The Palace of Illusions: A Novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (English) Paperba

Description: The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Recasting the Indian epic "Mahabharata" from the perspective of Princess Panchaali, veteran novelist Divakaruni ("Queen of Dream") offers a vivid and inventive companion to the renowned poem.--"Publishers Weekly." FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description 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 fathers 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. Author Biography Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is the author of the novels Queen of Dreams, The Mistress of Spices, Sister of My Heart, Before We Visit the Goddess, One Amazing Thing, Oleander Girl, and The Vine of Desire, and of the prizewinning story collections Arranged Marriage and The Unknown Errors of Our Lives. She lives in Houston, Texas, and teaches creative writing at the University of Houston. Review "A radiant entree into an ancient mythology virtually unknown to the Western world. . . . Remarkable." —Houston Chronicle "A mythic tale brimming with warriors, magic and treachery. . . . Divakarunis sentences dazzle; the images she creates are masterful." —Los Angeles Times "Complex, beautifully wrought. . . . Divakarunis feminist reading of Indian lore offers readers a magical lens into the political interplay of gender, castes, birthright and life in the monarchy. . . . A writer to watch." —Rocky Mountain News "Divakarunis prose is as spirited as Panchaali herself, written with energy and humor." —Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel "Epics are intended to be accessible to the most extensive of audiences. And with The Palace of Illusions Divakaruni likewise makes this reimagining of the "Mahabharat" easy to understand through the simple,straightforward narrative. Moreover, Divakaruni masterfully describes the lyrical beauty of Indians and the elegant logic of Hinduism." —San Antonio News Express "The Palace of Illusions is not only an exciting, action-packed read, but also an educating one, and will likely encourage those curious enough to delve into the original Mahabharata." —Erin Kobayashi, Toronto Star "Enchanting.... Anita Diamants The Red Tent, Philippa Gregorys The Other Boleyn Girl—now we can add Divakarunis The Palace of Illusions to the list." —The Miami Herald "The Palace of Illusions is unique, amongst Divakarunis very best. It is particularly refreshing to read an author who breaks the mold as clearly as Divakaruni does.... A creative, illuminating feminist work that compels us to re-examine the original text.... As in all great cathartic tales, Divakarunis novel grasps our attention from beginning to end and is a healing, aesthetic experience." —India Currents "Divakaruni has taken a male-centered story and breathed new life into its female characters, giving us a rich tale of passion and love, power and weakness, honor and humiliation. Whether or not readers are familiar with the "Mahabharat" epic, still fascinating and relevant several millennia on, they will enjoy this entertaining, insightful, and suspenseful story." —The Union, Nevada City "Known for writing on the modern Indian immigrant experience in novels such as "Queen of Dreams," Divakaruni goes back in time, this time with a novel look at the ancient Indian epic "The Mahabharat" (think: an Indian "Iliad"). With hundreds of characters in the story of a great war, she tells the story from the point of view of a woman - Panchaali - who is married to five brothers" —New York Post "Divakaruni has woven a lyrical tale imbued with the scent of ancient incense, yet simultaneously rooted in modern-day relevancy. Brimming with betrayals, religious fervor and war-torn streets, The Palace of Illusions is a journey experienced from the vantage point of Panchaali, a powerful woman dfiven by love, honor and, in the end, a fate that unfolds despite her resolve." —Karen Ann Cullotta, Bookpage "Your truly epic narrative myth calls for bitter experience descending, avalanch-like, down dynasties, incorporating dramatic turning points of ineradicable impact; curses; looming fates; tricky and meddlesome gods; feuds; sages, sorcerers and wars. These elements and many more are found in abundance in Chitra Banerjee Divakarunis new novel, The Palace of Illusions, which ambitiously encapsulates the Indian epic "Mahabharat" within a 360-page novel." —Elsbeth Lindner, San Francisco Chronicle "By rendering the women characters as complexly as the men, and fully illuminating the "insanity of war" and the fragility of civilization, Divakarunis historic and transporting variation adds new and truly revelatory psychological and social dimensions to the great epics indelible story of sacrifice and spiritual awakening. Divakaruni has triumphantly fulfilled a profound mission." —Donna Seaman, Booklist "Divakaruni has taken a male-centered story and breathed new life into its female characters, giving us a rich tale of passion and love, power and weakness, honor and humiliation. Whether or not readers are familiar with the Mahabharat