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Son of the Thundercloud
After losing all his family in a terrible famine, a man leaves his village with just the clothes on his back, never once looking back. For endless miles he walks through a landscape as desolate as his heart. Until two ancient women who have waited for rain for four hundred years lead him to the Village of Weavers where a prophecy will be fulfilled. A single drop of rain will impregnate the tiger-widow and her son will slay the spirit-tiger. The traveller will help the woman bring up the boy. He will witness miracles and tragedy and come close to finding a home again. And he will learn that love and life are eternal.
In her new novel, Easterine Kire, winner of the Hindu Prize, combines lyrical storytelling with the magic and wisdom of Naga legends to produce an unforgettable, life-affirming fable.
In her new novel, Easterine Kire, winner of the Hindu Prize, combines lyrical storytelling with the magic and wisdom of Naga legends to produce an unforgettable, life-affirming fable.
152 pages, Paperback
Published September 4, 2018
14 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Easterine Kire
28 books96 followersEasterine Kire (Iralu) is a poet, writer, and novelist from Nagaland. She is one of the finest story tellers from the region and has written several books in English including three collections of poetry and short stories. Her first novel, A Naga Village Remembered, was the first-ever Naga novel to be published.
Easterine has translated 200 oral poems from her native language, Tenyidie, into English. She has been actively involved in working on creating better opportunities for the Naga youth and nurturing and evangelizing the Naga folktales.
She is also the Founder-partner of the publishing house called Barkweaver, which publishes Naga folktales, children’s stories and real stirring stories of ordinary people. Easterine Kire has a Ph.D in English Literature from University of Pune.
Easterine has translated 200 oral poems from her native language, Tenyidie, into English. She has been actively involved in working on creating better opportunities for the Naga youth and nurturing and evangelizing the Naga folktales.
She is also the Founder-partner of the publishing house called Barkweaver, which publishes Naga folktales, children’s stories and real stirring stories of ordinary people. Easterine Kire has a Ph.D in English Literature from University of Pune.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 53 reviews
April 6, 2021
Easterine Kire was born to an Angami Naga family in Nagaland. A poet and author she currently lives in Norway. The majority of her writings are based in the lived realities of the people in Nagaland. Her motivation to write is summed up in this statement by her in an interview, "I felt we needed to create written Naga Literature. We have so much oral narratives but with oral dying out, it's all going to be lost. Her novel "Son of the Thundercloud" has been awarded Book of the Year (Fiction) Tata Literature Live! Awards 2017 and the Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2018.
The story revolves around a man who after losing all his family in a terrible famine, leaves his village with just the clothes on his back, never once looking back. For endless miles he walks through a landscape as desolate as his heart. Until two ancient women who have waited for rain for four hundred years lead him to the Village of Weavers where a prophecy will be fulfilled. A single drop of rain will impregnate the tiger-widow and her son will slay the spirit-tiger. The traveller will help the woman bring up the boy. He will witness miracles and tragedy and come close to finding a home again. And he will learn that love and life are eternal.
The story revolves around a man who after losing all his family in a terrible famine, leaves his village with just the clothes on his back, never once looking back. For endless miles he walks through a landscape as desolate as his heart. Until two ancient women who have waited for rain for four hundred years lead him to the Village of Weavers where a prophecy will be fulfilled. A single drop of rain will impregnate the tiger-widow and her son will slay the spirit-tiger. The traveller will help the woman bring up the boy. He will witness miracles and tragedy and come close to finding a home again. And he will learn that love and life are eternal.
September 6, 2019
It is always the narrative that helps us remember certain life lessons better than the others and ‘Son of the Thundercloud’ is one such mesmerizing, tragic and comforting story.
Pele, after losing his entire village including his wife and child, embarks on a journey without a destination in mind. On his way, he meets two sisters, fading and weak but surviving on hope. They have been alive for about 400 years, their strength derived from their belief in the popular legend ‘Son of the Thundercloud’. It is believed that this child will bring back rain to their famine struck village. As Pele spends a night with these sisters, he experiences a strange event- the shifting of the Earth, thus creating ravines, creeks, etc., thereby changing the geography of the land.
As the rains strike down that particular night, these sisters introduce Pele to Mesunao- the tiger widow, living in the Village of Weavers. Mesunao will be the bearer of a child, another chosen one, who will eventually kill the ‘tiger’ that has been tormenting the villagers for decades, the same tiger that killed Mesunao’s husband and her seven sons. This ‘Tiger’ is not made of flesh, but of shadows and can not be killed by traditional methods but a special spear.
Beyond all the supernatural and mystical happenings, there is a vicious world waiting to attack anyone who looks more content than them. While the son represents hope, the villagers represent a certain doom that is inevitable. The author emphasizes the existence of people who wouldn’t let storytellers live and would rather spread darkness than hope. It might be because it’s their soul that is corrupted or that they don’t have faith in the stories anymore.
The author intertwines Magical Realism and the ordinary village life with all it’s simple and sometimes, preposterous beliefs. Through Pele, we understand that this is the world where anything can happen, only if you ‘believe’. Pele stands strong in the face of crisis, adhering to his beliefs and challenges the people to think out of the ordinary, but finally succumbing to resignation and acceptance. The world is incapable of understanding the workings of nature, designing methods to dismiss any event they cannot justify, sometimes with unimaginable brutality.
“No, I’m talking about the famine of stories and songs. They killed all the storytellers who tried to tell them about the Son of the Thundercloud. They killed hope.”
