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ClareR (5681 KP) rated The Heroines in Books

Oct 29, 2023  
The Heroines
The Heroines
Laura Shepperson | 2023 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Greek mythology is pretty much an insta-buy and read for me. I’m drawn to historical fiction anyway, and the Greek myths have always felt like an extension of that for me. That’s probably also why I’m especially attracted to the type of Greek myths that are so popular at the moment. I suppose it could be referred to more as Greek historical fiction rather than myth. The Gods and Goddesses have been taken out of the equation (inasmuch as Christian figures are in other historical fiction novels - they’re spoken of, but they don’t have a leading role), and the mortals are left to make their own life choices - even if they still like to blame it on the Gods.

Laura Shepperson gives voice to the women in the myths, and we see the story of Theseus and Phaedra from Phaedra’s point of view. There’s also a chorus of women who are suffering under the mistreatment of the men in Theseus’ palace. Servants and slave women had to do as they were told. The struggle for the women against this patriarchal system is at times violent, and the women rarely come out of it well.

There were a lot of characters in this, and I wonder if all of them were necessary. I’ll be honest, and it could be down to the good ole peri-meno brain, I did get a little confused at all the characters, but it didn’t spoil the story!

I enjoyed this quick read (ok, I didn’t put it down!). It gave me enjoyment for a couple of days - and that’s what reading is all about really, isn’t it!
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Troy (2004) in Movies

Mar 26, 2019  
Troy (2004)
Troy (2004)
2004 | Action, Drama, History
7
7.1 (24 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Hollywood retelling of the tale of Troy is just a bit better than you might expect in pretty much every department. Trojan prince Paris steals Greek queen Helen, leading to... does no-one read the Iliad any more? There's a lot of bother, let's put it that way.

Whole thing is handled in broad strokes and there are quite a few divergences from the traditional legend (the Trojan war lasts about a fortnight, not ten years, and you can forget any notion of Brad Pitt's Achilles being into, er, Greek-style romance, if you know what I mean), but overall this is fun, rousing stuff. Looking back on it now the various bits of political subtext not-so-subtly inserted into the film seem amusingly quaint more than anything else. A well-staged, classy blockbuster.
  
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BookCritics (259 KP) rated Lincoln in the Bardo in Books

May 16, 2017  
Lincoln in the Bardo
Lincoln in the Bardo
George Saunders | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.3 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Lincoln in the Bardo is an incredible first novel from a master of the short fiction format. The shared narration is reminiscent of a Greek chorus or a conversation, rendered on the page like the script of a play.
Critic- Melissa Ward
Original Score- 5 out of 5

Read Review: http://balletbookworm.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/lincoln-in-bardo-by-george-saunders.html