epic, still fascinating and relevant several millennia on, they will enjoy this entertaining, insightful and suspenseful story. Recommended for all fiction collections." —Joy Humphrey, Library Journal "The Palace of Illusions is as grand and tragic as the epic poems by Homer. The story is complex, as political relationships grow and develop, and friends and enemies are created, leading to battles and wars that will eventually destroy them all. I was captivated by the tragic storyline and the fate into which Panchaali was born. This admirable attempt to recreate the epic Mahabharat from the viewpoint of a strong woman is Chitra Banerjee Divakarunis best work yet." —Marie Hashima Lofton, Bookreporter.com"For more than 20 years now, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni has been telling stories of Indian women from her home in California. Her women are desperate, wonderful, complicated, lyrical, memorable, even magical.... Chitras women experience love, loss and longing through tangled marriages, bitter divorces, childbirth, abortion, abuse, violence, racism, poverty and riches. Now, in a daring novel out this month, Banerjee Divakaruni returns to a fantastic world, inhabited by kings, queens, villains and sorcerers." —Vogue India"Vivid and inventive.... Divakarunis rich, action-filled narrative contrasts well with the complex psychological portrait of a mythic princess." —Publishers Weekly "Divakaruni offers a quasi-feminist retelling of the great Hindu text known as the Mahabharat...an intimate, feminine portrait that is both contemporary and timeless. An ambitious project effectively executed." —Kirkus Reviews Review Quote Praise forQueen of Dreams "Will resonate with anyone who has struggled with modern love, mores and parenthood." -USA Today "Divakarunis book shines…in its examination of the subtle, extrasensory connections between mothers and daughters that continue to develop even after death divides them." -Los Angeles Times "Magical…In lyrical, poetic prose, Divakaruni manages to be hopeful without offering false reassurances, showing how identity-both individual and communal-is equally shaped by loss and creation." -San Francisco Chronicle "A masala of page-turning addiction." -The Baltimore Sun Description for Reading Group Guide "A radiant entree into an ancient mythology virtually unknown to the Western world. . . . Remarkable." -- Houston Chronicle The introduction, questions, and suggestions for further reading that follow are intended to enhance your reading of Chitra Banerjee Divakarunis mesmerizing novel, The Palace of Illusions . Discussion Question for Reading Group Guide 1. In the books opening pages, Panchaali relates the story of her birth. Dhai Ma says that voices spoke from the fire just before Dhri and Panchaali stepped from it. Given that this narrative is a retelling of the ancient Indian epic, do you read these events as literal or symbolic? How would you describe the reality and the illusions being portrayed in the tale? 2. How does the prediction that Panchaali will change the course of history influence her character as she matures? In what way are her lessons in "the sixty-four arts that noble ladies must know" a challenge to her destiny? Were there predictions made by family or friends early in your life about your future? If so, how did they affect your choices as you grew up? 3. When Sikhandi tells Panchaali the story of his past, Panchaali asks Krishna to confirm it. Krishna responds, "He believes it to be so. Isnt that what truth is? The force of a persons believing seeps into those around him--into the very earth and air and water--until theres nothing else" [p. 49]. How does this description of truth shed light on the ideas of self-determination and destiny throughout the novel? 4. After the predictions made for Panchaali by Vyasa the sage, Panchaali marries the five sons of the widowed queen Kunti. On her wedding night, as she lies on a mat near the brothers feet, Panchaali thinks of Karna. How does the memory of Karna guide her throughout the narrative? How would you characterize their relationship? 5. Panchaali relates, "Palaces have always fascinated me, even a gloom-filled structure like my fathers that was a fitting carapace for his vengeful obsession. For isnt that what our homes are ultimately, our fantasies made corporeal, our secret selves exposed?" [p. 113]. How does the Palace of Illusions, built by Maya, reveal the fantasies and longings of Panchaalis husbands and of Panchaali herself? In what ways does your own home reflect your secret self? If Maya were to build you a palace, what would it be like? 6. After Sisupals death, Duryodhan builds himself a grand palace and invites Panchaali and the Pandavas to be his guests in Hastinapur. What mental characteristics cause Yudhisthir to lose everything in a last game of dice? How is this catastrophe a personal turning point for Panchaali? When she is taken to court, what does she learn about her power over her husbands? About the purity of her own heart? 