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The Palace of Illusions

by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (Goodreads Author)

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 4,627 ratings · 639 reviews

A reimagining of the world-famous Indian epic, the Mahabharat—told from the point of view of an amazing woman.

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

Hardcover, 360 pages

Published February 12th 2008 by Doubleday

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Apr 09, 2013 Richard rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been revised and can now be found at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

50 likes · like · see review

Sep 23, 2010 Mery rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Mery by: e.c.h.a

Shelves: punya

Aku selalu suka sama kisah yang mengangkat sudut pandang berbeda dari seorang perempuan. Dan Drupadi ini dengan sukses telah menghipnotisku dengan kehidupannya yang penuh liku-liku...

Drupadi adalah titisan Dewi Agni, yang diramalkan akan mengubah sejarah...
Pada bab-bab awal Putri drupadi diramalkan bahwa dia akan menikah dengan lima pahlawan besar pada zamannya, akan menjadi ratu dari segala ratu, dicemburui para dewi. Akan menyebabkan perang terbesar, kematian kakak dan anak-anaknya, akan menye...more

23 likes · like · see review

Mar 20, 2010 Thesunan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: goodreaders

Recommended to Thesunan by: dapet minjem dari mumut

buku pinjaman dari tante Mumut.. :)

PROLOG (boleh dilewat soalnya rada2 OOT :D)
-----------------------------------------
Pertama kali saya tahu ada cerita tentang Mahabrata adalah waktu saya SD, film Mahabrata pada waktu itu ditayangkan oleh salah satu stasiun televise swasta, yang memang dulu sempat mendapat julukan sebagai Televisi Pilem India, soalnya stasiun televisi tersebut sering menayangkan film India. Namun saya sendiri kurang tahu tentang sejarah cerita tersebut, hanya beberapa tokoh saj...more

20 likes · like · see review

Jun 15, 2010 Mia Queen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cerita-cinta, inspiring, touch-of-asia, bikin-sesak-nafas, historical-romance

Bisa dibilang saya merasa beruntung bisa membaca buku seindah ini. Terlebih lagi sedari SD ayah saya yang juga pecinta buku rutin menghadiahi saya buku Mahabrata karangan R.A Kosasih. Kaget juga karena di usia saya yang sekarang, kurang lebih 20 tahun lewat sejak pertama kali mengenal tokoh Pandawa lima, ternyata saya masih mengingat garis besar kisah Mahabrata ini

Istana khayalan benar-benar membuat saya berkhayal jauh, seakan-akan saya ikut berada dalam Hastinapura, ikut bersimpati dengan Drop...more

19 likes · like · see review

Feb 15, 2010 e.c.h.a rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Mbak Mia, Momo Ivashkov

Shelves: romansa, epos, fiksi, milik-sendiri, divakaruni, favorites, satya-artwork

Pfuih.....OK...

Buku ini telah memikatku dalam banyak hal:

Pertama, Cover yang menarik. Yup, terkadang mata saya suka sekali dengan keindahan cover suatu buku. Perpaduan warnanya seperti membawa saya ke Istana Khayalan. Cover aselinya juga keren..I Love Green :)

Kedua, tokoh utamanya yaitu Drupadi. Saya suka Drupadi. Saya mengenal sosoknya saat membaca Mahabharata. Yang sedikit diceritakan *plus saya skimming juga* tapi sukses meninggalkan bekas di hati.

Ketiga, kata pembuka yang dikutip Divakaruni...more

18 likes · like · see review

Mar 18, 2010 Harun Harahap rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Harun Harahap by: e.c.h.a

Shelves: punya, fiksi, terjemahan

--------------Mengandung spoiler kisah cinta-cintaaannya-------------

”Masalah hanya menjadi masalah kalau kau percaya itu masalah. Seseorang melihatmu seperti kau melihat dirimu sendiri.”

“Kekuatan keyakinan seorang merembes kepada orang sekitarnya-ke dalam tanah, udara, dan air-sampai tak ada lainya.”

Itu hanya beberapa kutipan-kutipan menarik yang banyak disajikan di dalam buku ini. Halaman depan yang sangat indah membuat diri saya tak sabar membuka lembaran demi lembaran dan menikmati isnya. Da...more

15 likes · like · see review

Aug 24, 2008 Crystal rated it 3 of 5 stars

Just a petty complaint:
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

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May 20, 2013 Sweetdhee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: haratis, bahasa-indonesia-terjemahan, punya-lagi-dipinjem

hmm.. saya merindukan seseorang seraya membaca buku ini..

Divakaruni memperkenalkan Mahabaratha kepada saya
Kisah yang saya ingat pernah ditayangkan di stasiun Televisi Perdangdutan Indonesia, itu pun hanya bagian lagu pembuka nya saja..
hihihihi

Saya mengetahui Mahabaratha hanya bahwa itu adalah kisah tentang Pandawa Lima
Itu pun sekedar nama dari kelima nya, tanpa mengetahui detail cerita seperti apa
Walaupun saya akhirnya mengetahui sedikit dari sosok "Pandawa Lima" jadi-jadian waktu kuliah..
*yang...more

10 likes · like · see review

Mar 17, 2009 Aastha rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was intrigued as soon as I heard the plot of The Palace of Illusions, and I knew I was going to like it right away. I think Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni deserves three out of the five stars I gave her just for thinking of the idea itself. The Mahabharata has been part of India's ancient culture and history for the past 3000 years, and yet no one ever thought of narrating the epic from a different point of view.

Of course, I personally cheered at her choice of Draupadi as her narrator, having give...more I was intrigued as soon as I heard the plot of The Palace of Illusions, and I knew I was going to like it right away. I think Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni deserves three out of the five stars I gave her just for thinking of the idea itself. The Mahabharata has been part of India's ancient culture and history for the past 3000 years, and yet no one ever thought of narrating the epic from a different point of view.

Of course, I personally cheered at her choice of Draupadi as her narrator, having given a lot of thought to the treatment of women in the Mahabharata. Draupadi, or Panchaali, which is what she is called in this book, has been one of the most mysterious creatures in the grand epic. She has five husbands, the five Pandava brothers, but does not have the choice and freedom of a polygamous wedding, as she is passed around from brother to brother, every year. She has always been portrayed as the victim by all the accounts of the Mahabharata I have read, even though the readers knows little to nothing about her feelings. In this book, Draupadi is anything but the victim. She is shown as a fiercely independent, rebellious woman, who wants to take her destiny into her own hands. While her thoughts and actions sometimes made me less sympathetic towards her character, I still felt like she was empowered and strong-willed.

I won't go into the details of the book, as the Mahabharata is quite a complicated saga. However, I will say that it was very refreshing to read the story through Draupadi's gendered lens.

The author did a wonderful job of sticking to the script of the original epic. Had she strayed from it, she wouldn't be according it the respect that it deserves. But as such, she rewrites the story so masterfully, changing nothing but Draupadi's feelings. These were a bit intriguing to me, as her relationship with Krishna and Karna are brought into play. These feelings are not part of the original Mahabharata, and that is about the only liberty she took with the script. I thought they were a nice addition, and it helped make the book a little more universal, because who doesn't like a love story? But I will get into the reasons why I was a bit disappointed nonetheless.

If I had to criticize this book, I would say two things:

--The manner in which gender roles are portrayed is a little constrictive. It seems that the author is a cultural feminist, one who believes that there are differences in the nature of men and women. Men fight wars, display characteristics of aggression, strength, competitiveness and violence. Women use the power of words, and are supposed to be caring, nurturing, motherly, and cooperative. Most South Asian feminist would agree with this point of view, but it would have been really wonderful if Chitra Banerjee had broken through these "stereotypes" a little and ensured that the reader remained more sympathetic towards Draupadi when she did not follow these gender roles, instead of giving off the impression that she is a bad mother and wife. For example, I would have LOVED to read something along the lines of: "well yes, maybe she is negligent of her children, but she never wanted children in the first place; in fact, she never wanted this fate for herself, so it is useless to criticize her for not fulfilling her duty".

--This is a personal thing too, but I have noticed that most women's self-empowerment stories always have to do with secret feelings or affairs that they have with men that are not their husbands. Although that is not the only way that women can empower themselves, but most stories about South Asian women seem to show them in this light. This is not the first (think Brick Lane, Pikoo's Diary). I just wish that Draupadi's feelings for Krishna and Karna had been toned down a bit, to show that illicit thoughts or affairs are not the only way for a woman to empower herself.

Despite this, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in either women's issues or grand epics. The writing was in no way spectacular, but it portrayed emotions adequately enough. I wanted to read it again as soon as I finished it, and I have a feeling I will never think of the Mahabharata in the same way again. (less)

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Nov 20, 2009 Anindita S. Thayf rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

DROPADI GUGAT
Sumber: Ruang Baca Koran Tempo, 25 Oktober 2009
Judul : Istana Khayalan ( The Palace of Illusions)
Penulis : Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Penerbit : Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Cetakan : I, Juli 2009
Tebal : 496 hlm

Mahabarata merupakan salah satu kanonik sastra dunia. Naskah asli Mahabarata berbentuk syair sebanyak seratus ribu stanza; delapan kali lebih panjang dibandingkan jika The Iliad dijadikan satu dengan The Odyssey. Naskah yang ditulis oleh Vyasa dalam bahasa Sanskerta ini berkisah tent...more

