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david_brent'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
5.0
This book is GREAT. The women in the ancient Greek stories are given short shrift, and in this work, Natalie Haynes brings them front and center in a series of short narratives and tells their stories from any and all perspectives: winner, loser, god, mortal. She plays on every emotion: the fickleness and fragile ego of the gods, the humiliation of defeat, sorrow and mourning, celebration and triumph. There's even comedy relief in the form of Penelope's sarcastic and mocking frustration with the ridiculous extended adventures of her "heroic" husband Odysseus. I remember reading The Odyssey in high school. Oh, what hero Homer made him out to be. Under closer scrutiny, Penelope makes him sound like a bit of an asshole, and it's hilarious. The audiobook, narrated by the author, perfectly captures the emotional tone of each tale.
This was one of those books where I wish it didn't end. 5 stars.
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War
miniingrid's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Rape, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
galexy_brain'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Infidelity, Vomit, Cannibalism, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
sareidle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual content
saskia_ej's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and War
xlivjones073's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and War
makaata's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
aseel_reads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
marareading's review
- 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
3.25
I did love this book. given that the women weren't actively fighting the battles, it means that the stories are more disjointed, so it almost feels like short stories put together. It all does come together in the end. It is beautifully written. You can feel the wrath, pain, and intensity through these stories.
If you love retellings, this is a must read for a new take on a traditional story.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
marisa_n's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and War