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· 1,471 ratings · 147 reviews

Start your review of ഫ്രാൻസിസ് ഇട്ടിക്കോര | Francis Itty Cora

Couldn't get through this book. I got to page 88 and quit.

It starts out with a man in New York contacting a "love school" in Kochi, Kerala, through the internet. This is Francis Itty Cora, and he tells the woman at the school that he is a former US military officer in Iraq, that he went to Iraq specifically to rape someone, and that he is a cannibal. He wants to come to their school because he has been unable to have an erection since he raped the girl in Iraq.

And these women still decide to w

Couldn't get through this book. I got to page 88 and quit.

And these women still decide to welcome him...?

They end up doing some searching for information about his ancestor, an actual historical figure who was a Keralite pepper merchant in the 15th century. But in this investigation, they run up against a shadowy religious cult that worships this ancestor, and gives him all the girls in the family when they reach puberty.

The translation is not very well done, but I would be surprised if the original were much better. I guess you could read it if you like these sorts of books???

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It's dark, gore and disturbing, but the well researched plot which walks on a very feeble line between a historic thriller and a fantasy, sure provides one exciting reading experience. The author has taken some topics of recent interest and have woven a complicated plot which has a global setting. His technique of relating the events in the story to some well known historic events have made the story even more believable.

P.S. A Da Vinci Code for Malayalees, Made In Kunnamkulam.

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Jun 01, 2020 Anjusha rated it it was ok

ക്രിസ്റ്റഫർ നോളന്റെ സിനിമ പോലെ തുടങ്ങി, സന്തോഷ് പണ്ഡിറ്റിന്റെ സിനിമ പോലെ അവസാനിച്ചു .

Good things: A very open and explicit writing on Sexuality and Cannibalism which was both interesting and disturbing. The story about the life of Itty Cora and the suspense built around it was really good.
Bad things: Too much talk about 'Hypatian school and mathematics' and its Cora connection. Also found the detailed history about well known Mathematicians and Political figures totally unnecessary.

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Found it weird , boring and too different for me to digest the story. Lots of crudity and violence and very less about true science or maths .

Reading the synopsis of Francis Itty Cora first thing came to my mind is "not another conpiracy theory ,not another history twister"
When I read prologue to the book written by Asha Menon, though written in a very difficult academic language, it felt like it has more to it.
Asha Menon talked about the book tracing the start of all violence happening in the society now to small incidents happened in the past,that sounded interesting.So I decided to read anyway despite my dislike for the genre.Does
Reading the synopsis of Francis Itty Cora first thing came to my mind is "not another conpiracy theory ,not another history twister"
When I read prologue to the book written by Asha Menon, though written in a very difficult academic language, it felt like it has more to it.
Asha Menon talked about the book tracing the start of all violence happening in the society now to small incidents happened in the past,that sounded interesting.So I decided to read anyway despite my dislike for the genre.Does the book fulfill what it promises?, Lets find out.

Itty Cora was an affluent spice trader who traveled allover the world and sow his seeds everywhere.Calling him just a spice trader would be undermining Cora,his knowledge and interests were in varied fields.His fields of interest include mathematics,astronomy,women and alcohol.Itty Cora left a set of rules for his family before he died.And a secret group called Cora group came into existence whose God is Itty Cora and whose rules were set by Itty Cora.The story moves through one of the modern Cora(a man who is also part of Cora family) who is an Iraq war veteran in search of his lost mojo and his ancestry.Three women and there accomplice who gets entangled in his search for his ancestor lured by financial profits.A mathematician who is doing a research in Francis Itty Cora's contributions to mathematics.It's their adventures twists and turns in there fortunes.

Plot might look promising,but the sad thing is that's all to it.The novel never rises above the possibilities of that basic plot.The style of story telling or language doesn't really add anything to it.Language many times made me feel like I am reading a malayalam translation of some English book.The only malayalitham the book offer is the setting of some parts of story in kunnamkulam.Its a easy read the pace is good,there is always something happening and the settings keep changing and take as to many places.Its good in patches could have been an OK read if it all were concluded well,but the writer decided to dish out a half cooked ending with lots of plot holes.
And if there were anything good about this book it was all spoiled by that stupid ending.

