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The Owl Delivered The Good News All Night Long
From Jammu and Kashmir in the North to the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the South, from Dadra and Nagar havens and Daman and diu in the West to Arunachal Pradesh in the east, and all the other states and Union territories of India in between, here are 108 fabulous folk tales, legends, and stories from more than fifty-seven languages and dialects. You will delight in wondrous tales of heroes and heroines, of ordinary men and women, of wicked mothers-in-law and foolish sons-in-law, of love lost and won, of a tree who loved a girl, of seers and wise men, of chudails, werewolves, and wizards, of a Potter girl and the divine cow, of demoiselle cranes and humans transforming into elephants, of how the Woodpecker got its Crest, and much, much more. Startlingly original, brilliant, wise, and often funny, these stories will delight readers of all ages.
- GenresIndian Literature
540 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2021
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127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 25, 2022
The Owl Delivered The Good News All Night Long was my pan-India read for my #ReadingIndia challenge.
I do not like to leave negative reviews about a book, because as someone who has been at the receiving end of criticism (and as someone who has not learnt to take mild or harsh criticism in my stride), I am very reluctant to dole it out. But this book was just such a disappointment, on so many levels.
Ever since I first heard about the book, I have been wanting to read this. The #ReadingIndia challenge I have undertaken this year has only confirmed my belief that India is full of rich and beautiful stories and gifted storytellers. Our stories are the same sometimes, geographical location notwithstanding, and sometimes they are so different that it is awe-inspiring that we are one nation in spite of this diversity. Imagine then the expectations of a book that promises folk tales from every state and union territory in India, in fact, a set of three tales from each state and union territory: one from the language of the majority; one from a language of a minority; and one modern tale, usually of people who made significant contributions to the state.
However, this book sorely needs closer and better editing. The grammar errors allowed in this book are irritating enough to dull any pleasure in it. And this dulled pleasure is then further leached out by the strange narrative style. These are folk tales that survived in an era of oral entertainment. They were narrated to enthrall, to hold in thrall audiences who had probably heard it all before but couldn’t resist listening to it again. Here is a sentence that appears in the book, from a story about Mirza and Sahibaan, a folktale from Chandigarh, about star-crossed lovers: ‘He [Mirza] defied all the logic delineated by his family members and stuck to his decision of rescuing his lover.’ I cannot understand the choice of words or the sentence structure. How does this capture the drama, the sorrow, the urgency of a man responding to his lover’s plea for help? The book is riddled with such sentences which ruined my pleasure in the tales.
These are not the only strange choices made in the book. For Bihar, the land of Gaya, Nalanda, Pataliputra, the folk tale is a ghost story in a medical hostel?! Was there nothing better to showcase from Bihar except this urban legend? In the very first story in the collection, a story to represent Andaman and Nicobar, the author tells us ‘…the Car Nicobar Island had several inhabitants who belonged to the Mongoloid race’. This ethnic identity has no significance whatsoever to the story which tells of the love of two of the islands’ inhabitants: Tatora and Vimaro. So why point it out? I might have missed these if the tales themselves were wonderfully told, but in a sub-par book, these strange choices stand out.
And the book is sub-par because of the prolific grammar errors. Reading this as an English editor was nearly traumatic! ‘Vimaro’s screams has haunted…’ (subject-verb agreement). ‘Thinnan gorged out his left eye… (should have been ‘gouged out’). The book is rife with such errors.
I know I make it sound irredeemable, but I cannot disregard the fact that a compendium of this sort introduces one to tales that one has never heard before. To have covered all Indian states and union territories, to have assimilated tales from more than 57 languages and dialects is a remarkable achievement. I truly admire the ambition but I think the execution was lacking. Some of the tales have fewer errors and are more enjoyable. However, inordinately lengthy sentences, poor punctuation and grammar, wrong tenses, and strange word choice mar the overall experience of the book far more. For instance, 'The Story of Shaligram and the Butcher' seems like a perfect one for our times: Lord Vishnu disdains the meaningless ritual offered by a priest in favour of the hard work and dedication of a non-Hindu butcher. However, in this story too, an incorrect pronoun, right at the end, jars: ‘…butcher… puts me back with utmost care because it [should have been 'he'] values me more than anyone else…’
The dust jacket (illustrated by Apoorva Lalit) and the colour of the hardcover are lovely and are the best things about this book.
