Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
2022 Reading Challenges
• ATY #30 A book related to mythology
• Back to the Classics #12 Wild Card Classic
• Popsugar #35 A book with a constellation on the cover or in the title
How I selected this book
It seemed an obvious fit for the ATY "book related to mythology" prompt, plus I am trying to scatter my classics throughout the ATY year, one per month.
Plot summary
This book is a summary of the major (and minor) Greek/Roman myths and a small section on Norse mythology.
It covers:
• The Gods
• Lovers
• Heroes
• The Trojan War (Iliad, Odyssey, Aeneid)
• Families (including the Oedipus cycle)
• Minor myths
• Norse mythology
Likes
• It's a good summary and is good for getting an understanding of the content of the Greek myths without having to read the long sources (e.g. the Odyssey, the Iliad, several plays)
Dislikes
• It's very dry for the amount of action and entertainment there could be. The myths are told as stories, but really just as statement after statement... Hera did this, Zeus did that, Hera was unhappy... it was kind of a slog to get through.
• ATY #30 A book related to mythology
• Back to the Classics #12 Wild Card Classic
• Popsugar #35 A book with a constellation on the cover or in the title
How I selected this book
It seemed an obvious fit for the ATY "book related to mythology" prompt, plus I am trying to scatter my classics throughout the ATY year, one per month.
Plot summary
This book is a summary of the major (and minor) Greek/Roman myths and a small section on Norse mythology.
It covers:
• The Gods
• Lovers
• Heroes
• The Trojan War (Iliad, Odyssey, Aeneid)
• Families (including the Oedipus cycle)
• Minor myths
• Norse mythology
Likes
• It's a good summary and is good for getting an understanding of the content of the Greek myths without having to read the long sources (e.g. the Odyssey, the Iliad, several plays)
Dislikes
• It's very dry for the amount of action and entertainment there could be. The myths are told as stories, but really just as statement after statement... Hera did this, Zeus did that, Hera was unhappy... it was kind of a slog to get through.
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
This was a really great intro to the subject of mythology. The author took legends and myths from all over and combined them into a well-presented volume that manages to stay interesting and engaging even as it presents a lot of information. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys studying mythology or would like to learn more about some of the enduring myths that persist throughout our history.
Definitely more of an informational book than a storybook, but a very good reference for those that enjoy Greek mythology.
Aside from re-learning a lot of Greek Mythology and learning some new, lesser-told Greek myths (as well as a bit of Norse Mythology at the very end), what I will remember the most about this book is Edith Hamilton's incredible bias toward Ovid. Even when she complimented Ovid, she had to throw in something somewhat unpleasant about Ovid so that way it would counter the compliment.
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
My low rating is not a reflection of the book. It did exactly what it set out to do: condense the mythology of Ancient Greece. It is instead a reflection of the narrator who's voice had no emotion
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Gore
This would have been better if it wasn't so...detailed...I suppose I mean that it could have been less straight forward and made it more interesting, but insightful none the less.