Scan barcode
withlivjones's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
A retelling of the lives of Atlas and Heracles that discusses the different kinds of strength and the line between fate and free will. I loved the bits about Altas, hated the bits about Heracles (particularly the weird sexual tension between Heracles and Hera??), and didn’t quite get the bits where the book seemed to briefly turn into a memoir. A bit of a mixed bag but still worth reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Murder
yash__leen's review against another edition
Overwritten and underwhelming. I love poetic prose but Winterson's shallow wordplay seems insincere at best. It's full of quotable lines but lacks any substance beyond the pretty words. Instead, it has bucketfuls of blatent misogyny and references to rape (probably defended under the pretext of historical accuracy because that's so necessary in myth 🙄).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Minor: Rape
More...