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hodgeonlucy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, War, Violence, Sexual assault, Animal death, Slavery, Grief, Child death, Rape, and Murder
cait_mccarron's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Child death, Slavery, Sexual assault, Grief, Death, Murder, and Violence
david_brent's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
I was NOT expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. I assumed (something that I should never do) after reading Song of Achilles and Circe that this was a hanger-on, following a fashionable trend of novels taking place in ancient times, so my expectations were not high. I could not have been more wrong.
This book is GREAT. The women in the ancient Greek stories are given short shrift, and in this work, Natalie Haynes brings them front and center in a series of short narratives and tells their stories from any and all perspectives: winner, loser, god, mortal. She plays on every emotion: the fickleness and fragile ego of the gods, the humiliation of defeat, sorrow and mourning, celebration and triumph. There's even comedy relief in the form of Penelope's sarcastic and mocking frustration with the ridiculous extended adventures of her "heroic" husband Odysseus. I remember reading The Odyssey in high school. Oh, what hero Homer made him out to be. Under closer scrutiny, Penelope makes him sound like a bit of an asshole, and it's hilarious. The audiobook, narrated by the author, perfectly captures the emotional tone of each tale.
This was one of those books where I wish it didn't end. 5 stars.
This book is GREAT. The women in the ancient Greek stories are given short shrift, and in this work, Natalie Haynes brings them front and center in a series of short narratives and tells their stories from any and all perspectives: winner, loser, god, mortal. She plays on every emotion: the fickleness and fragile ego of the gods, the humiliation of defeat, sorrow and mourning, celebration and triumph. There's even comedy relief in the form of Penelope's sarcastic and mocking frustration with the ridiculous extended adventures of her "heroic" husband Odysseus. I remember reading The Odyssey in high school. Oh, what hero Homer made him out to be. Under closer scrutiny, Penelope makes him sound like a bit of an asshole, and it's hilarious. The audiobook, narrated by the author, perfectly captures the emotional tone of each tale.
This was one of those books where I wish it didn't end. 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Infidelity, Death, Sexual assault, Slavery, War, Kidnapping, and Grief
lorebeth's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really appreciate feminist revisions of traditional 'canonical' mythologies. This shifting of Homer's male-dominated Odyssey to Hayne's exploration of womanhood is significant. A Thousand Ships focuses on the women who were not given a voice. It explores the various levels of oppression faced by women against the framing of the trojan war.
For example, the novel interrogates Penelope as the "waiting women", Trojan women who are enslaved at the end of the war, and female bodies as sites of violence and sacrifice.
In grounding female plight against the familiar background of Greek mythology, Haynes is able to unearth the plight of all women through all time. The familiar Greek stories are echoes of our own tales.
The novel is something of a cousin to Njabulo Ndebele's The Cry of Winnie Mandela, as both novels re-center traditional myths around forgotten female voices. Both interrogate the concept of "the waiting woman" and give their female characters humanity which they are usually denied.
Haynes' novel is artful and nuanced in the various perspectives so as to give a holistic reading of women in war.
Calliope's inclusion is particularly interesting as her disdain for "the bard" is a rebellion against being defined by the male gaze.
Ultimately, I believe this novel could be considered something of a modern classic and I know these stories will stay with me long after the final chapter has ended.
For example, the novel interrogates Penelope as the "waiting women", Trojan women who are enslaved at the end of the war, and female bodies as sites of violence and sacrifice.
In grounding female plight against the familiar background of Greek mythology, Haynes is able to unearth the plight of all women through all time. The familiar Greek stories are echoes of our own tales.
The novel is something of a cousin to Njabulo Ndebele's The Cry of Winnie Mandela, as both novels re-center traditional myths around forgotten female voices. Both interrogate the concept of "the waiting woman" and give their female characters humanity which they are usually denied.
Haynes' novel is artful and nuanced in the various perspectives so as to give a holistic reading of women in war.
Calliope's inclusion is particularly interesting as her disdain for "the bard" is a rebellion against being defined by the male gaze.
Ultimately, I believe this novel could be considered something of a modern classic and I know these stories will stay with me long after the final chapter has ended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Slavery, Rape, and Sexual violence
cclift1114's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
I’m a sucker for anything Greek Mythology related, especially for things surrounding the Trojan War, and then Haynes does a retelling from the perspective of the women in the war? You bet I was all in. Haynes does a great job of jumping from one woman or group of women to the next, while still weaving a coherent and flowing tapestry of their stories. While the majority of the tales are centered around the immediate aftermath of the war, you still get perspectives from before, during and well after the war. Haynes also does not limit herself to mortal women, but also includes the goddesses, and her chapters from their perspectives do even better at highlighting their childishness than the original myths. Haynes shows in this book that while often the focus in mythology, in particular around the Trojan War, is the heroism of the men, the women demonstrate just as much bravery and strength.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, War, Physical abuse, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
violarosa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Genius retelling of the war of troy with focus on the different women, their battles, their heroism, their pride, their experiences and suffering. With all the war in the world right now, this is more current than ever, showing how the innocent suffer, when war is about to happen, when wars are fought and even in their aftermath.
It is a heavy topic with many sad endings. No escapisme and not recommended as a light hearted entertainment.
It is a heavy topic with many sad endings. No escapisme and not recommended as a light hearted entertainment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Child death, Rape, and War
lauramcc7's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Blood, Grief, Rape, Slavery, Physical abuse, Murder, Death, Child death, Violence, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
tieflingmom's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexual harassment, Grief, Blood, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Colonisation, Rape, Toxic relationship, War, Genocide, Abandonment, and Sexual assault
caelfind's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A very powerful read that allowed us to see the different perspectives of various women involved in the Trojan War. It didn’t drag and held my interest throughout. The only let-down was the slightly catty, two-dimensional portrayal of the goddesses; while this was clearly a deliberate choice on the part of the author, I felt it stripped them of the complexity and nuance we often see in Greek Mythology.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and War
ashley_schaf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I throughly enjoyed this book. It isn’t my usual genre but I couldn’t put this book down. The stories of the women of Troy and Greece are rarely told but they are some of the most important stories to tell. I love how the author talked about women from both sides of the Trojan war. This book was sad but wonderfully written. It took me a second to get into but I ended up enjoying the back and forth between stories. Overall, I thought this was a wonderful book and I’m excited to expand into the world of Greek mythology with my reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Violence and Rape