Reviews

De bruiloft van Cadmus en Harmonia by Roberto Calasso

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gabrielrobartes's review against another edition

4.0

Lush, head-spinning, a dense uranium nugget of tales of gods, goddesses and the terrifying consequences of mingling with either. But a life unleavened by the living out of the stories offered by the gods is, Calasso suggests, a life ultimately unlived.

thereadingmuffin's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging informative slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Bro, what a wonderful book! It's very dense and challenging, and you need to have some knowledge of greek myths to understand what is being said. Calasso jumps from mythological character to another and if you don't know your myths then it can get confusing.

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't what I was expecting. This is more like mini essays (there are 12 chapters) and in each chapter it felt almost like reading the ramblings of a really, really educated and interesting guy.

I did not enjoy chapter 8, that was less to do with myths and was more background knowledge? Not sure how to describe it. If I read this book again (and I'm sure I will in the future) then I will probs skip chapter 8. Not for me dawg.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I learned more about myths and how interconnected they are, how the characters are all connected, and it's made me love Greek mythology even more. I feel smarter after reading this book!

Edit
Though I didn't enjoy chapter 8, upon reflection I think knowing now what to expect, I won't be blindsided and confused, and I will probs enjoy the chapter more. So, in future I will read chapter 8, and it is interesting to learn more about ancient Greece beyond the myths.

thestoryprince's review against another edition

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5.0

I have been reading this book off and on for over a year! I could not really imagine doing it any other way. I was inspired for my own work throughout these elegant passages and saw stories I've heard a hundred times in a wholly different light. I highly recommend.

noel_rene_cisneros's review against another edition

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5.0

A través de un prodigioso estilo y de conocimientos enciclopédicos de la antigüedad clásica y de la mitología Calasso teje un tupido tapiz de la mitología griega. El mitógrafo de nuestros días nos lleva de la mano por ese bosque colmado de héroes, de princesas, de ninfas, de neyades, de dioses que es la mitología y, a través de esa narración (ese ensayo) ver un nuevo sentido en ese universo, en la religiosidad griega. Calasso, como pocos, ha logrado comprender la religión helena y la función que en ella jugaban los mitos, lo que reflejaban esas narraciones del mundo espiritual y el por qué de su proliferación (la variedad de versiones de un mito y las, coincidencias de una misma versión en diferentes mitos). El libro está dividido en doce capítulos con lo que se establece un juego de evocación con los doce olímpicos, los dioses que presidían el panteón griego, cada capítulo indaga en uno de los personajes o serie de personajes de importancia en la mitología (Dionisio, Apolo, Démeter, Perséfone, Atena, Helena, Teseo, Ariadna, Ulises, Cadmo, Harmonia y sobre todo Zeus). Podemos ver con una nueva luz a las divinidades olímpicas y a todos los seres con quienes se reaccionaron, la luz griega que en ella misma oculta, entender de una manera más cercana el espíritu del politeísmo griego, de aquello que los griegos llamaban lo griego.

noel_rene_cisneros's review against another edition

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5.0

Calasso hace un recorrido por la mitología griega para ofrecer una propuesta de cómo funcionaba el sistema religioso heleno, su pensamiento que se veía reflejado en sus mitos, en sus variantes y en la forma de entender la divinidad y su relación con los seres humanos.
Lo anterior lo consigue con narraciones cortas y fluidas, como si se escuchara a un aedo cantar a los héroes y a los dioses.

ritaralha's review against another edition

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5.0

Uma introdução magistral à Mitologia Grega.

Foi uma leitura bastante agradável, mas muito longa.
Lia um capítulo, reflectia, a maior parte das vezes relia e acabava anotando informações úteis para o futuro, e depois, finalmente, seguia em frente.
Exigiu inúmeras consultas ao dicionário, a sites especializados em mitologia, e também à Wikipédia.

Esta obra não é apenas uma simples recontagem dos mitos gregos, embora eles sejam a peça fulcral de todo o livro. Calasso coloca os mitos e a sua evolução em perspectiva, encontra padrões e diferenças, explora a relação inquieta do mundo grego com os seus deuses, e tenta assim explicar a sua relação com o mundo.

Para quem gosta de Mitologia Grega é uma leitura obrigatória.