Well done
This is a quick read, and is easy to get into without having a deep mythology background. One disappointment was that the author's brief essay-like sidetrack could have been longer; I found this to be the most interesting part of the book.
Very Intriguing Adptation
I've seen this book described as witty, sly, smart, and wry...and how very true that description is. My faith in Atwood is somewhat restored...after my last experience with her writing (which I found particularly loathsome), I must admit I really, really enjoyed The Penelopiad a great deal! This really is a "sly" retelling of the Odysseus from the perspective of his wife, left behind...extremely well done and highly entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the use of the 12 hanged maidens as a chorus...sad, poignant, but also comedic in many ways. Interesting and fun also was the portrayal of Helen as an extremely vain, stuck up woman obsessed with her own beauty and also quite vicious in her own way. I say well done, a fun retelling with a spark all its own. The only thing I don't "get" about this particular series is why they insist on making the books appear longer than they are...both this one and Weight (Heracles) are small volumes with HUGE margins...I utterly hate that...just make it normal and have it be slimmer, I'd pay for it either way the story is worth the cost
Mythology in Today's World
I purchased this book quite awhile ago. Am an Atwood fanatic but the subject left me cold. Those dreadful Latin classes from high school, I suspect. Anyhow, I finally took the plunge. Two things: 1. Knowing the myth is not critical to enjoying this story, 2. For my money, the funniest book Atwood has written. Terrific!!
Now, that's what I call using your imagination.
This book was given to me as a gift a few years ago, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I was enthralled by the time I had gotten about 10 pages in! Margaret Atwood retells a story that many of us are familiar with (the Greek's myth of Odysseus and his wife Penelope) , yet transfers it to Penelope's point of view. While Odysseus is away at war, the story goes through the details of Penelope's time spent awaiting his return. Let me put it this way, while the cat is away, the mice will play...
Brilliant!
Margaret Atwood can't write a bad book, period. If you enjoy the subject matter, you'll like this book.
(47 reviews)
