A review by abbeyroad1410
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book made me very emotional, but I very much enjoyed it. It reads more like a series of short stories that are tangentially connected than a novel which at times made it feel a bit slow for me, but there is a plot there as well as a cohesive message.
When I read a book that is extremely sad, I look for things to break through the tension and bring delight back to reading. The chapters from the perspectives of Calliope and Penelope really do this. Both of the women use sarcasm and irony well which puts readers at ease. Calliope has so many thoughts on the other characters (especially Helen) that readers can easily feel connected to her and her outsider point of view.
If you like Greek mythology, I think this is a very interesting perspective as women truly are kept out of the limelight unless they are goddesses. This novel goes out of its way to highlight women, whether their actions seem heroic or not. It shows how the women are often products of their backgrounds, but it also depicts them as full people, capable of experiencing the same levels of -- if not more -- tragedy.
Overall, I would read this novel again, though I think I need a fun book break to relieve the heavy feeling A Thousand Ships leaves.
When I read a book that is extremely sad, I look for things to break through the tension and bring delight back to reading. The chapters from the perspectives of Calliope and Penelope really do this. Both of the women use sarcasm and irony well which puts readers at ease. Calliope has so many thoughts on the other characters (especially Helen) that readers can easily feel connected to her and her outsider point of view.
If you like Greek mythology, I think this is a very interesting perspective as women truly are kept out of the limelight unless they are goddesses. This novel goes out of its way to highlight women, whether their actions seem heroic or not. It shows how the women are often products of their backgrounds, but it also depicts them as full people, capable of experiencing the same levels of -- if not more -- tragedy.
Overall, I would read this novel again, though I think I need a fun book break to relieve the heavy feeling A Thousand Ships leaves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Slavery, and War
Minor: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Sexual violence