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cepbreed's review
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: Murder, Rape, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, 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, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Classism, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexual violence
risemini's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Murder, Gore, War, Violence, Rape, and Sexual assault
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
tessr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and Murder
madihoney's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
ohennui's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
kitt_the_dragon's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Gore, Slavery, and Rape
mary_juleyre's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
auri_underthing's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
Wait. Persevere. Gods
Upon finishing this book, my first thought was “what, that’s it?”
Perhaps I misinterpreted the blurb.
To me, the book was just a retelling of Penelope’s life from her perspective, and nothing else. I thought this book would cast Penelope in a dastardly clever light. With plot twists and cover ups that morphed into the interpretation of her story today.
I am glad I read it though, it was very well written and had some interesting elements.
I was surprised that Odysseus wasn’t made into a villain, I thought he would be.
Upon finishing this book, my first thought was “what, that’s it?”
Perhaps I misinterpreted the blurb.
To me, the book was just a retelling of Penelope’s life from her perspective, and nothing else. I thought this book would cast Penelope in a dastardly clever light. With plot twists and cover ups that morphed into the interpretation of her story today.
I am glad I read it though, it was very well written and had some interesting elements.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape