Reviews

xo Orpheus: Fifty New Myths by Kate Bernheimer

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nbcknwlf's review against another edition

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2.0

DNF. As everyone else has said, the main attraction here is Madeline Miller’s story.

periparaparasakura's review against another edition

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Short stories format not as gripping.

marcia_94's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.5

The first half was great, I enjoyed all the stories but then it all went downhill...

meadhbhryan21's review against another edition

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3.0

I just think my hopes were too high. There are some wonderful stories in this collection, but there are also some truly terrible ones that don't really fit with the rest at all. Took an incredibly long time to get through, and eventually I was just skipping some stories rather than torturing myself. A wonderful variety in the origins of the myths used though, and it's definitely worth a read.

katykat3's review against another edition

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3.0

Okay yes I did just check this book out from the library so I could read the short story by Madeline Miller in it about Galatea, the name given to the marble statue that the artist Pygmalion made and who Aphrodite brought to life. And wow in that short story I was not disappointed! Such a beautiful and feminist take on that story. I also enjoyed many of the rest of them, but it was difficult to read more than a few at once because it was clear how much all of the stories were inspired by myths in that they were all pretty freaking weird and disturbing. It was fun getting exposed to myths I hadn't heard of, but I think I liked the ones based on stories I already knew better. I liked how the two Persephone-retellings had the Hades and Demeter characters as her divorced parents; definitely not what I expected! I would recommend to those who realllly like Greek mythology, but I would recommend buying the book. I think the anthology would be better enjoyed if you had unlimited time and could pick up and read a story every once in awhile.

k_hanvey's review against another edition

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4.0

Overall I enjoyed this anthology. Some of the stories were excellent, some were good, a few were difficult to get through, but in general they were all enjoyable. Below is my individual rating of each story:

Anthropogenesis, Or: How to Make a Family - 4.5
Argos - 4.5
The Sisters - 5
Sawdust - 3.5
Friend Robin - 4.5
The Veiled Prophet - 5
Henry and Booboo - 4
Modern Coyote - 3
Devourings - 5
Labyrinth - 4.5
The Last Flight of Daedalus - 5
Daphne - 3.5
Demeter -3.5
Kid Collins - 3
Sleeping Beauty - 4
Galatea - 5
The Hand - 5
The Dummy - 4.5
The Girl with the Talking Shadow - 4
Wait and See - 5
An Occasional Icarus - 3
Killcrop - 4.5
The Squid Who Fell in Love with the Sun - 4.5
Birdsong from the Radio - 3.5
The Lotus Eaters - 3
Slaves - 4
Drona's Death - 5 (my favorite story in the book)
So Many-Headed Gates - 3
The Status of Myth - 4
Narcissus - 5
Back to Blandon - 4.5
The Story I Am Speaking to You Now - 2.5
The Brigadier-General Takes His Final Stand - 4
Dark Resort - 4
Mystery Spot: 95065 -3
Lost Lake - 5
Who Wants My Son - 5
Thousand - 4
Belle-Medusa - 3.5
The Swan's Wife - 4
Sanna - 4
Madame Liang - 3
Sissy - 4.5
In a Structure Simulating an Owl - 2.5
Cat's Eye - 3.5
Betrayal - 5
A Horse, a Vine - 4
The Hungers of an Old Language - 4.5
The White Horse - 5