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Francis Ittikora was a giant among men and this figurative usage does have some qualifiers to prove it. Let me see now : Tutored in the Hypatian school of Mathematics - check, accomplished cartographer and astronomer during the time of the renaissance - check, spice merchant and accomplished trader - check, trading connections with the Medici's - check. There are more but I draw the line here for fear of appearing to be awed by this fictional mythic hero. This is the bare bones caricature of the Francis Ittikora was a giant among men and this figurative usage does have some qualifiers to prove it. Let me see now : Tutored in the Hypatian school of Mathematics - check, accomplished cartographer and astronomer during the time of the renaissance - check, spice merchant and accomplished trader - check, trading connections with the Medici's - check. There are more but I draw the line here for fear of appearing to be awed by this fictional mythic hero. This is the bare bones caricature of the myth against which Ramakrishnan builds this extremely powerful novel with an intricately woven plot.

If Korappappan ( means great-grandfather-Kora in the lingo of his still existent family) was a hero when he was alive, then death has rendered him a demigod. Immortalized by acts of the occult, the powerful and considerably influential family of his recons him back from the dead. Through primeval acts of satisfying the flesh , they recieve his blessings in terms of power, money and more and more avenues of gaining the first two. A group of young women who make a living by running a brothel - in the guise of a 'school of erotica' and a writer try making inquiries into this forbidden empire. They end up biting off more than what they can chew. What ensues is what forms the nerve center of the tale. It is an amalgamation of history,sex,tales of power, a look at the trade routes through Trissur in Kerala, the reach and depth of Christianity along these areas etc.. while being wrapped in the cloak of an investigative mode of story telling.

I read this book a good two plus years ago and being able to recollect the tale with this amount of detail is a sure indicator of how good the tale was !

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An interesting Dan Brown style writing in Malayalam. This book offers a unique prospect to the Kerala School of Mathematics as its called in the Western world. Fiction mixed with reality, it offers an open (a very open) perspective about cannibalism, sex and other taboos of the culture.

Need a lot of nerve at times to complete it, sometimes its repetitive.

Aug 08, 2014 Sandesh rated it it was ok

This book can get your history wrong. Its a good read with all the masala of a third rate novel. The author have taken random stories and real history from all around the world, and laboriously made a web of connections with Itticora from Kunnamkulam as its epicenter.
Most of the history mentioned in it either wrong or made up so please do not read this expecting to learn something. And also there is a lot of intellectual stuff mentioned in the book which are specifically there to make the rea This book can get your history wrong. Its a good read with all the masala of a third rate novel. The author have taken random stories and real history from all around the world, and laboriously made a web of connections with Itticora from Kunnamkulam as its epicenter.
Most of the history mentioned in it either wrong or made up so please do not read this expecting to learn something. And also there is a lot of intellectual stuff mentioned in the book which are specifically there to make the reader think himself an intellectual.
This novel can be considered a new variety of crime thriller in malayalam. Anyway I recommend reading it once. And I think reading this one was time wasted well. ...more

Dec 05, 2019 Shon Joy rated it it was amazing

The novel entirely breaks the repeated cliche style of writing.. the authors great knowledge in history and the skill to mix up these history with fiction is absolutely takes this novel to an another level of reading experience, also very engaging narration.

Jan 25, 2021 Indrajith KP rated it it was amazing

A perfect blend of history and fiction weaved into a masterclass novel. Absolutely brilliant!!

Dec 06, 2013 Deepu George rated it really liked it

A story with sex, violence, n mystery . Some chapters really makes the reader feel nauseated . Like the authors other book Alpha this one also describes raw sex n violence. But the intermingled mystery part makes us glued to the book . Readers may love it or hate it. It is difficult to opt for a middle path.

I skipped the introduction and then I started to read the novel.I couldn't keep it down.Francis Ittycora with a magical combination of history, myth, love making , politics and what not!
It is a well crafted novel for one cannot resist reading it. I skipped the introduction and then I started to read the novel.I couldn't keep it down.Francis Ittycora with a magical combination of history, myth, love making , politics and what not!
It is a well crafted novel for one cannot resist reading it. ...more

the end is a bit bit disappointing! but the plot and the way storytelling is superb

May 27, 2013 Prîñçê Deepu rated it it was amazing

Never read a book that travels through many fields and time like this one and also never read a book that is so raw in nature as this one. The author plainly portrays how far a human can go inhuman.

Nov 23, 2013 Nithin Davis rated it it was amazing

A different thrill....a different narration....and an outstanding fiction.

Last year I happened to watch an interview of T.D. Ramakrishnan where he discussed on the plot development of this book, which fascinated me.

"What if someone from Kerala has gone to Europe before Vasco da Gama landed in Kerala."

My first thought was anecdote of "Kuttappan Nair's tea shop that shocked Neil Armstrong". Kuttappan Nair landed on the moon and established "Tattu kada" (small shop on wheels/carts) even before Neil Armstrong. Kuttappan Nair is sarcastic icon who signifies the presence o

Last year I happened to watch an interview of T.D. Ramakrishnan where he discussed on the plot development of this book, which fascinated me.

