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A review by aforestofbooks
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I would love to write a proper review for this book, but it took me almost a month to read because of work, so it's very difficult to get my thoughts together.
I studied Classics in university, so parts of this book were familiar, while other parts were new because I have forgotten a lot. But one thing that stayed with me was the stark contrast between the male and female characters in these plays. The women were always used to further the plot/storyline for the men, while the men did whatever they felt like doing, and were always supported by the gods.
But Clytemnestra really turns this around and gives our main character the agency to take back her story and make it her very own. And in contrast with how some ya/adult fantasy authors write female characters who supposedly want revenge, but always end up falling short of making it actually believable, this book does not do that. You really get to feel the pain and anger Clytemnestra feels. She's strong, cunning, yet patient. Not everything goes her way, but she fights with every last strength in her bones to get her revenge, and the ending is really satisfying, yet realistic.
I think this is a book I'll end up revisiting at some point because there were a lot of relatable quotes that I can't stop thinking about.
<blockquote>"She knows that, in moments of pain, some words are spoken with a harshness that is not truly meant. But, even so, words can grow roots inside one's heart. You can bury them, hoping they will wither and die, but roots keep finding something to latch on to."</blockquote>
I studied Classics in university, so parts of this book were familiar, while other parts were new because I have forgotten a lot. But one thing that stayed with me was the stark contrast between the male and female characters in these plays. The women were always used to further the plot/storyline for the men, while the men did whatever they felt like doing, and were always supported by the gods.
But Clytemnestra really turns this around and gives our main character the agency to take back her story and make it her very own. And in contrast with how some ya/adult fantasy authors write female characters who supposedly want revenge, but always end up falling short of making it actually believable, this book does not do that. You really get to feel the pain and anger Clytemnestra feels. She's strong, cunning, yet patient. Not everything goes her way, but she fights with every last strength in her bones to get her revenge, and the ending is really satisfying, yet realistic.
I think this is a book I'll end up revisiting at some point because there were a lot of relatable quotes that I can't stop thinking about.
<blockquote>"She knows that, in moments of pain, some words are spoken with a harshness that is not truly meant. But, even so, words can grow roots inside one's heart. You can bury them, hoping they will wither and die, but roots keep finding something to latch on to."</blockquote>