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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Once again I thank Natalie Haynes for giving a voice to the women who history - and men - have silenced.
I must admit rather shamefully, I questioned how she would be able to tell the story of the Trojan war through multiple short perspectives. I have learned never to undermine her again.
How powerful it is to have a woman write about other women’s stories and feelings. Only a woman could understand another woman of course.
I thank Haynes from the bottom of my heart truly, for proving that women, whether it’s Laodamia or Oenone, are just as much heroes, if not more, than Menelaus or Agamemnon.
I love how Penelope is characteristically portrayed as passive aggressive, I think it suits her and their dynamic a lot, reminding us to never forget how intelligent she is. I absolutely adore how the years pass and how alongside, her resentment develops.
Andromache’s pleading and begging did pull tears from me. For that I will never forgive nor ever see a reason for a war to happen.
Natalie Haynes, oh how I love you.
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A Thousand Ships is a modern epic which retells the story of the great Trojan war but from the perspective of all the women whom it affected. From goddesses to queens to warriors to slaves, mothers, daughters, wives and unsuspecting strangers. All who were embroiled in the Trojan war are given a voice to tell their story.
I liked this book. As a concept it had a lot going for it, a feminist retelling of the Trojan war and its consequences really sounded up my alley. And I did enjoy it. To a point. I found most of the characters genuine and realistic, they felt like real people with real feelings. The pacing was fast and easy to read. The ways the chapters were laid out with swapping characters and returning to those who's stories hadn't ended was entertaining and engaging. However, my biggest gripe is how this story categorically fails the Bechdel Test time and time again. Which I feel might be a harsh judgement when the only reason these women have a story to tell is because men ruined their lives. It's hard not to discuss men in that circumstance. I understand that, but the repetition did get a bit frustrating. I noticed it most during Briseis and Chryseis' chapter. We don't really get to hear much about them individually. Just the consequences of Chryseis' capture and how Achilles and Agamemnon fight over Briseis. Penelope's chapters also annoyed me as they were just a way to update us on Odysseus' travels. But the way they were written in letter format, to Odysseus, didn't make sense to me. He has been through these events, why are you telling him what he has been through? But overall I did enjoy my time with this book and I would recommend to anyone who likes Greek mythology retellings.
I liked this book. As a concept it had a lot going for it, a feminist retelling of the Trojan war and its consequences really sounded up my alley. And I did enjoy it. To a point. I found most of the characters genuine and realistic, they felt like real people with real feelings. The pacing was fast and easy to read. The ways the chapters were laid out with swapping characters and returning to those who's stories hadn't ended was entertaining and engaging. However, my biggest gripe is how this story categorically fails the Bechdel Test time and time again. Which I feel might be a harsh judgement when the only reason these women have a story to tell is because men ruined their lives. It's hard not to discuss men in that circumstance. I understand that, but the repetition did get a bit frustrating. I noticed it most during Briseis and Chryseis' chapter. We don't really get to hear much about them individually. Just the consequences of Chryseis' capture and how Achilles and Agamemnon fight over Briseis. Penelope's chapters also annoyed me as they were just a way to update us on Odysseus' travels. But the way they were written in letter format, to Odysseus, didn't make sense to me. He has been through these events, why are you telling him what he has been through? But overall I did enjoy my time with this book and I would recommend to anyone who likes Greek mythology retellings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Minor: Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Pregnancy
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Meh!
I love the source material, but just found this to be a drawn out book of short stories with zero character development. I think there were some attempts at humour by one of the recurring narrators, but it felt forced. Some of the segments were interesting so I’m giving it two stars.
I recently read The Daughters of Sparta and much preferred the tone & style of writing to tell the Tale of the Trojan War from a woman’s point of view.
I love the source material, but just found this to be a drawn out book of short stories with zero character development. I think there were some attempts at humour by one of the recurring narrators, but it felt forced. Some of the segments were interesting so I’m giving it two stars.
I recently read The Daughters of Sparta and much preferred the tone & style of writing to tell the Tale of the Trojan War from a woman’s point of view.
Haynes writes her characters in such a way that even if some women only get a couple pages dedicated to them, you are still able to empathize with them and they leave a lasting mark on you. Such an interesting (and much needed!) take on the stories surrounding the Trojan War. Though, I think it's not quite right to limit this book to only the Trojan War – it comments on war as a concept, the powers at play, the impacts it has on the forgotten, and all of those things are carried with us from thousands of years ago into today. Fascinating read!
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Penelope’s letters got.. boring? Near the end. And I felt like we didn’t really get closure in his return, though I’m spoiled with Epic the Musical so 🤷 frickin loved Calliope in this