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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While reading Circe, Ariadne is a minor character, and I remembered that I had a copy of this book.
I was craving a little more Greek mythology and jumped in one right after the other.
That might not have been the best idea considering Circe is one of my favourite books ever.
Even though is was a very well written book it could not match the beauty of Madeline Miller's prose.
Because of this, I also struggled with the pit falls of a lot of these retellings, which is that there are long stretches of time where nothing really happens.
This book made some strong assertions about the stories of Greek mythology, mainly that it is often women who bear the punishment for men's greed and hubris. One such example that is explored in the book is the story of Medusa.
While I appreciate the acknowledgment of this unfairness, it frustrates me that in both Circe and Ariadne that the women never go to where they could best find solace- other women.
Instead they seek comfort in the arms of men, to very mixed results.
Why not find companionship, community and support amongst your own? Both women lived on islands that were said to be full of women. In Circe's case, nymphs, and in Ariadne's the followers of her husband Dionysus.
This frustrated me to no end.
I also found Ariadne to be a frustrating character that we're meant to think goes trough significant change throughout the story, but that I would argue does not. She never voices her own thoughts, feelings, or opinions and constantly brushes them under the rug- choosing instead to focus on her domestic life. No. We're not doing that. Women are not going to keep silent to preserve the comfort of others.
I was craving a little more Greek mythology and jumped in one right after the other.
That might not have been the best idea considering Circe is one of my favourite books ever.
Even though is was a very well written book it could not match the beauty of Madeline Miller's prose.
Because of this, I also struggled with the pit falls of a lot of these retellings, which is that there are long stretches of time where nothing really happens.
This book made some strong assertions about the stories of Greek mythology, mainly that it is often women who bear the punishment for men's greed and hubris. One such example that is explored in the book is the story of Medusa.
While I appreciate the acknowledgment of this unfairness, it frustrates me that in both Circe and Ariadne that the women never go to where they could best find solace- other women.
Instead they seek comfort in the arms of men, to very mixed results.
Why not find companionship, community and support amongst your own? Both women lived on islands that were said to be full of women. In Circe's case, nymphs, and in Ariadne's the followers of her husband Dionysus.
This frustrated me to no end.
I also found Ariadne to be a frustrating character that we're meant to think goes trough significant change throughout the story, but that I would argue does not. She never voices her own thoughts, feelings, or opinions and constantly brushes them under the rug- choosing instead to focus on her domestic life. No. We're not doing that. Women are not going to keep silent to preserve the comfort of others.
This book had so much potential! But ultimately? Just another story where women suffer endlessly for the sake of a “feminist retelling.”
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"No different from the mightiest of the gods. Or the basest of men." This book proves that all men have ever and will ever do is make life harder for women and femmes. Sometimes a bit of girlboss cringe but mostly an enchanting story of the woman behind the mythology.
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated