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A review by cryo_guy
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
4.0
This book was cool. Bringing a classical character into the modern world is not always the easiest thing to do, but I think Atwood constructs an engaging framework to do so with this book. However, In some respects, I think that framework is not as successful as I might hope/expect.
I really enjoyed some of the poetic interludes in which Atwood would adopt a certain form of poetry (a lament, sea shanty, drama, idyll), particularly the ones based on ancient genres. And some are even interestingly modern like an anthropology lecture and a videotape of courtroom proceedings.
I also think Penelope as a narrator is well-crafted. She is a ghost, so she gets to have experience of modern notions and sensibilities, but her foundational ones are still those of Ancient Greece. It was fun to read her account, an account of a very familiar story from a familiar (but seldomly first-person) perspective (and female!).
Atwood pretty deftly uses her knowledge to make many references to the Odyssey and the surrounding mythology. Sometimes however, her references are little more than plot summary--Penelope as a compelling narrator mostly mitigates this but, as a person well-versed in the Odyssey, I noticed. And in that same vein, I think there were lots of missed opportunities for expanding on details mentioned or adding other unmentioned ones. But this wasn't wholly detrimental to the book.
The book's side-theory about Penelope and her 12 handmaidens being symbolic of a matriarchal Artemis Minoan-style religion is intriguing as a connection between details that has for a long time floated around and may never get pinned down. So it was cool to see it used in a non-academic setting.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and it was worth-reading but having read Alice Oswald's Memorial recently, I can't help but compare the two and Memorial comes out on top. Though, that's not really because it's better, per se, but really just because in terms of its project and how well it was put forth, it's superior, I think. The missed opportunities and bland description of the Penelopiad are what hold it back. But then again, maybe Atwood wanted it to be that way.
So if you've read the Odyssey and know something about Ancient Greece this book will be fun, great, and maybe even a little enlightening. If you know too much, it might come up a little short. And, if you've read the Iliad too (if you've come this far and you haven't read the Iliad as well as the Odyssey, then you should read it too), then you should make sure to read Oswald's Memorial, too.
I really enjoyed some of the poetic interludes in which Atwood would adopt a certain form of poetry (a lament, sea shanty, drama, idyll), particularly the ones based on ancient genres. And some are even interestingly modern like an anthropology lecture and a videotape of courtroom proceedings.
I also think Penelope as a narrator is well-crafted. She is a ghost, so she gets to have experience of modern notions and sensibilities, but her foundational ones are still those of Ancient Greece. It was fun to read her account, an account of a very familiar story from a familiar (but seldomly first-person) perspective (and female!).
Atwood pretty deftly uses her knowledge to make many references to the Odyssey and the surrounding mythology. Sometimes however, her references are little more than plot summary--Penelope as a compelling narrator mostly mitigates this but, as a person well-versed in the Odyssey, I noticed. And in that same vein, I think there were lots of missed opportunities for expanding on details mentioned or adding other unmentioned ones. But this wasn't wholly detrimental to the book.
The book's side-theory about Penelope and her 12 handmaidens being symbolic of a matriarchal Artemis Minoan-style religion is intriguing as a connection between details that has for a long time floated around and may never get pinned down. So it was cool to see it used in a non-academic setting.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and it was worth-reading but having read Alice Oswald's Memorial recently, I can't help but compare the two and Memorial comes out on top. Though, that's not really because it's better, per se, but really just because in terms of its project and how well it was put forth, it's superior, I think. The missed opportunities and bland description of the Penelopiad are what hold it back. But then again, maybe Atwood wanted it to be that way.
So if you've read the Odyssey and know something about Ancient Greece this book will be fun, great, and maybe even a little enlightening. If you know too much, it might come up a little short. And, if you've read the Iliad too (if you've come this far and you haven't read the Iliad as well as the Odyssey, then you should read it too), then you should make sure to read Oswald's Memorial, too.