Be Specific About Books During The Penelopiad
| Original Title: | The Penelopiad |
| ISBN: | 1841957178 (ISBN13: 9781841957173) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Characters: | Odysseus, Penelope (wife of Odysseus) |
| Literary Awards: | Mythopoeic Fantasy Award Nominee for Adult Literature (2006) |
Ilustration Supposing Books The Penelopiad
Now that all the others have run out of air, it’s my turn to do a little story-making.In Homer’s account in The Odyssey, Penelope—wife of Odysseus and cousin of the beautiful Helen of Troy—is portrayed as the quintessential faithful wife, her story a salutary lesson through the ages. Left alone for twenty years when Odysseus goes off to fight in the Trojan War after the abduction of Helen, Penelope manages, in the face of scandalous rumors, to maintain the kingdom of Ithaca, bring up her wayward son, and keep over a hundred suitors at bay, simultaneously. When Odysseus finally comes home after enduring hardships, overcoming monsters, and sleeping with goddesses, he kills her suitors and—curiously—twelve of her maids.
In a splendid contemporary twist to the ancient story, Margaret Atwood has chosen to give the telling of it to Penelope and to her twelve hanged maids, asking: “What led to the hanging of the maids, and what was Penelope really up to?” In Atwood’s dazzling, playful retelling, the story becomes as wise and compassionate as it is haunting, and as wildly entertaining as it is disturbing. With wit and verve, drawing on the story-telling and poetic talent for which she herself is renowned, she gives Penelope new life and reality—and sets out to provide an answer to an ancient mystery.
Details Epithetical Books The Penelopiad
| Title | : | The Penelopiad |
| Author | : | Margaret Atwood |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 198 pages |
| Published | : | October 5th 2005 by Canongate U.S. |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Fantasy. Mythology. Historical. Historical Fiction. Feminism. Retellings |
Rating Epithetical Books The Penelopiad
Ratings: 3.7 From 38696 Users | 3870 ReviewsJudge Epithetical Books The Penelopiad
The one where Penelope tells her story from the Underworld. I made it about sixty pages before the whining got to me.Presumably the author feels that Penelope deserves better than to be a secondary character. But since, when put on center stage, this universal-victim Penelope never asserts herself, and is chiefly worried about whether people like her and how she's not as pretty as Helen of Troy, I'd say the Odyssey did her a better turn than Atwood did.This was so beautifully written. As someone who's fairly familiar with the myth of Penelope and Odysseus, it was quite fascinating to see how a modern-day writer would spin the story. Atwood did this brilliantly. I love stories that write from the perspective of the main character, especially when the said character is looking back in hindsight.Very creative.
3***We had no voice,We had no name,We had no choice,We had one face,One face the same"This book focuses on the story of Penelope and the twelve maids immortalised in myth by the story of Odysseus. This is told from Penelope's point of view as she wonders through the underworld, looking back on events that had taken place in her life.Penelope in this book is fiercely intelligent, cunning and much more than just the devoted wife as portrayed in Homer's- The Odyssey. It goes through her life as a
Tip; If you aren't familiar with (or have forgotten) this Greek myth don't read the introduction to this novel as it contains spoilers. I love the Greek myths (I must have mean streak!) but I had forgotten some of this. I would rather of been taken by surprise.A clever idea to feminise one of the most famous of these legends, but the start had some lazy writing; Where shall I begin? There are only two choices: at the beginning or not at the beginning. There is also that unfortunate whiff you
Margaret Atwood has a brilliant mind, and I think this book is a brilliant way to start the Canongate Myth series: with a story that illustrates the various ways a myth can be interpreted. Who is telling the truth? Is there only one truth? If so, can it be known? This may seem like a slight read, but underneath it has a lot to say about these questions; about the nature of silence; and storytelling itself, including unexpected danger when perhaps you think you've got everything covered ...
(B+) 77% | GoodNotes: It succeeds in its ambitious concept and style, but comes off more like a postscript to The Odyssey than its own story.
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