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Psyche in a Dress
But this is what
I could not give up:
I could not give up myself Psyche has known Love—scented with jasmine and tasting of fresh oranges. Yet he is fleeting and fragile, lost to her too quickly. Punished by self-doubt, Psyche yearns to be transformed, like the beautiful and brutal figures in the myths her lover once spoke of. Attempting to uncover beauty in the darkness, she is challenged, tested, and changed by the gods and demons who tempt her. Her faith must be found again, for if she is to love, she must never look back.
I could not give up:
I could not give up myself Psyche has known Love—scented with jasmine and tasting of fresh oranges. Yet he is fleeting and fragile, lost to her too quickly. Punished by self-doubt, Psyche yearns to be transformed, like the beautiful and brutal figures in the myths her lover once spoke of. Attempting to uncover beauty in the darkness, she is challenged, tested, and changed by the gods and demons who tempt her. Her faith must be found again, for if she is to love, she must never look back.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published August 24, 2006
About the author
Francesca Lia Block
99 books3,341 followersFrancesca Lia Block is the author of more than twenty-five books of fiction, non-fiction, short stories and poetry. She received the Spectrum Award, the Phoenix Award, the ALA Rainbow Award and the 2005 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as other citations from the American Library Association and from the New York Times Book Review, School Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly. She was named Writer-in-Residence at Pasadena City College in 2014. Her work has been translated into Italian, French, German Japanese, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Portuguese. Francesca has also published stories, poems, essays and interviews in The Los Angeles Times, The L.A. Review of Books, Spin, Nylon, Black Clock and Rattle among others. In addition to writing, she teaches creative writing at University of Redlands, UCLA Extension, Antioch University, and privately in Los Angeles where she was born, raised and currently still lives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
January 6, 2019
I guess time just keeps creeping up on me. It seemed like yesterday that I was boxing up Christmas decorations, and now paper hearts, chocolates, and flowers are ushering in Valentine's day. Fortunately, the public library is very helpful in keeping up with the times --they just put up a "Valentine's Reads" section. Both my selections are retellings of "Cupid and Psyche", the love story of Love itself. I start with the lady who pierced Cupid's heart with his own arrow, as her tale is retold in "Psyche in a Dress"...
Francesca Lia Block’s version of the well-known myth manages to be completely innovative and faithful to the original at the same time. She used Greek counterparts instead of the original Roman hence, Cupid is known as Eros (this applies to the other gods as well).
In this story, Psyche is the daughter of a movie director who exploits her beauty in his work. His girlfriend, Aphrodite, is jealous of Psyche, and it’s at her request that her son Eros first visits Psyche in the dark. After losing Eros, Psyche begins a journey through a world of loneliness, addiction and abuse. She becomes Narcissus’ Ecco, Orpheus’ Eurydice, Hades’ Persephone, and later Demeter. Her search for her lost love is also a lifelong search for her identity, for strength.
Besides "Apollo and Daphne", "Eros and Psyche" is also my favorite Greek myth. There is just something about the story of two lovers becoming so in the dark that really captures me. I was surprised that Block incorporated other Greek myths into this story, but the way she does it works really well. My surprise quickly turned into joy! I also admire the way in which she gave the story a very modern setting while also retaining a classic feel.
When I picked up this book, I had no idea that it was a novel in free verse. It’s a good thing that I didn’t, really, or else I might have become suspicious, and that would have been letting my preconceptions get the better of me. The free verse form fits the story, and it doesn’t keep it from flowing with ease. The only disadvantage is the fact that this means that the whole book can be read in a little over an hour. I wanted it to have lasted longer! Psyche in a Dress is a beautiful version of the myth: a sensual, painful, delicate tale that takes you through darkness but ends in a hopeful note. Now, it's beggining to feel a lot like Valentine's...
Francesca Lia Block’s version of the well-known myth manages to be completely innovative and faithful to the original at the same time. She used Greek counterparts instead of the original Roman hence, Cupid is known as Eros (this applies to the other gods as well).
In this story, Psyche is the daughter of a movie director who exploits her beauty in his work. His girlfriend, Aphrodite, is jealous of Psyche, and it’s at her request that her son Eros first visits Psyche in the dark. After losing Eros, Psyche begins a journey through a world of loneliness, addiction and abuse. She becomes Narcissus’ Ecco, Orpheus’ Eurydice, Hades’ Persephone, and later Demeter. Her search for her lost love is also a lifelong search for her identity, for strength.
