Book review - The Palace of Illusions (Chitra Divakaruni)

This is my second book by the author. I was actually mesmerised by her narration in the "Mistress of Spices" . it was some thing magical. So when i saw this one recently on the landmark shelves, there was no second thought about picking this up.

Picture Source: Google

It's time for epics and myths and bit of spirituality, i guess, after my recent experiences with Lord Shiva in "The Immortals of Melua" It was all about Lord Krishna in the Palace of Illusions.

The Palace of Illusions, this is kind of story which i was waiting for - some thing novel and creative.I am fed up with the usual fictions and thrillers and I feel that most of the recent fictions are Dan Brownish, trying to talk historical facts hidden in riddles knotted with murders.

To put it in simple words, "The Palace of Illusions" is nothing but Mahabharath narrated by Paanchali; Mahabharath in a new dimension.

There was not much of Mahabharath tales that i came across in my child hood days except for those Sunday episodes in Doordarshan and a chapter as part of my academy. All these days I just knew Paanchali / Draupadi as a wife of five husbands and that she was humiliated in Duryodhan's court where Krishna came to her rescue. I am not sure if its my ignorance or that's how Paanchali was projected in reality and known to everybody. You definitely need to read this book to understand the real Paanchali and what she endured to bring out the greatest epic in our history. Though this book is about kings and gods and the epic, you never get a feel of that, instead its like you sit next to Panchaali and hear her telling her own life story.

Infact the plot was bit intriguing, mentioning about Paanchaali's secret admiration for the man who is her husbands' enemy. The last chapter of this book was amazing, if you only knew that the victory of the Paandava's was the end of Mahabharath then you need to check out the last chapter in this book. It proves Chitra as one of the finest writer and creator - for the choice of perfect words; and for the ending she has come up with for the epic. Though  I am not sure how much of the original epic was used and how much of it was tweaked by the author, Paanchali's Mahabharath would definitley be interesting.

If the epic talks philosophy, this version talks reality. The reality behind the greatest war, the vengeance, the sacrifice, the treachery, the friendship, the brother hood and finally what the victorious Paandava's would have gained out of the war.

Verdict:  Awesome ! Give it a try and you might try reading  the original Mahabharath one more time.

I am wondering how it would be to hear Ramayana from Sita and what exactly she felt about Raavana? ;-)