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applechen's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Ein feministisches Retelling der Odyssee von Margaret Atwood?! Sign me in! - So dachte ich zumindest. Leider hat die Umsetzung meiner Meinung nach unter feministischer Lesart dann doch einige Schwächen. Das hier wäre die Chance gewesen, Penelope abseits von Odysseus zu beleuchten - stattdessen wird die Odyssee einfach aus ihrer Perspektive nacherzählt, stets mit Fokus auf Odysseus. Ich hätte mir gewünscht, dass der Fokus des Buches auf Penelope als Figur gesetzt worden wäre, zum Beispiel indem der Aufbau ihres Matriarchats auf Ithaka ausgeführt würde. Geschockt hat mich angesichts des Veröffentlichungsjahres 2005 auch die enorme Misogynie gegenüber der Figur Helena. Hier hätte ich Atwood mehr zugetraut. Der Feminismus verbleibt so ziemlich unterschwellig in Fragen, wer eigentlich erzählen darf und kann, aus welchen Perspektiven Ereignisse beleuchtet werden und wem geglaubt wird. Leider nehmen diese Themen insgesamt jedoch nicht genug Platz ein. Positiv hervorheben möchte ich jedoch noch, dass der - sehr einfache - Schreibstil das Thema für jeden leicht zugänglich macht.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
kjm19's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The ending was so good.
Parts of it felt too conversational and contemporary for my liking - but I appreciate this was intentional.
Loved the elements of poetry and stage play writing, it was very impactful in telling different sides of the story. And I enjoyed that Penelope’s prose was diaristic mainly and set in the present.
The last few chapters were very good and I managed to finish them in one sitting after spending a while reading the initial 65% of the book. The whole 12 maids imagery analysis - chefs kiss - and then their never-ending revenge on him in future lives.
‘We’re no more real than money’
‘Pretty maids, all in a row’
Parts of it felt too conversational and contemporary for my liking - but I appreciate this was intentional.
Loved the elements of poetry and stage play writing, it was very impactful in telling different sides of the story. And I enjoyed that Penelope’s prose was diaristic mainly and set in the present.
The last few chapters were very good and I managed to finish them in one sitting after spending a while reading the initial 65% of the book. The whole 12 maids imagery analysis - chefs kiss - and then their never-ending revenge on him in future lives.
‘We’re no more real than money’
‘Pretty maids, all in a row’
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, and War
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
2.5
Eh. As an essay I think some of the interludes were making a point, but the rest of the fiction does 't support it at all so it ends up kinda mid to be honest.
I'm ok with the Helen-bashing because Penelope is very young at first so this feels like a fitting attitude for a teen, but this girl just does 't get along with a single person here! Like girl at some point you have to see that YOU are the problem...
I'm ok with the Helen-bashing because Penelope is very young at first so this feels like a fitting attitude for a teen, but this girl just does 't get along with a single person here! Like girl at some point you have to see that YOU are the problem...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence and Slavery
linnybear's review against another edition
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? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Slavery and War
Minor: Infidelity and Rape
sburchart's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Body shaming and Abandonment
withlivjones's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
A fantastic Odyssey retelling with a bold narrative voice, lots of female rage, and some really interesting and unique interludes from the twelve maids Odysseus killed. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is fun to read. I only wish Helen was written with a bit more empathy - I’m quite tired of retellings that just portray her as a promiscuous mean girl, it’s overdone and boring. Overall, a definite must-read for anyone who likes Greek myth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, and Murder
Moderate: Rape
garnethalo's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A beautiful Greek Myth retold. From the eyes of Penelope and the twelve maids, you won't see Odysseus the same way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, Murder, and War
Minor: Body shaming and Alcohol
It's a Greek Myth Reimagined. Expect content warnings related to Greek Tragedies.cepbreed's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
3.5
I first fell in love with Penelope after reading Emily Wilson’s version of The Odyssey. I say this with a bit of shame but it’s the only play or epic I’ve read all the front matter for. I loved The Odyssey when I was a freshman in high school and I loved it even more after Wilson’s interpretation. I’m all for un-deifying Odysseus which is what attracted me to The Penelopiad. All of this build up and genuine interest in the character did me no good while reading this book. I just felt like Atwood’s interpretation fell flat for me. I loved the inclusion of the twelve maids’ voices and the theory of Penelope as “female-goddess cult leader,” but everything else was nothing new. Maybe it’s all the praise Atwood gets and the richer Penelope centered readings that have come out in the past few years. I still really enjoyed this though; I was reading another Penelope focused novel but I DNFd it because it was so boring. Finishing a book is the bare minimum but it says something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
annamorgan27's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism
flourished1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence
Moderate: Misogyny