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david_brent's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is GREAT. The women in the ancient Greek stories are given short shrift, and in this work, Natalie Haynes brings them front and center in a series of short narratives and tells their stories from any and all perspectives: winner, loser, god, mortal. She plays on every emotion: the fickleness and fragile ego of the gods, the humiliation of defeat, sorrow and mourning, celebration and triumph. There's even comedy relief in the form of Penelope's sarcastic and mocking frustration with the ridiculous extended adventures of her "heroic" husband Odysseus. I remember reading The Odyssey in high school. Oh, what hero Homer made him out to be. Under closer scrutiny, Penelope makes him sound like a bit of an asshole, and it's hilarious. The audiobook, narrated by the author, perfectly captures the emotional tone of each tale.
This was one of those books where I wish it didn't end. 5 stars.
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Infidelity, Death, Sexual assault, Slavery, War, Kidnapping, and Grief
miniingrid's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Blood, Violence, Slavery, and Murder
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Rape, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Child death, Animal death, and Lesbophobia
galexy_brain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Classism, Death, Slavery, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, and War
Moderate: Grief, Trafficking, Blood, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Animal death, Confinement, Vomit, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Abortion, Cannibalism, and Infidelity
sareidle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Abandonment, Murder, Child death, War, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual content
saskia_ej's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death, War, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Slavery, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
xlivjones073's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, War, Genocide, Grief, Blood, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Racism, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Gore, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Slavery, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Suicide
makaata's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Moderate: Sexual content, War, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Murder
aseel_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Sexual assault, War, Child death, Death, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Slavery, and Vomit
marareading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I did love this book. given that the women weren't actively fighting the battles, it means that the stories are more disjointed, so it almost feels like short stories put together. It all does come together in the end. It is beautifully written. You can feel the wrath, pain, and intensity through these stories.
If you love retellings, this is a must read for a new take on a traditional story.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, War, Animal death, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, and Violence
marisa_n's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gore, Torture, Abandonment, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Grief, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, and War