The only reason this is not a DNF for me is because I am determined to finish everything I am undertaking as part of my #ReadingIndia challenge this year. Like I said, I do not like negative reviews but for the price of Rs 899, I expected more. The role of the editor assumes greater significance in an enterprise like this: 108 stories, 60 authors and translators; there is bound to be great disparity in writing styles. It is the role of an editor or an editorial team to unify it to make it flow seamlessly, to reflect uniformity in style and format. But the obvious inability of the publishers to do this lets down not only the readers but also the translators and storytellers who contributed to this book. Publishing houses must do better.
I do not like to leave negative reviews about a book, because as someone who has been at the receiving end of criticism (and as someone who has not learnt to take mild or harsh criticism in my stride), I am very reluctant to dole it out. But this book was just such a disappointment, on so many levels.
Ever since I first heard about the book, I have been wanting to read this. The #ReadingIndia challenge I have undertaken this year has only confirmed my belief that India is full of rich and beautiful stories and gifted storytellers. Our stories are the same sometimes, geographical location notwithstanding, and sometimes they are so different that it is awe-inspiring that we are one nation in spite of this diversity. Imagine then the expectations of a book that promises folk tales from every state and union territory in India, in fact, a set of three tales from each state and union territory: one from the language of the majority; one from a language of a minority; and one modern tale, usually of people who made significant contributions to the state.
However, this book sorely needs closer and better editing. The grammar errors allowed in this book are irritating enough to dull any pleasure in it. And this dulled pleasure is then further leached out by the strange narrative style. These are folk tales that survived in an era of oral entertainment. They were narrated to enthrall, to hold in thrall audiences who had probably heard it all before but couldn’t resist listening to it again. Here is a sentence that appears in the book, from a story about Mirza and Sahibaan, a folktale from Chandigarh, about star-crossed lovers: ‘He [Mirza] defied all the logic delineated by his family members and stuck to his decision of rescuing his lover.’ I cannot understand the choice of words or the sentence structure. How does this capture the drama, the sorrow, the urgency of a man responding to his lover’s plea for help? The book is riddled with such sentences which ruined my pleasure in the tales.
These are not the only strange choices made in the book. For Bihar, the land of Gaya, Nalanda, Pataliputra, the folk tale is a ghost story in a medical hostel?! Was there nothing better to showcase from Bihar except this urban legend? In the very first story in the collection, a story to represent Andaman and Nicobar, the author tells us ‘…the Car Nicobar Island had several inhabitants who belonged to the Mongoloid race’. This ethnic identity has no significance whatsoever to the story which tells of the love of two of the islands’ inhabitants: Tatora and Vimaro. So why point it out? I might have missed these if the tales themselves were wonderfully told, but in a sub-par book, these strange choices stand out.
And the book is sub-par because of the prolific grammar errors. Reading this as an English editor was nearly traumatic! ‘Vimaro’s screams has haunted…’ (subject-verb agreement). ‘Thinnan gorged out his left eye… (should have been ‘gouged out’). The book is rife with such errors.
I know I make it sound irredeemable, but I cannot disregard the fact that a compendium of this sort introduces one to tales that one has never heard before. To have covered all Indian states and union territories, to have assimilated tales from more than 57 languages and dialects is a remarkable achievement. I truly admire the ambition but I think the execution was lacking. Some of the tales have fewer errors and are more enjoyable. However, inordinately lengthy sentences, poor punctuation and grammar, wrong tenses, and strange word choice mar the overall experience of the book far more. For instance, 'The Story of Shaligram and the Butcher' seems like a perfect one for our times: Lord Vishnu disdains the meaningless ritual offered by a priest in favour of the hard work and dedication of a non-Hindu butcher. However, in this story too, an incorrect pronoun, right at the end, jars: ‘…butcher… puts me back with utmost care because it [should have been 'he'] values me more than anyone else…’
The dust jacket (illustrated by Apoorva Lalit) and the colour of the hardcover are lovely and are the best things about this book.