One of the salient features of the story is how the author guides you through. While the plot doesn’t adhere to a particular norm, you find yourself trusting the author. The shifting of stars and Earth, the 400-year-old sisters, Mesunao’s pregnancy by a single drop of rain, etc. are some popular legends in Nagaland and the narrative brings out a whole new perspective to these traditional stories through characters that will always be immortal, through its readers.
The writing holds your attention even though the writing is extremely simple. With barely 150 pages, Kire weaves an engrossing, honest and poignant tale that with cling to you, in an almost hypnotic manner.
Pele, after losing his entire village including his wife and child, embarks on a journey without a destination in mind. On his way, he meets two sisters, fading and weak but surviving on hope. They have been alive for about 400 years, their strength derived from their belief in the popular legend ‘Son of the Thundercloud’. It is believed that this child will bring back rain to their famine struck village. As Pele spends a night with these sisters, he experiences a strange event- the shifting of the Earth, thus creating ravines, creeks, etc., thereby changing the geography of the land.
As the rains strike down that particular night, these sisters introduce Pele to Mesunao- the tiger widow, living in the Village of Weavers. Mesunao will be the bearer of a child, another chosen one, who will eventually kill the ‘tiger’ that has been tormenting the villagers for decades, the same tiger that killed Mesunao’s husband and her seven sons. This ‘Tiger’ is not made of flesh, but of shadows and can not be killed by traditional methods but a special spear.
Beyond all the supernatural and mystical happenings, there is a vicious world waiting to attack anyone who looks more content than them. While the son represents hope, the villagers represent a certain doom that is inevitable. The author emphasizes the existence of people who wouldn’t let storytellers live and would rather spread darkness than hope. It might be because it’s their soul that is corrupted or that they don’t have faith in the stories anymore.
The author intertwines Magical Realism and the ordinary village life with all it’s simple and sometimes, preposterous beliefs. Through Pele, we understand that this is the world where anything can happen, only if you ‘believe’. Pele stands strong in the face of crisis, adhering to his beliefs and challenges the people to think out of the ordinary, but finally succumbing to resignation and acceptance. The world is incapable of understanding the workings of nature, designing methods to dismiss any event they cannot justify, sometimes with unimaginable brutality.
“No, I’m talking about the famine of stories and songs. They killed all the storytellers who tried to tell them about the Son of the Thundercloud. They killed hope.”
One of the salient features of the story is how the author guides you through. While the plot doesn’t adhere to a particular norm, you find yourself trusting the author. The shifting of stars and Earth, the 400-year-old sisters, Mesunao’s pregnancy by a single drop of rain, etc. are some popular legends in Nagaland and the narrative brings out a whole new perspective to these traditional stories through characters that will always be immortal, through its readers.
The writing holds your attention even though the writing is extremely simple. With barely 150 pages, Kire weaves an engrossing, honest and poignant tale that with cling to you, in an almost hypnotic manner.
July 3, 2023
Nagaland folk tale. Magical Realism. Legend in an ancient prophecy. Stars pulling the land apart. Droughts. Famines. Spirits. Abandoned village. Hope. Love.
All of these aptly used in the right proportions to create this marvelous tale.
Loved:
1. Lovely character names - Pelevesto, Kethanuo, Sirtze, Mesunao, Rhalietuo.
2. Lyrical prose. Short simple sentences. Linear narration.
3. The theme - the seed - human evolution at the expense of nature - this theme often clicks with me.
4. The art of storytelling at its best.
Recommended for a short, breezy read on a rainy day.
July 30, 2020
“Hope, sir, we have been living on hope.”
RATING: 3.75/5
I have only had the occasion to read the poetry of Easterine Kire before. This is my first Kire book, and it reminds me a lot of Temsula Ao's These Hills Called Home which I read back in February with regards to the writing style. Considering both women come from Nagaland and that the tradition of writing originally in English is pretty new, Kire is in fact the first English novelist from the state, it really shouldn't come as a surprise. The appearance of the narrative as folklore is present in both their works which sort of reminds of magical realism in its execution. It is accentuated by the fact that the plot is the fulfilment of a Naga legend about the birth of a redeemer figure which finds a parallel in Christ's birth.
The prose itself is simple, but not simplistic, and pulls you to finish the book. I myself easily read the 150 pages in a single sitting. The way the narrative infuses myth with reality is also reminiscent of Achebe's writing and speaks to the prominence of an oral tradition that is an intrinsic part of traditional communities. The novel is an affirmation of the power of storytelling and how it is synonymous to hope in times of distress. It also manages to subtly prop up the message of how we need to safeguard our natural resources in order to survive in leaner times. I would recommend the novel as a starting point into Northeast literature. And while not a masterpiece, it has a vitality which demands to be read.
RATING: 3.75/5
I have only had the occasion to read the poetry of Easterine Kire before. This is my first Kire book, and it reminds me a lot of Temsula Ao's These Hills Called Home which I read back in February with regards to the writing style. Considering both women come from Nagaland and that the tradition of writing originally in English is pretty new, Kire is in fact the first English novelist from the state, it really shouldn't come as a surprise. The appearance of the narrative as folklore is present in both their works which sort of reminds of magical realism in its execution. It is accentuated by the fact that the plot is the fulfilment of a Naga legend about the birth of a redeemer figure which finds a parallel in Christ's birth.
The prose itself is simple, but not simplistic, and pulls you to finish the book. I myself easily read the 150 pages in a single sitting. The way the narrative infuses myth with reality is also reminiscent of Achebe's writing and speaks to the prominence of an oral tradition that is an intrinsic part of traditional communities. The novel is an affirmation of the power of storytelling and how it is synonymous to hope in times of distress. It also manages to subtly prop up the message of how we need to safeguard our natural resources in order to survive in leaner times. I would recommend the novel as a starting point into Northeast literature. And while not a masterpiece, it has a vitality which demands to be read.