7. During their banishment in the forest, Dhri gently chastises Panchaali, asking her where his sweet sister has gone. She thinks to herself, " Shes dead. Half of her died the day when everyone she had loved and counted on to save her sat without protest and watched her being shamed. The other half perished with her beloved home. But never fear. The woman who has taken her place will gouge a deeper mark into history than that na Excerpt from Book 1 fire Through the long, lonely years of my childhood, when my fathers palace seemed to tighten its grip around me until I couldnt breathe, I would go to my nurse and ask for a story. And though she knew many wondrous and edifying tales, the one I made her tell me over and over was the story of my birth. I think I liked it so much because it made me feel special, and in those days there was little else in my life that did. Perhaps Dhai Ma realized this. Perhaps that was why she agreed to my demands even though we both knew I should be using my time more gainfully, in ways more befitting the daughter of King Drupad, ruler of Panchaal, one of the richest kingdoms in the continent of Bharat. The story inspired me to make up fancy names for myself: Offspring of Vengeance, or the Unexpected One. But Dhai Ma puffed out her cheeks at my tendency to drama, calling me the Girl Who Wasnt Invited. Who knows, perhaps she was more accurate than I. This winter afternoon, sitting cross-legged in the meager sunlight that managed to find its way through my slit of a window, she said, "When your brother stepped out of the sacrificial fire onto the cold stone slabs of the palace hall, all the assembly cried out in amazement." She was shelling peas. I watched her flashing fingers with envy, wishing she would let me help. But Dhai Ma had very specific ideas about activities that were appropriate for princesses. "An eyeblink later," she continued, "when you emerged from the fire, our jaws dropped. It was so quiet, you could have heard a housefly fart." I reminded her that flies do not perform that particular bodily function. She smiled her squint-eyed, cunning smile. "Child, the things you dont know would fill the milky ocean where Lord Vishnu sleeps--and spill over its edges." I considered being offended, but I wanted to hear the story. So I held my tongue, and after a moment she picked up the tale again. "Wed been praying for thirty days, from sun-up to sundown. All of us: your father, the hundred priests hed invited to Kampilya to perform the fire ceremony, headed by that shifty-eyed pair, Yaja and Upayaja, the queens, the ministers, and of course the servants. Wed been fasting, too--not that we were given a choice--just one meal, each evening, of flattened rice soaked in milk. King Drupad wouldnt eat even that. He only drank water carried up from the holy Ganga, so that the gods would feel obligated to answer his prayers." "What did he look like?" "He was thin as the point of a sword, and hard like it, too. You could count every bone on him. His eyes, sunk deep into their sockets, glittered like black pearls. He could barely hold up his head, but of course he wouldnt remove that monstrosity of a crown that no one has ever seen him without--not even his wives, Ive heard, not even in bed." Dhai Ma had a good eye for detail. Father was, even now, much the same, though age--and the belief that he was finally close to getting what hed wanted for so long--had softened his impatience. "Some people," she continued, "thought he was going to die, but I had no such fears. Anyone who wanted revenge as badly as your royal father did wouldnt let go of body and breath so easily." She chewed ruminatively on a handful of peas. "Finally," I prompted her, "it was the thirtieth day." "And I for one was heartily thankful. Milk and rice husk is all very well for priests and widows, but give me fish curry with green chilies and tamarind pickle any day! Besides, my throat was scraped raw from gabbling all those unpronounceable Sanskrit words. And my buttocks, I swear, they were flat as chapatis from sitting on that freezing stone floor. "But I was scared, too, and stealing a glance here and there, I saw I wasnt the only one. What if the fire ceremony didnt work the way the scriptures had claimed it would? Would King Drupad put us all to death, claiming we hadnt prayed hard enough? Once Id have laughed if someone had suggested our king might do that. But things had changed since the day when Drona appeared at court." I wanted to ask about Drona, but I knew what shed say. Impatient as mustard seeds sputtering in oil, thats what you are, even though youre old enough to be married off any day now! Each story will come in its time. "So when your royal father stood up and poured that last pot of ghee into the flames, we all held our breath. I prayed harder than Id ever done in my life--though it wasnt for your brother I was praying, not exactly. Kallu, who was cooks apprentice then, had been courting me, and I didnt want to die before Id experienced the joys of having a man in my bed. But now that weve been married for seven years--" Here Dhai Ma paused to snort at the folly of her younger self. If she got onto the subject of Kallu, I wouldnt hear the rest of the story today. "Then the smoke rose," I