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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.
leapais's review against another edition
5.0
A minha estreia com Colleen McCullough não podia ser mais auspiciosa. A Canção de Tróia é realmente um livro extraordinário que junta, num só livro, os vários pedaços das lendas que todos conhecemos - a beleza de Helena, o calcanhar de Aquiles, o cavalo de Troia...
Claro que podíamos ler Iliada ou Odisseia de Homero para termos toda a história mas prefiro, confesso, a leitura deste romance que complementa com a leitura que fiz, aqui há uns anos, da biografia romanceada de Helena de Troia (de Margaret George).
A Canção de Tróia traz-nos todos os deuses e heróis da mitologia grega e conta-nos, a várias vozes, a mesma história. Claro que sabemos como termina a guerra mas não é essa a parte que mais importa. O que importa é como se chega lá, as voltas e revoltas que a história leva e até os oráculos (que, à época, eram bastante respeitados e considerados).
O facto da história ser contada a várias vozes (Príamo, Helena, Aquiles, Páris, Agamémnon, Ulisses ou Heitor, entre outros) torna-a ainda mais interessante, mais apetecivel e facilita a compreensão.
Entre vários detalhes interessantes - e que são mais do que razões para que leiam este livro - achei curioso que, a propósito duma demanda que o Rei dum qualquer reino tinha feito por ordens do oráculo para que desaparecesse a doença que estava a matar o seu povo, Ulisses (creio que era ele) tenha comentado que ficava na dúvida se os oráculos mandavam os reis nessas buscas por artefactos porque eles realmente curavam ou se era uma forma de os manter afastados do reino enquanto a doença desaparecia por si.
Outra questão extraordinária é a abordagem à homossexualidade. Portanto... algures entre 1 300 A.C. e 1 200 A.C. a humanidade aceitava e respeitava a homossexualidade duma forma muito mais abrangente do que hoje em dia. Malta do Brunei, ponham os olhos nisto, por favor.
Queria ainda acrescentar uma nota bastante positiva para a pesquisa e rigor histórico. Nota-se que houve um grande trabalho prévio e isso reflecte-se na construção da história e das personagens, tornando-as muito próximas.
Claro que podíamos ler Iliada ou Odisseia de Homero para termos toda a história mas prefiro, confesso, a leitura deste romance que complementa com a leitura que fiz, aqui há uns anos, da biografia romanceada de Helena de Troia (de Margaret George).
A Canção de Tróia traz-nos todos os deuses e heróis da mitologia grega e conta-nos, a várias vozes, a mesma história. Claro que sabemos como termina a guerra mas não é essa a parte que mais importa. O que importa é como se chega lá, as voltas e revoltas que a história leva e até os oráculos (que, à época, eram bastante respeitados e considerados).
O facto da história ser contada a várias vozes (Príamo, Helena, Aquiles, Páris, Agamémnon, Ulisses ou Heitor, entre outros) torna-a ainda mais interessante, mais apetecivel e facilita a compreensão.
Entre vários detalhes interessantes - e que são mais do que razões para que leiam este livro - achei curioso que, a propósito duma demanda que o Rei dum qualquer reino tinha feito por ordens do oráculo para que desaparecesse a doença que estava a matar o seu povo, Ulisses (creio que era ele) tenha comentado que ficava na dúvida se os oráculos mandavam os reis nessas buscas por artefactos porque eles realmente curavam ou se era uma forma de os manter afastados do reino enquanto a doença desaparecia por si.
Outra questão extraordinária é a abordagem à homossexualidade. Portanto... algures entre 1 300 A.C. e 1 200 A.C. a humanidade aceitava e respeitava a homossexualidade duma forma muito mais abrangente do que hoje em dia. Malta do Brunei, ponham os olhos nisto, por favor.
Queria ainda acrescentar uma nota bastante positiva para a pesquisa e rigor histórico. Nota-se que houve um grande trabalho prévio e isso reflecte-se na construção da história e das personagens, tornando-as muito próximas.
lizziebennett's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
troystory's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-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? Yes
3.0
So, I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it was written very well, and I liked that it was a sort of alternative re-telling, which explores the legacy of the characters and the way we have come to perceive them. Odysseus's idea to stage the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon was actually pretty smart, and I liked that - it definitely did make you wonder about what really happened.
On the other hand, I felt like it had a lot of wasted potential. The concept of telling this story through many different perspectives sounds nice in theory, but it just... didn't live up to my expectations. They all felt pretty much the same, and I wished we could've seen more of each character's personal feelings about the war and their enemy. Don't even get me started on Helen, who -- while I did appreciate that she had personality and she was fleshed out -- was so unlikeable that I almost couldn't stand her chapters.
On a more personal note, I was sorely disappointed by the way this book dealt with Patroclus's death. It's very important in the Iliad, and it changes the course of the war and motivates Achilles to fight again, but it was just glossed over and mentioned so briefly to the point where I felt like it was supposed to be insignificant here. I think Patroclus is more important than people tend to think, and I wish that had been emphasized more.
