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An excellent retelling - I thought it was well written in a sympathetic way with modern overtones along with some humour. It‘s a sad story and I did feel for Medusa. She didn‘t deserve it. The gods themselves are brought to life wonderfully and they were easy to picture in my mind. By the end of the book I can quite safely say that Medusa isn‘t the monster in this story. My money is on Perseus! A thoroughly enjoyable and engaging read.

Great book if you are into Greek mythology- I loved it - very funny in parts too .

Reading this with my online book club, https://thereadingloft.groups.io/g/main

The writing style made it difficult to feel close to any characters, making this a low pick for me. I did like the twisting of the old myth to approach Medusa from her side of the story a bit more. There are a lot of characters (as is appropriate for a mythology retelling) and I didn‘t particularly care for any of them.

Just noticed all three of the physical books I am currently reading are published by Harper. Not necessarily something I‘d generally pay attention to, but I have them stacked together and happened to see the labels. All three are good so far!

This is a retelling of Medusa‘s myth. I picked up this one because it was giving Madeline Miller vibes. I did like it—it was humorous, it did interesting interpretations with the Greek characters and gods, and a lot of the chapters were short which made it easy to get through. The plot did feel a little more sparse and didn‘t always have a clear center, so it wasn‘t the level of Miller for me, but I did still like it!

That's the thing about the Olympic pantheon, about the figures in Greek myth, generally. Not a whole of character development. Sure the worst consequences come to some individuals but it's even odds if those consequences are the result of being punished for wrong action according to the rules of ancient society or because the gods just felt like it. Which is a reflection of how ancient Greek people thought things worked and explained via such 1/?

Monster?

Valid. 😅

Oh, man, it shouldn't be funny, but Zeus gets away with so much shit that Hera casually hating him on the regular is a release valve for the reader.

Hephaestus, who has a tool as a security blanket, and probably only thinks he has value when he's of use. 🥺

I love the mortal child as incomprehensible beast via flipped perspective of cryptids/mythical figures as norm. 😁

I like what the author did with this. She turns the male perspective on its head and suddenly Medusa is a victim in this story.

I must have forgotten to take a proper pic of this book but there it is in a library stack. Already returned this.

#SheSaid @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Fantastic! This was engaging, thought provoking, infuriating, and informative. This feminist retelling of the Greek myths featuring Medusa‘s story, is so good! Great on #audio read by the author. Content warnings for physical and sexual abuse because the Gods were terrible. #shesaid @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Interesting to me #SheSaid that Poseidon is listed as her Consort …since NO myth version I‘ve heard or read refer to their union as consensual or ongoing. Also interesting that on her death she birthed two children of that “Union” 🙄. 1 being Pegasus! Everyone‘s favorite winged horse!

#ReadAway2024

I put this one on my TBR thanks to @Itchyfeetreader ‘s #AuldLangSpine list so I was excited to see it as this month‘s #SheSaid pick. It‘s been a while since I‘ve delved into Greek mythology & I loved how this book was set up with its many POVs. If you know the stories, you know it isn‘t a HEA for anyone but the author told it with a dark, sly humor that I liked. (The Gods are all pretty much asshats). I will read more from Haynes.

Hello #SheSaid!

I‘m not going to lie…even though I knew the myth and how it was all going to end, I felt let down at the end anyway….which I guess means the author did a really great job 😜

Errands & a coffeeshop‘s stop for a Kona Peaberry pour over coffee & a turkey pesto sandwich.

Finishing up the tagged book for #SheSaid & #AuldLangSpine then switching to letter writing catch up for #LitsyLove & card swap 🤦🏻‍♀️ & some #5JoysFriday visiting.

#CoverLove

There is more than one #Snake on the cover of our current read for #SheSaid 🐍

Hello #SheSaid! How are you this weekend? The story is moving along quickly now…thoughts? We know where it‘s headed really…but I want more.

@Smrloomis @KathyWheeler @Bookwormjillk @bibliobliss @JenlovesJT47 @Karisa @fredthemoose @Christine @mandarchy @rjsthumbelina @Tera66 @Megabooks @BookBosomed1 @MoonWitch94 @sabyym @ncsufoxes @Readergrrl @wanderinglynn @TheKidUpstairs @charl08 @CatLass007 🤞 please post….

The narrative structure in this book is very different, and there are quite a number of different points of view. At different points, even crows and olive trees provided input on the story. I really enjoyed it. Thanks #SheSaid — I might not have read it otherwise. It was actually in the high 70s after the rain today, so I got to walk outside. Continued with Possession after I finished Stone Blind. #byattbuddyread #audiowalk

Perseus is an idiot; I totally get why Athena is annoyed by him. I‘m not sure what I think about the alphabet sisters telling the story of his approach to Medusa. The olive trees narrating part of the story is an interesting technique. #audiowalk

Hello #SheSaid!

How are you doing this weekend?

Thoughts on this week‘s section?

See you in the comments!

I love the crow in this book; he‘s hysterical! Poseidon is probably the most petulant god in this book, and that‘s saying a lot. The rec center is nice later in the evening — not as many people there. #audiowalk #SheSaid

#SheSaid #ReadAway2024 I enjoy the way the author turns the Greek myths we all know, which primarily are centered around masculine heroes, into something new and exciting. Are the male characters truly heroic? Are those characters who are considered monsters really all that monstrous? Are outward appearances really important? The Olympians are considered gods. Olympians care little about mortals and are in constant competition with each (cont)⬇️

Hello #SheSaid!

How are you all doing this week?