Besides "Apollo and Daphne", "Eros and Psyche" is also my favorite Greek myth. There is just something about the story of two lovers becoming so in the dark that really captures me. I was surprised that Block incorporated other Greek myths into this story, but the way she does it works really well. My surprise quickly turned into joy! I also admire the way in which she gave the story a very modern setting while also retaining a classic feel.
When I picked up this book, I had no idea that it was a novel in free verse. It’s a good thing that I didn’t, really, or else I might have become suspicious, and that would have been letting my preconceptions get the better of me. The free verse form fits the story, and it doesn’t keep it from flowing with ease. The only disadvantage is the fact that this means that the whole book can be read in a little over an hour. I wanted it to have lasted longer! Psyche in a Dress is a beautiful version of the myth: a sensual, painful, delicate tale that takes you through darkness but ends in a hopeful note. Now, it's beggining to feel a lot like Valentine's...
November 6, 2012
Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com
Francesca Lia Block puts her powerful prose to work in this stunningly simple, yet amazingly complex book. We follow a teenaged girl, known as Psyche, throughout her life, which mirrors the stories in several Greek myths.
An actress in her father's odd, violent movies, Psyche considers herself her father's muse, who took over when her mother left. At night, she is visited by Love himself, who tells her that she is Soul. Her lover brings the sound of the ocean with him, the taste of citrus spray on her lips, and tales of long ago to her ears. She loves this man, but has no idea what he looks like, for he has forbid her to turn on the light when he is with her. Cajoled by her sisters, Psyche's doubts begin to grow, and she breaks the rules by lighting a candle. Only then does she discover that she is in love with a god, and she does not deserve him.
After he leaves, Psyche's life spirals into the pits of hell as she tries to win Love back. Throughout random affairs, abusive relationships, and a reunion with her mother, Psyche realizes how she is playing out the tales that Love told her long ago. She probably will never find Love again, but perhaps she can be worthy of him, someday.
A quick read with mature themes, this book will leave the reader begging for more, tempted by the satisfying banquet of words this story presents.
Francesca Lia Block puts her powerful prose to work in this stunningly simple, yet amazingly complex book. We follow a teenaged girl, known as Psyche, throughout her life, which mirrors the stories in several Greek myths.
An actress in her father's odd, violent movies, Psyche considers herself her father's muse, who took over when her mother left. At night, she is visited by Love himself, who tells her that she is Soul. Her lover brings the sound of the ocean with him, the taste of citrus spray on her lips, and tales of long ago to her ears. She loves this man, but has no idea what he looks like, for he has forbid her to turn on the light when he is with her. Cajoled by her sisters, Psyche's doubts begin to grow, and she breaks the rules by lighting a candle. Only then does she discover that she is in love with a god, and she does not deserve him.
After he leaves, Psyche's life spirals into the pits of hell as she tries to win Love back. Throughout random affairs, abusive relationships, and a reunion with her mother, Psyche realizes how she is playing out the tales that Love told her long ago. She probably will never find Love again, but perhaps she can be worthy of him, someday.
A quick read with mature themes, this book will leave the reader begging for more, tempted by the satisfying banquet of words this story presents.
September 22, 2017
Re-reading this 3 years later I still find this book 5 stars. It's pretty amazing. It's not easy to write Greek Myth retellings without turning them into romances or making them a little cheesy. Francesca Lia Block succeeds in making this book of prose true Mythic fiction.
This book is absolutely not YA!
Because of the fact that this book is based on the Greek Myths, I would not consider describing anything as giving away spoilers. In fact, I would say that in order to appreciate this book, one would have to be familiar with the original myths.
Starting as a teen who stars in her fathers gruesome horror films, Psyche is, just like in the myth, visited by Eros or "Love" in the darkness of night. And just like the myth she is sent away for lighting a candle....in lush prose Block describes the phases of a young woman's life in the Hollywood Hills as she encounters the various archetypes Narcissus, Orpheus, Hades, Aphrodite, Persephone, Demeter, maturing into a filmmaker and a mother of a teen who then repeats the same paths as her mother....
This book is absolutely not YA!
Because of the fact that this book is based on the Greek Myths, I would not consider describing anything as giving away spoilers. In fact, I would say that in order to appreciate this book, one would have to be familiar with the original myths.
