Reviews
A remarkably well writen and at times moving book. While some of the modernday comparison genuinly surprised me, they gave the book and the legends within a strangely relatable nature. It also made me tear up at some place. Wild as nonfiction books rarely do so.
it is completely on me but the hawkeye reference took me by surprise and then the katniss one felt like a slap
This book is such an excellent continuation of everything I loved about "Pandora's Jar" - it is thorough and nuanced in the way it talks about the Greek goddesses, it questions our or contemporary media's perseption of these women, it is written with a lot of with and a lot of sympathy for them. Natalie Haynes is clearly seasoned in the art of representing layered material in a reader-friendly, accessible way, while also allowing her work to serve as a quick reference point and a starting point for further reading.
On a personal level, I appreciate the book turning the spotlight back on mother's love when talking about Demeter and Persephone (I will undo all the damage done by interpretations of the myth like "Lore Olympus", I will!). On a personal level, I also cannot make my mind up about whether to get a personal copy of the book now while I can still snag a signed edition from Waterstones or wait for the paperback so it matches my "Pandora's Jar" paperback and it is an uphill battle every time I walk into the bookstore.
Highlights
The unit of currency in tragedy is a human being.
Such a beautiful way to sum up the enduring relevance and appeal of Greek tragedy.
It must be the only time Ovid has ever been accused of under-selling deviant sexual behaviour.
This book is a riot!
Even the dolphin looks a bit put out.
Vampires live forever, so they have terrific investment opportunities.
When women make art like men do, their goddesses look divine.