August 7, 2019
I was long procrastinating writing a review for this book. There were various reasons, I wasn't able to articulate my thoughts properly, and was also suffering from a writer's block.
My first read for the #discoveringindiareadathon, and as always I was smitten by Kire's writing. Read on to know my thoughts about it.
~
Pelevotso or Pele, loses his family in a famine, leaves his village to escape his loneliness. After walking for a long distance, he meets two ancient women who are nearly 400 years old, living on hope, waiting for rain, so a prophecy will come true. They take Pele to the Village of Weavers, where the tiger-widow stays. The rain will impregnate her and the son which she'll bear will slay the tiger which had killed her entire family. Pele helps the woman in bringing up the son, and he'll witness miracles take place in the village.
This is primarily a story of hope and finding happiness. A man who loses everything in a famine, finds a way to live life again, two sisters who hope for the rain, living on hope for 400 years, and the tiger-widow, who waits for her son, to whom life had been harsh, and tested her at every level.
I love how folklore and magical realism which was so endearing to read. The pace was even like most of her books. A beautiful simple story which will stay in your heart long after you've finished it, and definitely one which you'll recommend to a lot of people. Kire has a knack of connecting with her readers through the story in a unique way. Another thing I admire about Kire is the way she writes about village life in all its glory. People holding to each other and their simple beliefs won me over.
~
I highly recommend this one.
4⭐
My first read for the #discoveringindiareadathon, and as always I was smitten by Kire's writing. Read on to know my thoughts about it.
~
Pelevotso or Pele, loses his family in a famine, leaves his village to escape his loneliness. After walking for a long distance, he meets two ancient women who are nearly 400 years old, living on hope, waiting for rain, so a prophecy will come true. They take Pele to the Village of Weavers, where the tiger-widow stays. The rain will impregnate her and the son which she'll bear will slay the tiger which had killed her entire family. Pele helps the woman in bringing up the son, and he'll witness miracles take place in the village.
This is primarily a story of hope and finding happiness. A man who loses everything in a famine, finds a way to live life again, two sisters who hope for the rain, living on hope for 400 years, and the tiger-widow, who waits for her son, to whom life had been harsh, and tested her at every level.
I love how folklore and magical realism which was so endearing to read. The pace was even like most of her books. A beautiful simple story which will stay in your heart long after you've finished it, and definitely one which you'll recommend to a lot of people. Kire has a knack of connecting with her readers through the story in a unique way. Another thing I admire about Kire is the way she writes about village life in all its glory. People holding to each other and their simple beliefs won me over.
~
I highly recommend this one.
4⭐
February 22, 2020
| Book Review | Son of the Thundercloud.
•
"Words were so important. The wrong words pronounced over a person would destroy him. The right words spoken judiciously would lead a person to fulfil his destiny." - Easterine Kire.
•
My third book by Easterine Kire and such a beautiful one at that. It's hard to describe her books to someone who hasn't read it yet. There's probably one word that can sum up the experience: magic. Always focusing on the simplest details that people often miss to notice, she weaves stories in a surreal manner. I absolutely love how she paints a vivid picture of Nagaland, the tales of legend and the simplicity of people who live in the villages and valleys. I'm often amused by how well a story works if it's presented in its natural essence. This book reminds me once again why Kire's books are so warm.
•
When Pelevesto loses his family to a famine, he packs his belongings and walks to other villages searching for signs of life. With no sense of destination in mind he keeps going until he finds a dilapidated village with earth that shows signs of death and huts nothing more than just a few strands of tree fronds. As he surveys this strange place, he meets two sisters who are about 400 years old and look like mere skeletons. When asked how have they managed to survive in this village with no food, they casually remark that they ate hope. Hope that the legend of 'Son of the Thundercloud' will bring back life to the villages with his arrival. During his stay with the sisters, he witnesses the stars shift in the sky, leaving him breathless and in awe. The onset of next day brings ferocious rain that was held back for hundreds of years. With this, the legend comes true.
•
The sisters take Pele to the next village in which their other sister, Mesunao lives. The stories of Tiger Widow comes true when a single drop of rain makes her pregnant hence bringing a son into the world who'll go ahead to kill the Tiger that has been tormenting the villagers for decades. After the rain sprouts new life, the villagers grow healthier and Pele begins to live with Mesunao, while helping her raise her son.
While Mesunao's son is destined to do great things, the spirits try their best to hold him back.
•
Kire has managed to explain how people often bow to greed and cruelty more often than they realise. Pele's love for the sisters and the child goes to show the lengths to which he is willing to travel to protect them. The villager's attitude towards Mesunao changes from gratitude to hatred which eventually leads to unfortunate events. It's beautiful to see how well the author tries to show the various sides of human nature through magical realism. The many folktales that her book encloses are wonderful to read. This book speaks of hope, love, hate and compassion: all these in just about 150 pages. To narrate such complex emotions in a crisp and neat manner is undoubtedly a difficult thing to do. Another significant quality about her books is the language that she uses. It's lyrical and feels wonderfully curated. I highly recommend it.
•
Rating - 4/5.
•
"Words were so important. The wrong words pronounced over a person would destroy him. The right words spoken judiciously would lead a person to fulfil his destiny." - Easterine Kire.