"What if someone from Kerala has gone to Europe before Vasco da Gama landed in Kerala."

But as the interview progressed I understood it's not just a sarcastic lash at English history which we follow as ours , it's much more. And at last I have read the book.

Francis Itty Cora, 15th century spices merchant from Kerala who is well versed in multiple languages and proficient in mathematics, science , astrology, having higher education from secret Hypatian school in Alexandria and who turns out to be one of the saviour of Hypatian teachings and build's a secret Hypatian School in Florence where even Michelangelo becomes his student and writes down his own gospels (not made out Christs revelation)for his family which he has made with 18 wife's and 79 children who are spread all around the world. And we can see which is being followed by his present generations like an occult.

Author has weaved an alternate history out of fables, myths , hearsays and lies at no points he is not leaving his story loose. The techniques which has used to build up the story, really compliments his efforts . A multiperspectivity , that is emails , blogs , books , lectures , discussions etc which really gives mood of a mystery.

As mentioned by Yuval Noah Harari "In a world deluged by irrelevant information, clarity is power."

Mankind is always addicted to fictions and at time is becomes difficult to differentiate history and fiction , when there is lack of historical records.

On top of building alternate history, he clearly demonstrates how we ourselves has become a product in the world of capitalism. Everything is business and the only motive is profit. Starting from cannibalism to our moral contact everything has got its own price.

Overall a good read .

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This book is a journey through the fictional character Ittikora a rich merchant who was born in Kunnamkulam, Kerala during15th century. The history of the Ittikora starts from Hypatia of Alexandria and her theorems. Mathematics, lust and history are the subject of this book.

This book is an investigation by 3 women (who runs a star brothel called 'the school') who investigate through the family secrets of the Itikora clan known as 'patinettamkuttam'. This family is very rich and politically powerful and has many secret practices(like satanic ritual). These women set out to explore the history of Ittikora for the American soldier who is a Canibal named Francis Ittikora, a descendant of Ittikora.

മലയാളം റിവ്യൂ

15ആം നൂറ്റാണ്ടിൽ കേരളത്തിലെ കുന്നംകുളത്ത് ജനിച്ച ഇട്ടികോര എന്ന സാങ്കല്പിക കഥാപാത്രത്തിലൂടെ ഉള്ള സഞ്ചാരം അണ് ഈ പുസ്തകം. സമുതിരിയെകളും കോലത്തിരിയെകളും എല്ലാം സമ്പന്നൻ അയ ഇട്ടികൊരായുടെ ചരിത്രം തുടങ്ങുന്നത് ഹൈപേഷ്യയുടെ പരമ്പരയിൽ നിന്നാണ്. ഗണിതവും, കാമവും,ചരിത്രവും ഈ പുസ്തകത്തിലെ വിഷയം അണ്.
ഇട്ടികോരയുടെ വംശത്തിൽ പിറന്ന പതിനെട്ടാം കുറ്റകർ എന്ന കുടുംബ രഹസ്യങ്ങളുടെ സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്ന 3 സ്ത്രീകളുടെ ( അവർ 'the school' എന്ന പേരിൽ ഒരു നക്ഷത്ര വേശ്യാലയം നടത്തുന്നു) അന്വേഷണം അണ് ഈ പുസ്തകം. അതി സമ്പന്നരും രാഷ്ട്രീയ പിടിപടും ഉള്ള ഈ കുടുംബം പല രഹസ്യ ആചാരങ്ങളും കൊണ്ട് നടകുന്നവർ അണ്. ഇട്ടികോറയുടെ സന്താന പരമ്പരയിൽ പെട്ട ഇട്ടികൊര എന്ന canibal (മനുഷ്യമാംസം തിന്നുന്ന) അമേരിക്കൻ പട്ടാളക്കാരനു വേണ്ടി അണ് ഈ സ്ത്രീകൾ ഇട്ടികോറ ചരിത്രം അന്വേഷിക്കാൻ പുറപെടുന്നത്.
ഈ പുസ്തകം മലയാളത്തിലെ ഡാവിഞ്ചി കോഡ് എന്ന് പറയുന്നത് ആയിരിക്കും ഉത്തമം.