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Jan 27, 2010 Neha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mahabharata through the eyes of its most controversial character - Panchali or Draupadi.. Its an interesting take.. and Chitra Banerjee through her master story teller stroke has done a fair justice to it. Although at time she turns Panchali into a more complex character then she could be. Probably she was just a simple woman with no idea of her significance in history & how she gets caught in the midst of the biggest events in Indian history and how her decisions shape lives of all her love...more

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Dec 06, 2009 Weni rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dulu saya membaca Mahabharata RA Kosasih. Lalu saya membaca Mahabharata versi Rajagopalachari. Dan buku ini adalah Mahabharata versi Divakaruni.

Kisah mahabharata Divakaruni tidak terlalu berbeda dengan Rajagopalachari. Yang membuatnya menarik (setidaknya buat saya) adalah kita diajak untuk melihat mahabharata dari mata dan perasaan seorang Drupadi. Putri Drupada yang biasanya dihadirkan sebagai sisipan cerita, pada buku ini menjadi tokoh sentral. 'Aku' dalam kisah ini adalah Drupadi sehingga kit...more Dulu saya membaca Mahabharata RA Kosasih. Lalu saya membaca Mahabharata versi Rajagopalachari. Dan buku ini adalah Mahabharata versi Divakaruni.

Kisah mahabharata Divakaruni tidak terlalu berbeda dengan Rajagopalachari. Yang membuatnya menarik (setidaknya buat saya) adalah kita diajak untuk melihat mahabharata dari mata dan perasaan seorang Drupadi. Putri Drupada yang biasanya dihadirkan sebagai sisipan cerita, pada buku ini menjadi tokoh sentral. 'Aku' dalam kisah ini adalah Drupadi sehingga kita seperti ikut merasakan emosinya dalam setiap peristiwa.

Beberapa episode hidup Drupadi yang tidak banyak diceritakan dalam mahabharata versi lain, dikupas lebih dalam di buku ini. Kelahirannya dari api, rasa sayangnya yang sangat dalam pada sang kakak, Drestadumya (dan apa yg melatarbelakangi rasa sayang itu), hubungannya dengan sang ayah, sifat memberontaknya, hubungannya dengan para Pandawa yang menjadi suaminya dan Kunti, dan yang cukup mengagetkan (buat saya) adalah rasa cinta terpendamnya.

Dulu (sekali), yang saya tau, Drupadi menikah (hanya) dengan sulung Pandawa, Yudisthira, meski yang memenangkan sayembara adalah Arjuna. Ketika Drupadi terjatuh dalam perjalanannya ke puncak Himalaya, yang saya tau penyebabnya adalah krn ia sebenarnya mencintai Arjuna, bukan Yudisthira. Drupadi berdosa karena mencintai laki2 lain yang bukan suaminya. Lalu saya membaca buku lain dan mengetahui bahwa Drupadi menikah dengan 5 Pandawa.

Buku ini menceritakan kisah yang lain. Bahwa Drupadi memendam cinta pada laki2 bermata sedih. Cintanya itu tak pernah benar2 padam, meski ia telah mengawini 5 Pandawa. Maka ketika Drupadi terjatuh dalam perjalanannya menuju mahaprasthan dan Bima dengan nelangsa bertanya kenapa, Yudisthira menjawab: "Ia mengawini kita berlima, tapi ia mencintai satu orang laki2 lebih dari siapapun...". Ketika Bima bertanya siapa yang dicintai Drupadi, Yudisthira terdiam sejenak dan akhirnya menjawab: "Arjuna". Kebohongan kedua Yudisthira.

Kisahnya menarik. Cover hijaunya bagus. Harga bukunya diskon 30% di Gramedia BSM. Lalu apa yang membuat saya tidak memberikan 5 bintang untuk buku ini ? :)(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 26, 2008 Anu rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of indian mythology, anyone

Shelves: finished

I think Divakurani's short stories are genius-but she ought to lay off the novels. The book wasn't terrible, but there were some ATROCIOUS anachronisms sprinkled throughout and the heavy handed feminism was a bit much. It definitely gained in narrative voice as the plot progressed.

Interesting read, but wait for the paperback, or get it out of the library.

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 01, 2012 Rosamund Hodge added it

Shelves: 2012

This novel ended up reminding me a bit of Till We Have Faces: the basic plot is "mythological woman has passionate, interesting life, eventually finds peace and enlightenment." Except that it's based not on Greek mythology but the Mahabharata, which it retells from the perspective of Draupadi/Panchaali, the princess who becomes (partly) the cause of a cataclysmic war.

