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A review by heartbrekker
The Women of Troy by Pat Barker
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
"We women are peculiar creatures. We tend not to love those who murder our families."
The Women of Troy was a visceral take on the post-war effects of the Trojan War, specifically following the women enslaved to the Greeks from Troy. The main character is still Briseis from The Silence of the Girls, but we also have a new character Calchas and Achilles son Pyrrhus as a few POV poins throughout the story.
My memory doesn't quite recall a lot of the scenes from TSOTG besides just what I know from Greek myths in general, but I have to say this sequel was pretty great. Yes, it is monumentally slower paced, but a post-war story isn’t meant to follow the heat of war. Just the continual darkness.
It was so intriguing to read a book solely focused on the aftermath of war. From the differing arrays of PTSD (warrior males, enslaved women, and Briseis' experiences with Achilles and other kings) to this deep desire to return home, the Greeks and Trojan women really tugged on my heart strings. I didn't mind the slow pac because this story was about all of them, and this unified broken heart over war. So many have died on both ends and Patroclus and Achilles are one of the main deaths to still haunt everyone. It's tragic and real and lovely. A good representation.
Although, here were a few phrases/ moments in the story that didn't feel necessary to me. The r-word is used multiple times, and due to many peoples trauma with that word, I think another word could've suited the scene better. The same thing goes for the fatphobia against Maire. Her weight is condescendingly discussed numerous times whether about how that makes her less desired, beautiful, etc. It made me uncomfortable as someone who has struggled with their weight in their life, and since it didn't add much to the story (Maire has a baby son who all the enslaved women go around protecting), I think it could have been left out.
Overall, this sequel has proven just how much I adore Pat Barker's Greek retellings, and I cannot wait to reread TSOTG and see what else Barker has in store for us!
The Women of Troy was a visceral take on the post-war effects of the Trojan War, specifically following the women enslaved to the Greeks from Troy. The main character is still Briseis from The Silence of the Girls, but we also have a new character Calchas and Achilles son Pyrrhus as a few POV poins throughout the story.
My memory doesn't quite recall a lot of the scenes from TSOTG besides just what I know from Greek myths in general, but I have to say this sequel was pretty great. Yes, it is monumentally slower paced, but a post-war story isn’t meant to follow the heat of war. Just the continual darkness.
It was so intriguing to read a book solely focused on the aftermath of war. From the differing arrays of PTSD (warrior males, enslaved women, and Briseis' experiences with Achilles and other kings) to this deep desire to return home, the Greeks and Trojan women really tugged on my heart strings. I didn't mind the slow pac because this story was about all of them, and this unified broken heart over war. So many have died on both ends and Patroclus and Achilles are one of the main deaths to still haunt everyone. It's tragic and real and lovely. A good representation.
Although, here were a few phrases/ moments in the story that didn't feel necessary to me. The r-word is used multiple times, and due to many peoples trauma with that word, I think another word could've suited the scene better. The same thing goes for the fatphobia against Maire. Her weight is condescendingly discussed numerous times whether about how that makes her less desired, beautiful, etc. It made me uncomfortable as someone who has struggled with their weight in their life, and since it didn't add much to the story (Maire has a baby son who all the enslaved women go around protecting), I think it could have been left out.
Overall, this sequel has proven just how much I adore Pat Barker's Greek retellings, and I cannot wait to reread TSOTG and see what else Barker has in store for us!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual violence, Violence, Misogyny, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Fatphobia, Rape, and Death
Desecration of dead bodies and multiple use of the r-word