Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Pandora's Jar by Natalie Haynes, Natalie Haynes

40 reviews

j_squaredd's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Misogyny

cozylifewithabby's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

3.25

Not as informative as the Heroine with 1001 Faces, but a good introductory look into women in mythology and our over simplification of them in modern society. Recommend for lovers of Greek myths. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Infidelity, Rape, and Sexual assault

purplepenning's review against another edition

funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Brilliant! Fascinating and funny. If you have any interest in the Greek myths, the modern novelized retellings (Circle, Ariadne, A Thousand Ships), or the application of feminine perspectives to scholarship of any kind you won't want to miss this. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Child death, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Incest, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Violence

caseythereader's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective medium-paced

4.75

Thanks to Harper Perennial for the free advance copy of this book.

 - PANDORA'S JAR is for everyone who loves Greek mythology but wishes the women weren't protrayed only as objects or monsters.
- Even if you think you know it all in terms of myth, I'll bet Haynes digs out some alternate tellings and translations you haven't seen, giving everyone from Persephone to Clytemnestra new dimensions.
- Plus, this books is funny as heck. Haynes is dryly sarcastic, giving much needed levity to these tales of tragedy and woe. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Animal death, Blood, Suicide, War, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Grief, and Incest

wrensreads's review against another edition

funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

This was a fascinating insight into some of the most notorious women in Greek mythology. Haynes’ writing is engaging and witty, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and Misogyny

marianneiriss's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Misogyny, Child death, Death, Murder, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Slavery, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Violence, Cannibalism, Infertility, War, Abandonment, Ableism, and Adult/minor relationship

shazzea's review against another edition

informative

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Misogyny

Minor: Incest and Infidelity

It's greek mythology; sadly, sexual assault is almost guaranteed. It's not particularly graphic but it does show up a lot. The incest warning is for the Jocasta chapter (Jocasta's relationship with her son is what puts the 'Oedipus' in 'Oedipus Complex', though neither of them knew they were related at first).

annaonthepage's review against another edition

funny informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

This book was an absolute, unmitigated joy. It is so well written, engaging, fun, funny, insightful and gratifying. There are mothers, wives, monsters, clay curses and warriors. Please go and read it so we can talk about it together excitedly over tea and biscuits.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Misogyny, Murder, and Incest

wherethebooksgo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Suicide

stormwise's review against another edition

challenging funny informative medium-paced

5.0

This book was absolutely wonderful - Haynes is becoming one of my favourite authors! 

In each chapter, named after the character it focuses on, Pandora's Jar examines the variations of the original myths, the codifiers that set the cultural standard and the modern interpretations that audiences are familiar with. It's fascinating to learn about some of the alternative versions of these classic stories - what could have been if those tales had been the ones to remain in the public consciousness! Haynes also considers the context of the stories and their classical audiences - Greek plays, for example, were written by, performed by and most likely watched by men. It's no wonder women were so often sidelined. 

I LOVED the insights into language! I love linguistics, so it was extremely cool to look at the original Ancient Greek used and how it has been inaccurately translated in some instances. Word choice can convey so much - one of the biggest offenders that Haynes highlights is the frequent translation of Hippolyta's 'zōstēr' as 'girdle' when the word specifically means 'war belt'. 

I thoroughly appreciated the wry humour and clever wordplay throughout the book, which also helps to alleviate the sometimes heavy subject matter. I found that each chapter was structured and paced really well. Overall this is just a fantastic book which I would DEFINITELY recommend to anyone interested in Greek mythology and feminism. 

Oh, and I'm a Euripides stan now 🤷🏻‍♂️

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Murder, Body horror, Death, Infidelity, Slavery, and Violence