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 This novel ended up reminding me a bit of Till We Have Faces: the basic plot is "mythological woman has passionate, interesting life, eventually finds peace and enlightenment." Except that it's based not on Greek mythology but the Mahabharata, which it retells from the perspective of Draupadi/Panchaali, the princess who becomes (partly) the cause of a cataclysmic war.

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 lovable/creepy/unearthly. It's also pretty easy to follow, despite the epic cast--at least, it is if you're 1/4 through Ramesh Menon's mammoth retelling like I am. And I loved the sense of tragedy unfolding equally due to ancient, cosmic destiny, and the very human faults of the characters.

The one big weakness, unfortunately, is the portrayal of Panchaali herself. I like almost all the choices this novel makes in portraying her character (including her thwarted love for Karna, sob!), but she just never quite . . . gelled for me. Like, there's a huge point made of how much she loved her palace at Indraprastha and how a huge part of her desire for vengeance comes from the loss of that palace; yet I never really connected with or understood her love for the palace. As much as I admire how the author managed to squash such a giant epic into such a small space, I wish it had been a little longer, or at least that the second half had devoted a little more focus to Panchaali's interior life.

Also--and this is why I say I like "almost" all the choices the novel makes about her character--the chapters about her childhood spend a lot of time talking about how she's rebellious and inquisitive, she doesn't understand why women can't do everything men can, she isn't like those other vapid girls at court, etc. (1) This all felt vaguely anachronistic to me--though, I know nothing about Indian history, so maybe it isn't; (2) I got tired of the "spunky feminist heroine who is not like other girls" trope when I was twelve; (3) after her wedding, this whole issue disappears except for one brief coda that feels like an afterthought. It felt like the author had added that element just to signal that Panchaali was a Strong Female Character we should like. And did I mention that I got tired of the "not like other girls!" thing when I was twelve? Because I am one of those "other girls," and so are all the women in the world except your special snowflake heroine.

But the ending was beautiful, and you know, I will forgive a lot for a beautiful ending.(less)

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Aug 15, 2012 Charu rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book at its centre is Draupadi's version of Mahabharat. When I picked this book, I wasn’t too sure, if would relish a book on – battles, power-play, politics, adrenaline-filled glory and carnage. But the authoress had done a tremendous job of capturing the essence of the epic in the form of a story. The authoress had bereft the characters of divine, virtuous status and made them very real and human, which makes it very easy to follow, despite the complexities in the leading characters.

Talki...more

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Nov 17, 2009 Uci rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bertahun-tahun lalu, kisah Mahabarata sempat menjadi obsesi yang tidak kesampaian. Saya sudah keburu menyerah untuk mengingat-ingat silsilah keluarga, nama asli dan nama alias, peristiwa yang susul-menyusul. Akhirnya buku dan majalah pewayangan yang sempat saya beli, tak pernah tuntas saya baca.

Membaca The Palace of Illusions, saya jadi teringat akan obsesi lama itu. Beruntung di tangan Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, tokoh-tokoh dalam kisah ini jadi punya 'nyawa' sehingga saya tidak kesulitan untuk...more Bertahun-tahun lalu, kisah Mahabarata sempat menjadi obsesi yang tidak kesampaian. Saya sudah keburu menyerah untuk mengingat-ingat silsilah keluarga, nama asli dan nama alias, peristiwa yang susul-menyusul. Akhirnya buku dan majalah pewayangan yang sempat saya beli, tak pernah tuntas saya baca.

Membaca The Palace of Illusions, saya jadi teringat akan obsesi lama itu. Beruntung di tangan Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, tokoh-tokoh dalam kisah ini jadi punya 'nyawa' sehingga saya tidak kesulitan untuk mengingat mereka. Apalagi nukilan kisah yang dipilih adalah lakon paling dahsyat dalam epik Mahabarata, yaitu perang Kurusekhtra.

Mahabarata versi India ini memang sedikit berbeda dengan versi Jawa yang saya baca dulu. Drupadi hanya punya satu suami, karena budaya Jawa tidak mengenal konsep poliandri.

Apa pun, epik ini memang luar biasa. Begitu banyak makna yang tersirat dan tersurat, saling mendukung sekaligus saling bertentangan. Misalnya saja, tokoh-tokoh yang saling berkait satu sama lain, bisa di kehidupan masa kini, masa lalu maupun masa yang akan datang. Sehingga setiap tindakan mereka harus dilakukan dengan sangat hati-hati, karena tidak ada tindakan tanpa konsekuensi (terlebih di dunia di mana orang-orangnya begitu gemar menjatuhkan kutukan). Tapi kehati-hatian seperti apa pun tidak akan ada gunanya karena seluruh jalan hidup mereka sudah ditakdirkan sejak sebelum mereka lahir.

