A book everyone loves that you hate

Mousetrap

'The Immortals of Meluha' by Amish Tripathi

Cousins, aunts and colleagues were heaping praises on this book and I often see the book in people's hands. Thousands of good reviews on Goodreads, Amazon and everywhere else. I thought it had to be good. Only one friend told me that it was terrible.

I finally read it last year and.... cringed. The story was okay and I can sense the author's enthusiasm in telling the tale but the narrative style? Bad! Simple incidents dragged on and on, childish character development, odd use of modern expletives and many silly lines that could seriously have been improved.
Here's an example:

There was something about the bricks he had seen across the empire that had intrigued Shiva. Turning to Nandi he asked, "Are these bricks made as per some standard process?"

"Yes my Lord," replied a surprised Nandi. All the bricks in Meluha are made as per specifications and guidelines given by the Chief Architect of the empire. But how did you guess?"

"They are all exactly the same dimension."

Nandi beamed in pride at his empire's efficiency and his Lord's power of observation.

Duh!!

Okay, I give him points for breathing new life into mythological fiction, but the story and the language is utterly childish. Maybe it's the editor's fault for not improving it?

I cannot fathom what people see in this book. Sigh!

I thought Fifty Shades of Grey and One Night at the Call Centre were the worst books I'd read until I picked up this one. I wish somebody would make a parody of the Immortals.

Meself

Mousetrap 1-7-2018 04:52 PM
'The Immortals of Meluha' by Amish Tripathi

Cousins, aunts and colleagues were heaping praises on t ...

The reason why Shiva Trilogy got so many fans was it was after eons that we had someone taking up the mythology scene. Before this book, rather the popularity of the this book, this genre wasn't explored. I am a fan of this series myself, I am not going to lie here but yes I agree the narrative style is very, very simple. At times drab.


I guess Tripathi had banked on the fact that myth-fic is going to create a stir and when it did he didn't think or do much except for sailing with it.

Meself

Harry Potter series.




*ducks and hides*

cynic

Mousetrap 1-7-2018 04:52 PM
'The Immortals of Meluha' by Amish Tripathi

Cousins, aunts and colleagues were heaping praises on t ...

I agree with Shivani about the narrative style of Shiva trilogy. Perhaps it was targeted at new readers.
The series overall started off well for me, but the end was disappointing.



@shivani: Harry Potter? Which one is it.... dislike, cannot stand or hate?

Mousetrap

Meself 1-7-2018 07:27 PM
The reason why Shiva Trilogy got so many fans was it was after eons that we had someone taking up  ...

That is why it's so sad. A better-edited version of this book would have been great. I'd blame lazy editing for this. If a creative editor had spent some time rewriting it, it'd have worked wonders!

Mousetrap

Meself 1-7-2018 07:28 PM
Harry Potter series.

I'd almost agree. I didn't like the first book, then liked the next two, Prisoner of Azkaban being my only favorite. The fourth book was the one I hated most and I never did enjoy the rest of the series.

viksorion

Why the Shiva trilogy was a success IMO is because it was the path-breaker in the Myth-Fic genre. Later on lots of good authors have joined the bandwagon. And it all came in wave, Amish, then Devdutta and Banker and also Ashwin Sanghi. Now lot more books and authors on this genre.
I feel Amish is Chetan Bhagat of Myth Fiction

viksorion

And the books ppl rave about and I can't fathom why are The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Too complicated style of writing and most readers compulsorily praise it without making the head or tail of the Idea of the book

Meself

@cynic I don't necessarily hate or dislike Harry Potter series. I just don't understand the madness that accompanies it. I mean I do credit J.K. Rowling for her imagination but I don't see the reason why it should generate so much of madness.