Name: aral's review of The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes
Item: The Children of Jocasta
Rating: 4
Author: aral

Natalie Haynes

When you have grown up as I have, there is no security in not knowing things, in avoiding the ugliest truths because they can't be faced . . . Because that is what happened the last time, and that is why my siblings and I have grown up in a cursed house, children of cursed parents . . . Jocasta is just fifteen when she is told that she must marry the King of Thebes, an old man she has never met. Her life has never been her own, and nor will it be, unless she outlives her strange, absent husband. Ismene is the same age when she is attacked in the palace she calls home. Since the day of her parents' tragic deaths a decade earlier, she has always longed to feel safe with the family she still has. But with a single act of violence, all that is about to change. With the turn of these two events, a tragedy is set in motion. But not as you know it. In Children of Jocasta, Natalie Haynes reimagines the Oedipus and Antigone stories from the perspectives of two of the women who have often been overlooked; retelling the myth to reveal a new side of an ancient story.

The Children of Jocasta

From the Afterword. -Happy endings are when you lose, almost, your entire family and nearly get executed for burying your brother's dead body. 

aral

A blind exile, he wanders Greece with his daughter for a guide, and eventually settles on Colonus as the place where he will die, and be interred. The gods – so often his enemies – have told him that his bones will bring good fortune to the land which holds them. That is to be Colonus, ruled (at this point in its mythic history) by the Athenian king Theseus, of minotaur fame. After thwarting a last-ditch attempt by Creon – trying to claim the good fortune for himself – to take him back to Thebes, Oedipus dies as he wished: giving a last, enduring gift to the people of Athens. 

"Let's sit by the fountain," he said. "No one can overhear us there. We'd see them coming from any direction, long before they could hear us." He reached out and took her hand.

From the Women's Prize shortlisted author of A Thousand Ships comes a retelling of Oedipus and Antigone from the perspectives of the women the myths overlooked. My siblings and I have grown up in a cursed house, children of cursed parents . . . Jocasta is just fifteen when she is told that she must marry the King of Thebes, an old man she has never met. Her life has never been her own, and nor will it be, unless she outlives her strange, absent husband. Ismene is the same age when she is attacked in the palace she calls home. Since the day of her parents' tragic deaths a decade earlier, she has always longed to feel safe with the family she still has. But with a single act of violence, all that is about to change. With the turn of these two events, a tragedy is set in motion. But not as you know it.

Julie Rubens

Ì loved this book so much! I knew the story really vaguely, but that made it even better!

I like her writing style and loved the idea of a new perspective on the story, however I could not look past the differences regarding the original stories by Sophocles.

Tija

A retelling just wasn’t telling.

I like her writing style and loved the idea of a new perspective on the story, however I could not look past the differences regarding the original stories by Sophocles.

From Natalie Haynes, the Women's Prize shortlisted author of A Thousand Ships, comes The Children of Jocasta, a retelling of Oedipus and Antigone from the perspectives of the women the myths overlooked. My siblings and I have grown up in a cursed house, children of cursed parents . . . Jocasta is just fifteen when she is told that she must marry the King of Thebes, an old man she has never met. Her life has never been her own, and nor will it be, unless she outlives her strange, absent husband. Ismene is the same age when she is attacked in the palace she calls home. Since the day of her parents' tragic deaths a decade earlier, she has always longed to feel safe with the family she still has. But with a single act of violence, all that is about to change. With the turn of these two events, a tragedy is set in motion. But not as you know it.

Hannah Faure 

This book was something. I went in the story with the knowledge of Antigone and that was all. I then learned about Oedipus from a friend. this was something. I was surprised and angry and confused. I do have a favourite character and the writing was incredibly. I really enjoyed the fact it was about 2 women we never talk about in the myths and that they were both linked. I did cry and it was worth it.

Amanda

The Children of Jocasta not only retells the myth of Oedipus, it completely reframes the original myth. This is what retellings are supposed to do, in my opinion. When authors write books claiming they're retelling a myth but don't add or take away any elements--when they simply don't make it their own--it's hard to accept that as a true retelling. Myths were passed down orally, and each speaker chose to tell it their own way. So, why should writing about myths be any different?

Some people in the reviews are upset this novel doesn't include incest, like in the Oedipus myth we're familiar with. But, Haynes includes in her wonderful author's note that just because Sophocles' is the most popular version, that doesn't mean it was the first or only version of this myth. Haynes is bringing a different tale to the table, and it works.

This novel is compelling and suspenseful. It's insightful. It reminds me very much of Christa Wolf's Medea; there's something sinister lying underneath.

This is one of those books you need to read more than once to truly grasp, which I certainly plan to do. With a touch of humor, this is a nice contrast with an omniscient narrator and first person narration. We get slightly different perspectives on some things, forcing the reader to really pay attention and use their own judgement on certain scenes.

I loved all the characters and enjoyed how complex they are. This is one of the best retellings I've read.

I must admit, I have not read the Sophocles plays. I'm sure that will upset some purists, but I am familiar with the story as I mentioned earlier, although less familiar with Antigone. I think Haynes did a magnificent job with this project. 

Sim Edwards

Interesting retelling of the three Theban plays! 
This book focuses on Jocasta (the wife of Oedipus and mother of Antigone, Ismene, Polynices and Eteocles) and her daughter Ismene. I don't want to spoil anything, but you will perhaps be surprised by how this tale has been spun. 
Reading the acknowledgements at the end is also very interesting and worthwhile; Natalie Hayes makes it clear why she chose to tell the story this way and how Greek myths such as "Oedipus" have never been written in one specific way and have many different versions.

Jade Flynn

Read for my Care of Magical Creatures O.W.L 2020 #magicalreadathon2020. Hippogriffs: creature with a beak on the cover. Career - Auror (done). Extra completed O.W.L

Josephine Lemonade 

why must natalie haynes always hurt me this way

Vitor Augusto Dal Molin 

Jemima Scott

I absolutely loved, loved this book! Natalie Haynes is simply a genius 👏✨📚

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The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes

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