Jadi apakah kita harus membenci Drupadi, perempuan keras kepala yang dipenuhi dendam, karena kutukannya telah memicu perang Kurusekhtra? Atau malah bersimpati karena dia hanya menjalankan takdirnya? Itulah yang membuat epik Mahabarata luar biasa, tidak ada yang hitam atau putih di sana. Bahkan Dewa pun bisa ditendang dari surga karena kelakuannya.

Maka ucapan Byasa si orang bijak kepada Drupadi, saat wanita itu menangisi orang-orang terkasihnya yang gugur di medan perang, mungkin paling tepat menggambarkan moral cerita :

"Hidup yang kaujalani sekarang hanyalah gelembung dalam aliran kosmis, terbentuk oleh karma masa-masa hidup yg lain. Suamimu mungkin musuhmu di masa lalu. Dia yang kaubenci mungkin dulu kekasihmu. Kalau begitu, mengapa harus menangisi mereka?" Wow!

Dan setelah selesai membaca, saya tidak bisa tidak jatuh cinta pada Krishna! Can I have my own Krishna, pleaaaaassseeeeee????

(less)

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May 27, 2008 PC rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked this version of the Mahabharata told from the point of view of Draupadi despite its many shortcomings - the length of only 367 pages of course cannot do justice to a four volume epic. Some scenes that I would expect to be fully fleshed out to a microscopic degree (the disrobing, the year of exile, her year of marriage to Arjuna) are glossed over, and much attention is given to Draupadi's feelings towards Karna - understandable, because Divakaruni utilizes both unrequited love and the tit...more

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May 06, 2008 Sanjay rated it 2 of 5 stars

A retelling of the Mahabharata from Draupadi's point of view sounds like it has much potential -- but this attempt is let down by trying to encompass all of the epic, and bringing in the stories of almost all the characters, instead of staying faithful to Draupadi's (feminist) viewpoint. Making it a half-baked encapsulation, instead of a re-interpretation.

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Jul 25, 2011 Navdeep rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Mahabharata novices, Draupadi fans, mythology buffs

Recommended to Navdeep by: One of my coolest teachers ever

Shelves: indian-subcontinent, historical-fiction, mythology, religion, feminist-tinge

At first, I had decided not to write a review for this book because I was not well-versed with the subject matter and felt that I wouldn't have much to say about it. However, then I thought of doing it anyway and as it turns out, I do have something to say which I've spewed here.

Reading a novel which narrates the universally known (except to me and a few other souls) story of the Mahabharata is a little like arriving to watch a movie after the hero has already lost his dad, the heroine has been...more

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Apr 02, 2011 Smitha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ethereal, historical, india-via-books

I am so so happy that I could read this book. I enjoyed every page of it. This is the story of Mahabharatha - not the full one, but a few incidents as seen through the eyes of Draupadi - the Pandava wife. This book will be best appreciated only by those who have a knowledge of the Mahabharatha - the vast Indian epic full of intrigue, mysteries, magic, politics, family obligations and the strife for attaining the Kuru throne by two set of cousins - the good Pandavas (5 brothers with one common wi...more

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Mar 30, 2008 Lorraine rated it 5 of 5 stars

This re-telling of the Indian epic, the Mahabarat, is rich and wonderful story-weaving. By one of my long-time favorite authors, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, it is completely satisfying and at the same time educational, as it opens for us Westerners some of the mysteries of Indian myth and literature. I was entranced from the first page to the last, and loved the very human faces put on the feats of the heroes and gods in the story. Especially Panchaali, the heroine, will stick in my mind as a fa...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Lhethal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mahabharat is one epic that shreds and mends. Palace of Illusions is beautifully written. It gladdens me that someone thought about
painting the tale from a woman's point of view. It's a tale that speaks of the secret yearning of a woman for someone she could never have. It's a tale of how destiny uses instruments, here Draupadi, to weave a history nobody'll dare forget anytime soon. It's a tale
of a woman, her choices, her helplessness, her slight thirst for glory.

I was putting off this book for...more

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May 08, 2012 Siddharth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Siddharth by: Advaita Mane, Preeti Sancheti

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's The Palace of Illusions is an account of the major events of the Mahābhārata from Draupadi's perspective. From a plot standpoint, there is nothing new here. In fact, I think this book is a more rewarding read for those already familiar with the epic. Having spent my childhood days poring over my grandfather's seven-volume, illustrated edition of the Mahābhārata, every story arc and plot twist of Vyasa's retelling of the story to Janamejaya is etched into my mind. As...more Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's The Palace of Illusions is an account of the major events of the Mahābhārata from Draupadi's perspective. From a plot standpoint, there is nothing new here. In fact, I think this book is a more rewarding read for those already familiar with the epic. Having spent my childhood days poring over my grandfather's seven-volume, illustrated edition of the Mahābhārata, every story arc and plot twist of Vyasa's retelling of the story to Janamejaya is etched into my mind. As a result, I rather enjoyed the juxtaposition of Draupadi's view of the events and memories of my own reading.

