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bibliochild's review
5.0
Complete story here:
https://www.tor.com/2020/01/23/a-girlfriends-guide-to-gods-maria-dahvana-headley/
https://www.tor.com/2020/01/23/a-girlfriends-guide-to-gods-maria-dahvana-headley/
"They didn’t give you this knowledge. You gave it to yourself. You made your own heart, and you made your own mind."
"You don’t learn to skateboard by watching boys on the half-pipe, and you don’t learn to fly by watching boys jump off cliffs, shirtless, skinny, while you hold the car keys."
nesa42's review
4.0
The book in a sentence: Love sucks.
If this was a Buzzfeed article, its title would be "3 myths about romantic love, debunked".
This is a story that chronicles the "romantic" relationships between a human (or a nymph? they call her both) and famous Greek myth figures such as Icarus and Zeus. Every relationship debunks a myth she used to believe about love.
The concept is riveting and the message it delivers is important. I also liked the use of the second person narrative. At times it seemed unbelievable that the protagonist would put up with so much, but I wouldn't dare say it was exagerated: I've seen way too many toxic YA and NA romances with sky-high ratings (I even read some when I was younger – wasted time I'll never get back!). This message needs to be repeated until trashy romances go were they belong: not on the big screen, but in the trash.
The only thing lacking was
Overall, and enjoyable read with an empowering feminist message. Plus, it's free!)
"This is the first myth: that your boyfriend from when you were fifteen will come and get you out of hell."
-------------------------
My rating: 3.5 --> there were several aspects I particularly enjoyed, I’d recommend it
If this was a Buzzfeed article, its title would be "3 myths about romantic love, debunked".
This is a story that chronicles the "romantic" relationships between a human (or a nymph? they call her both) and famous Greek myth figures such as Icarus and Zeus. Every relationship debunks a myth she used to believe about love.
The concept is riveting and the message it delivers is important. I also liked the use of the second person narrative. At times it seemed unbelievable that the protagonist would put up with so much, but I wouldn't dare say it was exagerated: I've seen way too many toxic YA and NA romances with sky-high ratings (I even read some when I was younger – wasted time I'll never get back!). This message needs to be repeated until trashy romances go were they belong: not on the big screen, but in the trash.
The only thing lacking was
Spoiler
that she never stood up for herself in front of her abusers, she never called them out on their hypocrisy or spoke up to let others know their true colors. I would have loved to see this happening, as it would have made other women/ nymphs/ goddesses/ spirits/ cows (Zeus knows no limits) think twice before getting involved with them.Overall, and enjoyable read with an empowering feminist message. Plus, it's free!)
"This is the first myth: that your boyfriend from when you were fifteen will come and get you out of hell."
-------------------------
My rating: 3.5 --> there were several aspects I particularly enjoyed, I’d recommend it
see_dani_read's review
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
catwhisperer's review
4.0
Trying to figure out how best to describe this short work...poetic feminist anthem? It uses multiple goddesses from Greek mythology and their problematic relationships while paralleling modern-day sexism and misogyny. The ending is quite powerful and I enjoyed the layered aspects of the story. Check it out for free at https://www.tor.com/2020/01/23/a-girlfriends-guide-to-gods-maria-dahvana-headley/
"You are the one who listens. You are the one who climbed up here, skirt torn and rumpled, legs covered in scars from thorns and barbed wire, skinned knees, toenails polished, and you are the one who’s on this mountain now, looking down at everyone living. You are still trying to learn how to give it up in the entirety, and you’re doing it with the rest of everyone, because hello heart, hello hope, this is how motherfucking goddesses of love get made. Out of smashed things and blasted things and things burnt and blistered, out of old bad knowledge and out of making your way through the holy impossible."
"You are the one who listens. You are the one who climbed up here, skirt torn and rumpled, legs covered in scars from thorns and barbed wire, skinned knees, toenails polished, and you are the one who’s on this mountain now, looking down at everyone living. You are still trying to learn how to give it up in the entirety, and you’re doing it with the rest of everyone, because hello heart, hello hope, this is how motherfucking goddesses of love get made. Out of smashed things and blasted things and things burnt and blistered, out of old bad knowledge and out of making your way through the holy impossible."
ofbooksandtrees's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Read january 2022
Love this so much!
(Read as part of "Some of the best from Tor.com 2020 edition" but prefer to log & rate the stories separate.)
Love this so much!
(Read as part of "Some of the best from Tor.com 2020 edition" but prefer to log & rate the stories separate.)
uma_booksbagsburgers's review
4.0
Here's the reality, girl, girlfriend, goddess, goddamn goner: You're gonna have to get out of hell all by yourself.
This was powerful. Although I felt that the final paragraphs were repetitive. But it gets a powerful point across.
This was powerful. Although I felt that the final paragraphs were repetitive. But it gets a powerful point across.