The only reason this is not a DNF for me is because I am determined to finish everything I am undertaking as part of my #ReadingIndia challenge this year. Like I said, I do not like negative reviews but for the price of Rs 899, I expected more. The role of the editor assumes greater significance in an enterprise like this: 108 stories, 60 authors and translators; there is bound to be great disparity in writing styles. It is the role of an editor or an editorial team to unify it to make it flow seamlessly, to reflect uniformity in style and format. But the obvious inability of the publishers to do this lets down not only the readers but also the translators and storytellers who contributed to this book. Publishing houses must do better.
August 26, 2021
Book Title: THE OWL DELIVERED THE GOOD NEWS ALL NIGHT LONG
Author: Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai
Format: Kindle
Review:
Folktales are a kind of story that gets passed on from generation to generation. This is true in many cases, and this element gave the new age authors the liberty to write their own versions of popular kinds of traditional tales, such as fables and fairy tales. It is also a fact that a folktale does not have a single author. The tale itself takes many versions as the generations pass on. The word folk in the folktale itself answers this. It is also a fact that many folktales are old. For many generations, these tales were told. Most of them are in the brain but not on paper.
As a result, folktales like Arabian nights from the middle east or the Indian folktales that comprise of many animals as the main characters were told aloud long ago in many places but now are written down in books. These folktales talk about many stages and parts of life. They tell about happy times, sorrows, animals, birds, kingdoms, virtues, ethics, heroes and villains. But, every tale tries to teach a lesson or explain something that is difficult to comprehend.
India is a country that runs mostly on farming. Farmers are the real torchbearers of the country. It can also be said that these rural people are also the initiators of the folktales. They used the format to share their emotions and fears. These tales also talk about the natural regime and texture of the land, people and environment. The folktales and folk songs have always been lifting the spirits of tired minds.
In this book, author Lopamudra picked up folktales from every state in India. Every tale in the story is fascinating and interesting. The word folktale need not be just an old-time setting or yesterday's Kingdom styled one; it can also be today's! Keeping this in mind, the author has curated beautiful tales of feelings and emotions.
As the book's synopsis says, the book is comprised of 108 tales from every state in the country. From Jammu and Kashmir in the North to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the South, from Dadra and Nagar havens and Daman and Diu in the West to Arunachal Pradesh in the east, and all the other states and Union territories of India in between, here are 108 fabulous folk tales, legends, and stories from more than fifty-seven languages and dialects.
The language used is simple, elegant and with extreme clarity. The book is though a translated one, the narration in every small tale is absolutely dynamic, gripping and exciting. The stories range from love to friendship, to wittiness to real-life and many more such emotions. As the book is written universally, it can be read by readers of any age.
A thoroughly recommended book!
Author: Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai
Format: Kindle
Review:
Folktales are a kind of story that gets passed on from generation to generation. This is true in many cases, and this element gave the new age authors the liberty to write their own versions of popular kinds of traditional tales, such as fables and fairy tales. It is also a fact that a folktale does not have a single author. The tale itself takes many versions as the generations pass on. The word folk in the folktale itself answers this. It is also a fact that many folktales are old. For many generations, these tales were told. Most of them are in the brain but not on paper.
As a result, folktales like Arabian nights from the middle east or the Indian folktales that comprise of many animals as the main characters were told aloud long ago in many places but now are written down in books. These folktales talk about many stages and parts of life. They tell about happy times, sorrows, animals, birds, kingdoms, virtues, ethics, heroes and villains. But, every tale tries to teach a lesson or explain something that is difficult to comprehend.
India is a country that runs mostly on farming. Farmers are the real torchbearers of the country. It can also be said that these rural people are also the initiators of the folktales. They used the format to share their emotions and fears. These tales also talk about the natural regime and texture of the land, people and environment. The folktales and folk songs have always been lifting the spirits of tired minds.
In this book, author Lopamudra picked up folktales from every state in India. Every tale in the story is fascinating and interesting. The word folktale need not be just an old-time setting or yesterday's Kingdom styled one; it can also be today's! Keeping this in mind, the author has curated beautiful tales of feelings and emotions.