What is new however, is the introspective (albeit fictionalized) view into Draupadi's feelings and desires which is something the chauvinistic Mahābhārata contemptuously overlooks, treating women as mere pawns in a larger game. Divakaruni skillfully weaves minor plot points into her narrative; an example being when Draupadi shames Karna at her swayamvar with the primary intent of protecting her brother, thus setting in motion the wheels of her guilt-ridden life. The Mahābhārata on the other hand, simply states that Draupadi refused to marry a man of low birth (a sūta). Of all the relationships described in the book, perhaps the most intriguing is Draupadi's complex relationship with Krishna; a friend, a saviour, a joker, a cunning strategist, a god and yet someone she can't quite figure out until the very end. I must admit that this was a masterstroke on Divakaruni's part.

As mentioned earlier, there is little new information concerning the epic itself (the only little tidbit I did not know from my prior readings was the tale of Bhishma's previous life as Prabhasa, the Vasu). Moreover, several major events are condensed and summarized and occasionally omitted. The book should not be faulted for this; its purpose is to show a (fictionalized) perspective which the original epic completely neglects. In this regard, it succeeds. Divakaruni's writing style is crisp and fluid. The story moves forward at a brisk pace and manages to keep the reader enthralled.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Hindu mythology but especially to those with fond childhood memories of the intricate stories of the Mahābhārata.(less)

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Nov 26, 2012 Michiyo 'jia' Fujiwara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: indian-literature, woman-literature, asian-literature, favorites

“Sepanjang hidupku--bahkan pada masa-masa yang paling sulit--semua yang kukatakan,aku pastikan dilakukan. Aku mengatakan pada diriku sendiri bahwa aku akan membesarkan kalian sebagai pangeran di istana nenek moyang kalian, dan tidak peduli berapa banyak gangguan yang kuhadapi. Aku tetap memegang janjiku. Anak-anak, kalau kalian menghargai apa yang kulakukan untuk kalian, kalian harus menghormati kata-kataku. Kalian berlima harus menikahi perempuan ini!” titah Ratu Kunti (p.157)

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"Kalian semua akan...more

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May 23, 2011 M. Ulin Nuha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: buy, fantasy, read-in-2011, asian, i-own-a-copy

"Dalam perang, yang menang tidak lebih bahagia daripada yang kalah". Sepertinya itu salah satu pesan yang saya tangkap dari buku ini (dan cerita Mahabharata secara umum).

Ini buku Mahabharata pertama yang saya baca. Dari kecil sampai sekarang baru tahu cerita yang lumayan lengkap ya baru kali ini. Tiap kali diajak nonton wayang pasti tidur duluan. Waktu cerita ini diajarkan di mata pelajaran Bahasa Jawa, saya tidak mendengarkan :D. Jadi saya bisa dianggap tidak tahu menahu mengenai karakter, sils...more "Dalam perang, yang menang tidak lebih bahagia daripada yang kalah". Sepertinya itu salah satu pesan yang saya tangkap dari buku ini (dan cerita Mahabharata secara umum).

Ini buku Mahabharata pertama yang saya baca. Dari kecil sampai sekarang baru tahu cerita yang lumayan lengkap ya baru kali ini. Tiap kali diajak nonton wayang pasti tidur duluan. Waktu cerita ini diajarkan di mata pelajaran Bahasa Jawa, saya tidak mendengarkan :D. Jadi saya bisa dianggap tidak tahu menahu mengenai karakter, silsilah, isi ceritanya, beserta perbedaan nama-nama dan versi-versi ceritanya. (Dulu waktu pelajaran Bahasa Jawa, saya bahkan tidak hafal nama kelima Pandawa :D). Dan tanpa pengetahuan itu pun, saya tidak mengalami kesulitan menangkap isi ceritanya.

Dalam buku ini, cerita Mahabharata diceritakan kembali dari sudut pandang Drupadi, perempuan yang menikah dengan kelima Pandawa. Dimulai dari cerita kelahirannya (dan saudara kembarnya, Drestadyumna) dari api, Drupadi menuturkan kisahnya termasuk ketika ia harus menikah dengan kelima Pandawa, dipermalukan para Kurawa, diasingkan di hutan, dan kejadian-kejadian lain yang menyebabkan pecahnya perang.

