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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
Troy by Stephen Fry
Is in short EPIC
This must be the tenth novel I have read in the past four years that revolves around Iliad or Odyssey. It sort of a ongoing trope in my life, what’s she reading, another different retelling of the same damn story. Does she think this time the Trojans will win? Does the ending ever change, no…
Fry’s novel follows Mythos, and Heroes, similar writing style full of flourish roundabouts, voices, and little tangent titbits. If you enjoy his style it is quite quirky and fun. If you do not it can be tedious. It’s sort of like liking Monty Python you have to like the humour and the style for this to be an enjoyable book.
I will say having just finished another Trojan style story focussing on the women’s stories I found this version of Troy little bit lacking in certain aspects; especially concerning the women’s voices and actions in the story. Helens actions were very unknown/ill define, I don’t know if that is purposeful on Fry’s part or or just the authors disinterest in her story. I found this similar with Briseis, Achilles prize or slave woman/ concubine. Fry made it seem like she should be so sad to see Achilles die, the man that was currently in slaving her forcing her to have sex with him and who had just killed her family. It was a missing the depth of what these woman would feel in just being pawns. There is more involvement later in the story of what they would feel, think. But still less developed than the men of war.
The ending was quite satisfying. The fact that he admitted that horrible things happened but what I thought was nice is the caveat that there are many nations that do similarly horrible things during war. We may like the Greeks or we may like the Trojans but there are always aspects in this story that we will never be entirely OK with.
This book is for any one who is a Stephen Fry fan or likes retellings of the Iliad. It is acceptable for teenage audiences but there are mentions of rape, sex and such misogynistic events. As well as slavery and the grotesqueness of war.
Is in short EPIC
This must be the tenth novel I have read in the past four years that revolves around Iliad or Odyssey. It sort of a ongoing trope in my life, what’s she reading, another different retelling of the same damn story. Does she think this time the Trojans will win? Does the ending ever change, no…
Fry’s novel follows Mythos, and Heroes, similar writing style full of flourish roundabouts, voices, and little tangent titbits. If you enjoy his style it is quite quirky and fun. If you do not it can be tedious. It’s sort of like liking Monty Python you have to like the humour and the style for this to be an enjoyable book.
I will say having just finished another Trojan style story focussing on the women’s stories I found this version of Troy little bit lacking in certain aspects; especially concerning the women’s voices and actions in the story. Helens actions were very unknown/ill define, I don’t know if that is purposeful on Fry’s part or or just the authors disinterest in her story. I found this similar with Briseis, Achilles prize or slave woman/ concubine. Fry made it seem like she should be so sad to see Achilles die, the man that was currently in slaving her forcing her to have sex with him and who had just killed her family. It was a missing the depth of what these woman would feel in just being pawns. There is more involvement later in the story of what they would feel, think. But still less developed than the men of war.
The ending was quite satisfying. The fact that he admitted that horrible things happened but what I thought was nice is the caveat that there are many nations that do similarly horrible things during war. We may like the Greeks or we may like the Trojans but there are always aspects in this story that we will never be entirely OK with.
This book is for any one who is a Stephen Fry fan or likes retellings of the Iliad. It is acceptable for teenage audiences but there are mentions of rape, sex and such misogynistic events. As well as slavery and the grotesqueness of war.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
funny
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, War
Moderate: Rape
*listened to on Audible, narrated by Stephen Fry*
Unsurprisingly, the previous 2 mythology books jump back and forth to different places, timelines, and people. It was nice to hear one, long , coherent story.
Unsurprisingly, the previous 2 mythology books jump back and forth to different places, timelines, and people. It was nice to hear one, long , coherent story.
funny
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated