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saj_81's review against another edition
2.0
I think I liked the idea of this book more than I liked the book itself. Getting inside the story of Troy? Sounds great! And in some ways it was. There were parts that were interesting.
The problem is, that the characters just didn't come alive to me. It's always annoying when you have your character do the explaining for you, because nobody does that naturally. I'm not sitting here wearing woollen socks thinking: "she knew that in some cultures woollen socks weren't as common as in Finland. Smiling to herself, she thought about her ancestors and how they had knit thick grey socks for the cold Finnish winters...etc." Perhaps Colleen McCullough constantly finds herself giving little lectures about everyday things, but I really doubt if the Trojans did that as well. If the narrator wants to reveal some backround, there are better ways of doing that.
Then there was the part that always makes me giggle, and I know it's not supposed to. Throughout the book, McCullough points out several times that homosexual relationships were very normal at the time. I knew this, we studied it in highschool history class (actually, my teacher was also enthusiastic about this topic). The first time this came up, I paid no special attention, but after that it got ridiculous. It was like she was saying: "Look! Homosexuality was VERY NORMAL! I'm such a modern person to include so many homosexual relationships in my book! Aren't I hip and awesome? LOL!"
Yes, I think she really secretly wanted to say LOL.
The problem is, that the characters just didn't come alive to me. It's always annoying when you have your character do the explaining for you, because nobody does that naturally. I'm not sitting here wearing woollen socks thinking: "she knew that in some cultures woollen socks weren't as common as in Finland. Smiling to herself, she thought about her ancestors and how they had knit thick grey socks for the cold Finnish winters...etc." Perhaps Colleen McCullough constantly finds herself giving little lectures about everyday things, but I really doubt if the Trojans did that as well. If the narrator wants to reveal some backround, there are better ways of doing that.
Then there was the part that always makes me giggle, and I know it's not supposed to. Throughout the book, McCullough points out several times that homosexual relationships were very normal at the time. I knew this, we studied it in highschool history class (actually, my teacher was also enthusiastic about this topic). The first time this came up, I paid no special attention, but after that it got ridiculous. It was like she was saying: "Look! Homosexuality was VERY NORMAL! I'm such a modern person to include so many homosexual relationships in my book! Aren't I hip and awesome? LOL!"
Yes, I think she really secretly wanted to say LOL.
tab2004's review against another edition
2.0
Not a big fan of Colleen McCullough although I love Greeek mythology and was happy to see a name author tackle the subject matter. I think if she had centered on one or two characters point of view I would have enjoyed it more. As it was I don't really enjoy her style of writing and just found most of the characters unlikeable.
kahale's review against another edition
4.0
the Trojan War has always fascinated me. This fictional account really brought all of the characters alive for me. It was especially good the way the author wrote each chapter from the point of view of the different characters and how they interrelated to each other such as Helen, Achilles, Odysseus and others. This would be a good companion book for students reading the Illiad to explain some of the Greek customs, war etiquette and the character interplay of the classic piece of literature.
bonesundstones's review against another edition
4.0
This is an amazing book that follows the story of The Iliad, only this time told from the points of view of those who "lived" it. The book adds humanity to those characters we associate with The Iliad: Helen, Paris, Achilles, Odysseus, among others, which makes this a much more modern telling of the Trojan war story. I definitely recommend it.
tanyarobinson's review against another edition
3.0
McCullough's "Song of Troy" tells the story of the legendary 10 year-long Trojan War, drawing from Homer's "Illiad" as well as multiple ancient literary and historical sources. While the "Illiad" accepts the reality of Olympus's Pantheon of Gods, "Song of Troy" gives human explanations along with the traditions. For example, Achilles dies not because his heel was not dipped in immortalizing waters, but because Paris finds a vulnerable spot in his gold-plated armor. I enjoyed the book; it provided a great way to be familiar with the heroes and legends of classic Greek literature.
evelyn_kano18's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.5
roberta_08's review against another edition
4.0
I've read many books about Troy from any perspective possible but this one was exceptionally good. Narrated by all the personages who made Troy a legend, this book gives the reader insight on what was truly happening, the mechanisms of war, minds and beauty and the aftermath of it all. Very loyal to the legends surrounding this fabled city, The Song of Troy is a must read to all history lovers and to those who just want a truly great read. :)
doro_la_thea's review against another edition
5.0
I had to order this from Amazon UK as it has not been published in the US; it was worth every penny & after reading the paperback I ordered the hardback version so I could loan the paperback. This is more approachable than the Odyssey and Iliad, bringing to life the stories of Greek heroes & villains other than just Achilles & Hector, Odysseus & Agamemnon, and fleshes out the the women as well: Helen, Iphigenia, Clytemnestra, Cassandra and more. I would recommend this to anyone who appreciates stories that span generations with intrigue, passions, revenge, honor & foolishness. The fact that the story has been told for centuries and yet still feels new is a testament to McCullough's ability to re-tell the tale.