•
My third book by Easterine Kire and such a beautiful one at that. It's hard to describe her books to someone who hasn't read it yet. There's probably one word that can sum up the experience: magic. Always focusing on the simplest details that people often miss to notice, she weaves stories in a surreal manner. I absolutely love how she paints a vivid picture of Nagaland, the tales of legend and the simplicity of people who live in the villages and valleys. I'm often amused by how well a story works if it's presented in its natural essence. This book reminds me once again why Kire's books are so warm.
•
When Pelevesto loses his family to a famine, he packs his belongings and walks to other villages searching for signs of life. With no sense of destination in mind he keeps going until he finds a dilapidated village with earth that shows signs of death and huts nothing more than just a few strands of tree fronds. As he surveys this strange place, he meets two sisters who are about 400 years old and look like mere skeletons. When asked how have they managed to survive in this village with no food, they casually remark that they ate hope. Hope that the legend of 'Son of the Thundercloud' will bring back life to the villages with his arrival. During his stay with the sisters, he witnesses the stars shift in the sky, leaving him breathless and in awe. The onset of next day brings ferocious rain that was held back for hundreds of years. With this, the legend comes true.
•
The sisters take Pele to the next village in which their other sister, Mesunao lives. The stories of Tiger Widow comes true when a single drop of rain makes her pregnant hence bringing a son into the world who'll go ahead to kill the Tiger that has been tormenting the villagers for decades. After the rain sprouts new life, the villagers grow healthier and Pele begins to live with Mesunao, while helping her raise her son.
While Mesunao's son is destined to do great things, the spirits try their best to hold him back.
•
Kire has managed to explain how people often bow to greed and cruelty more often than they realise. Pele's love for the sisters and the child goes to show the lengths to which he is willing to travel to protect them. The villager's attitude towards Mesunao changes from gratitude to hatred which eventually leads to unfortunate events. It's beautiful to see how well the author tries to show the various sides of human nature through magical realism. The many folktales that her book encloses are wonderful to read. This book speaks of hope, love, hate and compassion: all these in just about 150 pages. To narrate such complex emotions in a crisp and neat manner is undoubtedly a difficult thing to do. Another significant quality about her books is the language that she uses. It's lyrical and feels wonderfully curated. I highly recommend it.
•
Rating - 4/5.
April 14, 2021
It’s unfair, what a small story can do to you. I’ve fallen in love with those valleys, villages and soil all over again. And maybe I don’t fear the thunderstorms and heavy rains as much as I did. I think I might have found a home of comfort in them.
You’re so easily led to believe all the miracles without even questioning anything even once. In Nagaland, a land of legends, stories and songs you’ll find things so priceless. I’m spellbound by how simple but exquisite this story was.
With spirits and a past unknown to him, Pelevotso stumbles upon an abandoned village where two miserable sisters reside, waiting for the day their connection to the earth would break and they’d go back to where they had come from. After witnessing the shifting of the world while the stars pulled the earth with them through the thatched roof of the sisters’ house, Pele stumbles upon the Village of Weavers after having everything dear to him mercilessly snatched away.
There, his life takes a new turn.
He meets an old woman who was impregnated by a drop of rain - and with a hope and assurance of vengeance she bores the Son of Thundercloud. And that also fulfils a prophecy left behind by their ancestors - that his birth will be the end of all the misfortunes the innocent people of that land lived with.
The centuries of famine had made the earth a hungry, tired, almost a dead mass. With nothing to receive and nothing to get in return, the nature had shrivelled and suffocated. People were surviving on hope - the only thing keeping them alive to await his arrival. And then he was born.
A delicate place with magic running through its veins was unfortunately taken over by a common humanly weapon : hatred. When the magic of tales had been replaced by the thoughts of darkness, the joy of rebirth of the earth had been put to an end by unbelief.
And so died the treasures preserved for over centuries, and with them, the gift of compassion.
This book is one of the best examples when it comes to the genre of magical realism. You don’t know much about the book, but by the flowery words you’re carried away into a world that you heart had longed for since forever. You’ll be hypnotised and completely under the spell of its creator.
A very tragic but heartfelt story that completely depends on the elegant symbolism to show hard hitting realities. It also slaps the modern day ignorance on the face and asks it to value everything gorgeous it had slaughtered due to the lack of faith.
A gem of a book I would like to keep close to my heart always, and come back to whenever in need of something that will make me hold my ground and not waver away.
You’re so easily led to believe all the miracles without even questioning anything even once. In Nagaland, a land of legends, stories and songs you’ll find things so priceless. I’m spellbound by how simple but exquisite this story was.
With spirits and a past unknown to him, Pelevotso stumbles upon an abandoned village where two miserable sisters reside, waiting for the day their connection to the earth would break and they’d go back to where they had come from. After witnessing the shifting of the world while the stars pulled the earth with them through the thatched roof of the sisters’ house, Pele stumbles upon the Village of Weavers after having everything dear to him mercilessly snatched away.
There, his life takes a new turn.
He meets an old woman who was impregnated by a drop of rain - and with a hope and assurance of vengeance she bores the Son of Thundercloud. And that also fulfils a prophecy left behind by their ancestors - that his birth will be the end of all the misfortunes the innocent people of that land lived with.
The centuries of famine had made the earth a hungry, tired, almost a dead mass. With nothing to receive and nothing to get in return, the nature had shrivelled and suffocated. People were surviving on hope - the only thing keeping them alive to await his arrival. And then he was born.
A delicate place with magic running through its veins was unfortunately taken over by a common humanly weapon : hatred. When the magic of tales had been replaced by the thoughts of darkness, the joy of rebirth of the earth had been put to an end by unbelief.
