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a_cera_t0ps's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
A really fascinating and engaging read on a thorough history of mazes and labyrinths. The book spirals in a maze-like fashion as you read of the maze builders, Greek mythology (only the parts in relation to labyrinths), and religious ties from all over the world and in all different time periods. It explores the philosophy of mazes and labyrinths, collecting and demonstrating all of the experts opinions, theories, and works.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity, Rape, Incest, Grief, Sexual content, Confinement, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, Dysphoria, and Death of parent
bucketoffish's review against another edition
5.0
This book is really cool. It presents stories about the history, symbology, and mystique of mazes and labyrinths, using the myth of Theseus as a framing device. The text itself is laid out in a labyrinthine manner, requiring the reader to twist the book as it's being read, in order to follow a winding red thread throughout. Eliot covers the impact of the maze on cultures throughout history, and examines its myriad connotations in various mythologies, as well as its development and usage in the modern day. The book is written in a way to make the reader feel a bit disoriented, and some of the people written about in the book seem like they're a bit mad. It's made me appreciate mazes even more, and the list at the end offered a unique set of locations to add to my travel list!
cupcake_overlord's review against another edition
3.0
I think form and function mirror each other with this book. Definitely an interesting read - would read another like it. Probably 3 1/2 stars for me due to the thin nature of the information presented.
stuhlsatzg's review against another edition
3.0
I’ll be honest, I think this book went a little over my head in its cleverness. It was a very quick read and it was full of interesting information, I just don’t know if I “got it”. That’s the reason it has three stars.
It’s beautiful and very fun to read, the page orientation changes throughout as you follow the text and the story, and I never thought I would be so interested in a book about mazes. I found myself thinking of ways you could turn the book into an honors course, and it would be so easy by just following the chapters in this book and building it out with a little more information.
A very interesting and pretty niche read.
It’s beautiful and very fun to read, the page orientation changes throughout as you follow the text and the story, and I never thought I would be so interested in a book about mazes. I found myself thinking of ways you could turn the book into an honors course, and it would be so easy by just following the chapters in this book and building it out with a little more information.
A very interesting and pretty niche read.
florrr12's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed reading the book although it felt a bit just off topic. I do recommend to people who enjoy greek myth and reading about labyrinths and mazes.
mediocremae's review
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
2.75
picked it up from the library because the formatting intrigued me (there are pages that are turned upside down, to the side, etc, and this bright red thread leading through every page) and I didn't quite believe that it belonged in nonfiction. however, I now think that categorization was correct! I think I would have enjoyed an audiobook version of this, or a video version, far more than the book-ish edition, it's something, a topic, that I would've watched a video essay about (my obsession with hour+ youtube videos has re-surged) and felt more engaged with. But I felt in book form that the storyline was clunky, and it was difficult for me to go back and forth from general maze-talk to more mythology/Greek talk, with no real parameters. perhaps my rating was also affected by my current ability to focus, sinus pressure and multi-day migraines really do tear ya down, what can I say.