See a Problem?
Preview — The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Relevant to today’s war-torn world, The Palace of Illusions takes us back to a time that is half history, half myth, and wholly magical. Narrated by Panchaali, the wife of the legendary Pandavas brothers in the Mahabharat, the novel gives us a new interpretation of..more
One is by endlessly searching for facts trying to verify it and the problem with it is…moreThere are actually two ways of dealing with such curiosities.
One is by endlessly searching for facts trying to verify it and the problem with it is that we’re still not sure whether Mahabharata, or even Ramayana, really did ‘take place’ or not but that’s a whole other debate.
The other way is to treat it like literature is supposed to be treated. These epics were woven to inculcate values that the society lacked and it got modified according the need (different regions had different problems) So across India, you’ll find many versions of Mahabharata. No one version is ‘correct’ and you’ll find that no two versions are similar. ‘The Palace of Illusions’ is Chitra Banerjee’s version of it and in it Draupadi fancied Karna.
It’s different from the original but that’s the charm of literature. Different people derive different meanings from the same poem. So you could have your own version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ with a happy ending. Granted, it completely modifies the original but it saves you from the heartache the tragedy delivers. ;)(less)
Another version says that Krishna goes to Drupada, hinting that Arjuna and the pandavas are still alive, and suggests that he have a test in the swayamvara that only an archer of the highest skill would be able to pass.
There may be other versions as well, and I'm not a master of this epic. So I suppose if you're in my place, just keep an open mind and enjoy reading.(less)
More lists with this book..
Of course, I personally cheered at her choice of Draupadi as her narrator, having give..more
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
----Pratibha Ray
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, an Indian best selling novelist, has penned an extremely emotional and gripping mythological-cum-historical-fiction novel, The Palace of Illusions that narrates the great epic Indian mythological tale, Mahabharata from the point of view of the most brilliant and fearless female character, Draupadi, who weaves her thoroughly soul touching yet enduring life story starting from the day she was born to the day..more
Palace Of Illusions Pdf Download Youtube
I'm in the middle of this book and have a strong enough sense of the story to be able to make a heart felt plea: enough of the blatant foreshadowing! It's as if the author has no other creative or subtle use of language to hint at things to come. It always involves the last sentence of the chapter, starting with the end of Chapter 1, 'I didn't know then how sorely that love would be tested, or how much it would cost both of us', 'I didn't know that I'd never see this fragr..more
The Mahabharata is my favorite story of all time. It is every book in one book and to take on the task of retelling the story from the perspective of Draupadi is the literary equivalent of hitting a jackpot of an idea. But. Here comes Ms Bannerjee Divakaruni to ruin that wholly awesome party.
This book is shallow, trite and vapid. The protagonist,..more
The book begins with 'fire' and ends w..more
I was truly bored of Mahabharata retellings and I never intended to read more of those.
I am glad I do for this book is a MUST READ.
Written from Draupadi's perspective, the book is just too good. Written beautifully with praiseworthy story telling, this book wouldn't disappoint you.
Panchali was headstrong, but an egoistic and restless woman. Her harsh words lead to the end of an era, but it was entirely not her fault. She was just a pawn or..more
- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
?
A novel take on the age-old saga of Mahabharata, narrated by Panchali or fondly known as Draupadi, this enchanting tale takes you to the beginning of her birth in the fire, to her earlier days in her father's palace, to her stint as a woman with five husbands.
?
We all are probably aware of the courses that M..more
Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni has the answer in The Palace of Illusions.
The story of Mahabharata is nothing new to me. A kingdom greater than any - cousins fighting for the throne - sacrifices, promises, boons, curses - war - bereavement - atonement. An epic. The Mahabharata is an elaborate story, which c..more
Talki..more
Verdict: Buy.
from Buy, Borrow, Bypass: Hindu Mythology Retellings: http://bookriot.com/2016/05/23/buy-bo..
Interesting read, but wait for the paperback, or get it out of the library.
Palace Of Illusions Pdf Download Windows 7
I liked it quite a bit. It's a fast read, yet lyrical, and the portrayal of Krishna is fantastic, a really compelling mix of lovab..more
Mahabharata is the story of the rivalry between brothers Pandavas and Kauravas and the dire consequences that rivalry leads to. Usually, it is narrated in third p..more
Now, if only Mr. Wright had ever given my copy back! (Note: Never loan a book based on the Mahabhrata to your Asian Humanities teacher. You might as well have dropped it into a black hole.)
Anyhow I'm not really sure how to describe why I love this book so. The story is beautiful, that's a large part of it. The characters are strong and well-shaped, that's another part of it. The prose is gorgeous. The setting is truly magical. The trag..more
For someone who is looking for an introduction to the Epic its a strong NO, as the book is a huge & a bold deviation from the original.
Not Recommended.
The Place of Illusions is a retellin..more
'The Palace of Illusions' is Mahabharata seen through the eyes of Panchali, the wife of the five Pandavas. Mahabharata is an epic with many thousands of characters and side stories and narrates the story of the Kuru dynasty. The story happens in the third age of man Dvapar Yug, when the walls between the world of man and the Gods were thin. Even though I knew every twist and turn and every side story; the story when told by Panchali and..more
This is the Mahabharata told from the viewpoint of Draupadi, and as a reader, I could easily believe this to be indeed her autobiography. I could sense the..more
To read more, visit Storywala
topics | posts | views | last activity |
---|---|---|---|
Is this book worth reading? | 16 | 128 | Aug 09, 2019 03:18AM |
International Reads:April 2015 - The Palace of Illusions | 4 | 96 | Apr 07, 2015 09:57AM |
The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Book Resume:
Taking us back to a time that is half history, half myth and wholly magical, bestselling author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni gives voice to Panchaali, the fire-born heroine of the Mahabharata, as she weaves a vibrant retelling of an ancient epic saga. Married to five royal husbands who have been cheated out of their father's kingdom, Panchaali aids their quest to reclaim their birthright, remaining at their side through years of exile and a terrible civil war. But she cannot deny her complicated friendship with the enigmatic Krishna—or her secret attraction to the mysterious man who is her husbands' most dangerous enemy—as she is caught up in the ever-manipulating hands of fate. Blackmagic disk speed test windows. From the Trade Paperback edition.