Reviews with content warning for Slavery - The Penelopiad

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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trispenfold's review against another edition

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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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ciwanski's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was such a quick read for me. Almost read it in one night which I haven’t done in many many many years, but sleep took control of my eyes about halfway through.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the writing was quick and straight forward and easy to follow. I loved the chorus line parts and I could see each chorus section staged so clearly in my head. Very much made me want to read the play version of the novel. I especially loved the anthropology lecture section which talked about the significance of the number 12. The quote at the end, “Point being that you don’t have to get too worked up about us, dear educated minds. You don’t have to think of us as real girls, real flesh and blood, real pain, real injustice. That might be too upsetting. Just discard the sordid part. Consider us pure symbol. We’re no more real than money,” really just stuck with me. I think that’s an incredible passage.

I appreciated the candidness in heroic myth vs sleazy probably reality and the indifferent uncertainty in the Gods. Made it seem more real to me.

I almost rated this a 4.75 but then I couldn’t think why it wouldn’t just be 5. Very much enjoy Atwood’s writing and messages on femininity and inequality.

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azalia's review against another edition

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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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sparksofdaisy's review against another edition

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emotional informative sad 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

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of_course_it_is's review against another edition

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reflective medium-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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ginameix's review against another edition

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dark reflective 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

4.0

An excellent look into Penelope's point of view and includes lots of thought provoking sequences. I do wish she was less harsh on Helen who may also not have had a choice. A quick read but worth it.

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