Liking the new book, it‘s a definitely a shift from our last book and normal non-fiction, but I‘m enjoying it…I‘ve always liked mythology, so for me it‘s a fun read. I was hoping for more of a Circe-type deep dive, but we are still at the beginning.

See you in the comments!

I think this is going to be my first July bail. I read The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Haynes last year. It was brutal. I picked this up completely forgetting what was coming. After at least two mostly-off-page rapes in just parts one and two, and knowing what‘s to come…I‘m just not in the right headspace for this #shesaid read. Haynes‘s writing is great. This bail is all me, not a reflection on the book or author.

I‘m reading this for #SheSaid. I love mythology, and there are some takes on the characters that I really like, but I just cannot get behind the depiction of Athena. She‘s the goddess of wisdom, but she‘s a real brat. I had to walk outside this evening because the rec center was closed; at least it was only 86° at 7:00pm and there was a breeze. #audiowalk

Up Next for #SheSaid
Pick up your library book and put in your interlibrary loans!

Via @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Check out her post for more details
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2749389

Up Next #SheSaid!

Up Next for #SheSaid

Pick up your library book and put in your interlibrary loans!

Mythology has never been my jam, but I've read a handful of great feminist retellings lately, so I gave this one a go. It had some parts that were enjoyable, but it covered too many characters and stories and, therefore, felt disjointed. Medusa ended up being in just a fraction of the book. Overall, I was underwhelmed.
Also, I'm way behind on posting finished books, so here come a bunch of May/June patio and porch reads!

1) I don‘t have a specific memory, but I loved the Bookmobile as a kid. Our main library was about 15 minutes away, so we often visited the Bookmobile on Saturdays. I would still go if they had one.
2) bookstore & library, Amazon occasionally for my kindle
3) Tagged
@Eggs #wondrouswednesday

I listened to this one over audio, read by the author. I have loved listening to Haynes re-examination of Greek myths. This one makes you feel more compassionate for Medusa, not as the monster she is always portrayed. Athene comes off as a bit of a, honestly a b@tch. I was also listening to Stephen Fry‘s Heroes at the same time & the slight differences are interesting in how they both tell their version of the story. April review #bookspjn

Medusa was not a monster. Perseus was not a hero. The gods are cruel and the myths ring of injustice.

None of this was news to me, yet this retelling — which weaves together opposing narrators and pulls in context from adjacent tales — feels fresh, even though I know where it‘s all headed. (Pun intended?)

Maybe not an instant classic like the last two book club picks, but still a great read that I‘m looking forward to discussing. 🐍

#ItTakesAllKinds

A #Mythical Medusa retelling in my TBR, part of my #AuldLangSpine list from @Itchyfeetreader Hoping to get to it in the next month or so.🐍

“They will defend her, if they can,” said Athene quickly. “She is much loved.”
“Why would they love a monster?” asked Perseus.
“Who are you to decide who is worthy of love?” said Hermes….”and who are you to decide who is a monster?”
“She called them monsters” said Perseus, pointing at Athene.
“No, I didn‘t, I called them dangerous creatures…You‘re the one who thinks anything that doesn‘t look like you must be a monster.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just starting this title, a retelling of the story of Medusa…definitely seems promising! 📖

New book obsession! If Madeline Miller went feminist wry and rageful instead of making toxic masculinity gay and beautiful? Still workshopping the mashup/elevator pitch 😏 Listening to the author read the cast of characters, I paused the audiobook so I could go pick up a hard copy. This one‘s gonna get marked UP.

#99ponkindle #ukkindledeal

I read 257 books in 2023, here are my favorites!

Can‘t believe I forgot to add this to my list! I‘ve always been a huge fan of Greek mythology, and have thoroughly enjoyed the retelling of many stories from a female perspective. This book is written by Natalie Haynes; English writer, broadcaster, classicist, and comedian - she is frakking brilliant and cannot write books fast enough to sate my appetite! Even more, listen to her podcast, Natalie Haynes Stands Up For the Classics.

This is the story of Medusa, in all of its mythological complexity. It also delves into Athena's motivation for cursing her with a head of snakes, Perseus's motivation for beheading her, and what happened to her head following said event, which some readers seem to take exception to because those parts aren't about Medusa ... but they do enrich this story. My favorite part was the chapter told by snakes 🤘

There are many women associated with the story of Medusa. This is the chance for all of them to speak.

I wish I liked this more. I did really enjoy turning the story around, & I liked some of the different POVs, but there just ended up being too many other stories woven in. & I was constantly thrown with classic storytelling combined with modern sounding dialogue. I‘ll give Haynes another try, but this just wasn‘t what I was expecting. 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

Wasn't too sure about this one. Much better female centric greek myth adaptations available. Agree with other reviewers that Medusa is hardly in this story. Too much emphasis on forcing the reader to understand that Perseus and the Gods are the monsters, not the Gorgon's. I think most women who read classics and retellings already understand this.

🌟🌟disappointing! If you want good stories read Circe or Ariadne. Medusa was hardly in this. I didn‘t like the modern tone to the language or the portrayal of Perseus. Skip this one.

Her book covers are gorgeous. 😍

Loved this retelling of Medusa. Love the writing, love the cover. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

“You aren‘t monsters Medusa said.
Neither are you. Who decides what is a monster?
I don‘t know said Medusa. Men I suppose.
So to mortal men we are monsters.
Because of our teeth, our flight, our strength they fear us so they call us monsters.”

This was . . . fine? It just never rose to the heights of Madeline Miller's Circe, and suffered in comparison.