Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

317 reviews

graecus_'s review

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dark emotional sad medium-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

2.75

this was a reread and i liked this less than i did the first time. i had a hard time getting through the book at points. i found the writing jarring at times, and the dialogue was disarmingly british. i feel like the book had a lot of potential, but it didn’t hit for me.
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ltsang08's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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chialozito's review against another edition

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dark inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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rballenef's review

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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sakisreads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I was gifted a copy of ‘The Women of Troy’ but advised to read this first, and I’m so glad I did.

I’m not hugely into Greek mythology nor have I spent much time with Homer’s Iliad, but this feminist retelling was FANTASTIC. Gosh, I applauded Pat Barker so much for this one 👏🏼

Breseis is a fully formed character and her thoughts, feelings and concerns are all highlighted throughout the story. Of course the majority of the males made me cross, but when don’t men make me angry? 😂
I did appreciate Patroclus though, and if that’s not ✨ nuance ✨ I don’t know what is! 

Really loved the 🏳️‍🌈 energy in this book! Achilles and Patroclus’s relationship definitely have the Wattpad girls screaming 🙊


The way in which Achilles KNEW she had left and that she had made a conscious choice in coming back to be with him had me SHOOKETH 😳


4 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨

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majoortizh's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

How I love Greek mythology retellings. I really enjoyed this book throughout every page. I just think at some point it lost sight of the girls at the camp to talk about Achilles and Patroclus. I love Achilles and Patroclus story, so I didn’t mind reading about it, but it unsettled me a little that Briseis became a secondary character on that part of the book, because this book was supposed to be about her. 
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jose_kg's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • 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

4.0

I don't think you can really say you enjoyed this book, it's such a graphic retelling and so sad it isn't really something to be enjoyed, more endured along side the characters. That is not to say I didn't think it was a good book, I thought the writing was raw and reflective, but also unflinching. I always enjoy Pat Barker's work, and it was refreshing to have such a critical retelling of this story. This book was an experience, one I'm glad I had but also glad it's over, similarly to Briseis. 
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noosayag's review

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Well that was a distressing read…

This was a bleak retelling of the Trojan War narrative, from the POV of Briseis, once a princess, now a captured slave. 
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rrio's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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helpelbowhittable's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A retelling of the Trojan War told from the perspective of Briseis. Compared to a Song of Achilles, this one is more dark and sad, focusing on the suffering that the women have gone through through the eyes of a very cold and salty woman. Whilst dark, it wasn't disturbing so that's good. I still prefer the Song of Achilles since I find that the character development and overall reach of the story is more limited and repetitive but it's a good book regardless, especially if you are a feminist. 
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