Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

80 reviews

youmns's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Very heavy-handed with the message that women are maligned and regarded as less than men, that women's pain and anger are minimized while men's wrongs are amplified.

The writing was pretty good, the narration was very good. 2 stars because I've read much better reimaginings along the same vein - Circe, Ariadne, The Song of Achilles - and this one fell flat. I think I'd have enjoyed it significantly more if it was among the first I read, rather than the latest.

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aabraham99's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


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clys_nyx's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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? No

3.0


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missvanillanilla's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75


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fkshg8465's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I liked the story. I like most of the mythology. I did not love the storytelling. While I appreciated the retelling through her eyes, I spent way too much time looking up characters I couldn't remember from my Classics studies from over 30 years ago - the key motivation for what happened to Iphiginia, for example and all the other minor characters - which were historically known and which ones the author created. However, I think if the author writes a follow up of Elektra's story, I might be readier for it (hopefully, I'll remember a lot of what I researched today).

I've always hated Freud (he's a horrible misogynist), and of course I cannot help but think of him with the name Elektra. I hope Elektra's voice is claimed for herself as well in a way that lets Freud suck it.

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alexisgarcia's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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livcashmere's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed reading this but I think it’s my least favourite in the ‘mythology from a female perspective’ genre. It started off really slow, but began to pick up its pacing about a third of the way in. I loved the way Clytemnstra and Helen’s relationship was depicted. I think the relationships between the female characters throughout this novel is it’s most redeeming quality. 

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literariumterrarium's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5


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lizzy_library's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Amazing story telling. This book felt similar to the way Madeleine Miller’s Circe story was told and I loved it. The story of Clytemnestra is devastating and full of violence and heartbreak but through all that she endures, she never breaks. I loved the relationship she shares with her siblings and even her children. She is a queen to be reckoned with and one that demands respect. Very refreshing and easy to follow. Great book overall. Trigger warning that there are themes of violence, sexual assault and abuse. Please take care reading.

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tenderdispatches's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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