interjected, with experienced dexterity. She allowed herself to be pulled back into the tale. "Yes, and a spiraling, nasty-smelling black smoke it was, with voices in it. The voices said, Here is the son you asked for. Hell bring you the vengeance you desire, but itll break your life in two. " I dont care about that , your father said. Give him to me . "And then your brother stepped from the fire." I sat up straight to listen better. I loved this part of the story. "What did he look like?" "He was a true prince, that one! His brow was noble. His face shone like gold. Even his clothes were golden. He stood tall and unafraid, though he couldnt have been more than five years old. But his eyes troubled me. They were too soft. I said to myself, How can this boy avenge King Drupad? How can he kill a fearsome warrior like Drona? " I worried about my brother, too, though in a different way. He would succeed in completing the task he was born for, I had no doubt of that. He did everything with such meticulous care. But what would it do to him? I didnt want to think of it. I said, "And then?" Dhai Ma made a face. "Cant wait till you appear, eh, Madam Full of Yourself?" Then she relented. "Even before wed finished cheering and clapping, even before your father had a chance to greet your brother, you appeared. You were as dark as he was fair, as hasty as he was calm. Coughing from the smoke, tripping over the hem of your sari, grabbing for his hand and almost sending him tumbling, too--" "But we didnt fall!" "No. Somehow you managed to hold each other up. And then the voices came again. They said, Behold, we give you this girl, a gift beyond what you asked for. Take good care of her, for she will change the course of history ." " Change the course of history ! Did they really say that?" Dhai Ma shrugged. "Thats what the priests claimed. Who can tell for sure? You know how sounds boom and echo in that hall. The king looked startled, but then he picked the two of you up, holding you close to his chest. For the first time in years, I saw him smile. He said to your brother, I name you Dhristadyumna . He said to you, I name you Draupadi . And then we had the best feast this kingdom has ever seen." As Dhai Ma counted out the feast foods on her fingers, smacking her lips in happy remembrance, my attention veered to the meaning of the names our father chose. Dhristadyumna, Destroyer of Enemies. Draupadi, Daughter of Drupad. Dhris name fell within the bounds of acceptability--though if I were his parent I might have picked a more cheerful appellation, like Celestial Victor, or Light of the Universe. But Daughter of Drupad? Granted, he hadnt been expecting me, but couldnt my father have come up with something a little less egoistic? Something more suited to a girl who was supposed to change history? I answered to Draupadi for the moment because I had no choice. But in the long run, it would not do. I needed a more heroic name. Nights, after Dhai Ma had retired to her quarters, I lay on my high, hard bed with its massive posts and watched the oil lamp fling flickery shadows against the pocked stone of the walls. I thought of the prophecy then, with yearning and fear. I wanted it to be true. But did I have the makings of a heroine--courage, perseverance, an unbending will? And shut up as I was inside this mausoleum of a palace, how would history even find me? But most of all I thought of something that Dhai Ma didnt know, something that ate at me like the rust corroding the bars on my window: what really happened when I stepped from the fire. If there were voices, as Dhai Ma claimed, prophesying my life in a garbled roar, they hadnt come yet. The orange lick of flames fell away; the air was suddenly cold. The ancient hall smelled of incense, and under it, an older smell: war-sweat and hatred. A gaunt, glittering man walked toward my brother and me as we stood hand in hand. He held out his arms--but for my brother alone. It was only my brother he meant to raise up to show to his people. Only my brother that he wanted. Dhri wouldnt let go of me, however, nor I of him. We clung together so stubbornly that my father was forced to pick us both up together. I didnt forget that hesitation, even though in the years that followed King Drupad was careful to fulfill his fatherly duty and provide me with everything he believed a princess should have. Sometimes, when I pressed him, he even allowed m Details ISBN1400096200 Author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Short Title PALACE OF ILLUSIONS Language English ISBN-10 1400096200 ISBN-13 9781400096206 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY 813.54 Year 2009 Residence Sunnyvale, CA, US Birth 1956 DOI 10.1604/9781400096206 Subtitle A Novel Country of Publication United States AU Release Date 2009-02-10 NZ Release Date 2009-02-10 US Release Date 2009-02-10 UK Release Date 2009-02-10 Place of Publication New York Pages 384 Publisher Random House USA Inc Publication Date 2009-02-10 Audience General Imprint Vintage Books We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:18716504;

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