That is a very interesting observation because there is no one definitive version. For the modern reader in English, you could try Devdutt Pattanaik's versions

That is a very interesting observation because there is no one definitive version. For the modern reader in English, you could try Devdutt Pattanaik's versions - I really liked his Mahabharata, but haven't read his version of Ramayana. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Hundred_Ramayanas:_Five_Examples_and_Three_Thoughts_on_Translation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Hundred_Ramayanas:_Five_... can give you some insight into why there are so many different versions of these epics.