Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks mostly to cultural osmosis through a plethora of various media, I’ve long been familiar with the tale of the Trojan War. Or, to be both more specific and far more honest, I’ve long been familiar with the traditional tellings of the legendary conflict dominated by outsized male characters like Achilles, Agamemnon, Odysseus, Hector, and the like. And frankly, even with my personal longstanding general interest in mythology, this epic of battles raging on the plains below the walls of Troy, clashes of ego between rival Greek leaders, and deception via wooden horse has long since evoked any kind of interest from me at all. It’s been such a longstanding western classic and so culturally ubiquitous to the point where it had become stale.
Now that I’ve read Natalie Haynes A Thousand Ships though, I am definitely singing a bit of a different tune. Her spotlight upon all the women of the Trojan War, from mortals to muses to nymphs and all the way up to the goddesses of Mount Olympus, gives an overdue voice to half the population of the epic after spending centuries at the margins. And by doing so, to be bluntly enthusiastic on my part, the author has created the most genuinely engrossing and fantastically refreshing take on this legendary war that I have ever had the privilege to read to date, period.
For the many out there who enjoyed Madeline Miller’s “Circe,” this is another focus-shifted contemporary retelling from Greek mythology that is definitely not to be missed out on.
Now that I’ve read Natalie Haynes A Thousand Ships though, I am definitely singing a bit of a different tune. Her spotlight upon all the women of the Trojan War, from mortals to muses to nymphs and all the way up to the goddesses of Mount Olympus, gives an overdue voice to half the population of the epic after spending centuries at the margins. And by doing so, to be bluntly enthusiastic on my part, the author has created the most genuinely engrossing and fantastically refreshing take on this legendary war that I have ever had the privilege to read to date, period.
For the many out there who enjoyed Madeline Miller’s “Circe,” this is another focus-shifted contemporary retelling from Greek mythology that is definitely not to be missed out on.
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My second Natalie Haynes book and I just adore the voices she gives to the women portrayed. They are human and relatable and funny. Great read.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fantastic audio narration by the author.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Whenever my library manager and I work the Reference desk together, our time always starts with, "What are you reading and loving?" When I told him I was starting A Thousand Ships, he got a huge smile and said, "I just finished Pandora's Jar!" We both agreed to read the one the other had just read and then discuss both.
I thought this was a beautifully woven story (woven stories?) I learned a lot, was entertained (golden apple story :) :) :), and loved Natalie Haynes' writing style. I look forward to reading her others!
I thought this was a beautifully woven story (woven stories?) I learned a lot, was entertained (golden apple story :) :) :), and loved Natalie Haynes' writing style. I look forward to reading her others!
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix