I really enjoyed this short story. As a lover of Greek mythology, I never thought to consider how the men in stories like this come across. I used to think Pygmalion fell in love with his art, but he actually created a woman that would serve him and only him, someone he had ultimate control over. 

The way Galatea described her creator, and the people around her, hit me really hard. No one would listen to her, content to pretend she's sick to please her owner, who was angry that she was becoming more and more human every day. He wanted a perfect, pure work of art to fuck, not a real woman with emotions, wants, needs. A lot of emotion was packed into the thirteen minutes it took me to read this. The ending was beautiful and empowering. Yay!

I really enjoyed this short story. As a lover of Greek mythology, I never thought to consider how the men in stories like this come across. I used to think Pygmalion fell in love with his art, but he actually created a woman that would serve him and only him, someone he had ultimate control over.

The way Galatea described her creator, and the people around her, hit me really hard. No one would listen to her, content to pretend she's sick to please her owner, who was angry that she was becoming more and more human every day. He wanted a perfect, pure work of art to fuck, not a real woman with emotions, wants, needs. A lot of emotion was packed into the thirteen minutes it took me to read this. The ending was beautiful and empowering. Yay!

Easy short book!

i love miller's interpretation of this story, i thought it was very well written and such an intriguing take on it!

"Galatea" es una reimaginación audaz y fascinante del mito clásico griego de Pigmalión, escrito por Madeline Miller, autora aclamada por su enfoque innovador de la mitología griega y su habilidad para dar vida a los personajes y las historias del mundo antiguo. En esta novela, Miller nos presenta a Galatea, una escultura de marfil creada por Pigmalión, un escultor talentoso y solitario que anhela la compañía de una mujer perfecta. Pero a diferencia del mito tradicional, en esta versión, Galatea cobra vida por sí misma, dotada de conciencia y libre albedrío. A través de los ojos de Galatea, el lector es llevado a un mundo de asombro y descubrimiento mientras ella explora su nueva existencia y busca comprender su lugar en el mundo. Miller teje hábilmente temas de identidad, libertad y autodeterminación a lo largo de la historia de Galatea, explorando la lucha de la protagonista por encontrar su propia voz y definirse a sí misma en un mundo que la ve como poco más que una creación artística. La prosa de Miller es elegante y evocadora, sumergiendo al lector en la atmósfera mítica de la antigua Grecia y dando vida a los personajes con profundidad y emoción. A través de su narrativa, Miller nos invita a reflexionar sobre la naturaleza del arte, la humanidad y el amor, mientras nos sumergimos en la historia de una figura clásica de la mitología que cobra nueva vida en sus manos expertas. "Galatea" es una obra conmovedora y profundamente original que cautiva al lector desde la primera página hasta la última, y demuestra una vez más el talento de Madeline Miller para reinventar y revitalizar los mitos antiguos para una nueva generación.

It's such a short story, but Madeline Miller somehow was able to pull me in the world. This story is dark, haunting, and upsetting. It's definitely not a beautiful story, but I would have loved to see this as a novel. The writing is beautifully done (as expected from Miller), and I love her version of this story. Despite this being so short, it was absolutely gut-wrenching, and she was still able to show all the themes perfectly. Definitely a recommend, and make sure to check trigger warnings.

To say that I wished this was longer would be a massive understatement. Oh, how I love Madeline Miller. Read this in its entirety on one lengthy subway ride home and it was just perfection. Forever waiting for more to read from her!

Love this little reminder in short form.

Short yet powerful and beautiful prose…idealization of women, the suppression and submission of women is broken through by this version of Galatea, free of the shackles of men who fear women’s independence

LAST BOOK OF THE YEAR!!! It was pretty good but sad. Recommend reading the authors note at the end & trigger warnings. Reminded me a lot of Circe in finding a place in a world that denies you. Recommend if you’re looking for a super fast short read!

would’ve loved this as a novella

3.75 ⭐️

wow

Gorgeous little short story by one of my fav authors based off one of my fav Greek myths. 10/10 20min read.

I loved this with all my heart. Read the afterword If u can, its so great

is it unfair to say I liked reading the afterword more than the short story itself? I love the process she describes of creating new content from mythology, and she rightly points out the inherent misogyny in pretty much all of Ovid (looking directly at you, Amores) and especially in pygmalion. I like that she gave the unnamed woman in that story not just a name but agency, character, and desire. it was really good for a short story! I think I just don’t like short stories bc I wanted this to be 10x longer :’)

I love the life that Miller breathes into these myths. Giving the woman a perspective, a name in this story and turning the tables. The irony of him begging a goddess to bring a woman to life from a statue and then becoming angry when she is more than an object.

I think Miller put it beautifully in the afterword, “For a millennia there have been men who react with horror and disgust to women’s independence, men who desire women yet hate them, and who take refuge in fantasies of purity and control.”

Haunting, beautiful, as always Madeline Miller doesn't disappoint. Absolutely LOVED Ruth Wilson narrating this audiobook as well.

Madeline Miller’s writing sings strong and true even in a short story like this. I loved her take on Galatea’s story, and I recommend that anyone who loves Greek mythology and Madeline Miller read this short story. Madeline Miller’s writing is just as hauntingly lyrical and lovely as ever.

Very short and brief story that had me stopping at multiple times to center my thoughts and feelings. In such a small number of pages, I wanted to sit next to Galatea and offer a hug and a little compassion, I wanted to help her.

Definitely a read that I was not expecting to like as much as I did but one that I will probably read oonce more one day.

2.5

I adored both Circe and Song of Achilles so it was an easy pick.

Losely based on pygmalion, a sculpter is discenchated by the average woman, and creates his ideal in stone, which comes alive.

The narrator is the nameless woman, his wife, his muse, the mother of their half stone half human child.

She is locked up in a hospital and kept there.

The book explores domestic abuse in a very interesting way. I both wish the book was shorter and longer.

The book was narrated by the very talented Ruth Wilson. She could narrate a phonebook and make it appealing.

Highly recommend this disturbing and fascinating short story.

ARC was provided by Netgalley

A satisfying retelling of the Pygmalion myth, where Galatea is the beautiful statue brought to life by the gods as a gift to the sculptor. This time, we are told it from Galatea's perspective and see what kind of life she has with her maker/husband. Don't want to say much more than that, because it is so short. But even so, it feels complete in itself.

miller’s voice is so distinct & nostalgic. a sweet short read that came at a serendipitous time