A review by colleenoakes
Helen of Troy by Margaret George

5.0

Last year, a friend recommended the book Gone with the Wind. I balked at the idea, at the mere size of it. But I read it, because I trust her book choices with every fiber of my being. And I loved it. Never had I read a single book that was as epic, as sweeping, as Gone with the Wind. Until now. My blogger friend Ashley gave it a phenomenal review, and it turns out that Helen of Troy had been sitting in my bookcase all this time. I had bought it at a used bookstore about two years ago. WEIRD! Back to the book: Helen of Troy, which covers the entire life of infamous Helen - from her childhood to her death - has scenes of heart wrenching beauty. There were times when it flowed so well that it was like a song. It's brilliance. It's long, but every page is filled with detail and meaning. I'm not a big historical fiction person. Too often the story gets lost in the historical details, and before I know what's happening I'm stuck in a history lesson in high school, my ancient teacher leaning over me, hair growing profusely out of his ears. Helen of Troy is nothing like this. It made me interested in Troy, in the Greek Gods, in the stories of Achilles, Hector and Cassandra. Speaking of Troy...the fall of Troy in the book. Oh.My. Gosh. How can I capture the excitement, the dread of this event? Breathless. Heart-pounding in my ears. Gut-wrenching. It's maybe the best book I've read this year, and I've read some VERY good books this year. You won't want to rent it, you'll want to own it and read it every year.