And so died the treasures preserved for over centuries, and with them, the gift of compassion.
This book is one of the best examples when it comes to the genre of magical realism. You don’t know much about the book, but by the flowery words you’re carried away into a world that you heart had longed for since forever. You’ll be hypnotised and completely under the spell of its creator.
A very tragic but heartfelt story that completely depends on the elegant symbolism to show hard hitting realities. It also slaps the modern day ignorance on the face and asks it to value everything gorgeous it had slaughtered due to the lack of faith.
A gem of a book I would like to keep close to my heart always, and come back to whenever in need of something that will make me hold my ground and not waver away.
June 4, 2021
A beautiful story that I just couldn't put down once I picked up. Rich with folklore and the sheer power of storytelling itself.
5/5
5/5
June 28, 2021
Pele, darling of his grand mother grows listening to her bedtime folklore learns about a tiger widow whose husband & her seven sons were killed by a tiger spirit. Years to come Pele gets married & leads a simple farmer life. But with a horrid famine he loses his family & sets on a journey to find his livelihood. On his search for life & livelihood , he meets two gaunt spectral sisters named Kethanuo & Sirtze, each around 400 years old in a deserted & abandoned village.
The village they are living in, hadn't seen a single drop of rain & never ate a single seed of grain from centuries together. But the night Pele has come & stayed , the parched & cracked farm lands of the village turns into a slush & wet mass with huge downpour & those arid lands turnrs out sprouting with none seeding grains. It is strongly believed according to a prophecy that 'the son of thundercloud‘ brings rain to that desolated region. Two sisters, seeing rain for the very first time in their lives gets exhilarated fo witnessing the prophecy coming true.
They travel to their youngest sister Mesanuo (also a spectral woman, two centuries old) - the tiger widow. Pele aghasts meeting her whom he knew only in legends. She gets impegrenated with a drop of rain the before day as per the folklore & gives birth to a baby boy - Rhalietuo the very next day.
This book by Easterine at many instances wisely tells how bad had overpowered good in the process of evolution of mankind . It also talks about how jealousy & vanity prevailed over human preventing him tending towards humanity & compassion. This is much like a bed time story told us by our grandmother during childhood & could be read by children above certain age too.
'Hope' is what made Kitanuo & Sirtze live for hundreds of years without food & water. Even Mesanuo feeds herself with hope losing her husband & sons.
Pele once was abandoned & orphaned , now after living with three phantom sisters briefly acquires enough hope to live the rest of his life.
By the way aren't we too living on that hope where everything comes back to normal in these tough times, if not let's try learning from them.
The village they are living in, hadn't seen a single drop of rain & never ate a single seed of grain from centuries together. But the night Pele has come & stayed , the parched & cracked farm lands of the village turns into a slush & wet mass with huge downpour & those arid lands turnrs out sprouting with none seeding grains. It is strongly believed according to a prophecy that 'the son of thundercloud‘ brings rain to that desolated region. Two sisters, seeing rain for the very first time in their lives gets exhilarated fo witnessing the prophecy coming true.
They travel to their youngest sister Mesanuo (also a spectral woman, two centuries old) - the tiger widow. Pele aghasts meeting her whom he knew only in legends. She gets impegrenated with a drop of rain the before day as per the folklore & gives birth to a baby boy - Rhalietuo the very next day.
This book by Easterine at many instances wisely tells how bad had overpowered good in the process of evolution of mankind . It also talks about how jealousy & vanity prevailed over human preventing him tending towards humanity & compassion. This is much like a bed time story told us by our grandmother during childhood & could be read by children above certain age too.
'Hope' is what made Kitanuo & Sirtze live for hundreds of years without food & water. Even Mesanuo feeds herself with hope losing her husband & sons.
Pele once was abandoned & orphaned , now after living with three phantom sisters briefly acquires enough hope to live the rest of his life.
By the way aren't we too living on that hope where everything comes back to normal in these tough times, if not let's try learning from them.
June 15, 2025
folklore forever
March 25, 2022
More like 3.5/5.
It's a nice easy read, almost like a bedtime read, albeit a bit too dark for it. There is pain, suffering, isolation, and prejudice in this book so the content is not easy to digest, but the way the story has been told is mythical and fantastical, lending it an air of magic that is difficult to shake as you finish the book. The writing lends itself to being read out loud so if you're looking to do that with a lover or a friend late at night when you can't sleep, this book may be ideal.
It's a nice easy read, almost like a bedtime read, albeit a bit too dark for it. There is pain, suffering, isolation, and prejudice in this book so the content is not easy to digest, but the way the story has been told is mythical and fantastical, lending it an air of magic that is difficult to shake as you finish the book. The writing lends itself to being read out loud so if you're looking to do that with a lover or a friend late at night when you can't sleep, this book may be ideal.
September 6, 2020
This is a mix of folklore and bitterness of real life. The myth on which people live sometimes affect their life widely.
Pele, a protagonist sets his journey far away from his hometown and happens to meet 2 ancient ladies waiting for rain for more than 400 years in an abandoned village.
All 3 of them then leaves to the Weaver's village where the Tiger widow, impregnated by the clouds live. Pele then becomes a part of that family. Will the son of the widow and the thundercloud be able to kill the spirit tiger who had destroyer his mother's family ? His life brings a great change to the village making the land fertile with the rebirth of their river mother.
Pele, a protagonist sets his journey far away from his hometown and happens to meet 2 ancient ladies waiting for rain for more than 400 years in an abandoned village.
