Ramayana read!

Ashok Banker's Ramayana series was a jolly good read. It was vivid, funny in places and written in an easy style that keeps the dictionary firmly at bay. Having said that, I must say that Banker's Ravana scores just as easily as does Rama, maybe more so, especially toward the final pages where Ravana is shown, not only as a vile, brutal and arrogant bully (which he is no doubt), but also as a creature who is fully in tune with the cosmic forces of good and evil, and accepting the inevitability of good triumphing in the end. But, just to play spoilsport, the last book felt a little rushed, especially toward the end. It was as if Banker wanted to be done with Rama and turn to Krishna, for the Mahabharat is his next book. The book also conveniently skips Sita's banishment and offers droll excuses for that.