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boodschappenlijst's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
To the author's defense I have not read the first book in this series, but I found this one extremely uneventful. Like instead of detailing actual interesting events it chose to focus on the intermezzo inbetween - but without much intrigue to make it truly interesting. Especially knowing how already how it ends, this story wasn't at all exciting the way it could've been. Halfway through I found myself wishing the book focused on Pyrrhus entirely, who had an actual character conflict going on. Instead this book presented me with extremely drawn out descriptions of mundane activities. It simply does not deliver.
Also I am retracting points for unnecessary fatphobia.
Also I am retracting points for unnecessary fatphobia.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Fatphobia
louisehowe's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
A little meandering, without the drive and purpose of the first book. But altogether not a bad book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Fatphobia, Rape, and Suicide
nila's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Fatphobia
Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, and Rape
lionelle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Child death, Death, Slavery, Sexual violence, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, War, Violence, Torture, and Confinement
Minor: Body shaming and Fatphobia
booksbutmakeitgay's review against another edition
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Blood, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Vomit
halfelfschollar's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
2.0
Truely disappointing.
After reading the first book 'Silence of the Girls' I had high hopes for this story. And yet I was left disappointed. I truely wanted to enjoy this book but I didn't at all.
In many places in the story it felt like Barker's modern societal ideas and expectations bled into the story in ways that did not belong in a historical setting. This is where it would lose me as I became confused and in some cases angry at the way Briseris thought.
Silence of the Girls works better as a stand alone.
After reading the first book 'Silence of the Girls' I had high hopes for this story. And yet I was left disappointed. I truely wanted to enjoy this book but I didn't at all.
In many places in the story it felt like Barker's modern societal ideas and expectations bled into the story in ways that did not belong in a historical setting. This is where it would lose me as I became confused and in some cases angry at the way Briseris thought.
Silence of the Girls works better as a stand alone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Fatphobia
sb_037's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
Was struck by how Pat Barker is able to do justice to a "feminist re-telling" by including actually complex women insomuch that they actually disagree with each other on how best to survive in their given circumstances. Pat Barker humanizes her characters and doesn't let you forget about the atrocities her women have had to face - reminding her readers continually that the pregnancy Briseis bears is wrought with confusion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War
littlefreckles's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
hannae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Sexual violence
heartbrekker's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
3.75
"We women are peculiar creatures. We tend not to love those who murder our families."
The Women of Troy was a visceral take on the post-war effects of the Trojan War, specifically following the women enslaved to the Greeks from Troy. The main character is still Briseis from The Silence of the Girls, but we also have a new character Calchas and Achilles son Pyrrhus as a few POV poins throughout the story.
My memory doesn't quite recall a lot of the scenes from TSOTG besides just what I know from Greek myths in general, but I have to say this sequel was pretty great. Yes, it is monumentally slower paced, but a post-war story isn’t meant to follow the heat of war. Just the continual darkness.
It was so intriguing to read a book solely focused on the aftermath of war. From the differing arrays of PTSD (warrior males, enslaved women, and Briseis' experiences with Achilles and other kings) to this deep desire to return home, the Greeks and Trojan women really tugged on my heart strings. I didn't mind the slow pac because this story was about all of them, and this unified broken heart over war. So many have died on both ends and Patroclus and Achilles are one of the main deaths to still haunt everyone. It's tragic and real and lovely. A good representation.
Although, here were a few phrases/ moments in the story that didn't feel necessary to me. The r-word is used multiple times, and due to many peoples trauma with that word, I think another word could've suited the scene better. The same thing goes for the fatphobia against Maire. Her weight is condescendingly discussed numerous times whether about how that makes her less desired, beautiful, etc. It made me uncomfortable as someone who has struggled with their weight in their life, and since it didn't add much to the story (Maire has a baby son who all the enslaved women go around protecting), I think it could have been left out.
Overall, this sequel has proven just how much I adore Pat Barker's Greek retellings, and I cannot wait to reread TSOTG and see what else Barker has in store for us!
The Women of Troy was a visceral take on the post-war effects of the Trojan War, specifically following the women enslaved to the Greeks from Troy. The main character is still Briseis from The Silence of the Girls, but we also have a new character Calchas and Achilles son Pyrrhus as a few POV poins throughout the story.
My memory doesn't quite recall a lot of the scenes from TSOTG besides just what I know from Greek myths in general, but I have to say this sequel was pretty great. Yes, it is monumentally slower paced, but a post-war story isn’t meant to follow the heat of war. Just the continual darkness.
It was so intriguing to read a book solely focused on the aftermath of war. From the differing arrays of PTSD (warrior males, enslaved women, and Briseis' experiences with Achilles and other kings) to this deep desire to return home, the Greeks and Trojan women really tugged on my heart strings. I didn't mind the slow pac because this story was about all of them, and this unified broken heart over war. So many have died on both ends and Patroclus and Achilles are one of the main deaths to still haunt everyone. It's tragic and real and lovely. A good representation.
Although, here were a few phrases/ moments in the story that didn't feel necessary to me. The r-word is used multiple times, and due to many peoples trauma with that word, I think another word could've suited the scene better. The same thing goes for the fatphobia against Maire. Her weight is condescendingly discussed numerous times whether about how that makes her less desired, beautiful, etc. It made me uncomfortable as someone who has struggled with their weight in their life, and since it didn't add much to the story (Maire has a baby son who all the enslaved women go around protecting), I think it could have been left out.
Overall, this sequel has proven just how much I adore Pat Barker's Greek retellings, and I cannot wait to reread TSOTG and see what else Barker has in store for us!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual violence, Violence, Misogyny, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Fatphobia, Rape, and Death
Desecration of dead bodies and multiple use of the r-word
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