All 3 of them then leaves to the Weaver's village where the Tiger widow, impregnated by the clouds live. Pele then becomes a part of that family. Will the son of the widow and the thundercloud be able to kill the spirit tiger who had destroyer his mother's family ? His life brings a great change to the village making the land fertile with the rebirth of their river mother.
May 3, 2018
What a wonderful book - a mix of folk stories and fantasy. I definitely want to read more of Easterine Kire now.
January 3, 2022
really a lovely little book. i would love to read a whole collection of stories of this sort from easterine kire, i found myself wishing it would not end.
March 20, 2025
"People tend to believe what is more plausible rather than what is miraculous"
Son of a Thundercloud by Easterine Kire.
A beautiful magical lyrical tale of fiction with the roots and backdrop of Naga identity, culture and tradition.
Pele, Mesanuo and Rhalie. Pele being a man who lost everything- his land, his people & his life in a famine and drought decides to go in search of Village of Weavers- known to be prosperous from ancient times.
He remembers to a legend of a woman whose husband and 7 children being killed by a tiger, the tiger widow! She would conceive the son of raindrop in an evening of thundercloud who would kill the tiger- says the legend. To his surprise, his destiny meets the real characters of this legend at the Village of Weavers.
The headman of the village welcomes him and people there were the best hosts. The tiger widow conceives a baby in the evening of his arrival where the Thundercloud and heavy rain meet, thus the prophecy was in its way of fullfilment. The kid was named Rhalietuo, Rhalie. Pele and him became best buddies. Mesanuo, the tiger widow was not anymore dull. She became a goddess. While Pele was falling for her, they decide to go to meet Mesuano's sisters living in the abandoned village. They return back after 7 years to find the village of weavers worshipping the tiger who took everything from this small family of Rhalie.
Everything shocks Pele and his mind wanders with questions. Did Rhalie kill the tiger? Was the prophecy true? What happened to them?
Magical, poetic and truly enjoyable.
This book of 150 pages is an exciting journey of unputdownable narrative that symbolises the Naga culture and tradition. Although fiction, the powerful symbol convey a lot about the social structure and dynamics of the community. The poetic lyrical writing makes it even more enjoyable in a way that you will never know when did you flip the page. Fantasy blended so well that even after having thousand questions in your mind, you'll find floating along Pele, the narrator.
Recommending everyone who would love to try a soft yet memorable North East fiction under 200 pages.
Son of a Thundercloud by Easterine Kire.
A beautiful magical lyrical tale of fiction with the roots and backdrop of Naga identity, culture and tradition.
Pele, Mesanuo and Rhalie. Pele being a man who lost everything- his land, his people & his life in a famine and drought decides to go in search of Village of Weavers- known to be prosperous from ancient times.
He remembers to a legend of a woman whose husband and 7 children being killed by a tiger, the tiger widow! She would conceive the son of raindrop in an evening of thundercloud who would kill the tiger- says the legend. To his surprise, his destiny meets the real characters of this legend at the Village of Weavers.
The headman of the village welcomes him and people there were the best hosts. The tiger widow conceives a baby in the evening of his arrival where the Thundercloud and heavy rain meet, thus the prophecy was in its way of fullfilment. The kid was named Rhalietuo, Rhalie. Pele and him became best buddies. Mesanuo, the tiger widow was not anymore dull. She became a goddess. While Pele was falling for her, they decide to go to meet Mesuano's sisters living in the abandoned village. They return back after 7 years to find the village of weavers worshipping the tiger who took everything from this small family of Rhalie.
Everything shocks Pele and his mind wanders with questions. Did Rhalie kill the tiger? Was the prophecy true? What happened to them?
Magical, poetic and truly enjoyable.
This book of 150 pages is an exciting journey of unputdownable narrative that symbolises the Naga culture and tradition. Although fiction, the powerful symbol convey a lot about the social structure and dynamics of the community. The poetic lyrical writing makes it even more enjoyable in a way that you will never know when did you flip the page. Fantasy blended so well that even after having thousand questions in your mind, you'll find floating along Pele, the narrator.
Recommending everyone who would love to try a soft yet memorable North East fiction under 200 pages.
March 17, 2021
"Words were so important. The wrong words pronounced over a person would destroy him. The right words spoken judiciously would lead a person to fulfil his destiny.”
A powerful folklore fable that celebrates the storytelling artform. Stories are meant to convey morals when they become fables and so it does in the form of hope, faith hate, circle of life and potential.
A man walks away from a village after his entier family dies of famine. He is named Pelevotso 'faithful to the end'. He meets two extrordinary old women in the village of 'Hope' who have live 400 years feeding on hope that the rains would arrive. And it does.
In the rain, the prophecy gets fulfilled - of a tiger widow who gets pregnant by a single drop of rain. The son Rhalietuo will fulfill his destiny as dreamed and stand for compassion. Through one hell of a story, Pele remains a traveller, an outsider who remains optimistic.
This is one of the books that can easily be dismissed off as illogical - but that is not the point. It has a heavy influence of the oral storytelling tradition that is hard to ignore. Gaiman's writing about the Anansi brothers falls in the similar genre.
A lovely short Indian folklore - for adults and kids.
A powerful folklore fable that celebrates the storytelling artform. Stories are meant to convey morals when they become fables and so it does in the form of hope, faith hate, circle of life and potential.
A man walks away from a village after his entier family dies of famine. He is named Pelevotso 'faithful to the end'. He meets two extrordinary old women in the village of 'Hope' who have live 400 years feeding on hope that the rains would arrive. And it does.
