India, Feb. 14 -- It is usually interesting to read a retelling of the Ramayana because the story never grows old and each teller brings something of their own to it. Vayu Naidu's book The Living Legend - Ramayana Tales from Far and Near highlights the importance of Nature, and the need to develop an eco-friendly relationship with the earth. She divides her book into the traditional seven kandas or sections associated with the Valmiki Ramayana.

There are charming, inventive touches such as using lyrical South Indian names for flowers like 'kanakambharam', which means 'golden ornament'. It is the less poetic 'firecracker flower' in English. There is also some contemporary language that seems written for children such as when Lord Shiva di...