As the book's synopsis says, the book is comprised of 108 tales from every state in the country. From Jammu and Kashmir in the North to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the South, from Dadra and Nagar havens and Daman and Diu in the West to Arunachal Pradesh in the east, and all the other states and Union territories of India in between, here are 108 fabulous folk tales, legends, and stories from more than fifty-seven languages and dialects.
The language used is simple, elegant and with extreme clarity. The book is though a translated one, the narration in every small tale is absolutely dynamic, gripping and exciting. The stories range from love to friendship, to wittiness to real-life and many more such emotions. As the book is written universally, it can be read by readers of any age.
A thoroughly recommended book!
August 21, 2021
Today’s post is a remembering, a recalling of the childhood stories we grew up with. We probably have already heard these stories before. But like the shedding of our childhood like an old cocoon, we have also left behind the memories of these stories of our culture. As such, this was a brilliant rendering that compelled me to revoke those very stories I had fed on, on the nights when I couldn’t sleep and my parents would weave these tales. I thought my parents and my grandparents were very cool - they could come up with such brilliant stories - but as I grew up I understood that these stories have been passed down through generations and the profundity of that monumental realization had stunned me.
Coming across this compendium of the dreams of my childhood was delicious and satisfying. Compiling these stories and editing them was truly a great feat that was undertaken (and may I say, successfully) by the editor. What made it so very more special was how, apart from re-telling me stories from my childhood, it also told me stories from the childhoods of my fellow Indians from various other states (and UTs too!)
I couldn’t possibly recommend this enough! My meager words are probably not enough to explain the joy, the hopes, the dreams that so many people before me (and after me) have and will pin on these stories. But perhaps I can only point you towards this compendium of diverse people and their diverse cultures.
Read it so you know your country and all the people who are part of it. Read it and see how at the core, they tell you to be kind, to be helpful, and to be good to nature. Read it and rediscover how to be humane in this now-mechanical world.
#TheOwlDeliveredTheGoodNewsAllNightLong
Coming across this compendium of the dreams of my childhood was delicious and satisfying. Compiling these stories and editing them was truly a great feat that was undertaken (and may I say, successfully) by the editor. What made it so very more special was how, apart from re-telling me stories from my childhood, it also told me stories from the childhoods of my fellow Indians from various other states (and UTs too!)
I couldn’t possibly recommend this enough! My meager words are probably not enough to explain the joy, the hopes, the dreams that so many people before me (and after me) have and will pin on these stories. But perhaps I can only point you towards this compendium of diverse people and their diverse cultures.
Read it so you know your country and all the people who are part of it. Read it and see how at the core, they tell you to be kind, to be helpful, and to be good to nature. Read it and rediscover how to be humane in this now-mechanical world.
#TheOwlDeliveredTheGoodNewsAllNightLong
August 25, 2021
This book is a compilation of folk tales, legends, and stories from India. It includes a total of 36 parts including 29 states and 7 union territories. The book talks about art, different stories, and the culture of different parts of India.
As soon as I read about my state, Haryana, I went to google and searched more about it and came to know that it is famous for its historical places mainly like Kurukshetra, a land of the battle of Mahabharata, Panipat, a land where battles of Panipat were fought and one more thing is that it is believed that it was founded by Pandavas during Mahabharata. Next is Faridabad which used to be my district earlier, it's famous for its lakes- Surajkund lake, Badkhal Lake.
Coming to the book again, these stories were fun and interesting to read. They remind me of my childhood days. The stories are crisp and edited by Lopamudra & Maitra Bajpai wonderfully. They have an amazing job. One more thing I loved about this book is its cover. Just have a look at it. It's so gorgeous. It's the prettiest cover I ever have. I love Aleph Book Company for its book covers. I've seen so many pretty covers from them. And I really love to have more titles from them.
Guys, this book is highly recommended by me. Just grab it.
As soon as I read about my state, Haryana, I went to google and searched more about it and came to know that it is famous for its historical places mainly like Kurukshetra, a land of the battle of Mahabharata, Panipat, a land where battles of Panipat were fought and one more thing is that it is believed that it was founded by Pandavas during Mahabharata. Next is Faridabad which used to be my district earlier, it's famous for its lakes- Surajkund lake, Badkhal Lake.
