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smuds2's review against another edition
3.0
REVIEW RATING SYSTEM - [ 1 = FELT DECEIVED, 2 = NOT WHAT I EXPECTED IN A BAD WAY BUT WASN'T A WASTE OF TIME, 3 = WHAT I EXPECTED FELT LIKE MY TIME WAS USED AS EXPECTED, 4 = PLEASANTLY SURPRISED, 5 = THINKING ABOUT IT MONTHS LATER ]
RULES : (1) can not give anything a 5 outright, must either be a re-read or a update to score, (2) can not give incremental ratings, except for 4.75 which is functionally a "revisit in case it is actually a 5", (3) I should always end with a "this leads me to think" of 2-3 ideas this book roused in me.
First off, I whole heartedly agree with the major points of other reviews. (1) not very interesting characters, except Medea. (2) The first two books are mostly a snooze fest.
God, Greek poetry loves it's lists and itineraries. I understand why they exist, but I would love a midpoint between a retelling, and something that is stripped of the less interesting parts of the book for the casual reader - something like a "readers digest of Jason and the Golden Fleece"
What do I mean by dudes being bros? It's just a bunch of heros, buff dudes (either literally or metaphorically, I guess) that go on an adventure because their dude friend Jason needs their help. Many of the scenes/inner-texts can be read from this vantage point, and I think can be greatly enjoyed in this way. Arriving at Lemnos, where a bunch of previously murderous women offed their male counterparts, asking the Argonauts to stay rule the island with them, where they chill at for a while before Herakles is finally like "alright, you all had your fun, lets get on with it". Total dude being bro action. Similar things can be said for Polydeukes duking it out with Amycus. I think this is a perfectly acceptable way to enjoy most of this book.
This falls a part a bit (luckily, IMO) when Medea comes on to the scene. Of course, because she doesn't REALLY have any personal agency ( i mean, loves arrow is driving her actions, right?) it can be read in the same way. I think it's more interesting, though, not to read it that way at that point, and to interpret the character motivations more realistically. At what point can it be said that her agency truly returned to her? What are the parallels between her degree of agency and the argonauts? It often seems like the men, for instance, are mostly at the mercy of the whims of female goddesses, leading the inveitable comparison of Goddesses to Argonauts as Argonauts are to Medea.
I think, most of the time, though, this is a story, at least in my translation by Richard Hunter, that REQUIRES you to extrapolate a bit beyond the pure words of the story. At the Crashing Rocks scene, while its written with some tension, adding your own music, visuals, sounds, etc. makes it much more enjoyable IMO.
I would be very interested in reading a good verse translation. Richard Hunter's was.... well. It felt plodding.
lillanaa's review against another edition
5.0
A faithful translation, with a lot of really good extras! The map in the front is awesome, and the notes through the back of the book definitely help with key understanding points. This is one I would recommend if you're looking for a good translation that's easy to pick up.
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
Jason and the Golden Fleece was somewhat interesting and entertaining. In it, you will meet Jason and his crew. Without know much about Jason to begin with, and my brain slowly melting away from my crazy work day, I found the story just okay.
The beginning started off pretty great but with all the extra side notes I got easily confused and lost. Maybe it's just because today was not the day to dive into this book and I still somehow made it through.. or maybe I just wasn't invested into Jason to begin with. He kind of reminded me of the cartoon version of Hercules. Like just a little bit.
I feel like things started to pick up for me once we met Medea. There was just something about her and their love in a way that woke me up. Even for a little bit. I mean don't get me wrong - I love most of the Greek Gods/Heroes mentioned in this book but for some reason it didn't work for me today. Maybe I will re-read this later in life and my opinion might change.
The beginning started off pretty great but with all the extra side notes I got easily confused and lost. Maybe it's just because today was not the day to dive into this book and I still somehow made it through.. or maybe I just wasn't invested into Jason to begin with. He kind of reminded me of the cartoon version of Hercules. Like just a little bit.
I feel like things started to pick up for me once we met Medea. There was just something about her and their love in a way that woke me up. Even for a little bit. I mean don't get me wrong - I love most of the Greek Gods/Heroes mentioned in this book but for some reason it didn't work for me today. Maybe I will re-read this later in life and my opinion might change.
mads5289's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
benedettal's review against another edition
3.0
Unfortunately this book gets docked point because it’s not super easy to read. I wish the translation had maybe done away with the patronymics, but honestly I get it, if i wanted a clean version I could just read a retelling. Nevertheless the narration is pretty bulky and the action kinda gets lost in the middle of it all.
