A review by andresvk
Mahabharata: A Modern Retelling by Carole Satyamurti

adventurous informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

What the poem contains concerning dharma,
pursuit of wealth, pleasure, and final freedom,
may be found elsewhere. But you can be sure
that what it does not contain is found nowhere.

This should have been a hard read. A storied classic, massive even in this abridged version, fully in verse, and, most importantly, part of a tradition that is completely foreign to me. However, it turned out to be a surprisingly flowing read, with credit both to the timeless compelling narrative and characters and to Satyamurti's great style and pacing.

It's worth reading even if you, like myself, have little to no interest or prior knowledge in Hinduism or ancient Indian history. Don't be intimidated by the intense historical, religious and ethical significance: at the core of this is a thoroughly compelling story of family intrigue, adventure and battle, with deep characters and complex relationships and decisions (perhaps the most celebrated tough decision in all of world literature), and that story speaks for itself.