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vouija's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Grief, Slavery, and War
kelselt7's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
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? No
4.0
yasmeexn's review against another edition
4.0
This book was interesting, to say the least. I really enjoy reading greek mythology type of books, like Circe and TSOA. But the language in this book was more modern so I didn’t get as much of a greek vibe. There were some parts where I had no idea what was going on, and some parts were very repetitive. I really enjoyed seeing more of the women’s side and Achilles’s too. Nonetheless, it was still a great book.
annahelen's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
elliemh'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
bookmar0's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
the_sunken_library's review against another edition
3.0
So I really wanted to love this. I have a huge interest in Greek Mythology and particularly enjoy the stories around Achilles and the Trojan War. I absolutely adored 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller and was excited to get my hands on this new release from Pat Barker. Not only had I always wanted to read something from the author who specialises in fiction based during war but also because of the premise: telling the story of women in war, giving a voice to those who are so often scrubbed from history. However, I must admit I was disappointed.
Firstly I must say this was really well written and easily consumed. But, I felt it didn't tell me anything new and it certainly didn't feel like the voice of all the silenced women throughout history. It's starts really strong, told from the perspective of Briseis, a Queen about to witness the sacking and ultimate destruction of her City, her people. It adeptly portrays a woman's transformation from human being to object in a matter of seconds. Not to say she didn't consider herself an object before, but now she was a slave which she acknowledged as far worse than her previous situation. She is handed to Achilles as a spoil of war, similar to a gold plate or a copper mirror. He, nor any of the other men, ever truly acknowledge her as a person. She has no name, they do not converse with her and utter obedience is just assumed. Her life before the war camp is scrubbed clean.
However, it's almost like Pat Barker ran out of steam. Soon the bulk of the book is padded with the perspective of Achilles and Patroclus - presumably to provide context to their behaviour but I found that unnecessary. I already know their story, know their attitudes, I didn't need to see inside their minds. I also found it frustrating that other women in differing circumstances are briefly touched upon but never truly explored. Briseis is so practical and level-headed but I don't believe that was the attitude of all women and yet all of them seem incredibly stoic, as if the murder of their families, the rape of their bodies and destruction of their homes seemed a tiresome inevitability. Which perhaps is how women survive in these situations. Perhaps this telling is reality but it made me as a reader, as a woman, feel depressed and scared that women as a collective would just accept their lot. I wanted a stronger, more fearless character but perhaps anybody like that would have been broken or killed. Perhaps the point was survival at any cost was preferable to death. Which, I guess it is.
As you can see I am conflicted by this book! I found the last page particularly frustrating. Briseis repeatedly refers to this being Achilles story and it isn't until he dies (I don't consider this bit a spoiler because... well, most famous story in history right?) that she says 'And now my story can begin'. WHAT!? The whole reason I picked up this book was to read her story and now it's revealed this was never her story at all?
One word for this book - Frustrating. Absolutely and utterly frustrating.
Firstly I must say this was really well written and easily consumed. But, I felt it didn't tell me anything new and it certainly didn't feel like the voice of all the silenced women throughout history. It's starts really strong, told from the perspective of Briseis, a Queen about to witness the sacking and ultimate destruction of her City, her people. It adeptly portrays a woman's transformation from human being to object in a matter of seconds. Not to say she didn't consider herself an object before, but now she was a slave which she acknowledged as far worse than her previous situation. She is handed to Achilles as a spoil of war, similar to a gold plate or a copper mirror. He, nor any of the other men, ever truly acknowledge her as a person. She has no name, they do not converse with her and utter obedience is just assumed. Her life before the war camp is scrubbed clean.
However, it's almost like Pat Barker ran out of steam. Soon the bulk of the book is padded with the perspective of Achilles and Patroclus - presumably to provide context to their behaviour but I found that unnecessary. I already know their story, know their attitudes, I didn't need to see inside their minds. I also found it frustrating that other women in differing circumstances are briefly touched upon but never truly explored. Briseis is so practical and level-headed but I don't believe that was the attitude of all women and yet all of them seem incredibly stoic, as if the murder of their families, the rape of their bodies and destruction of their homes seemed a tiresome inevitability. Which perhaps is how women survive in these situations. Perhaps this telling is reality but it made me as a reader, as a woman, feel depressed and scared that women as a collective would just accept their lot. I wanted a stronger, more fearless character but perhaps anybody like that would have been broken or killed. Perhaps the point was survival at any cost was preferable to death. Which, I guess it is.
As you can see I am conflicted by this book! I found the last page particularly frustrating. Briseis repeatedly refers to this being Achilles story and it isn't until he dies (I don't consider this bit a spoiler because... well, most famous story in history right?) that she says 'And now my story can begin'. WHAT!? The whole reason I picked up this book was to read her story and now it's revealed this was never her story at all?
One word for this book - Frustrating. Absolutely and utterly frustrating.
wheelyautistic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
staceykay's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75