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svetasunshine's review against another edition
2.0
I disliked the writing style (it felt too simple and too complicated at the same time? I don't know if it's maybe because English isn't my first language?). Also, am I the only one who hates the way this author writes women? Such a disappointing read.
graywacke's review against another edition
2.0
43. Metamorphica (audio) by Zachary Mason
Readers: Bronson Pinchot, Kevin Kenerly, Robertson Dean, Will Damron, Xe Sands, Amy Landon, Kate Reading, Robin Miles
published: 2018
format: 6:31 Libby audiobook (~181 pages, 304 pages in hardcover)
acquired: Library
listened: Aug 8-16
rating: 2½
A very recent promising release with some super positive professional reviews, a beautiful hardcover (which I've only seen as pictures), and, for audio, an elaborate audiobook cast with several very good readers. I feel bad not joining the party and lumping on the praise.
Mason has a nice idea and poetic writing style. He uses Ovid as inspiration and re-writes an expansive variety of mythological stories in his own way. He changes the stories in ways he likes, and presents contemporary sounding voices, mostly in the style of first person confessionals of a sort. He includes notes with explanations for some of the story changes he chose.
I liked revisiting all these stories, but I never took to how Mason tells them. Worse, I got bored and annoyed. But I can't say they were bad, more they weren't for me. I can pick out a few things that I maybe didn't like. The style is unoriginal, the stories feel very similar in many aspects, and so many are open ended with a with characters staring into the vast emptiness and depths of no-meaning, but he only pulls this last bit off with, for me, mild interest...over and over again. And, finally, his poetic voice did nothing for me. He has a nice vocab, but it felt to me like he was trying to sound lyrical but instead managed to sound like weak imitation. So, that's a lot of criticism.
What to make of this? Well, my criticism are very moody and I do hope no one takes them too seriously. I honestly am not sure why I didn't like this book. I'm curious how my response will compare with that of other readers, especially those holding that nice hardcover in their hands.
Readers: Bronson Pinchot, Kevin Kenerly, Robertson Dean, Will Damron, Xe Sands, Amy Landon, Kate Reading, Robin Miles
published: 2018
format: 6:31 Libby audiobook (~181 pages, 304 pages in hardcover)
acquired: Library
listened: Aug 8-16
rating: 2½
A very recent promising release with some super positive professional reviews, a beautiful hardcover (which I've only seen as pictures), and, for audio, an elaborate audiobook cast with several very good readers. I feel bad not joining the party and lumping on the praise.
Mason has a nice idea and poetic writing style. He uses Ovid as inspiration and re-writes an expansive variety of mythological stories in his own way. He changes the stories in ways he likes, and presents contemporary sounding voices, mostly in the style of first person confessionals of a sort. He includes notes with explanations for some of the story changes he chose.
I liked revisiting all these stories, but I never took to how Mason tells them. Worse, I got bored and annoyed. But I can't say they were bad, more they weren't for me. I can pick out a few things that I maybe didn't like. The style is unoriginal, the stories feel very similar in many aspects, and so many are open ended with a with characters staring into the vast emptiness and depths of no-meaning, but he only pulls this last bit off with, for me, mild interest...over and over again. And, finally, his poetic voice did nothing for me. He has a nice vocab, but it felt to me like he was trying to sound lyrical but instead managed to sound like weak imitation. So, that's a lot of criticism.
What to make of this? Well, my criticism are very moody and I do hope no one takes them too seriously. I honestly am not sure why I didn't like this book. I'm curious how my response will compare with that of other readers, especially those holding that nice hardcover in their hands.
johnreadsthings's review against another edition
3.0
The stories were reimagined brilliantly and each one was written with brimming eloquence and grace. However, most are cold, uninteresting, and unmemorable.
drewaldridge's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
6/10 This is a rewriting of Greek mythology that’s loosely inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses. There’s always a risk when you completely rewrite classic stories that you might take away what made the story meaningful to begin with and not replace it with anything substantial enough to justify the rewrite. That seems to be what happened with about half of this book. A few of the stories, like the ones about Minos or Narcissus, were really amazing and gave me a new perspective on those characters. A couple were good stories but felt kind of shoehorned into the Greek theme (the author even says in the notes that his Theseus story is really more a reimagining of Gilgamesh). The rest just felt a little empty; you need to know Greek mythology decently well to follow what’s going on, but half of the retellings don’t add anything impactful so I’m not sure what the target audience really is. Overall I would recommend picking this up from a library and reading the stories that interest you, but I wouldn’t recommend buying the whole book.
okcartographer's review against another edition
5.0
Mason derives fresh perspectives from centuries old myths, kindling (a favorite word of his) a new flame at the altar of Ovid. His telling captures emotions of loss, jubilee, and of course, transformation in the form of short stories that feel at once punctual and sweeping. For someone not totally familiar with Ovid, reviewing the older's work after Mason's is a unique experience.
fern_eliza's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely beautiful writing style. Some of the short stories are more memorable than others, but I think the author has managed to retell some well known myths in some pretty unique ways. I loved it.
boyblue's review against another edition
5.0
Greek myths are brilliant, what else would you expect from stories that have lasted millennia. However, Mason's telling will either enthrall or bore you depending on your stylistic tastes. It really comes down to whether you like his lyricism and turn of phrase. I feel he's kept the essence of all the stories while still leaving them set in ancient history. Of particular note is the transformation of the Midas touch into the creation of a monetary system, Persephone's curse into an eternal cycle of birth and death, Helen's position on fame and the role one has to play in the public eye, and Clytemnestra's treachery told through her deep pain and perspective. Atlanta's story is also masterful and Mason's concept of her far superior to the magpie version of her in Ovid's original. Mason's own mathematical background also shines through with Daedalus' stories. The contemplation of the infinite was perfect.
What was most impressive however was the way Mason empowered the female characters with a modern female strength beyond Ovid's traditional description. Unsurprisingly the modern feminine power sits well with these powerful ancient characters.
This line from Odysseus
"Is he the kind to talk in riddles, or love someone who would?"
Will definitely be used as a tool to think through my friendships.
Mason may have given these stories another thousand years of life.
What was most impressive however was the way Mason empowered the female characters with a modern female strength beyond Ovid's traditional description. Unsurprisingly the modern feminine power sits well with these powerful ancient characters.
This line from Odysseus
"Is he the kind to talk in riddles, or love someone who would?"
Will definitely be used as a tool to think through my friendships.
Mason may have given these stories another thousand years of life.
caseys_chapters's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I had to buy Metamorphica by Zachary Mason when I read the premise. It’s a retelling of Ovid’s epic poem Metamorphoses organized by each mythological character as a star and their related narratives as constellations. How cool is that?! It’s a great mix of the most famous myths as well as lesser-known ones.
This approach also had a weakness. The shortest chapters, some only a page or two, left me wanting more emotion and plot. They felt like reading excerpts of a book. I didn’t want to leave those characters behind.
Regardless, I would recommend this as a unique twist on mythological retellings! I never read Metamorphosis, so I might have to give that a go soon.
This approach also had a weakness. The shortest chapters, some only a page or two, left me wanting more emotion and plot. They felt like reading excerpts of a book. I didn’t want to leave those characters behind.
Regardless, I would recommend this as a unique twist on mythological retellings! I never read Metamorphosis, so I might have to give that a go soon.
sapphire_m's review against another edition
5.0
This was an interesting read. I won't say that it was fast paced or particularly grasping, but it was still something I flew through quite quickly. I think that is due to the fact that it is a collection of very small stories, I believe only two of them were longer than fifteen pages. Most of them were connected to each other in very small or subtle ways which made it more satisfying. There is definitely a need for a trigger warning as there is mention of rape (though it is not detailed). I never found any parts of the writing to be sub-par, but sometimes it felt like the author slipped out of the time he was writing about and became noticeably modern. Almost all of these stories have a heavy gloominess to them but I thinks that was intended, it keeps it from being to adventurous. All in all a great book, I wouldn't say one of my all time favorites but definitely one I might re-read and would recommend to others.