On the bright side, this story is iconic. Jason is such a weird hero, he’s really not cut out for this and his comrades let him know that. This is really his hero’s journey, with internal and external challenges alike. I wish his companions had got more time to shine, but you really get the sense that these are all huge personalities by how much they aren’t afraid to humble Jason occasionally. I honestly always felt for him, he never has the outward bravery the others have. Poor Jason just had impostors syndrome all along.
Obviously this story would be nowhere near as good as it is if it wasn’t for its real star, Medea of Colchis. The way this girl is both the victim and also clearly completely unhinged is just wonderful to read. Here you really get the sense of Medea being a lot like Helen, she knows how she should behave but is swayed by the gods. Really adds to her tragedy. I especially appreciated all the foreshadowing of future events, even tho they didn’t really materialise in this story. Still, when Medea enters the scene you know you’re in for a good time, and I wasn’t disappointed.
On the bright side, this story is iconic. Jason is such a weird hero, he’s really not cut out for this and his comrades let him know that. This is really his hero’s journey, with internal and external challenges alike. I wish his companions had got more time to shine, but you really get the sense that these are all huge personalities by how much they aren’t afraid to humble Jason occasionally. I honestly always felt for him, he never has the outward bravery the others have. Poor Jason just had impostors syndrome all along.
Obviously this story would be nowhere near as good as it is if it wasn’t for its real star, Medea of Colchis. The way this girl is both the victim and also clearly completely unhinged is just wonderful to read. Here you really get the sense of Medea being a lot like Helen, she knows how she should behave but is swayed by the gods. Really adds to her tragedy. I especially appreciated all the foreshadowing of future events, even tho they didn’t really materialise in this story. Still, when Medea enters the scene you know you’re in for a good time, and I wasn’t disappointed.
dee9401's review against another edition
3.0
This is my first encounter with Jason and the Argonauts. I'd heard of the myth but it's my first time delving into it. Off the bat, let me say the story is important to read and I enjoyed it, but it just can't compare to Homer, Ovid, or even Virgil. Books 1 and 2 were exceedingly dry and tedious, however, Books 3 and 4 were better, especially 3. Medea felt like the only full-developed character, and she doesn't show up until the third book.
I must say that this translation by Richard Hunter was very enjoyable. His introduction was excellent and informative. His comment that it's hard for us today to appreciate this work in translation since when Apollonius wrote it, it's Greek would have been experimental (p. xxx). Also, its myriad mythical contexts would have been ever-present in the forefronts of the reader's mind. Hunter's notes were very useful, although I still harbor a strong dislike of Oxford World's Classics choice to place notes at the end of the volume when they are eminently more useful in the moment. I find it much easier to glance at the bottom of the page rather than have to flip to the back, read a note, and then flip back to the text. It is especially difficult when there are many notes on a single page.
I must say that this translation by Richard Hunter was very enjoyable. His introduction was excellent and informative. His comment that it's hard for us today to appreciate this work in translation since when Apollonius wrote it, it's Greek would have been experimental (p. xxx). Also, its myriad mythical contexts would have been ever-present in the forefronts of the reader's mind. Hunter's notes were very useful, although I still harbor a strong dislike of Oxford World's Classics choice to place notes at the end of the volume when they are eminently more useful in the moment. I find it much easier to glance at the bottom of the page rather than have to flip to the back, read a note, and then flip back to the text. It is especially difficult when there are many notes on a single page.
sabrinaslivingliterature's review against another edition
5.0
The epic poem that links Homer with Late Antiquity follows the journey of Jason on his quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece. Apollonius explores many of the fundamental aspects of life in a highly original way: love, deceit, heroism, human ignorance of the divine, and the limits of science, and offers a gripping and sometimes disturbing tale in the process.
Apollonius' writing is very different from Homer, however, the story is fun and the writing is still beautiful. Compared to Achilles and Herakles Jason is very normal which makes him more endearing to the reader you hope he makes it home because from the start this really is the only thing he wants, apart from his men to get home as well. The focus on companionship compared to individual heroics makes this story interesting and compelling.
I loved the story and despite the fact that you are very obviously not meant to like Medea I found myself loving her character, probably due to reading it in the 21st century.
Apollonius' writing is very different from Homer, however, the story is fun and the writing is still beautiful. Compared to Achilles and Herakles Jason is very normal which makes him more endearing to the reader you hope he makes it home because from the start this really is the only thing he wants, apart from his men to get home as well. The focus on companionship compared to individual heroics makes this story interesting and compelling.
I loved the story and despite the fact that you are very obviously not meant to like Medea I found myself loving her character, probably due to reading it in the 21st century.