meg_elyse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Blood, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, and Misogyny
Minor: War, Rape, Abandonment, Grief, Infidelity, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse
christineolivia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Blood and Rape
Minor: Sexism
savvylit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
The absolute best part of The Penelopiad is the chorus of maids. In the chorus-narrated sections of the book, Atwood plays with form in the most delightful ways. There's a shanty, a courtroom drama, poems, and more! It was thrilling to see what the maids would say next, and how they would say it. Furthermore, the maids' very presence in this story is key to the feminist bend of this retelling. The maids are mentioned so off-handedly in the original stories - despite the devastatingly misogynistic nature of their slaughter.
Lastly, the segments featuring Penelope speaking from the underworld reveal her innate snarky and dry sense of humor. One can almost imagine the heroine she could have been having she ever been afforded more agency when she was among the living.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Sexism, Death, Murder, and Misogyny
lauramcc7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Rape, Murder, and Sexism
teresaangelica_'s review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: War and Pregnancy
doubledevour's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence and Sexism
Moderate: Rape
sarahsbooklife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual content, Gore, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual violence, War, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Trafficking, Slavery, Sexual harassment, and Violence
littleislaygirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Sexism
ellereadsalot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Gore, Incest, Injury/injury detail, and Kidnapping
less_than_relevant's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Violence, Sexism, Misogyny, and Slavery
Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Sexual violence
Minor: Toxic relationship, War, Emotional abuse, Gore, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, and Torture