Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Penelopiad, by Margaret Atwood

26 reviews

angryglitterwitch's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny fast-paced

4.0

So clever, so biting, so funny, so well-written. P much everything you'd expect from Margaret Atwood retelling The Odyssey 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual violence and Sexual assault

dracksp's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Misogyny, War, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Sexual harassment

therecoveringbookworm's review against another edition

dark funny reflective fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Misogyny, Classism, Rape, and Violence

sarahsbooklife's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

contre_qui's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.0

This is such an interesting take on Penelope's story. It's very irreverent and tongue in cheek, and Penelope's voice is compelling and interesting. It wasn't quite what I expected - it's not like more modern myth retellings like Madeline Miller. This is a retrospective view of events from Penelope's perspective. It's already happened, she's kind of bitter about it, and she discusses what happened and how she felt. Also featured are the twelve maids hanged at the end of the Odyssey, and they make a nontraditional Greek chorus which adds a lot of texture and humor to the novel. Really interesting form overall, and I definitely recommend.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual content, and Murder

richardgarrardsm's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• 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? No

4.0

A brilliant and acerbic retelling of a Homeric classic. Very fast-paced (I finished it in a day), but very absorbent. Atwood’s talent for storytelling doesn’t diminish throughout the book, telling the story from multiple different angles and settings. The feminist inversion adds a lovely touch to the source material, a most patriarchal of all poems. Overall, a very slick and highly readable tale.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Death, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

littleislaygirl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Sexism

ellereadsalot's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

I love a good myth retelling, especially when a voice is given to a woman who has been denied a voice. Margaret Atwood has always been good at giving voices to just such women. This was an emotional read. My heart goes out to Penelope. It's so easy to forget she suffered at home, alone, when you read about Odysseus traveling the world and having adventures. It's unfair to her, and this book reminds you of that and makes you feel what she felt. My only wish is that she had gotten a happy ending after all she went through.

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Content Warnings

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

trispenfold's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

Moderate: Rape, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

less_than_relevant's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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