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klparmley's review
2.0
I think I wanted a book of trickster myths without interpretation. His editorials got on my nerves, but I suspect it was my mood, not his fault.
wafflefonfabre's review
1.0
TLDR:You might get one or two myths or fun facts from this like I did but I still think any other myth book would be better. This books wastes most of its page count examining one myth over and over with very few new details each time. Im so disappointed tricksters are my favorite myth archetype and I wanted to learn more about tricksters that may not be well known.
This is one of the worst mythology books I've ever read and I've read a lot of them. This book not only redefines trickster to a definition thats just mind bogglingly strange, Lewis redefines trickster to a boundary crosser or in-between being or crossroads god. He didn't even include cleverness or anything about playing a trick which is how most people categorize tricksters.
Despite redefining the word trickster to basically encompass any god he still excludes goddess from being tricksters despite the face I could think of 5 off the top of my head that fit in the normal and his definition. This book doesn't even focus on most tricksters. Its dull and mainly examining one myth, you heard me one myth. For a god who I would say is on the edge of being a trickster, Hermes.
Honestly your better off picking up a Edith Hamiltons Greek myth book or another other book on myth cause you will learn little here. Every time you think your gonna learn about a new trickster psyche! No its Hermes time again! You know I like Hermes but this is 100 pages of the same myth. It feels like a high schoolers essay that Lewis is stretching out to hit a page limit.
This is one of the worst mythology books I've ever read and I've read a lot of them. This book not only redefines trickster to a definition thats just mind bogglingly strange, Lewis redefines trickster to a boundary crosser or in-between being or crossroads god. He didn't even include cleverness or anything about playing a trick which is how most people categorize tricksters.
Despite redefining the word trickster to basically encompass any god he still excludes goddess from being tricksters despite the face I could think of 5 off the top of my head that fit in the normal and his definition. This book doesn't even focus on most tricksters. Its dull and mainly examining one myth, you heard me one myth. For a god who I would say is on the edge of being a trickster, Hermes.
Honestly your better off picking up a Edith Hamiltons Greek myth book or another other book on myth cause you will learn little here. Every time you think your gonna learn about a new trickster psyche! No its Hermes time again! You know I like Hermes but this is 100 pages of the same myth. It feels like a high schoolers essay that Lewis is stretching out to hit a page limit.
nettles's review
1.0
Dnf 30%
Funny how Hyde came up with his own definition of trickster—which doesn’t include deception btw—and then blames other academics for why women are excluded and can’t be tricksters.
The writing has a certain type of academic pretentiousness that didn’t land for me. (What does he mean that the cows Hermes kidnapped represent asexuality?) I tried to read this in a book club and we simply had enough and moved on.
We’re looking for other books with Trickster god myths now.
Funny how Hyde came up with his own definition of trickster—which doesn’t include deception btw—and then blames other academics for why women are excluded and can’t be tricksters.
The writing has a certain type of academic pretentiousness that didn’t land for me. (What does he mean that the cows Hermes kidnapped represent asexuality?) I tried to read this in a book club and we simply had enough and moved on.
We’re looking for other books with Trickster god myths now.
ironwoodwitch's review against another edition
4.0
This book took me a rather long time to read - partially because I started driving to work and lost my train reading time, and partially because it was particularly chewy!
Hyde brings together quite a collection of thoughts, stories and other information about Trickster Gods, their stories and their role in society and the shaping of our world. I particularly enjoyed his discussion of modern people and how they at times took on the Trickster archetype to change their world. The most notable example, for me, were not the artists like Duchamp, but Frederick Douglas, who I would never have thought to include as a trickster myself. I have not yet read his work, but plan on picking up his autobiography in the future.
I particularly enjoyed that Hyde discussed myths and tricksters from around the world, and did not focus solely on Classical myths. I also enjoyed the appendix which talked about the lack of female tricksters and his discussions on why this might be.
Overall, I found it a very informative and enjoyable read. This book does presupposed a familiarity with many of the Trickster myths and themes; the only full retelling included was the Homeric Hymn to Hermes. However, I have a feeling that this book is generally aimed at those who already have some familiarity with cross-cultural mythology.
Hyde brings together quite a collection of thoughts, stories and other information about Trickster Gods, their stories and their role in society and the shaping of our world. I particularly enjoyed his discussion of modern people and how they at times took on the Trickster archetype to change their world. The most notable example, for me, were not the artists like Duchamp, but Frederick Douglas, who I would never have thought to include as a trickster myself. I have not yet read his work, but plan on picking up his autobiography in the future.
I particularly enjoyed that Hyde discussed myths and tricksters from around the world, and did not focus solely on Classical myths. I also enjoyed the appendix which talked about the lack of female tricksters and his discussions on why this might be.
Overall, I found it a very informative and enjoyable read. This book does presupposed a familiarity with many of the Trickster myths and themes; the only full retelling included was the Homeric Hymn to Hermes. However, I have a feeling that this book is generally aimed at those who already have some familiarity with cross-cultural mythology.
tlindhorst's review
4.0
This is a dense and rewarding book. It took concentration to read. Parts of it felt revelatory and transformed my thinking about tricksters as archetypes. I also learned much about Fredrick Douglass that I did not know. I loved the way Hyde writes, weaning together myth, present day a& his reflections on the intersections. My one bed is that a few of the chapters felt more abstract and disconnected (notably the interlude & project chapters for me).