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confused_hamburger 's review for:
The Penelopiad
by Margaret Atwood
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Like reading a hollow log. For a story that's claiming to add depth to Penelope's story, it does nothing of the sort. Rather, it gives her an inauthentic voice that is eons away from an Ancient Greek's internal monologue. There is no way an Ancient Greek noble would feel such an overwhelming amount of sympathy for non-nobles without significant changes in upbringing or in character growth, none of which is present here.
Not only that, but the voice fails to add anything of true substance to Penelope's character. What we have here is what can already be insinuated by The Odyssey, minus a few minor changes. Penelope as a character is lost in what is ultimately Margaret Atwood criticising the heroes of The Odyssey by modern standards, but not in any way that we ourselves wouldn't, ie. not in any way that is perceptive. We all agree that these heroes are severely flawed individuals, we can get that ourselves from The Odyssey. So what exactly is the point of this book?
Most of all I disliked those goofy experimentations with form, such as the lecture chapter or the court trial chapter. Changing form is fine, but when you do it in such a corny and substance-less manner, it feels cheap.
Ultimately, Atwood fails at giving a fresh spin on Penelope's story, because she doesn't really have anything interesting to say about it beyond the obvious, and because she doesn't truly explore the depths of Penelope as a character.
Not only that, but the voice fails to add anything of true substance to Penelope's character. What we have here is what can already be insinuated by The Odyssey, minus a few minor changes. Penelope as a character is lost in what is ultimately Margaret Atwood criticising the heroes of The Odyssey by modern standards, but not in any way that we ourselves wouldn't, ie. not in any way that is perceptive. We all agree that these heroes are severely flawed individuals, we can get that ourselves from The Odyssey. So what exactly is the point of this book?
Most of all I disliked those goofy experimentations with form, such as the lecture chapter or the court trial chapter. Changing form is fine, but when you do it in such a corny and substance-less manner, it feels cheap.
Ultimately, Atwood fails at giving a fresh spin on Penelope's story, because she doesn't really have anything interesting to say about it beyond the obvious, and because she doesn't truly explore the depths of Penelope as a character.