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A review by annettebooksofhopeanddreams
Aphrodite Made Me Do It by Trista Mateer
4.0
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Every Saturday or Sunday I scroll through all the available titles on Netgalley and then I pick one to request. And time after time after time this book whispered to me, reached out to me and time after time I picked another book instead. Until I couldn't ignore it any longer.
Let me start with a small disclaimer: The lay out of the e-book provided by Netgalley wasn't perfect and at some moments confusing and messed up. Which is a pity, because when it comes to poems and art we all know that the form is part of the story, just as much as the words are. I'm pretty sure that due to the lay out the book lost a little of its power, but I'm sure that will be totally fixed and perfect once the book is really released.
But even without the perfect lay out, the words still hold a lot of power and ring true. A lot of poems, a lot of words, a lot of sentences, resonated deeply with who I am and who I try to be. I loved how this book made me feel seen, heard and understood. I loved how this book gave me the feeling that who I am and what I feel is totally allowed to exist, that I don't need to change and don't owe anyone apologies.
But, what I loved most, was the view on Aphrodite, who has become a shallow display of how men think a woman representing love should be. This book also highlights her darker sides, her more intelligent sides, all those characteristics that have been erased and forgotten, because it's not female enough. I love how all the wars fought over love are included, the violence and all the different forms of love there can be. Love isn't just sweet and nice. It's fierce and violent too.
It's a lovely and empowering read for every woman who feels she's not female enough or thinks anything is wrong with her.
Every Saturday or Sunday I scroll through all the available titles on Netgalley and then I pick one to request. And time after time after time this book whispered to me, reached out to me and time after time I picked another book instead. Until I couldn't ignore it any longer.
Let me start with a small disclaimer: The lay out of the e-book provided by Netgalley wasn't perfect and at some moments confusing and messed up. Which is a pity, because when it comes to poems and art we all know that the form is part of the story, just as much as the words are. I'm pretty sure that due to the lay out the book lost a little of its power, but I'm sure that will be totally fixed and perfect once the book is really released.
But even without the perfect lay out, the words still hold a lot of power and ring true. A lot of poems, a lot of words, a lot of sentences, resonated deeply with who I am and who I try to be. I loved how this book made me feel seen, heard and understood. I loved how this book gave me the feeling that who I am and what I feel is totally allowed to exist, that I don't need to change and don't owe anyone apologies.
But, what I loved most, was the view on Aphrodite, who has become a shallow display of how men think a woman representing love should be. This book also highlights her darker sides, her more intelligent sides, all those characteristics that have been erased and forgotten, because it's not female enough. I love how all the wars fought over love are included, the violence and all the different forms of love there can be. Love isn't just sweet and nice. It's fierce and violent too.
It's a lovely and empowering read for every woman who feels she's not female enough or thinks anything is wrong with her.