However, I loved the descriptions of the battle scenes. I always find that those are the hardest to write, but here they were so visceral and vivid, and the imagery was so, so good. I felt physically sick when I was reading some of them, because I could see the brutality and the gore so clearly. In a strange sort of way, I enjoyed that.
Overall, I think it's a pretty decent book. It isn't my favourite retelling of the Trojan War, and I had lots of issues with it -- especially its wasted potential -- but it wasn't a bad read, and I think it's a good starting point for people who want to read more about the war.
On the other hand, I felt like it had a lot of wasted potential. The concept of telling this story through many different perspectives sounds nice in theory, but it just... didn't live up to my expectations. They all felt pretty much the same, and I wished we could've seen more of each character's personal feelings about the war and their enemy. Don't even get me started on Helen, who -- while I did appreciate that she had personality and she was fleshed out -- was so unlikeable that I almost couldn't stand her chapters.
On a more personal note, I was sorely disappointed by the way this book dealt with Patroclus's death. It's very important in the Iliad, and it changes the course of the war and motivates Achilles to fight again, but it was just glossed over and mentioned so briefly to the point where I felt like it was supposed to be insignificant here. I think Patroclus is more important than people tend to think, and I wish that had been emphasized more.
However, I loved the descriptions of the battle scenes. I always find that those are the hardest to write, but here they were so visceral and vivid, and the imagery was so, so good. I felt physically sick when I was reading some of them, because I could see the brutality and the gore so clearly. In a strange sort of way, I enjoyed that.
Overall, I think it's a pretty decent book. It isn't my favourite retelling of the Trojan War, and I had lots of issues with it -- especially its wasted potential -- but it wasn't a bad read, and I think it's a good starting point for people who want to read more about the war.
paseando_entre_paginas's review against another edition
3.5
Una novela que explica la guerra de Troya con mucha precisión, bien documentada y que ofrece una gran perspectiva de la historia gracias al uso de una narración coral. Los personajes están bien caracterizados, el tema de la mitología está muy bien integrado y la ambientación está muy trabajada. Aún así, la trama es intencionadamente previsible y tiene poco ritmo porque no hay sorpresas, por lo que no engancha. Está bien, pero a mí no me ha conquistado.
Reseña completa: http://paseandoentrepaginas.blogspot.com/2018/08/la-cancion-de-troya-de-colleen.html
Reseña completa: http://paseandoentrepaginas.blogspot.com/2018/08/la-cancion-de-troya-de-colleen.html
ryner's review against another edition
4.0
In this retelling of a classic Greek epic, the narrative is delivered through the perspective of more than a dozen major players of the Trojan War, from the foolish and pathetic to the heroic and doomed. Was Helen's flight with Paris from Greece the root cause of the war, or was it merely a convenient catalyst toward a political conflict that was inevitable? More than anything, The Song of Troy emphasizes that while The Iliad has been heralded as an epic for millennia, it is also unquestionably a tragedy for everyone involved.
With chronicles of the Trojan War coming from multiple historical sources, and not all of them agreeing on the details, we'll never know for certain exactly how (or even if) it all went down. It's fun to read what sort of spin more contemporary authors are putting on the events, as well as compare them to what the ancients have to say. In some, the gods of Olympus take sides and actively participate in the conflict, while in others they are mentioned merely as passive observers. In McCullough's book mortals speculate in desperation about the gods' favor or disfavor, and about which characters may have divine ancestry, but McCullough gives the reader no real reason to believe that the gods actually exist in her world at all, which is an intriguing take in comparison to The Iliad. Another modern interpretation I highly recommend is The Song of Achilles. Between the two, despite having not yet read The Iliad, the legendary story now feels familiar to me.
With chronicles of the Trojan War coming from multiple historical sources, and not all of them agreeing on the details, we'll never know for certain exactly how (or even if) it all went down. It's fun to read what sort of spin more contemporary authors are putting on the events, as well as compare them to what the ancients have to say. In some, the gods of Olympus take sides and actively participate in the conflict, while in others they are mentioned merely as passive observers. In McCullough's book mortals speculate in desperation about the gods' favor or disfavor, and about which characters may have divine ancestry, but McCullough gives the reader no real reason to believe that the gods actually exist in her world at all, which is an intriguing take in comparison to The Iliad. Another modern interpretation I highly recommend is The Song of Achilles. Between the two, despite having not yet read The Iliad, the legendary story now feels familiar to me.
lisa_setepenre's review against another edition
2.0
The Song of Troy is a retelling of the Trojan War by one of the giants of historical fiction, Collen McCullough. It traces the origins of the war, the initial assaults on Troy and the conclusion of the war through alternating points of view from various figures in the story.
This is the first time I've read Colleen McCullough and the Trojan War is not a topic I know a lot about, though one I am interested by. That said, The Song of Troy was a disappointment for me.