Untuk menyiasati lubang cerita, misalnya bagian yang tidak diketahui Drupadi, penulis menggunakan tokoh mata-mata, cerita dari orang lain (yang didengar Drupadi), atau dari mimpi.

Dan yang saya sukai dari buku ini, penulis tidak memihak pada Pandawa maupun Kurawa. Semuanya digambarkan memiliki andil dan sisi gelap-terang dalam perang Bharatayudha yang terkenal itu. Tindakan salah satu tokoh saling berkaitan dengan tindakan tokoh yang lain.

Awalnya saya pengen baca buku ini gara2 lihat di bagian Popular Books di antara teman2 Goodreads dan reviewnya yang bagus2.. Dan ternyata memang bagus. Saya awalnya hanya berharap setelah membaca buku ini, setidaknya saya tahu tentang tokoh-tokoh dan cerita Mahabharata. Tapi ternyata buku ini juga menyampaikan cerita yang menarik dan karakter beserta emosi-emosinya diolah dengan cukup baik.

Sekarang, saya jadi penasaran pada cerita Ramayana. Adakah buku tentang epik Ramayana yang lumayan komplit, tidak terlalu tebal, dan ringan untuk dibaca?(less)

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May 03, 2011 an rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: novel

aku akan memandang masa depan dan mengukir na menjadi bentuk yang kuinginkan(hlm.152)

mungkin itulah yang dipikirkan drupadi aka panchali aka krishnaa ketika dia terlahir dengan ramalan mampu mengubah sejarah. ramalan yang menyertai kelahiran na membuat na sejak kecil memimpikan bahwa dia dalah istimewa, orang yang mampu mengubah sejarah. yang juga istimewa disamping kakak na yang terlahir khusus untuk membalas dendam. dan memang sebenar na jalan na takdir itu sudah dirancang, memang demikian asa...more

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Oct 08, 2010 miaaa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Dahlia Naga

Recommended to miaaa by: e.c.h.a

Shelves: ophelia-s-library, favourites

Diane Arbus, an American female photographer was known for taking pictures of marginal people somehow it's the polite way to say she photographed the 'freaks' of the freaks. There's something about one or two leading female photographers, in my opinion, that in a way they're looking out for souls of their subjects only then to steal them and leave the audience dumbstruck. One of them is Diane Arbus.

Divakaruni, however adds a soul to the Mahabharata epic which for centuries linger to masculinity....more

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Dec 10, 2009 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Every woman I have known.

Sebagai seseorang yang mengenal Mahabarata melalui pandangan R.A. Kosasih, buku ini langsung menarik perhatian saya begitu saya membaca reviewnya di situs ini.

Mahabarata melalui "kacamata" Drupadi?? Hhmmm.... kayanya menarik nih..
Bisa dijadikan bacaan saat menunggu kereta nih. Toh jalan cerita dan pelaku di dalamnya sudah setengah dihafal saking seringnya membolak-balik halaman komik R.A. Kosasih di masa kecil. (Note : bacaan menunggu kereta HARUSLAH bacaan yang menarik, tapi sudah diketahui jal...more

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Jul 30, 2009 eL rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

buku yang awalnya tidak jelas apakah merupakan hadiah atau sekedar dipinjamkan oleh seorang sahabat, yang akhirnya diyakin-yakinkan bahwa buku berjudul "istana khayalan" ini adalah hadiah karena pada hari berikutnya sahabat tersebut memberikan teman saya yang lain buku yang sama, dimana sahabat saya tersebut jika dibandingkan dengan saya sudah pasti lebih banyak memiliki pengalaman hidup yang menggembirakan, membahagiakan, menyedihkan, menyesatkan, memilukan, memalukan, menjengkelkan, mengkhawat...more buku yang awalnya tidak jelas apakah merupakan hadiah atau sekedar dipinjamkan oleh seorang sahabat, yang akhirnya diyakin-yakinkan bahwa buku berjudul "istana khayalan" ini adalah hadiah karena pada hari berikutnya sahabat tersebut memberikan teman saya yang lain buku yang sama, dimana sahabat saya tersebut jika dibandingkan dengan saya sudah pasti lebih banyak memiliki pengalaman hidup yang menggembirakan, membahagiakan, menyedihkan, menyesatkan, memilukan, memalukan, menjengkelkan, mengkhawatirkan, de es be ini, saya berikan lima bintang.

