Name: Courtney Sutton's review of The Women of Troy by Pat Barker
Item: The Women of Troy
Rating: 4
Author: Courtney Sutton

Pat Barker

From the Booker Prize-winning Pat Barker, author of The Silence of the Girls ("An important, powerful, memorable book" --Emily Wilson, translator of The Odyssey), a retelling of the Trojan War from the perspective of the women who endured it Troy has fallen and the victorious Greeks are eager to return home with the spoils of an endless war--including the women of Troy themselves. They await a fair wind for the Aegean. It does not come, because the gods are offended. The body of King Priam lies unburied and desecrated, and so the victors remain in suspension, camped in the shadows of the city they destroyed as the coalition that held them together begins to unravel. Old feuds resurface and new suspicions and rivalries begin to fester. Largely unnoticed by her captors, the one-time Trojan queen Briseis, formerly Achilles' mistress, now belonging to his companion Alcimus, quietly takes in these developments. She forges alliances when she can, with Priam's aged wife the defiant Hecuba and with the disgraced soothsayer Calchas, all the while shrewdly seeking her path to revenge.

The Women of Troy

Troy has fallen. The Greeks have won their bitter war. They can return home as victors - all they need is a good wind to lift their sails. But the wind has vanished, the seas becalmed by vengeful gods, and so the warriors remain in limbo - camped in the shadow of the city they destroyed, kept company by the women they stole from it. The women of Troy. Helen - poor Helen. All that beauty, all that grace - and she was just a mouldy old bone for feral dogs to fight over. Cassandra, who has learned not to be too attached to her own prophecies. They have only ever been believed when she can get a man to deliver them. Stubborn Amina, with her gaze still fixed on the ruined towers of Troy, determined to avenge the slaughter of her king. Hecuba, howling and clawing her cheeks on the silent shore, as if she could make her cries heard in the gloomy halls of Hades. As if she could wake the dead. And Briseis, carrying her future in her womb: the unborn child of the dead hero Achilles. Once again caught up in the disputes of violent men. Once again faced with the chance to shape history. Masterful and enduringly resonant, ambitious and intimate, The Women of Troy continues Pat Barker's extraordinary retelling of one of our greatest classical myths, following on from the critically acclaimed The Silence of the Girls.

Julia Rutgers

Once, only a few days after the fall of Troy, with Achilles' lament repeating endlessly inside my head, I'd thought: We need a new song. And we did. We do. But a song isn't new merely because a woman's voice is singing it.

We women are peculiar creatures. We tend not to love those who murder our families.

Courtney Sutton

I really like Pat Barker’s style, and the world feels so rich. But in this one I didn't get into the story, and I felt the pacing was a bit odd. And the ending felt quite abrupt.

Laura Hurst

I enjoyed this, but after -The Silence of The Girls- I was wanting “more” (cause I LOVED that book) 

I did enjoy that the POV was from Briseis again. 

Shelby BD 

3.5⭐️

I enjoyed this, but after -The Silence of The Girls- I was wanting “more” (cause I LOVED that book) 

I did enjoy that the POV was from Briseis again. 

Over all, very enjoyable read. 

I thought this book was insightful, providing a meaningful account of the women affected and involved in the atrocities of the Trojan War. This book provides new perspectives from characters that aren't always mentioned in these Greek myths. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys mythology. 

Paige Leitner

Eva Bailey

2.5 stars. Probably another one that didn't need a sequel. Just fell a bit flat and nothing happened.

this was less enjoyable than the first book in the series, though the writing felt just as polished and competent. the inclusion of phyrrus's and colchas's p.o.v.'s felt much less integrated or necessary than achilles's in 'the silence of the girls'. their sections felt like they dragged and spoiled the immersion in the story. (simultaneously, an opportunity was missed in actually showing helenus's and phyrrus's coming together and the symbolic peace between the greeks and troy.)

the core - and strength - of the novel again lay with showing the daily lives of the women in the greek camp. this element was excellently executed and the novel is worth a read for it alone.

all of this being said, i am looking forward to book 3 since the story of the return of agamemnon is one of my favourites.

this was less enjoyable than the first book in the series, though the writing felt just as polished and competent. the inclusion of phyrrus's and colchas's p.o.v.'s felt much less integrated or necessary than achilles's in 'the silence of the girls'. their sections felt like they dragged and spoiled the immersion in the story. (simultaneously, an opportunity was missed in actually showing helenus's and phyrrus's coming together and the symbolic peace between the greeks and troy.)

the core - and strength - of the novel again lay with showing the daily lives of the women in the greek camp. this element was excellently executed and the novel is worth a read for it alone.

all of this being said, i am looking forward to book 3 since the story of the return of agamemnon is one of my favourites.