In the rain, the prophecy gets fulfilled - of a tiger widow who gets pregnant by a single drop of rain. The son Rhalietuo will fulfill his destiny as dreamed and stand for compassion. Through one hell of a story, Pele remains a traveller, an outsider who remains optimistic.
This is one of the books that can easily be dismissed off as illogical - but that is not the point. It has a heavy influence of the oral storytelling tradition that is hard to ignore. Gaiman's writing about the Anansi brothers falls in the similar genre.
A lovely short Indian folklore - for adults and kids.
March 28, 2020
Review
Link to Blog
A beautiful folk story. Plot set in Nagaland and reader can be already feel the places the way they narrate it. Those who also read Easterine Kire's 'Don't Run, My Love' novel can feel acquainted with the land, Spirit-tiger and culture of Naga.
The narration makes it read in a single sitting. Reading tales from other parts of our own country is important and we must take especially the folk tales to every one.
Plot:
After losing all his family a man leaves his village and gets to meet two ancient women who have waited for rain for four hundred years and later meets tiger-widow whose prophecy will be fulfilled.
The traveller will help the woman bring up the boy. He will witness miracles and tragedy and come close to finding a home again. And he will learn that love and life are eternal.
Link to Blog
A beautiful folk story. Plot set in Nagaland and reader can be already feel the places the way they narrate it. Those who also read Easterine Kire's 'Don't Run, My Love' novel can feel acquainted with the land, Spirit-tiger and culture of Naga.
The narration makes it read in a single sitting. Reading tales from other parts of our own country is important and we must take especially the folk tales to every one.
Plot:
After losing all his family a man leaves his village and gets to meet two ancient women who have waited for rain for four hundred years and later meets tiger-widow whose prophecy will be fulfilled.
The traveller will help the woman bring up the boy. He will witness miracles and tragedy and come close to finding a home again. And he will learn that love and life are eternal.
August 5, 2024
Such a simple and beautiful storytelling. This book is really an allegory of Hope and Love. Initially, I found it very slow paced and difficult to go on but by the end , I really loved it. The story also takes a dig at how vulnerable humans are to jealousy and hatred. It also points out how easy it is for humans to label anything that they cannot comprehend as nonsense. I loved the two sisters in the abandoned village.
January 23, 2021
An absolutely beautiful tale. I picked it up and before I knew it I had read more than half of this small book! Kire writes in a very flowing manner. I enjoyed every bit of this lovely book.
May 27, 2021
A fantasy brings out the elements of human nature with issues of famine and the way people react in the times of distress and human relationships.
January 18, 2022
Written in the tradition of community folktales, this was a beautiful story with elements of magical realism. Easterine Kire grew up in a Naga Christian household where the religion was nativized. When I read the story, it was clear how the storyline localized Christian myths to present a wonderful amalgamation of indigenous storytelling and ancient religious practice.
I recommend the audiobook (narrated by Aditi Thirani) to anyone who wants a peaceful reading experience.
I recommend the audiobook (narrated by Aditi Thirani) to anyone who wants a peaceful reading experience.
May 15, 2025
A short, powerful story with elements of magical realism. Written in the style of community folktales, it celebrates the art form of oral storytelling.
Although fiction, the story conveys a lot about the societal structure, climate change, and its effects. So much of indigenous history is rooted in environmentalism.
The author, intertwines facts about the Naga culture, community, and traditions along with blended fantasy.
The writing style is starkly simple, yet engrossing. A simple story that stirs your conscience. I definitely look forward to reading more of Easterine Kire, now.
Although fiction, the story conveys a lot about the societal structure, climate change, and its effects. So much of indigenous history is rooted in environmentalism.
The author, intertwines facts about the Naga culture, community, and traditions along with blended fantasy.
The writing style is starkly simple, yet engrossing. A simple story that stirs your conscience. I definitely look forward to reading more of Easterine Kire, now.
May 18, 2025
A short, cute read which keeps you invested in the lore till the end.
March 17, 2020
Son of the Thundercloud by Easterine Kire is a based off a Naga folktale. After his village suffers from a famine, Pele, the protagonist sets off on a journey. Having grown up to his grandmother encouraging him to travel and the many folktales she narrated, he is delighted and stunned to see them come alive.
Weaved together with thr Naga culture, the book with its simple narration and writing keeps you hooked to the end.
The metaphors are wise and telling of a culture that was determined to endure and be one with nature.
Short and engaging read.
Weaved together with thr Naga culture, the book with its simple narration and writing keeps you hooked to the end.
The metaphors are wise and telling of a culture that was determined to endure and be one with nature.
Short and engaging read.
December 21, 2021
Beautifully written, super vivid imagery, loved the storyline. Timeline felt a teeny bit rushed (basically wish it was longer). Would totally recommend, especially to get out of a reading slump. And as a Naga, all the traditional touches makes me appreciate the art even more 🤍
August 9, 2019
Son of the Thundercloud by Easterine Kire is a Folklore, set in a mystical land with a simple and straightforward plot. After losing his family in famine, Pele, our protagonist sets on a journey to find the weaver’s village. On his way to weaver’s village, he finds an abandoned village. Here, he meets two sisters, both more than 300 years old, somewhere between living and dead, surviving on hope and waiting for a prophecy to come true. Shortly after Pele’s arrival in this abandoned village, it sees extraordinary rainfall. After witnessing the rain for the first time, these ancient sisters accompany Pele to the weaver’s village and meet their third sister, The Tiger Widow. Pele is surprised to find that the previous night, the tiger widow got impregnated by a singer drop of rain. After listening to the complete prophecy and seeing certain extraordinary happening in front of his eyes, Pele decides to stay back in the village of Weavers and becomes Rhalie’s, the Son of Thundercloud, guardian. Things go well for a long time and then prophecy comes true when Rhalie kills the tiger who killed his father and his seven brothers. But shortly after that, Rhalie is also cunningly murdered.
