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laurelinwonder's review against another edition
5.0
Contrary to traditional myth, Zucker claims Persephone as a writer who willingly enters the underworld. While Demeter is commonly known as the benevolent goddess of the natural world, Zucker characterizes her as a manipulative and controlling mother, refusing her daughter individual identity. Persephone is initially naïve, both excited and unsure of her choice of Hades as partner. Zucker thereby links Persephone's decision to enter the underworld to her desire to break from her mother's world, even if Persephone is not fully aware of it. When Demeter writes a letter to Persephone pleading with her to come home, Persephone is unmoved. She is, however, increasingly attracted to the lush beauty of the underworld, as revealed through Zucker's painterly and musical language. Living between two worlds, Persephone chooses to "turn some of these young girls/to birds" whose "singing will torture the gods." Using [203] her power as a goddess, Persephone will metaphorically free young girls, who constantly remind the gods of their manipulative errors. Because Persephone does not indicate which gods will be tortured, Zucker suggests all gods, including Persephone, Demeter, and Hades, will hear the unbearable wails of the young girls trapped in birds' bodies, ironically freed from their fate as women, daughters, mothers, and/or wives.
A sensual exploration of identity and transformation, Eating in the Underworld tells the story of a young woman both coming to and understanding the limits of her personal power. More complex than a coming of age tale, the book sheds new light on the stories we have come to know. While Zucker's work asks us to be skeptical of myths. This poetry collection is ambitious, complex, and yet approachable and lovely. It may be short, but it packs a serious punch.
A sensual exploration of identity and transformation, Eating in the Underworld tells the story of a young woman both coming to and understanding the limits of her personal power. More complex than a coming of age tale, the book sheds new light on the stories we have come to know. While Zucker's work asks us to be skeptical of myths. This poetry collection is ambitious, complex, and yet approachable and lovely. It may be short, but it packs a serious punch.
obtuseblues's review against another edition
3.0
a poetic reimagining of persephone, hades, and demeter. this has got to be one of the most well-known stories of greek myths, one of the entry fees, if you will, into greek mythology. i've read a few others before, and to be quite honest, this isn't one of my favorites. there are 4 or 5 poems that i do really like for her liquid lyricism in portraying the struggle of persephone to straddle youth and innocence with maturity and womanhood. i will say that that is still a point of contention for me. persephone has always been such a favorite of mine and reimaginings have afforded her the dimensionality that lies obscured in the original story. though, the reimaginings can have the pitfall of trying to establish persephone's autonomy by undermining her relationship with demeter and vilifying her in the process, which is what zucker does here. homer's "hymn to demeter," surprisingly, embodies the fierce love of demeter for persephone while maintaining the original violence of the myth. what i one day hope for is a marriage of both: can't persephone's mother gracefully let her go for her to be loved just as fiercely by hades through her own choice?
ecath's review against another edition
4.0
I have always loved Persephone's story, and this collection takes it to another level, especially in light of 2018. Thank you, Rachel Zucker.
dante4lyfe's review against another edition
4.0
Precise and chiseled lines. But warm, too, and alive.
connieischill's review
3.0
3/5 stars
Ahhhh, I really wanted to love this, and I think if I could go back with a physical version and tear the poems apart I would and understand and enjoy them even more. Unfortunately I do not have MONEY, so sad times, but I enjoyed reading this as an Ebook.
I love the narrative- focusing on Persephone and her experience in the Underworld, as well as her relationships with Demeter and Hades. I love how much agency Persephone has and her openness concerning her feelings, I think this collection really solidified how much I adore her mythology. I'm going to ask for a copy of this, hopefully for Christmas, just so I can have a copy to add to my shelves.
Ahhhh, I really wanted to love this, and I think if I could go back with a physical version and tear the poems apart I would and understand and enjoy them even more. Unfortunately I do not have MONEY, so sad times, but I enjoyed reading this as an Ebook.
I love the narrative- focusing on Persephone and her experience in the Underworld, as well as her relationships with Demeter and Hades. I love how much agency Persephone has and her openness concerning her feelings, I think this collection really solidified how much I adore her mythology. I'm going to ask for a copy of this, hopefully for Christmas, just so I can have a copy to add to my shelves.
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