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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
challenging
funny
slow-paced
the retelling of these greek myths and explanations were incredibly well thought out.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Absolutely fascinating take on the women of Greek myth and aspects of their myths that might be missing from contemporary retellings.
The tone of the book was very matter of fact, humorous, and relatable.
I loved the connections of the ancient myths to more modern things like Beyonce and Toni Morrison.
I wished that the many artworks described were pictured in the book.
I am impressed by the use of citations in the back of the book, given that this is not an academic book (I would also LOVE to read an academic book by her).
The tone of the book was very matter of fact, humorous, and relatable.
I loved the connections of the ancient myths to more modern things like Beyonce and Toni Morrison.
I wished that the many artworks described were pictured in the book.
I am impressed by the use of citations in the back of the book, given that this is not an academic book (I would also LOVE to read an academic book by her).
Liked it way more than her fiction works. Audiobook version.
Enjoyed the cross-referencing of diversified sources and the more modern media adaptations/parallels.
Adored the pro-Euripides stance and the absolute roasting of Freud, the Buffy, Beyonce and Toni Morrison references.
QUOTES
“Every myth contains multiple timelines within itself: the time in which it is set, the time it is first told, and every retelling afterwards. Myths may be the home of the miraculous, but they are also mirrors of us. Which version of a story we choose to tell, which characters we place in the foreground, which ones we allow to fade into the shadows: these reflect both the teller and the reader, as much as they show the characters of the myth. We have made space in our storytelling to rediscover women who have been lost or forgotten. They are not villains, victims, wives and monsters: they are people.”
“The failure of his mission is assured from the moment he undertakes it. There is something cripplingly true about this, isn’t there? That we are so often the authors of our own misfortunes because of the same qualities which makes us brave, or hopeful, or loving in the first place. This Orpheus hasn’t been gripped by madness, he has been afflicted by fear. And because the fear eventually overwhelms him, the thing he feared comes true.”
“But somehow, he coined an idea which has echoed through the centuries. Everything used to be okay, but then a single, irreversible bad decision was made, and now we all live with the consequences forever.”
Enjoyed the cross-referencing of diversified sources and the more modern media adaptations/parallels.
Adored the pro-Euripides stance and the absolute roasting of Freud, the Buffy, Beyonce and Toni Morrison references.
QUOTES
“Every myth contains multiple timelines within itself: the time in which it is set, the time it is first told, and every retelling afterwards. Myths may be the home of the miraculous, but they are also mirrors of us. Which version of a story we choose to tell, which characters we place in the foreground, which ones we allow to fade into the shadows: these reflect both the teller and the reader, as much as they show the characters of the myth. We have made space in our storytelling to rediscover women who have been lost or forgotten. They are not villains, victims, wives and monsters: they are people.”
“The failure of his mission is assured from the moment he undertakes it. There is something cripplingly true about this, isn’t there? That we are so often the authors of our own misfortunes because of the same qualities which makes us brave, or hopeful, or loving in the first place. This Orpheus hasn’t been gripped by madness, he has been afflicted by fear. And because the fear eventually overwhelms him, the thing he feared comes true.”
“But somehow, he coined an idea which has echoed through the centuries. Everything used to be okay, but then a single, irreversible bad decision was made, and now we all live with the consequences forever.”
informative
reflective
medium-paced