Caitlyn Baldwin

Barker's follow up to The Silence of the Girls, the story picks up where the first book left off with the death of Achilles and the Fall of Troy until they *finally* set sail for home. Not as much action as the first novel, but once again Pat Barker graces us with her beautiful writing style. She takes the women who mostly get glossed over with the male gaze in the original stories and transforms them into deep, complex characters.

Heather Harrington

I enjoyed The Silence of the Girls, so I was looking forward to reading this one, but I thought it was just okay. I found it denser than the previous book and had difficulty focusing on what was happening. It just felt slow. I also had trouble differentiating characters in this one, but I think that was because my attention wasn't as grabbed. Even though I didn't love it as much as I was hoping, I still liked the mythology elements and would recommend this one.

Following her bestselling, critically acclaimed The Silence of the Girls, Pat Barker continues her extraordinary retelling of one of our greatest myths. 'Taut, masterly, wholly absorbing. Still one of the greatest stories ever written. A book that will be read in generations to come' Daily Telegraph on The Silence of the Girls Troy has fallen. The Greeks have won their bitter war. They can return home as victors - all they need is a good wind to lift their sails. But the wind has vanished, the seas becalmed by vengeful gods, and so the warriors remain in limbo - camped in the shadow of the city they destroyed, kept company by the women they stole from it. The women of Troy. Helen - poor Helen. All that beauty, all that grace - and she was just a mouldy old bone for feral dogs to fight over. Cassandra, who has learned not to be too attached to her own prophecies. They have only ever been believed when she can get a man to deliver them. Stubborn Amina, with her gaze still fixed on the ruined towers of Troy, determined to avenge the slaughter of her king. Hecuba, howling and clawing her cheeks on the silent shore, as if she could make her cries heard in the gloomy halls of Hades. As if she could wake the dead. And Briseis, carrying her future in her womb: the unborn child of the dead hero Achilles. Once again caught up in the disputes of violent men. Once again faced with the chance to shape history. Masterful and enduringly resonant, ambitious and intimate, The Women of Troy continues Pat Barker's extraordinary retelling of one of our greatest classical myths, following on from the critically acclaimed The Silence of the Girls.

The new novel from the author of the bestselling The Silence of the Girls

Amanda

The Women of Troy picks up pretty much right where The Silence of the Girls left off. Briseis is our narrator once again and I must say, a very enjoyable character. I love her strength, her determination, her insight. She’s one of the best characters in modern Greek myth retellings.

While this book didn’t hold up to its predecessor, it was still a fast read for me and left me wanting more. There wasn’t as much plot in this installment, but it still has tension and keeps you guessing.

I was excited to learn the author is writing another book in the series, though if it mainly focuses on Cassandra, as what I’ve heard so far indicates it will, I will be highly disappointed. There are many books and retellings focusing on her and anyway, Cassandra isn’t a likeable character in this book. I would much rather continue with Briseis’ story. Throughout this book, she hints at her current life/situation as she relays the events of this book. I want to be with her for her entire story. As far as I know, no other retellings focus on Briseis. Barker should stick to her. She’s a dynamic character.

Like the first book, I didn’t care much for the male perspectives interposed through some chapters but it didn’t deter too much from the book. Overall this was a well written novel.

However, am I the only one who noticed that at one point the author makes a huge mistake? She said Achilles defended (can’t remember the exact wording) Diomedes after his death. She clearly meant Patroclus. I was shocked this mistake made it past the editors.

sharkie

Nice additon to 'The Silence of the Girls'. I would definitely recommend it!

Aida Mateescu

A daring and timely feminist retelling of The Iliad from the perspective of the women of Troy who endured it—an extraordinary follow up to The Silence of the Girls from the Booker Prize-winning author of The Regeneration Trilogy. Troy has fallen and the victorious Greeks are eager to return home with the spoils of an endless war—including the women of Troy themselves. They await a fair wind for the Aegean. It does not come, because the gods are offended. The body of King Priam lies unburied and desecrated, and so the victors remain in suspension, camped in the shadows of the city they destroyed as the coalition that held them together begins to unravel. Old feuds resurface and new suspicions and rivalries begin to fester. Largely unnoticed by her captors, the one time Trojan queen Briseis, formerly Achilles's slave, now belonging to his companion Alcimus, quietly takes in these developments. She forges alliances when she can, with Priam's aged wife the defiant Hecuba and with the disgraced soothsayer Calchas, all the while shrewdly seeking her path to revenge.

Courtney Sutton &
The Women of Troy by Pat Barker

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The Women of Troy by Pat Barker