Author Shubha Vilas, not only sketches the characters well, but makes us connect with each character and go deep in the epic. when you read the book you realise how less you knew about this epic. I would say this book is more zoomed version of the epic.

The author has provided various footnotes at the end of each page providing modern day explanations and philosophies about the passage or the story. That footnotes are sure to make a good hit among the readers as new thoughts are being sprinkled all along the book via the footnotes and it is exciting for the readers reading them keeping them hooked to the book.

The language used in the book is simple, lucid and mingles informative facts with the narration. I would recommend this book to any avid reader. Anyone with an interest in mythology and moral tales would love this book

I particularly like the footnotes given on each page that highlight the importance of age-old classic to our day-to-day life. Ramayana, needless to say, is full of wise teachings but its application in practical life is lost in comprehension. Shubha Vilas bridges that gap for us

We all have heard or rather read about the story of Ramayana however, what makes this book different from others is the extreme detailing and the interpretation of acts which contributes to the development of our own perspective about the Ramayana.The main USP of this book according to me are the footnotes. The author has added footnotes on the take-aways and learning that can be imbibed from this epic.

the author presents a study of the stages of the construction of the personality of Rama in the wicked labyrinths of Dandakaranya jungle, where Rama’s uprightness, Lakshmana’s trustworthiness and Sita’s fortitude echo our individual sagacity of morals and opinion in tricky times.

Have you grown up reading Amar Chitra Katha, the beautifully illustrated series that depicts the tales of various Hindu God, demigods, sages (rishis) and demons (rakshas ) ? Well, I have been lucky enough to have access to the series during my childhood days and the first half of this book felt like I was revisiting those memories. The glorious tales of the numerous combats between good (Gods/sages) and evil (rakshas) are described in such vivid manner that I did not even miss the wonderful illustrations that made Amar Chitra Katha so unforgettable.

The book is complete with metaphors perfectly describing Rama, Sita and every event taking place between them. The narration is pure, simple and flawless. Footnotes mentioned in almost every page of the book gives the bigger picture of the words and phrases which seldom includes interesting tales.

The bonding of Rama and sita is so perfectly articulated by author that we cannot find such couples in this modern world. Lessons from the Surpanakha episode. The story behind the fruit Sitaphal and reason behind monkeys don’t eat them. And last but not least the writing style of the author is so good that the activities done by Rama, Sita and Laxhmana in forest sims like watching a sci-fi movie.

The language of the book was quite simple and easy to understand. I liked the box part of the book. That part gives so much knowledge. Apart from that, if one does not understand any meaning of the word, one need not to worry, the author has given foot notes below on the page. The book teaches us many lessons.

The author curates lot of “upakatha” this makes the book very interesting. Like the story of how Dandakarnya got its name. The legend of Agastya Rishi and Lopamudra, the tale of Sachi and Nahusha, the story of Surya and Sajana, the story of Nalakubera and Rambha which actually makes its presence in Harivamsha. The story of Gokarna. The origin of Pillaiyaar Kuttu of Deccan and coramandal south. The legend of the origin of Kaveri, the creation of Vindhya ranges all these are definitely interesting.

The book describes how being in exile shapes the lives of Ram, Sita and Laxmana. The descriptions are beautiful. You get a peek into the lives of sages and demons together. There are short stories about different people stitched together. Not just is the writing good, what also adds to it are the explanations or the hidden meanings which you can actually apply in real life.

The fascinating element about the latest version is how it manages to enrol the reader into comparing his daily life with the actions and purpose of each character in the book. Managing life in the complicated stages of the profession as well as relationships are not easy and it definitely needs managing lessons, as every day has its own trouble.

Writing style is lucid, crisp and quite engaging. To keep simple uses footnotes to describe backgrounds details, explanations and short takeaway points. The footnotes give deeper insights to each character and situation. If you try to read it along; then the pace of story is hampered, but surely a reader may not want to ignore.

