The Palace of Illusions
Book Summary
No matter how strong you may believe
yourself to be, circumstances have the ability to bend and mold you
accordingly. Draupadi learns this the hard way. Though the book is an attempt
to relook at Mahabharata from a woman’s angle, the lines between the pages
highlight the plight of a woman and her destiny decided not as per her choice,
but by the men in her life and family. The princess’ secret desire for
Karna is dissolved when the latter prompts his friend Duryodhan to disrobe her
in front of the entire Hastinapur court.
Draupadi gets entangled in a tumultuous state of affairs because of the foolishness and egoistic outlook of men in her family. Her wounded pride that seeks respite only in revenge and blood befalls a curse on the entire clan that ultimately claims all concerned to doom and death.
The book differs
from the original epic in its differential outlook between the good and bad.
There is no evil or virtue involved; it is only the heart that is constantly at
conflict with the mind.
Book Review
This book is not an abridged version of Maharashtra as opposed to popular understanding. It is an in-depth view of how mortal beings behave in particular situations notwithstanding their own principles and opinions on the same. This book details a princess’ understanding of the times when humans and gods crossed each other paths and influenced each others’ lives, the former being more impelled and motivated by views of the latter. This book is not a single story, but rather contains a bunch of stories skillfully embedded and woven within a story. Apart, the language used is simple, lucid and interesting.
For those interested to know about times when mythological figures roamed the earth and revelations of the future were made well in advance to those struggling against the present and waiting to escape its clutches, this book is a sure shot interesting piece. With each character etched in this book failing to deal with psychological complexities complicated further by religious views and occult practices coupled with myths and superstitions, this book will keep its reader glued till the last page.
This book is not an abridged version of Maharashtra as opposed to popular understanding. It is an in-depth view of how mortal beings behave in particular situations notwithstanding their own principles and opinions on the same. This book details a princess’ understanding of the times when humans and gods crossed each other paths and influenced each others’ lives, the former being more impelled and motivated by views of the latter. This book is not a single story, but rather contains a bunch of stories skillfully embedded and woven within a story. Apart, the language used is simple, lucid and interesting.
Book
recommendation
For those interested to know about times when mythological figures roamed the earth and revelations of the future were made well in advance to those struggling against the present and waiting to escape its clutches, this book is a sure shot interesting piece. With each character etched in this book failing to deal with psychological complexities complicated further by religious views and occult practices coupled with myths and superstitions, this book will keep its reader glued till the last page.
Nice artcile....thumbs up
ReplyDeleteThanks Nidhi that you liked out. This blog is more like a campaign to bring readers close to books that make reading a splendid experience. The words continue to haunt even after having read the book in entirety, thus, forcing one to re-open it and start reading it all over again.
ReplyDeleteFantastically captured...this book is going on my to read list.
ReplyDelete