saya tidak mampu menempatkan diri satu pun pada karakter yang ada di buku ini, dan hal ini berbanding lurus dengan ketidakmampuan saya menyukai berlebihan ataupun membenci berlebihan sosok-sosok di dalamnya, dan bahkan juga tidak mampu untuk tidak acuh sedikitpun pada sosok yang hanya sempat hadir pada satu dua kalimat, karena untuk rasa dan akal saya semua nya tampak begitu biasa dan wajar namun di saat yang hampir bersamaan justru luarbiasa berlebihan mengada-ada, tampak begitu rumit sekaligus sederhana, tampak begitu jahat pun ternyata setelah direnung-renungkan sungguh sebuah kebaikan yang tiada tara, tampak begitu keji dan mengerikan sekaligus agung dan mengagumkan, de es be.

apa yang bisa saya share dengan teman-teman goodreads disini, terus terang saya tidak tahu, dan sebagai gantinya mudah2an cuplikan sms-sms saya dan sahabat seputar buku tsb, yang tentu saja subyektif dan personal, bisa sedikit menggambarkan isi buku "istana khayalan"nya Chitra Divakaruni.

X: aq sdh kelar istana khayalannya. bingung. apa yg lbh dulu, kebajikan or tragedi, bijak or dikuasai nafsu, etc. aq suka sekali bukunya. thx

Y: bebas berarti dekonstruksi yang hebat; desakralisasi dewa2...pelecehan thd kemapanan ide bahwa para ksatria agung dan mulia...dan absurditas nilai2..puncaknya: kalah-menang itu tidak jelas..

X: ooo..gitu ya cara memahaminya. aq ign memiliki kemampuan utk bebas juga ah..bisa tdk ya? semoga ini bkn keinginan yg sembrono or sembarangan. :)

Y:...bebas seperti drupadi itu g bagus... permpuan tll berkuasa mengerikan.. bagiku prempuan itu mulia.. yg hebat: spt kita ini...biasa..tp bs bikin dekonstruksi kehidupan

X: aq juga ngeri dgn yg spt itu: thd drupadi, kunti, gandari... mengerikan & tragis, sesekali salut jg sekaligus heran... aq empati pd karna

Y:...

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Aug 28, 2010 Ben Babcock rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-library, 2010-read, fantasy, indian-fiction, mythology-remix, religion-fiction

Panchaali enters this world through a holy fire, an unwanted boon granted by the gods in addition to her brother, the child destined to kill their father's greatest enemy. She marries the five Pandava brothers, the eldest of whom bets and loses his kingdom to their cousin. After twelve years of exile in the forest, the cousin refuses to return the kingdom, and the Pandavas go to war against the Kauravas. It is a story so epic that it has an epic name: the Mahabharata.

My reading of fiction involv...more

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About Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an award-winning author and poet. Her work is widely known, as she has been published in over 50 magazines, including the Atlantic Monthly and The New Yorker, and her writing has been included in over 50 anthologies. Her works have been translated into 20 languages, including Dutch, Hebrew and Japanese.Her newest novel is Oleander Girl (Simon and Schuster, 2013) http:...more Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an award-winning author and poet. Her work is widely known, as she has been published in over 50 magazines, including the Atlantic Monthly and The New Yorker, and her writing has been included in over 50 anthologies. Her works have been translated into 20 languages, including Dutch, Hebrew and Japanese.Her newest novel is Oleander Girl (Simon and Schuster, 2013) http://www.chitradivakaruni.com/books....

She was born in India and lived there until 1976, at which point she left Calcutta and came to the United States. She continued her education in the field of English by receiving a Master’s degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

To earn money for her education, she held many odd jobs, including babysitting, selling merchandise in an Indian boutique, slicing bread in a bakery, and washing instruments in a science lab. At Berkeley, she lived in the International House and worked in the dining hall. She briefly lived in Illinois, Ohio and Texas, but has spent most of her life in Northern California, which she often writes about.

Chitra currently teaches in the nationally ranked Creative Writing program at the Univ. of Houston. She serves on the Advisory board of Maitri in the San Francisco Bay Area and Daya in Houston. Both these are organizations that help South Asian or South Asian American women who find themselves in abusive or domestic violence situations. She is also closely involved with Pratham, an organization that helps educate children (especially those living in urban slums) in India.

Chitra has judged several prestigious awards, such as the National Book Award and the PEN Faulkner Award.

Two of her books, The Mistress of Spices and Sister of My Heart, have been made into movies by filmmakers Gurinder Chadha and Paul Berges (an English film) and Suhasini Mani Ratnam (a Tamil TV serial) respectively.

Chitra lives in Houston with her husband Murthy, her two sons Anand and Abhay (whose names she has used in her children’s novels) and Juno, the family dog.

Chitra loves to connect with readers on her Facebook author page, www.facebook.com/chitradivakaruni
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