What makes this book fascinating is the mini mythological tales embedded in it, the highlight being that of Super sage Agastya’s many tales like his wedding to lopamudra, the origin of River Cauvery, the stunting of Vindhya mountain, the pilliyar kuthu ( brain yoga), the invention of Tamil language and many such little folk tales . All familiar tales right? But most of these are correlated to present day situations pertaining to relationships, leadership, decision making, anger management etc. Just as in present day world, there is a collision of vices and virtues in Ramayan times too and the book offers guidance to overcome them.

The book is an enriching and gripping read which captures the heart of the reader. The story teaches you the lessons of life which are perfect for self-help. The little anecdotes are perfectly depicted by the author in a very interesting manner, which keeps the reader hooked to the book.

A book which is very relevant and applicable in today’s world where relationships fall faster than nine pins! I enjoyed reading this book. The book applies the lessons from Ramayana in contemporary life. The insights (presented as footnotes on almost every page) are very useful in our day to day life, as well as helps us to understand people, life and relationships better.

When it comes to digging into Indian Mythology Subha Vilas has mastered the art. Not only the story line but the very carefully crafted anecdotes at end of chapter are so meaningful as well.

Once again Shubha Vilas tackles the stories of the much loved mythology of the Ramayana that every Indian is so familiar with. As usual, the author has his own interpretation of the story, going beyond mere words to reveal a philosophy that helps on deal with the difficulties and challenges of everyday life.

Though on the outside, this book may seem like a hardcore mythological-philosophical combo, in reality I felt like the author is a modern, practical, next door neighbour whose wisdom you will feel comfortable reading about. As a note of suggestion, I like to tell the readers to go slow with the book, grasping points, one at a time, instead of trying to rush within a targeted time period.

Shubha Vilas has exceeded the reader's expectations once again. The Ramayana series could be used as reference, especially for those who enjoy spiritual lessons. But for the others, this book is equally good and can teach a thing or two about our age old but precious wisdom.

I like the way the author provides morals which are relevant to our contemporary world. I literally sat with Pen to underline few sentences while I read this Ramayana series.

The best part about the Stolen Hope is the small lessons that each chapter of the book leaves with you. Shubha Vilas has taken a lot of effort to integrate lessons of Ramayana in our life, and it reflects in the way Stolen Hope has been written.

the author has recorded the incidents as a true devotee and he has done a wonderful job. His footnotes and explanations of some scenarios give readers detailed insight into these events and helped reader to understand relevance of Ramayana in modern times. The language is simple and soft. The narration take you deeper into the minds of the characters and help you to know the reasons of their particular action.

When it comes to writing style, Must say author transformed a hard read into an easy going story. You can connect easily with characters, I sensed that the picture while reading it, somewhat like a play at the theater.

Inner Peace is guaranteed for sure. Pick this up and unravel the Ramayana in a new way, the easy to digest way and also help yourself with some tips to implement the learnings on the go.

The author talks about how to deal with impulsive conflicts in relationships. The author talks about the importance of sacrifice to shift time

I must say that the author had done a splendid job in presenting the Ramayana which corresponds with our day to day activity. The micro analysis of this great Epic, to my knowledge to coincide with present day life, to my knowledge, was not done by any one else earlier.

Exploring the dynamics of human relations – between father and son, husband and wife, teacher and disciple – and the complex game of power and greed, Stolen Hope mirrors our own dilemmas in the modern world and teaches us how we must overcome them.

In the present times, when every other author is turning to mythological tales and twisting it as their own will, The Game of Life series, is a welcome change in this scenario. A series we should preserve as a keepsake so that the original story don't get lost in many imaginative versions. Thank you Shubha Vilas for this effort.

Besides just narrating the story and events of the Ramayana as is, the author also presents the incidental narrations and anecdotes of the characters which are (perhaps) not presented in the original Ramayana. These add to the overall charm of reading in addition to increasing the knowledge base about the tales behind the text and its characters. The depth in the literature only reflects the grand research which has gone into the book.

