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A review by becca_thegrimreader
The Women of Troy by Pat Barker
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The idea behind the book is intriguing. Often the history of Troy after its fall is completely neglected, and if it is told it focuses on the men’s story. We read about what the women have suffered through, and their experience of capture and slavery. There are some very difficult moments as the book progresses, and it is not for the faint-hearted.
I enjoyed the parts of the book that were from Briseis’ point of view. She is coming to terms with now being a free woman, but yet she is still trapped. Her care and dedication to the women of Troy who are now slaves are mirrored after her own experience when she was in their situation. Briseis is a strong character whose voice gives power to the women and their experiences in this book. However, we also have two other P.O.V, from Pyrrhus and Calchas. Now for a book that is centered around telling the story of women, it is very disappointing to then have two male characters' perspectives included in the book. That is a majority, one female and two male? There were other interesting female characters that I would have preferred to read through their perspective, Hecuba, Cassandra, Amina, etc. The list could go on. We would have had a varied story as no woman’s experience in the Greek camp would have been the same. I felt that this was a poor choice.
The pacing of this book was incredibly slow. There were many times that my attention slipped and I particularly struggled to read the Pyrrhus and Calchas chapters. I think the choice of narrative is where the plot was let down. There was a lot of potential, but this book for me missed the mark.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.
I enjoyed the parts of the book that were from Briseis’ point of view. She is coming to terms with now being a free woman, but yet she is still trapped. Her care and dedication to the women of Troy who are now slaves are mirrored after her own experience when she was in their situation. Briseis is a strong character whose voice gives power to the women and their experiences in this book. However, we also have two other P.O.V, from Pyrrhus and Calchas. Now for a book that is centered around telling the story of women, it is very disappointing to then have two male characters' perspectives included in the book. That is a majority, one female and two male? There were other interesting female characters that I would have preferred to read through their perspective, Hecuba, Cassandra, Amina, etc. The list could go on. We would have had a varied story as no woman’s experience in the Greek camp would have been the same. I felt that this was a poor choice.
The pacing of this book was incredibly slow. There were many times that my attention slipped and I particularly struggled to read the Pyrrhus and Calchas chapters. I think the choice of narrative is where the plot was let down. There was a lot of potential, but this book for me missed the mark.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Child death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Death