The Palace of Illusions

Sneha Mathan expertly handles Divakaruni's magical retelling of the Indian epic THE MAHABHARATA from a woman's point of view. Mathan reveals an astonishing versatility and range. She expresses the Indian-inflected voices of characters old and young, male and female, distinguishing them from one another. Her ability to create these uniquely voiced characters greatly helps listeners with the not insignificant task of keeping people and situations straight in this sweeping story. Best of all is Mathan's complex creation of the mythic Princess Panchaali. Listeners will be enchanted by Mathan's insights into her character as well as by Mathan's voice, which is beautiful and elegantly expressive as she tells Panchaali's long and sometimes sorrowful tale. Divakaruni's deeply imaginative writing and Mathan's skillful narration make a winning combination. J.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

November 26, 2007
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. Born from fire and marked with the prophecy that she will change the course of history, the strong-willed Panchaali declares early on that she won’t spend her life merely supporting the men around her. Soon enough, she bucks tradition by simultaneously wedding all five famous Pandava brothers, who have been denied their rightful kingdom, and finds herself the happy mistress of the much-envied palace of illusions. Panchaali’s joy is short-lived, however, when hubris, fate and the desire for vengeance in reclaiming the Pandavas’ kingdom (all also prophesied) cause her and her husbands to make mistakes that have cascading political effects, shattering peace in the region. Devastation ensues, but spiritual remarks from the divine Krishna put life and death in a cosmic context. Despite an intrusive retrospective voice (“I didn’t know then how sorely...love would be tested”) and a sometimes heavy-handed feminism, Divakaruni’s rich, action-filled narrative contrasts well with the complex psychological portrait of a mythic princess.