Scan barcode
jadmers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Body horror, Gaslighting, Gore, Incest, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, Suicide, Cannibalism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Kidnapping, War, Genocide, Animal cruelty, and Mental illness
overdramaticsoprano's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Infidelity, Death, Misogyny, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery
puntifexmaximus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Moderate: Death, Incest, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Body horror, Sexual violence, Stalking, Violence, Suicide, and Rape
Read in Latin and English translationsunflowerwork's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Incest, Grief, Violence, Suicide, Murder, Kidnapping, Death, Lesbophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Sexual violence, and Misogyny
theweepingwillow_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was both my first book of 2023 and my first 'ancient text'. I was quite worried about this being hard to comprehend as it's very long and very old, but for the most part it was extremely accessible and fun to read. I devoured this epic poem.
Ovid really was ahead of his time with this piece, especially with the humour. The translator also did a great job of making it accessible and comprehensive to English-speakers.
The theme of change was very interesting to explore, and the theme is persistent throughout the poem. Metamorphosis was used as a tool for freedom and for punishment within the stories. To save a woman from assault, she would be turned into a bird, and to punish the assaulter, he would also be turned into a bird. This was very strange and an interesting contrast.
Some of my favourite stories include; Narcissus and Echo, Orpheus and Eurydice + Orpheus' Songs (Pygmalion, Hyacinthus, Venus and Adonis), Daedalus and Icarus, Daphne, Salmacis and Hermaphroditus and Iphis. The poem is separated into 15 books, and my favourites were the middle ones from 3-10.
There was a lot of s-xual assu-lt in this book, so beware that most of the stories do include it in one way or another. Some of the stories were extremely disturbing an gruesome, for example 'Tereus, Procne and Philomena'.
There was also a lot of queer subtext in this poem, which I loved.
In short, make this the one 'epic poem' you ever read.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide and War
kingcrookback's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Incest, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Body horror, War, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Animal death
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, and Drug use
strabbyfieldz's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Incest, Murder, Body horror, Suicide, Sexual assault, Rape, Animal cruelty, Death, and Animal death
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Pedophilia and Alcohol
josefineisreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Suicide, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, Rape, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, and Miscarriage
Minor: Cannibalism
counterfeitnickel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Eating disorder, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Slavery, War, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Genocide, Body horror, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Suicide
evieolive's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Incest, Grief, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Murder, Infidelity, War, and Violence
Minor: Suicide, Animal death, and Animal cruelty