Aditi Banerjee

Book Title: The Curse of Gandhari
Author: Aditi Banerjee
Format: Paperback

Book Title:
The title of the book ' The Curse of Gandhari ' is very clear that it is about Gandhari, one of the very important characters in the Mahabharatha book.

Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is abstract art of a scene in Mahabharatha where Queen Gandhari curses Sri Krishna faulting him to be responsible for her 100 sons the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War.

About the author:
Aditi Banerjee is a practicing attorney at a Fortune 500 financial services company. She co-edited the book, Invading the Sacred: An Analysis of Hinduism Studies in America. She has published several essays on Hinduism and the Hindu-American experience in publications such as Outlook India and Swarajya. She earned a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School and received a B.A. in International Relations, magna cum laude, from Tufts University.

About the book:
In this insightful and sensitive portrayal, Aditi Banerjee rescues Gandhari from being reduced to a mere symbol of her blindfold. She builds her up, as Ved Vyasa did, as an unconventional heroine of great strength and iron will - who when crossed, embarked upon a complex relationship with Lord Krishna, and became the queen who cursed a God.

My review:
This book by Aditi Banerjee The Curse of Gandhari is a fantastic tale from Mahabharata and how Gandhari and Krishna’s fate has intertwined that end in a Curse that destroyed Krishna’s tribe and caused his death.

The reader walks with the author through Gandhari’s eyes. The author shows Gandhari as a woman of immense virtue, a great queen and a compassionate mother. Gandhari has been condemned many times for the choices she made, for choosing to be blind so she could stand with her husband as an equal. She was also many times cursed for her kids being so evil.

An interesting conversation between Gandhari and Krishna is observed. A new and novel way of conceiving Gandhari is shown in the book.

What I like:
1. The conversations between Gandhari and Kunti
2. A new insight about Gandhari and her history
3. The pain a mother goes through who gets bereaved of her sons no matter whatever generation is very intrinsically explained.
4. Gandhari's intelligence, her unconventional personality and her sharp observance in political matters are very beautifully narrated.
5. Her personality oscillating between a responsible queen and a mother is incredibly portrayed.

What I didn't like:
There is nothing to dislike

Characters:
The characters of Gandhari and Kunti are discussed in a unique and not so common manner which made the characterization appealing and strong.

Narration:
A very engaging and interesting narration is found in the book.

Language & Grammar:
The language used in the book

My Final Verdict:
One of the finest book about Gandhari

Book Title: 4/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Narration: 4/5
Language & Grammar: 4/5
Final Rating: 4/5… (mais)