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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
I loved a lot of the prose and way that CS Lewis describes things, but I didn’t love the story. The ending dragged and it was fairly depressing until the very end.
I will forever be recommending this book.
This book is a classic for classics, a book to read if you love Greek myth. A book to read if you like to think about a story long after you read it. Especially a book to read if you love to annotate gorgeous quotes.
I’m afraid I’ve read C. S. Lewis’ masterpiece, (besides chronicles of Narnia), before reading all his other works. Now no other book will come close to this.
Also to everyone who doesn’t want to read it because people say it’s is an anti-feminist book, it is not. It’s one of the most feminist books I have read by a man without going crazy to over explain or validate. I don’t wanna spoil it but the fmc is a reflective, smart, worthy queen who did not go through all of that for this book to be labeled anti women.
This book is a classic for classics, a book to read if you love Greek myth. A book to read if you like to think about a story long after you read it. Especially a book to read if you love to annotate gorgeous quotes.
I’m afraid I’ve read C. S. Lewis’ masterpiece, (besides chronicles of Narnia), before reading all his other works. Now no other book will come close to this.
Also to everyone who doesn’t want to read it because people say it’s is an anti-feminist book, it is not. It’s one of the most feminist books I have read by a man without going crazy to over explain or validate. I don’t wanna spoil it but the fmc is a reflective, smart, worthy queen who did not go through all of that for this book to be labeled anti women.
July 2022: C.S. Lewis takes the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche and retells it from the perspective of Orual (the sister/mother-figure of Psyche). In true Lewis fashion, this book stays true to the myth/faerie tradition and is chalk-full of incredible lines and thoughts that will stick with you. Orual is writing what she thinks is a complaint against the gods, when really it ends up being just a case against herself. This story is full of warnings and reminders that every human soul should heed. Beautifully written.
March 2024: Didn’t think it could be possible, but this book was ever BETTER upon second reading!
March 2024: Didn’t think it could be possible, but this book was ever BETTER upon second reading!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
I feel like there is much wisdom left in this book that I wasn’t able to comprehend on my first read through. In spite of this, I found it to be a stirring and brilliant take on the myth of Cupid and Psyche. How often do I let myself actually remove the veil from my face and allow others to see the good and bad that lies behind?
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Go figure it would be C. S. Lewis that would deliver for me the exact sort of thing I look for in a mythology retelling. Psyche’s sisters are the original ugly stepsister characters and it’s nice to see a properly nuanced take on them. I love the portrayal of Psyche, or Istra as she is called here, and her relationship with her sisters, how what causes its breakdown is the combination of external political factors, an abusive father, childish cruelty gone too far, and smothering love. Orual’s reaction to Istra’s situation is portrayed in a sympathetic manner, as it’s the concern of having to watch a loved one stubbornly stay and be taken advantage of in what you think is a terrible situation or a parent being forced to realize that their child is grown up and now has the power to make questionable decisions that they will disapprove of. However with all that said, I really didn’t like the pacing of this book. I found it to be much too slow
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I like Lewis and I like fantasy, but this one was a little bit to mythological for me.
DNF because I read it in middle and high school and remember little enough to want to read it again but too much to enjoy reading it again