Coming to the book again, these stories were fun and interesting to read. They remind me of my childhood days. The stories are crisp and edited by Lopamudra & Maitra Bajpai wonderfully. They have an amazing job. One more thing I loved about this book is its cover. Just have a look at it. It's so gorgeous. It's the prettiest cover I ever have. I love Aleph Book Company for its book covers. I've seen so many pretty covers from them. And I really love to have more titles from them.
Guys, this book is highly recommended by me. Just grab it.
November 18, 2021
India is popularly known as a nation of diversities owing to the tremendous variety in it's cultures and languages as we go from North to South and West to East.
This book is a compilation of stories from the twenty-eight states and eight union territories of India translated from fifty-seven languages and dialects! It is a one of a kind collection wherein the stories have been arranged alphabetically starting from the Andaman and Nicobar islands and concluding at West Bengal.
Three stories have been presented from each state and union territory. The stories are folk tales, legends and modern lore of India. Being from Maharashtra, I hadn't heard of the brave woman Akkatai Teli. This book introduced me to her inspiring story and many other similar ones.
This is the perfect book if you want to discover the rich heritage of our country. It has interesting stories of nature, ordinary people, witches, seers and a lot more to offer. Extensively researched and brilliantly narrated, this book is a must-read for every Indian!
This book is a compilation of stories from the twenty-eight states and eight union territories of India translated from fifty-seven languages and dialects! It is a one of a kind collection wherein the stories have been arranged alphabetically starting from the Andaman and Nicobar islands and concluding at West Bengal.
Three stories have been presented from each state and union territory. The stories are folk tales, legends and modern lore of India. Being from Maharashtra, I hadn't heard of the brave woman Akkatai Teli. This book introduced me to her inspiring story and many other similar ones.
This is the perfect book if you want to discover the rich heritage of our country. It has interesting stories of nature, ordinary people, witches, seers and a lot more to offer. Extensively researched and brilliantly narrated, this book is a must-read for every Indian!
January 22, 2022
I am so glad that The Owl Delivered The Good News All Night Long is my second book of 2022. I can't imagine a better book to start this year with.
India is a melting pot of cultures and there is no shortage of stories here. This anthology is fabulous collection of folktales, myths and modern stories from all over the country.
The book is divided into 36 sections. The book contains a total of 108 stories from every state and UT of India. Three stories are selected from each region-
1. A folktale or story from the state's official language or a dialect spoken by the state's majority population.
2. A folktale from a less spoken dialect.
3. Inspirational Story about 20th or 21st century's local/regional heroes.
The Owl Delivered The News All Night Long is a unique anthology of stories. It's a must have in every Indian reader's library. The collection reflects the culture of storytelling in India beautifully. The book serves as a reminder of the stories you grew up with.
India is a melting pot of cultures and there is no shortage of stories here. This anthology is fabulous collection of folktales, myths and modern stories from all over the country.
The book is divided into 36 sections. The book contains a total of 108 stories from every state and UT of India. Three stories are selected from each region-
1. A folktale or story from the state's official language or a dialect spoken by the state's majority population.
2. A folktale from a less spoken dialect.
3. Inspirational Story about 20th or 21st century's local/regional heroes.
The Owl Delivered The News All Night Long is a unique anthology of stories. It's a must have in every Indian reader's library. The collection reflects the culture of storytelling in India beautifully. The book serves as a reminder of the stories you grew up with.
August 21, 2021
You can know so much about a country's culture & values through its folk tales & legends.
The book 'The Owl Delivered the Good News All Night Long' is a compilation of folk tales & modern lore of different states of India, edited by Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai.
In a country like India, where spoken language is different in every new state & sometimes even cities, to be able to overcome this language barrier is an anomaly.
The book is classified into 36 sections comprising 3 chapters each. Each section gives an insight into the culture of the particular state/city, which is mesmerizing.
The book 'The Owl Delivered the Good News All Night Long' is a compilation of folk tales & modern lore of different states of India, edited by Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai.
In a country like India, where spoken language is different in every new state & sometimes even cities, to be able to overcome this language barrier is an anomaly.
The book is classified into 36 sections comprising 3 chapters each. Each section gives an insight into the culture of the particular state/city, which is mesmerizing.
November 22, 2025
Just finished this book and wow, it really stuck with me! The story had so many unexpected twists and turns, which I totally dug. Some parts were a little slow to get going, but the payoff at the end was absolutely worth it. Definitely a thought-provoking read that I'd recommend if you're looking for something a bit different. Solid four stars from me!
August 22, 2023
Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai's book, "Tales and Legends from India: A Folklore and Modern Legends Anthology," is a captivating exploration of how age-old folk tales intertwine with contemporary narratives, resonating with readers across generations. Bajpai, shaped by the stories her father ingeniously adapted, has crafted a collection that spans the realms of tradition and modernity.
This anthology, which draws from 57 languages and dialects across India, contains 108 tales curated under nine thematic sub-heads. Bajpai's meticulous research and curation reveal the rich tapestry of cultures and traditions that shape the diverse regions of the country. From myths to oral lore and modern stories, each narrative offers a glimpse into the ethos of its origin.
While the juxtaposition of folk tales and modern legends is both intriguing and insightful, it occasionally leads to minor confusion. Stories attributed to a specific location sometimes stray into unfamiliar territory, blurring the lines between folklore and historical context.
Despite this, "Tales and Legends from India" remains an ambitious and enlightening endeavor. Bajpai's dedication to preserving these narratives and bridging the gap between oral tradition and organized literature is commendable. Through this anthology, readers embark on a journey through time, culture, and the evolving narratives that shape India's rich heritage.
This anthology, which draws from 57 languages and dialects across India, contains 108 tales curated under nine thematic sub-heads. Bajpai's meticulous research and curation reveal the rich tapestry of cultures and traditions that shape the diverse regions of the country. From myths to oral lore and modern stories, each narrative offers a glimpse into the ethos of its origin.
While the juxtaposition of folk tales and modern legends is both intriguing and insightful, it occasionally leads to minor confusion. Stories attributed to a specific location sometimes stray into unfamiliar territory, blurring the lines between folklore and historical context.
Despite this, "Tales and Legends from India" remains an ambitious and enlightening endeavor. Bajpai's dedication to preserving these narratives and bridging the gap between oral tradition and organized literature is commendable. Through this anthology, readers embark on a journey through time, culture, and the evolving narratives that shape India's rich heritage.
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September 27, 2021The Owl Delivered the Good News All Night Long is a collection of Folk tales, legends and modern lore of India,edited by Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai. The 108 stories in this beautiful edition are set across the length and breath of 28 states and 8 Union Territories of India.
Each state and union territory is represented through three stories each: a folk tale in the official language, another folk tale in a language other than the majority and the third, a modern story about people who inspire. The folk tales in the collection are diverse and reflect the cultural diversity of India in a sense, yet threaded by how stories are common in the way they talk of love, hope, joy but are also filled with grief, unhappiness etc. The collection is a treat in terms of the range it offers.
The modern stories around the lives of inspiring people in this collection is a bit of a let down though. The well thought out intent to put the spotlight on people one may have not heard much about falls apart from pedantic writing. The modern lore (all of them unfortunately) comes across as dreary and clinical.
Each state and union territory is represented through three stories each: a folk tale in the official language, another folk tale in a language other than the majority and the third, a modern story about people who inspire. The folk tales in the collection are diverse and reflect the cultural diversity of India in a sense, yet threaded by how stories are common in the way they talk of love, hope, joy but are also filled with grief, unhappiness etc. The collection is a treat in terms of the range it offers.
The modern stories around the lives of inspiring people in this collection is a bit of a let down though. The well thought out intent to put the spotlight on people one may have not heard much about falls apart from pedantic writing. The modern lore (all of them unfortunately) comes across as dreary and clinical.
October 13, 2021
Good work collecting on a verge of extinct stories, but could have includes still more fascinating stories of folklore, kudos to writer for doing such a humongous work of collecting stories form all states and UTs……
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews