Week 7 Reading Diary Continued: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu

I will be reading The Five Tall Sons of Pandu, by Richard Wilson. This post will cover Part B. Link.

• I'm disappointed that part B does not open with the fighting, but I understand that having Krishna sue for peace builds the tension and lets us see the thought process of both sides going into the climax of the story. 

Krishna and the Pandavas, from Here Krishna Girl

• I like Krishna in this version. He advocates for peace, but still does his duty and fights in the war, while reminding others to do the same. If he dies, he would be a very tragic character, like something out of a Shakespeare play.
• The death of Bhisma is very sad, as he was just doing his duty like Krishna, and no on wanted to see Bhisma die. Bhisma also didn't want to kill anybody. I also don't know why Bhisma thought that telling Karna the truth about his heritage would clam him, he was the first born who was discarded and denied his destiny. 
• Duryodhana is going through a lot of generals. I feel like losing a general is the worst thing that can happen, it would be very hard to assume command in the middle of a chaotic battle. 
• I think Karna dying the way he did was all he deserved based on his actions that day, but I still understand his long term motivations to hate the Pandavas. 
• Duryodhana should take control of his own armies, he is left with far from his first choice of general. If the ending is anything like the other, it will not matter soon however. 
• I still think the Panadavas losing their sons is the most tragic element of this story. 

That's the end of my reading this week, check back soon for more. 

Week 7 Reading Diary: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu

I will be reading The Five Tall Sons of Pandu, by Richard Wilson. This post will cover Part A. Link.

• This version of the Mahabharata seems to be a grander in scale, more like an epic tale than the public domain edition. I think this could be because of the fact that one author wrote the entire story. 
• The fighting between Karna and Arjuna feels tenser to me than the previous version. 

Arjuna, courtesy of Wikipedia

• The plan of denying Karna the hand of Draupadi based on his birth and then giving it to Arjuna disguised as a hermit seems poorly thought out. 
• Draupadi becoming the wife of Yudhishthira is an interesting change, but I think it will still breed the same amount of animosity between the brothers. 
• Beheading King Shishupala at the ceremony seemed rash. Killing another King when he was not attacking you seems to be a bad way to start a new kingdom. 
• I think the changes so far make the story better. They are more realistic, and and tension to the story. 
• The section where Duryodhana comes to mock the princes but ultimately needs their help was satisfying to read.
• I'm always glad to see Hanuman mentioned again in a story. The conclusion to part A feels like a cliffhanger, I want to see if anything is different about the battle in this version. 

Week 6 Review

Courtesy of Laura Gibbs

I thought this picture was very relevant. The creative writing in this class does not come easily for me, it takes a while for me to get into a writing mood. I thought I would share this picture in case anyone else has the same problems as me.

Learning by HEART: What Kind of Reader are You?

Courtesy of Laura Gibbs

I am a monogamist reader. I can only read one book at once, whether it is for class or for fun and entertainment. I like to get into a book and absorb it all it once as opposed to reading many books at any given time.

Growth Mindset: Learning is Messy

Courtesy of Laura Gibbs

Learning is often a literally messy process for me. My desk is often covered in eraser shavings and pieces of paper. However, it is also a mentally messy process. I often learn in leaps and bounds as I have epiphanies, it is not a constant flow of information into my brain. Additionally, not all of that information is neatly organized when it makes it to my brain.

Storytelling Week 6: Where Are They Now?

"One day I was lounging in the sun, when this guy named Bhima came up to me. He looks like a regular guy to me, and he keeps going on and on about how I'm laying in his pathway, claiming he is as strong as Indra and he will smite me, so on and so on. I was enjoying my nap, after all what else was I supposed to do? Rama asked me to stay behind on Earth to tell his story in return for eternal life. Little did he know, I was telling the truth about him to anyone who asked. That's why I took Rama up on his offer, so that I could set the record straight. Anyways, Bhima gets frustrated and tries to move me. I was getting sick of this guy, so I finally decided to tell him I was the 'Hanuman' and that I wasn't impressed".

Hanuman sneered and exhaled sharply, as if remembering a joke.

"So this guy Bhima gets all bent out of shape. He keeps asking me to recount my experience with Rama and reveal my true form and things like that. I decided that I didn't have anything else to do that day, so I start telling him the story of Rama. Not Rama the legendary embodiment of a God, but the cowardly and incompetent man. I told Bhima that Rama coming into my life was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Now, poor old Bhima looked pretty put down by the whole thing. I almost felt bad, and then I remembered how satisfied I was each time I told the truth about Rama to one of the naive people who believed in him".

Hanuman smiled to himself and then continued speaking.

"Still, this guy Bhima looked like he was broken. Big and strong guy like that, I figured his emotions would be rock solid. I was in a good mood after my nap in the sun, so I figured I could cheer this guy up. I balloon up to my true form, you know the one I use for moving mountains? Yah, that one. Bhima looked a little bit more cheerful after I did that. Bhima finally told me that he was also a son of Vayu. That one threw me for a loop. Who knew that poor old me would have a brother one day. I should start going to the annual family reunion".

Hanuman and Bhima, courtesy of KidsGen

Hanuman now looked like he was almost happy, like all his grievances with humanity and the Gods were forgotten.

"Bhima then said he had to be on his way, something about collecting lotuses for a Draupadi. I legitimately wished the guy well, after all he was my brother. I also hoped that he would remember the truth about that phony Rama, and tell everyone what he learned from me that day".

Author's Note: I have previously written a story about my favorite character from the Ramayana, Hanuman. He appeared again in the Mahabharata and I decided to do a follow up to my grumpy version of Hanuman when he is encountered in the Mahabharata. I figured I would have Hanuman give his version of the meeting with Bhima, his brother. This story is again written as Hanuman telling a silent audience a story about his life. 

Bibliography:

"Mahabharata: Public Domain Edition" by Multiple Authors, link.

"Ramayana: Public Domain Edition" by Multiple Authors, link.

Week 6 Reading Diary Continued: Mahabharata Public Domain Edition

This post will cover Part D of the Mahabharata: Public Domain Edition. 

• The battle that began in Part C continues to rage on. I am glad that the character list is getting somewhat shorter. 
• This battle is seriously dark and violent. More action and excitement than anything else in this reading thus far. 
• I think it is tragic that many characters are losing their sons and heirs, but it almost feels like that is their reward for dragging their sons into their own fights. 
• I think much as Rama killed Sugrivas rival in an ambush, The Pandavas killing Drona is meant to represent a low point where our heroic characters stoop to the level of their enemies. 
• I like how even though Arjuna has won, the story is not over. It would feel out of place if the good guys lived happily ever after when the battle ends. 



Ashwatthaman, from Wikipedia

• I think Ashwatthaman is exactly what the Pandavas deserve for killing Drona. 
• I like how Bhisma is trying to rebuild the kingdom after the battle, even though he has lost and is doomed to die. 
• I feel like a year is a long time to go without a king. Perhaps I am misinterpreting something. 
• I wonder why a God like Krishna would even have a weak spot. It must have been part of his plan to go back to heaven one day. 
• I find it interesting how similar heaven and hell are across cultures. 

Thanks for reading, I start another book next week.