Though we know the basic premise of the Ramayana, we may not be aware of the subplots and the fine nuances that this epic has to offer. In fact, there are several segments, stories and characters which we haven’t heard of, or are acquainted with only a mild familiarity. Shubha Vilas tries to bring these points to the fore, enlightening us with the minutest of details. These pieces of information serve more like a jigsaw puzzle, and when we put the pieces together, we start seeing the Ramayana in a different light altogether, clearer and illuminating.

The author is a spiritual seeker and a motivational seeker. His intentions of imparting knowledge and providing motivation through epics have been made very clear through his writings. Giving footnotes for certain course of events, the author helps the readers analyse the situation and provides guidance as to how these teachings can be applied in real life.

While presenting the story line in a lucid manner, the author has not only come out with lessons for life as usual but also brings out the concepts of Srivaishnavism/ Vishishtadvaita philosophy in a crystal clear way. The story, lessons for life and philosophy are presented so lucidly and simply- which makes this book a must read for all categories of readers.

Shubha Vilas constructs the story – the many tidbits in a simple and fluent manner. Overall a good read compared to the Ramayana series showing on TV these days which are made more dramatic.

Extermination of other's opinions is demoniac life. Coexistence of opinions is saintly life. Virtues and vices coexist in each individual. When vices try to exterminate virtues, then Rama needs to come in.

Ramayana Stolen Hopes allows you to see the tale of Ramayana in the new light. It gives you a perspective towards life and makes you believe why it is important to tell the tale of Maryadapurushottam Rama to every generation.

there are so many characters in the story I never took the time to think about before. Yes, there is Jatayu as I already mentioned who is someone I truly admire after reading the book. At the same time, there are numerous others, who seek to inspire and guide you and I think I finally realise that these are the reason why Ramayana is such an epic.

This correlation of this epic story to our day to day life makes Stolen Hope more than just a ‘tale’. The science of giving feedback or how to deal maturely with impulsive conflicts in relationships made for insightful reading. The language in the book is simple and compelling and the narrative is crisp and vivid!

This book lives up to the tagline – Seek courage when everything, including hope, is stolen – with some handy messages of wisdom woven throughout the narrative. There are short wisdom snippets at the bottom of each page again.

Stress and pressure from every corner is only increasing in everyday life. For the best lessons, to not just survive but thrive and emerge successful in all our endeavours it is a must for us to go back to our roots and learn from the lessons this great epic has to offer. With the current state the world is in it feels as if all hope has been stolen from the planet we live in. To fortify oneself with the right attitude and clarity in thinking as well as a focused direction, this series can become your guiding light.

The narrative is enticing and fascinating. The moment you lay your hands on the book, you are hooked. It was like watching a blockbuster.....each event is described wonderfully and remains etched in your memory. Each character is written beautifully and importance is given to minute details. The author has taken great pains to present the book in such a manner as to appeal to all age groups.The writing is simple and lucid and easily understandable.

I have to tell you that this book is a refreshing read. It gives more perspectives and also narrates many other sub-plots. The simple language and flow of thoughts makes the reading an effortless, at the same time, fruitful process.

The footnotes as always are the highlight of the book and the short tales in every chapter are cherry on the top. The title is true to the books content. And the division of the chapters seem smooth for reading without making a break in the scenes. After reading this book I would say I have learned many things about life and in general along with Ramayana.

I never thought Ramayana was a source of so much inspiration that I can utilize in my day to day life. Thanks to the author for offering that to us in plenty. One should read this book not only as a story of the Trio dwelling in the forests and living their lives in the midst of troubles, one after another, but also as a motivational book packed with interesting and unmatched lessons about our regular lives. You will definitely feel a lot peaceful and inspired once you finish reading it. At least I did.

This is a very interesting retelling of the Ramayana that can bring goose bumps in the readers. The way the characters have been told and their life story gives a very fresh much needed change in the story. Yes, the story in itself is age old and everyone is acquainted with the instances but the way it has been written in this series is very beautiful.