I was reading folklore after almost 2 decades and thoroughly enjoyed reading this special book. So much has been said in this allegorical book in such simple prose. This story is weaved with magical realism and simplicity of village culture. People who don’t have enough for themselves helping others can be seen only in villages. It’s a really short book with water tight narration and no superfluous details or descriptions to dilute the plot. The story starts and ends with Pele but we also see three miraculous sisters, surviving on hope and having faith for the prophecy to come true.
I loved this beautifully crafted story of hope. I have read books with magical realism by foreign authors but from an Indian author , this was my first and it’s written beautifully. After reading this I am definitely going to read more from Easterine Kire.
I was reading folklore after almost 2 decades and thoroughly enjoyed reading this special book. So much has been said in this allegorical book in such simple prose. This story is weaved with magical realism and simplicity of village culture. People who don’t have enough for themselves helping others can be seen only in villages. It’s a really short book with water tight narration and no superfluous details or descriptions to dilute the plot. The story starts and ends with Pele but we also see three miraculous sisters, surviving on hope and having faith for the prophecy to come true.
I loved this beautifully crafted story of hope. I have read books with magical realism by foreign authors but from an Indian author , this was my first and it’s written beautifully. After reading this I am definitely going to read more from Easterine Kire.
June 5, 2020
There are some books that touches our heart but we can't really express particularly which element makes if feel so - is it narration or the style of knitting the plot or anything else.
Son of thundercloud by Easterine Kire, a folklore set in Nagaland,is a perfect example of such book.
After losing everyone in his family, Pele leaves his village and starts to walk. He walks and walks without destination. But he reaches to a village which seems like a forgotten land on this planet. Everyone has forgotten that village- the villagers, the lives and rain.
Pele meets two sister there. They claims to live 400 years and they eat HOPE everyday to survive. There's a belief that only " son of thundercloud " can save this land.
Here, Magical realism has been blend with folk lore brilliantly made the story a unique piece. The more you read, more you will love her writing.
There's an odd similarity between the plot of the book and our current situation. I personally think the book gives a picture of the world when we disobey our mother Earth . After that we all " Eat Hope " everyday.
I'm glad that I started my audio book journey with this beautifully narrated book. It's about 3 and half hours read and around 150 pages. I don't need to mention that how much I love short books.
A remarkable book
Son of thundercloud by Easterine Kire, a folklore set in Nagaland,is a perfect example of such book.
After losing everyone in his family, Pele leaves his village and starts to walk. He walks and walks without destination. But he reaches to a village which seems like a forgotten land on this planet. Everyone has forgotten that village- the villagers, the lives and rain.
Pele meets two sister there. They claims to live 400 years and they eat HOPE everyday to survive. There's a belief that only " son of thundercloud " can save this land.
Here, Magical realism has been blend with folk lore brilliantly made the story a unique piece. The more you read, more you will love her writing.
There's an odd similarity between the plot of the book and our current situation. I personally think the book gives a picture of the world when we disobey our mother Earth . After that we all " Eat Hope " everyday.
I'm glad that I started my audio book journey with this beautifully narrated book. It's about 3 and half hours read and around 150 pages. I don't need to mention that how much I love short books.
A remarkable book
November 14, 2022
Imagine meeting the characters of the tales you grew up hearing! Amazing and dreading at the same time. Right? Pelevotso the young man after losing his family to drought abandoned his village and started an unknown journey. He met the two sisters who live on hope for nearly four hundred years. The prophecy he heard when little was fulfilled right before his eyes. He witnessed the birth and death of "the son of the thundercloud" and fell in love with his mother Mesanuo the youngest sister of the mysterious duo. But sometimes grief is greater than love. He was destined to be a part of their lives but he had to outlive them to keep their story alive. When he would be traveling in a land afar, he would be telling their strange stories, the spirit tiger, the son of the thundercloud, the abandoned village 'Nouzie', and the three sisters that lived for so many years.
This story felt like hearing from my grandmother at bedtime - simple, beautiful, and thought-provoking. A warm tell of the scenic beauty of hills and people living there.
This story felt like hearing from my grandmother at bedtime - simple, beautiful, and thought-provoking. A warm tell of the scenic beauty of hills and people living there.
November 15, 2022
This beautiful story, all the way from the hills of Nagaland, reads and feels like a folklore passed on through oral re-tellings. Mysticism and reality are interwoven in the narration. Just when you think there could be a logical explanation behind something like the earth being pulled apart, you are forced to believe that the abnormal is the normal. And when you want the magic to overpower you by reviving Rhalie, you are left devastated by the reality.
The book treats life and death as just mere events. Life doesn’t end at death and death is just the beginning. It teaches how hope can sustain you for centuries and yet greed destroy you young. How sometimes it is easier to believe in the dark reality than compassionate mysticism. In the end, those who respect the forces of nature and sustain it, create a balance and aren’t greedy, live fruitful lives.
The book treats life and death as just mere events. Life doesn’t end at death and death is just the beginning. It teaches how hope can sustain you for centuries and yet greed destroy you young. How sometimes it is easier to believe in the dark reality than compassionate mysticism. In the end, those who respect the forces of nature and sustain it, create a balance and aren’t greedy, live fruitful lives.
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