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Oct 14, 2019 Vivek kumar rated it it was amazing

It's been 10 years since T. D. Ramakrishnan wrote his post modern masterpiece Francis Itty Cora. This book has been lying in the shelf of my in-laws house for a few years now and gathering dust. This dusheera we went there for a few days . I had just finished a collection of short stories by Basheer and was looking for something to read. The planned trip to the book shop did not work out . So reluctantly i started to read this book over the weekend .
I have not read a malayalam novel this fast, It's been 10 years since T. D. Ramakrishnan wrote his post modern masterpiece Francis Itty Cora. This book has been lying in the shelf of my in-laws house for a few years now and gathering dust. This dusheera we went there for a few days . I had just finished a collection of short stories by Basheer and was looking for something to read. The planned trip to the book shop did not work out . So reluctantly i started to read this book over the weekend .
I have not read a malayalam novel this fast, ever.
This book tells the story of a 15th century Pepper trader called Francis Itty Cora and the cult that is build around him. The novel is told in a very unusual way through emails, blogs manuscripts, Wikipedia entries, and sometimes the writer-narrator.
This novel for me was primarily a brilliant critique on the current global capitalist consumerist economy, where everything is for sale and everything has a price.
Mathematics, Torture, Sex, BSDM, cannibalism, organised religion, secret cults, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, Hypatia - a Hellenistic Neoplatonist philosopher , the cultural history of kunnankulam, history of trade in Kerala, Kerala school of mathematics, revolution in Peru, Fibonachi all make an appearance in this novel. The lines of reality and myth disappear and what we get is a novel for the Post-Truth Era.
A Must Read !!! ...more

Oct 30, 2017 John Jose rated it it was amazing

The best rated Malayalam novels usually focus on the 'coming of age saga' genre, if I may call them so. Thrillers in Malayalam are generally considered of inferior quality. But this man changes all of this. TD Ramakrishnan's books are thoroughly enjoyable thrillers. At the same time these books are thought provoking. Huge fan of him after reading his grossly underrated 'Alpha'.

His writing reminds me of Dan Brown, in his style of creating fiction out of historical events, books, monuments, docum

His writing reminds me of Dan Brown, in his style of creating fiction out of historical events, books, monuments, documentaries and what not.

Francis Ittycora is considered by many as his masterpiece. The amount of research hr has done for this work is commendable. This one is a must read book for anyone who reads Malayalam literature.

Personally I would rate 'Alpha' higher than 'Ittycora' because of it's simple plot and universal relevance. His latest work 'Sugandhi enna Aandal Devanayaki' is also brilliant.

This writer is someone to watch out for. Hugely inspiring. Hope someone translates his works to English so that a lot more people can read them.

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Mar 31, 2019 Sandeep rated it really liked it

Finished ittikkora by TD Ramakrishnan that felt brilliant in patches and middling to dull elsewhere. Cora's emails to Rekha were often a drag, though the flashbacks were riveting. Gory torture details to start of with and the cannibalism in between were hard to get through. The research that has gone into the book especially on mathematics was stunning but at times mind numbing for someone who hated math in school. Instead some more detail on the Celestial navigation skills of Cora would have be Finished ittikkora by TD Ramakrishnan that felt brilliant in patches and middling to dull elsewhere. Cora's emails to Rekha were often a drag, though the flashbacks were riveting. Gory torture details to start of with and the cannibalism in between were hard to get through. The research that has gone into the book especially on mathematics was stunning but at times mind numbing for someone who hated math in school. Instead some more detail on the Celestial navigation skills of Cora would have been more interesting for me. Even though there was a lot of steamy sex all throughout, those parts felt dull, at times even academic, than tickling. Overall, certainly an interesting read, but I felt I liked manjaveyil maranangal's (Benyamin) characters better compared to this. Rekha, Reshma, Bindu, Benny, Kathayezhuthu, savio ittikkora, morigami- everyone disappointed me. Iyyale Kotha and Kora muthappan were the only saving grace. Karimbuliyayi manathu maranja Kora muthappan remains the light of the pathinettam veedar and the book. 3.5/5 ...more

its a really great read with so many cultural as well as political references it is perfect for beginners .it was suggested to me by my teacher (i am doing my bachelors in literature).I am embarrassed to say that the work was very popular in class (because i have this habit of telling the story of the books i read to my class during breaks) due to its really spicy content.Apart from all this the book as a whole was just a 6 to me ,there was instances where i find it really hard to follow the aut its a really great read with so many cultural as well as political references it is perfect for beginners .it was suggested to me by my teacher (i am doing my bachelors in literature).I am embarrassed to say that the work was very popular in class (because i have this habit of telling the story of the books i read to my class during breaks) due to its really spicy content.Apart from all this the book as a whole was just a 6 to me ,there was instances where i find it really hard to follow the authors idea.And like any other work by this author it had a really depressing ending. ...more