I enjoyed McCullough's use of the multiple POV chapters. It's a stylistic choice that I've believed can work really well with historical fiction, especially with stories set around infamous or controversial events, as it can provide a range of "sides" to these events. However, McCullough's use of it wasn't perfect – I felt the Trojan POV was neglected, and the "voice" of each POV felt too similar to one another. McCullough's writing style also didn't work for me, as it felt borderline campy in its effort to sound historical.
The characterisations of all major figures felt superficial – none of the characters felt likeable or even sympathetic. It didn't help that after reading Caroline Alexander's [b:The War That Killed Achilles: The True Story of Homer's Iliad and the Trojan War|6622820|The War That Killed Achilles The True Story of Homer's Iliad and the Trojan War|Caroline Alexander|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348986043s/6622820.jpg|42238830], I wanted something that explored the themes Alexander raised, and instead of a thoughtful consideration of war, McCullough's focus is on the glorification of Achilles the Warrior.
Most of the time, I was appalled by how the few women in this story appeared: greedy and power-hungry, vapid nymphomaniacs, shrill "why must you do the brave thing" nags, and women whose entire lives are defined by their man. Ugh. There were hints of depth in their characterisation and struggles, but most of the time it's that shallow. I also didn't enjoy how McCullough treated Patrokles, turning him from Achilles' devoted friend, cousin and lover to a jealous harpy.
Although there are some strengths in this retelling, it left me cold.
This is the first time I've read Colleen McCullough and the Trojan War is not a topic I know a lot about, though one I am interested by. That said, The Song of Troy was a disappointment for me.
I enjoyed McCullough's use of the multiple POV chapters. It's a stylistic choice that I've believed can work really well with historical fiction, especially with stories set around infamous or controversial events, as it can provide a range of "sides" to these events. However, McCullough's use of it wasn't perfect – I felt the Trojan POV was neglected, and the "voice" of each POV felt too similar to one another. McCullough's writing style also didn't work for me, as it felt borderline campy in its effort to sound historical.
The characterisations of all major figures felt superficial – none of the characters felt likeable or even sympathetic. It didn't help that after reading Caroline Alexander's [b:The War That Killed Achilles: The True Story of Homer's Iliad and the Trojan War|6622820|The War That Killed Achilles The True Story of Homer's Iliad and the Trojan War|Caroline Alexander|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348986043s/6622820.jpg|42238830], I wanted something that explored the themes Alexander raised, and instead of a thoughtful consideration of war, McCullough's focus is on the glorification of Achilles the Warrior.
Most of the time, I was appalled by how the few women in this story appeared: greedy and power-hungry, vapid nymphomaniacs, shrill "why must you do the brave thing" nags, and women whose entire lives are defined by their man. Ugh. There were hints of depth in their characterisation and struggles, but most of the time it's that shallow. I also didn't enjoy how McCullough treated Patrokles, turning him from Achilles' devoted friend, cousin and lover to a jealous harpy.
Although there are some strengths in this retelling, it left me cold.
the_literarylinguist's review against another edition
3.0
As always, McCullough writes historical fiction very well and has clearly thoroughly researched the sources surrounding this famous war. However, this book was missing the razor sharp wit and narrator's voice which made her Rome series so fantastic. I would have probably enjoyed this book far more had I not already read the Rome series and known what she as a writer is capable of. I must confess myself disappointed: it is a good book, just not the brilliant book I was hoping for.
faithlessone's review against another edition
2.0
In general, I did like this take on the Trojan tale, but I have a couple of criticisms.
The narration device of having a different viewpoint in each chapter is one of my favourites, but in this case it was often difficult to tell one from the other. I think having fewer voices, more clearly defined, would have made the story immeasurely better.
My other criticism is that the author clearly has her favourites. Achilles and Odysseus have been firmly manipulated, with portions of the story greatly changed to put them to their best advantage. Achilles, in particular, seems to have been painted in a unfairly flattering light. Meanwhile, the women have been universally condemned. Hekabe does nothing but howl and scream and bewail her fate. Andromache is weak, guilty and ungrateful. Helen is a heinous slut who has no positive character traits at all. Even Brise, who starts out as a strong character, quickly degenerates into yet another of Achilles' loyal devotees.
All in all, a reasonable novel, but not my favourite version of the story by a very wide margin.
The narration device of having a different viewpoint in each chapter is one of my favourites, but in this case it was often difficult to tell one from the other. I think having fewer voices, more clearly defined, would have made the story immeasurely better.
My other criticism is that the author clearly has her favourites. Achilles and Odysseus have been firmly manipulated, with portions of the story greatly changed to put them to their best advantage. Achilles, in particular, seems to have been painted in a unfairly flattering light. Meanwhile, the women have been universally condemned. Hekabe does nothing but howl and scream and bewail her fate. Andromache is weak, guilty and ungrateful. Helen is a heinous slut who has no positive character traits at all. Even Brise, who starts out as a strong character, quickly degenerates into yet another of Achilles' loyal devotees.
All in all, a reasonable novel, but not my favourite version of the story by a very wide margin.
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