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The Palace of Illusionsby Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni |
Dale Israel: This book is based upon the world famous Indian epic, The Mahabharat. Narrated by the princess Panchaali, it begins with her birth in fire and follows her life as a woman married to five brothers. It is half history, half myth, and wholly magical. While I was immediately drawn in to this entertaining tale, it was a very difficult read. I found myself constantly referring back to the family chart of main characters and often had to re-read passages. Even though I had to work hard to understand everything, it was a very unique book that transported me to a world where there were mystical gods, complicated friendships, mysterious men, conflict and much more. If you enjoy "different" kind of books, you would certainly enjoy this one. It kept my attention mainly because it placed women in the forefront of the action and offered insight into a very interesting culture.
Rating:****