Francis Ittykora is a fictional Marvel.
The story engulfs the mathematical possibilities of information exchange between the intellects from southern India and the Europeans and other Asians. The story revolves around a fictional character 'Francis Ittykora' who happens to travel around India and Europe for trades and how his life changes the historical balance of the entire world.
This TD RAMAKRISHNAN'S book is a genuine page turner and leaves to embark on a journey filled with Desires, Knowledge Francis Ittykora is a fictional Marvel.
The story engulfs the mathematical possibilities of information exchange between the intellects from southern India and the Europeans and other Asians. The story revolves around a fictional character 'Francis Ittykora' who happens to travel around India and Europe for trades and how his life changes the historical balance of the entire world.
This TD RAMAKRISHNAN'S book is a genuine page turner and leaves to embark on a journey filled with Desires, Knowledge, Cultural references, Fantasies, and many more. ...more

Jul 23, 2021 Nived Maniyath rated it really liked it

The fictional character of Francis Ittycora is so intelligently placed in the world history that we all will be googling about him after reading the book. Unable to differentiate between the reality and fiction, one will be confused in the end. The novel is trying to build a bridge between the ancient history and the modern world implementing a thriller element into it. It touches wide variety of fields like ancient history, mathematics, science, sex, revolution and superstitions.

A brave attempt by T. D. Ramakrishnan. The way history was infused into the plot was quite interesting. I doubt if it did justice to the genre thriller it was claiming. The novel seemed more like a documentation of historical facts (though it's quite far from that). Tested my patience at times, but applause for trying out something different in Malayalam. A brave attempt by T. D. Ramakrishnan. The way history was infused into the plot was quite interesting. I doubt if it did justice to the genre thriller it was claiming. The novel seemed more like a documentation of historical facts (though it's quite far from that). Tested my patience at times, but applause for trying out something different in Malayalam. ...more

The introductory study made it seem like an impossible read. I liked the work. Especially as a work in Malayalam than takes the tale over centuries and breaks a lot of boundaries, on the map as well as topics considered taboo. At times, the history or myth got a bit tiresome for me. It felt a bit dan-brownish, especially with all the hyperbolic thought processes. Nevertheless, enjoyed it.

This is an awesome piece of literary work.

The chapter with introduction of Hypatia is writing at its best. Also, the story involves too much history and mathematics. The fiction was so we'll written that if not told, it could very well be thought to be real.

Since I knew most of the places mentioned in the book, it was very relatable. Loved the book throughout.

This is an awesome piece of literary work.

Since I knew most of the places mentioned in the book, it was very relatable. Loved the book throughout.

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Jul 23, 2021 Tomy Mathew rated it really liked it

A really interesting book. The amount of reasearch the author did for the material in this book is incredible. It touches a vast variety of topics from mathematics to human relations. This book takes you to a journey interleaved with facts and fiction in a format somewhat similar to Manjaveyil Maranangal. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thank you T.D. Ramakrishnan.

Apr 11, 2018 Raj Eev rated it liked it

The beginning narration, story build up and history facts were good. But ended up being something cast as an exact replica molded from Davinci Code and Angels and demons. Ending was worse.
Still worth reading.

A very interesting concept, blending fact with fiction with extensive research - akin to the Dan Brown novels. However, the research comes across as just information dump and it doesn't smoothly segue in to the storyline and often distracts and bores.
A very interesting concept, blending fact with fiction with extensive research - akin to the Dan Brown novels. However, the research comes across as just information dump and it doesn't smoothly segue in to the storyline and often distracts and bores.
...more

This is an interesting book as in terms of the difference in the theme as compared to most other malayalam novels.
What struck false with me was the characterization of all the female characters,their dialogues...everything felt very constricted within the male viewpoint of the author.

T.D. Ramakrishnan is the author of bestselling Malayalam mystery novel Francis Ittykkora

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"നന്നായി അഭിനയിക്കാന്‍ കഴിയുന്നവനേ നല്ല കച്ചവടക്കാരനാകാന്‍ പറ്റു. സ്നേഹവും അടുപ്പവുമെല്ലാം ഭംഗിയായി അഭിനയിക്കണം .കഴുത്തറക്കുമ്പോഴും പുഞ്ചിരിക്കണം .ചതിക്കുമ്പോഴും സഹായിക്കുകയാണെന്നു തോന്നണം .നുണപറയുമ്പോഴും സത്യ പ്രഭാഷണംനടത്തുന്ന വിശുദ്ധന്റെ മുഖഭാവമായിരിക്കണം .ഒരിക്കിലും മുഖത്ത് ദേഷ്യം വരാന്‍ പാടില്ല ." — 32 likes

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