Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

14 reviews

readerette's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I found some of the literary devices confusing, like mixing in the maids singing and performing. However, the whole concept is quite creative and compelling, and I love stories that take the viewpoints of supporting characters. It reminds me of Madeline Miller's works (Circe, Song of Achilles), but more abstract, and perhaps darker. It also leaves holes, still, in the story of Penelope and Odysseus--this is not a book of answers, but one of questioning what is "known", of offering another way of thinking about Odysseus and Penelope and her maids, or maybe even more than one way. I was never quite certain I was getting the whole truth from Penelope, or if she as a character knew the whole truth, herself. It made it difficult to put the book down!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Abandonment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

podanotherjessi's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This book was very disappointing. I went in expecting this to be the femminst story of the maids, and instead I got slut-shaming and girl hate and perpetuation of misogyny. It would be easy to blame this on it being outdated, but I'm not sure that's even what's to blame. In any case, I think we can leave this in the past.

Characters: 4
Plot: 7
Setting: 6
General appeal: 5
Writing style: 8
Originality: 6
Ending: 4

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, and Kidnapping

drp_moonlight's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The most important factor of this book is the style. It is written from the perspective of a Penelope already long dead. It does not shy away from stating that it is coming from a 21st century. Penelope's narrative is interspersed with the Maids' perspectives, giving the illusion of a classic play.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Animal death

emmawoodhouse's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Blood

Minor: Cannibalism