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A review by phidelia
Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel
3.0
I couldn't help but appreciate the author's ambitious attempt to encapsulate the vast and intricate Mahabharata within the confines of a few pages. The Mahabharata, a cornerstone of Indian mythology and literature, is a sprawling epic that delves into themes of duty, righteousness, and cosmic order, making any attempt to retell it a daunting task.
Her retelling served as a quick yet immersive revisit to the beloved characters and complex narratives of the Mahabharata. As I flipped through the pages, I found myself revisiting a world teeming with divine interventions, familial conflicts, and moral dilemmas, all expertly woven into the fabric of this timeless epic.
The fluidity of Patel's writing style, while commendable for its descriptive richness, occasionally bordered on verbosity, which was overwhelming to me as I was seeking a more streamlined narrative. However, this descriptive flair also added depth to the emotional complexities of the Mahabharata's characters, especially Ganga and Bhishma, allowing for a detailed exploration of their moral struggles and ethical dilemmas.
One of the most captivating aspects of the Mahabharata is its portrayal of dharma, the concept of righteousness and duty, which forms the moral backbone of the epic. She deftly navigated these intricate themes, shedding light on the characters' conflicting loyalties and the profound ethical quandaries they faced, thereby adding layers of depth to their personalities and motivations.
Despite the book's strengths, my ability to get immersed in the retelling was occasionally disrupted by the prevalence of factual inaccuracies. These discrepancies, scattered throughout the narrative, detracted from the authenticity of the retelling, making it challenging to fully engage with the author's alternative interpretations of the Mahabharata's timeless tales.
In conclusion, "Goddess of the River" definitely stands out as a valiant attempt to distill the essence of the Mahabharata into a concise narrative, offering a glimpse into the profound themes and intricate narratives that define this epic. While the book provides a gateway for readers already familiar with the Mahabharata, the presence of factual errors underscores the importance of meticulous research and attention to detail when retelling such revered literary works. The author's work, with its mix of strengths and weaknesses, showcases the timeless relevance of its teachings and the enduring legacy of its characters.
TL;DR
⭐For the ambition & effort to retell the Mahabharata in a short amount of pages
⭐For refreshing my memories & reconnecting with the characters and this epic saga of the Mahabharata once again
💫For the writing style was smooth, but maybe way too descriptive. It's not totally a bad thing.
💫For striking the right balance in emotions of the various characters, dharma over vows and righteousness as well.
❌ Factual inaccuracies are a bit abundant in this one, which was sadly not ignorable.. Otherwise, the alternative POVs was interesting way to cover the epic here.
Thoughts while reading:
*Mahabharata only from the perspectives of "just" 2 characters?!?
*I understand different perspectives & narratives to this story, but sometimes there are things that needed to be painted in the right light. It's a bit strange sometimes but there are scenes that have been done well.
*I hardly think anyone without a prior background in knowing these stories, would be able to keep up with the random introductions of characters, and stories.
*Wait... didn't Duryodhana fall in the pond due to the palace illusions in Indraprastha? Not Karna. 😞
*"Feminist" !?!!? Excuse me, but Gandhari doesn't really side with or intervene on behalf of Draupadi, she just pleads with her to not curse the Kauravas. And, Draupadi wasn't as meek as in this book, she was literally a force here. 😭
*Bhishma knocked out only due to one arrow? What happened to the arrow bed!?!!!?
ꉣꋪꍟ-ꋪꍟꍏꀸ:
I feel like reading something out of the Indian mythology. Sudha Murthy being my go-to choice till now, I'm kinda stepping out of my usual comfort zone and I really hope this one actually does it right and fair by the tales and shlokas I've listened to since childhood.
Her retelling served as a quick yet immersive revisit to the beloved characters and complex narratives of the Mahabharata. As I flipped through the pages, I found myself revisiting a world teeming with divine interventions, familial conflicts, and moral dilemmas, all expertly woven into the fabric of this timeless epic.
The fluidity of Patel's writing style, while commendable for its descriptive richness, occasionally bordered on verbosity, which was overwhelming to me as I was seeking a more streamlined narrative. However, this descriptive flair also added depth to the emotional complexities of the Mahabharata's characters, especially Ganga and Bhishma, allowing for a detailed exploration of their moral struggles and ethical dilemmas.
One of the most captivating aspects of the Mahabharata is its portrayal of dharma, the concept of righteousness and duty, which forms the moral backbone of the epic. She deftly navigated these intricate themes, shedding light on the characters' conflicting loyalties and the profound ethical quandaries they faced, thereby adding layers of depth to their personalities and motivations.
Despite the book's strengths, my ability to get immersed in the retelling was occasionally disrupted by the prevalence of factual inaccuracies. These discrepancies, scattered throughout the narrative, detracted from the authenticity of the retelling, making it challenging to fully engage with the author's alternative interpretations of the Mahabharata's timeless tales.
In conclusion, "Goddess of the River" definitely stands out as a valiant attempt to distill the essence of the Mahabharata into a concise narrative, offering a glimpse into the profound themes and intricate narratives that define this epic. While the book provides a gateway for readers already familiar with the Mahabharata, the presence of factual errors underscores the importance of meticulous research and attention to detail when retelling such revered literary works. The author's work, with its mix of strengths and weaknesses, showcases the timeless relevance of its teachings and the enduring legacy of its characters.
TL;DR
⭐For the ambition & effort to retell the Mahabharata in a short amount of pages
⭐For refreshing my memories & reconnecting with the characters and this epic saga of the Mahabharata once again
💫For the writing style was smooth, but maybe way too descriptive. It's not totally a bad thing.
💫For striking the right balance in emotions of the various characters, dharma over vows and righteousness as well.
❌ Factual inaccuracies are a bit abundant in this one, which was sadly not ignorable.. Otherwise, the alternative POVs was interesting way to cover the epic here.
Thoughts while reading:
*Mahabharata only from the perspectives of "just" 2 characters?!?
*I understand different perspectives & narratives to this story, but sometimes there are things that needed to be painted in the right light. It's a bit strange sometimes but there are scenes that have been done well.
*I hardly think anyone without a prior background in knowing these stories, would be able to keep up with the random introductions of characters, and stories.
*Wait... didn't Duryodhana fall in the pond due to the palace illusions in Indraprastha? Not Karna. 😞
*"Feminist" !?!!? Excuse me, but Gandhari doesn't really side with or intervene on behalf of Draupadi, she just pleads with her to not curse the Kauravas. And, Draupadi wasn't as meek as in this book, she was literally a force here. 😭
*Bhishma knocked out only due to one arrow? What happened to the arrow bed!?!!!?
ꉣꋪꍟ-ꋪꍟꍏꀸ:
I feel like reading something out of the Indian mythology. Sudha Murthy being my go-to choice till now, I'm kinda stepping out of my usual comfort zone and I really hope this one actually does it right and fair by the tales and shlokas I've listened to since childhood.