hawthorne's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
I really enjoyed this book - I've been put off from buying it by the rather large line spacing, but finally decided to get over myself and read it. It's an engaging journey through five millennia of history, from prehistoric Cyprus to modern Western culture. I wish there was slightly more consideration of the 'Love Goddesses' prehistoric/pre-Greek origins, but that's just personal interest. I think Hughes can get a tad repetitive at some points - there's only so many times I can read the story of Aphrodite's origins - but ultimately, 'Venus and Aphrodite' is a brilliant synthesis of a complicated goddess.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Misogyny
_tabby_'s review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
Amazing!
I picked up this book because Aphrodite/ Venus is my favourite mythological goddess. This book showed the fascinating transition that Aphrodite went through over periods of history, from a figure of female empowerment to a figure of female oppression and then a grey area of love and controversy- and ending with how she's now used commercially to advertise women's products (its up to the consumer to decide if its empowerment or oppression ofc).
Hughes shows how the interpretations of this goddess throughout history reflects the nature and the behaviour of human society at the time. I'm definitely more of a lover for mythology than history but I fell in love with this book and it was very informative but just as enjoyable.
Would love to read about other gods in this style!
I picked up this book because Aphrodite/ Venus is my favourite mythological goddess. This book showed the fascinating transition that Aphrodite went through over periods of history, from a figure of female empowerment to a figure of female oppression and then a grey area of love and controversy- and ending with how she's now used commercially to advertise women's products (its up to the consumer to decide if its empowerment or oppression ofc).
Hughes shows how the interpretations of this goddess throughout history reflects the nature and the behaviour of human society at the time. I'm definitely more of a lover for mythology than history but I fell in love with this book and it was very informative but just as enjoyable.
Would love to read about other gods in this style!
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Body shaming, Genocide, Racism, Colonisation, and Sexual content
bronzeageholly's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Minor: Sexual content
a_novaturient_reads's review
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
jameslyons's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Genocide, and Misogyny
The language used to describe trans people and the trans experience is way off base and offensive at times. The author also consistently uses slurs to refer to sex workers throughout.
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