"The Palace of Illusions"
by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Mahabharat has always been a story
for me with loads of questions. Questions around the godlike events,
around the whole fanfare around Dharma, around several characters specially
Draupadi, Karna, Duryodhan, Bheeshma and the five Pandavas. This book
gives me a different perspective on the entire story.
It allows me to relate to things
and events in the story. We have always listened and seen the story as
something happening on the outside in a different realm. However, it
allows me to put myself in Panchali's shoes. The way the story is written
by Chitra Banerjee is so easy and smooth. She makes Draupadi look like a normal human
being with dreams and wants which she strives for and feels strongly when she
loses them.
The story almost makes me fall in
love with Draupadi and Karna. The feelings displayed between these two in
the book are such that you want them to be together and leave the rest of the
story. You want the writer to switch directions away from Mahabharat and
towards the love story of these two. Even though Yudhistir is one of the
Pandavas, he looks like a villian in the book. I hate him more than even
Duryodhan. Bhim feels like a bully who is soft at heart and cares for
people. Arjun has been kept just like another character - no feeling, no
longing, no relation as such. Relation with Kunti is just like any modern-day
mother in law and daughter in law saga. The kingdom of Indraprashtha has
been given the same magical, mystical effect as we have always heard. I
don't know how appropriate such things are when we are talking about a
historical set of events. I love the girl though.
Points out of 5. We all know
how the story of Mahabharat goes. The points represent how the story has
taken shape in this book.
Grip Factor
: 4.5
Language Style :
4
Engaging Plot
: 4.5
Characters
: 4
Satisfying End :
4
Goodreads Review: Gave a 4* (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1774836.The_Palace_of_Illusions)
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