It definitely has been making me want to eat healthier. It seems like vegetables are one of the best food groups out there, but variety and moderation are really important too. It seems like Biochemical Methods will be challenging this semester, but our professor keeps saying that the class gets easier after we get past the first couple of assignments. I also just really dislike labs and lab reports. They have got to be the worst thing about being a science major. I'm also taking tennis this semester, and it is from 11:30-1:10, which has been pretty terrible because it is in the heat of day. I've definitely come back dehydrated from that class a time or two. 

Outside of school, this week was pretty uneventful. I've been working on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturdays at the OU Tennis Club, and I'm still really enjoying that. I also am continuing to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters this year, which I did last year as well. My little sister is so sweet, and I'm really glad to see her again after the summer! I went hope for part of the weekend and saw Guardians of the Galaxy with my family. I highly recommend it! It's a lot serious than most Marvel movies, but there is a lot of humor and touching moments, along with great music! 

Image information: Photo from the movie, Guardians of the Galaxy 

Web Source: Wired