Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

6 reviews

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Infidelity, and Death

Moderate: Sexual violence, War, Sexual assault, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Rape, and Child abuse

Minor: Abandonment and Body shaming

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism

Moderate: Murder, Death, War, Rape, Blood, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Grief, and Cursing

Minor: Alcohol and Body shaming

It's a Greek Myth Reimagined. Expect content warnings related to Greek Tragedies.

marthafern's review against another edition

funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Incest, Rape, Body shaming, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Gore, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping

sophiagl's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Slavery

Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, and Murder

readerette's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I found some of the literary devices confusing, like mixing in the maids singing and performing. However, the whole concept is quite creative and compelling, and I love stories that take the viewpoints of supporting characters. It reminds me of Madeline Miller's works (Circe, Song of Achilles), but more abstract, and perhaps darker. It also leaves holes, still, in the story of Penelope and Odysseus--this is not a book of answers, but one of questioning what is "known", of offering another way of thinking about Odysseus and Penelope and her maids, or maybe even more than one way. I was never quite certain I was getting the whole truth from Penelope, or if she as a character knew the whole truth, herself. It made it difficult to put the book down!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Death, Violence, Sexism, and Slavery

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Rape