Starting as a teen who stars in her fathers gruesome horror films, Psyche is, just like in the myth, visited by Eros or "Love" in the darkness of night. And just like the myth she is sent away for lighting a candle....in lush prose Block describes the phases of a young woman's life in the Hollywood Hills as she encounters the various archetypes Narcissus, Orpheus, Hades, Aphrodite, Persephone, Demeter, maturing into a filmmaker and a mother of a teen who then repeats the same paths as her mother....
September 13, 2013
This book is somewhere between 3.5 stars to 4 stars.
The writing is simple, poetic in some parts and I hope I can write like this and tells a story like this. The ending is quite sweet as well. Psyche in a Dress is unlike anything I have read in the field of Young Adult novels, the author handled the Greek Myth retelling theme nicely, breathing fresh air into the ancient myths and I like how sex is being mentioned in a honest tone in the story.
Still there's a down side. At some point, the overly short and simple writing and storytelling makes it difficult to get a hold on the main character Psyche's personality when she is first introduced to us as an unhappy teenage starlet who has an uncaring director father, and I honestly don't enjoy her lack of motive outside of her first lover---OMG, this girl does EVERYTHING for that boy who never bothers to contact her once he's left. It's so not charming in my book, but thankfully Psyche did get better in the latter part of the book.
The writing is simple, poetic in some parts and I hope I can write like this and tells a story like this. The ending is quite sweet as well. Psyche in a Dress is unlike anything I have read in the field of Young Adult novels, the author handled the Greek Myth retelling theme nicely, breathing fresh air into the ancient myths and I like how sex is being mentioned in a honest tone in the story.
Still there's a down side. At some point, the overly short and simple writing and storytelling makes it difficult to get a hold on the main character Psyche's personality when she is first introduced to us as an unhappy teenage starlet who has an uncaring director father, and I honestly don't enjoy her lack of motive outside of her first lover---OMG, this girl does EVERYTHING for that boy who never bothers to contact her once he's left. It's so not charming in my book, but thankfully Psyche did get better in the latter part of the book.
November 30, 2014
An exploration of love and self-discovery using modernized myths set in Los Angeles, CA.
Not being a huge fan of most poetry, an entire novella in free verse kinda made me nervous, but I loved Psyche in a Dress! The pages practically turned themselves, and when I reached the end I wanted to flip back to the beginning and read it all over again. Psyche's story was based on mythology, yet somehow portrayed the very real experiences of first love, heartbreak, finding oneself, and the life-changing power of the parent-child relationship. The ending was...beautiful.
Recommended to mature young adult readers, because there was heavy subject matter, current fans of Block's work, and anyone else looking for a unique retelling of modern myths, including Psyche and Eros, Narcissus and Echo, and Persephone, Demeter and Hades.
4.5 stars
Not being a huge fan of most poetry, an entire novella in free verse kinda made me nervous, but I loved Psyche in a Dress! The pages practically turned themselves, and when I reached the end I wanted to flip back to the beginning and read it all over again. Psyche's story was based on mythology, yet somehow portrayed the very real experiences of first love, heartbreak, finding oneself, and the life-changing power of the parent-child relationship. The ending was...beautiful.
Recommended to mature young adult readers, because there was heavy subject matter, current fans of Block's work, and anyone else looking for a unique retelling of modern myths, including Psyche and Eros, Narcissus and Echo, and Persephone, Demeter and Hades.
4.5 stars
August 31, 2011
I really liked how this book goes through the different greek myths. How the main character is Psyche but also Echo, Eurydice, and Persephone. I love how it shows the life of a women goes through all those stages. We play many different roles. We are all goddesses, it just may take sometime to realize it. Maybe it's just me but it kind of seems like Joy's lover is Marilyn Manson. And the whole Orpheus and Maenad reminds me of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love. Maybe I'm the only one that sees that. But yah if you like mythology and poetry this is a good book for you.
October 23, 2017
I wouldn't initially think a YA poetry novel that places Greek myth in a contemporary setting could work, but it does. I especially enjoyed the ending chapters, when daughters become mothers. There's some really lovely moments in this.
May 31, 2007
I didn't even realize I was in the mood for this type of book until I read it. It's extremely unique, using blank verse instead of the usual paragraphs. I wish I knew more about greek mythology however, as the entire book centered around characters of mythological names and dispositions. A good background in that subject would probably make for a better read. Even without that prior knowledge this book was enjoyable. It's quick and interesting.
February 18, 2012
I'm not entirely sure what I thought of this. I think this is the first time I've tried anything by Francesca Lia Block, and it just sort of caught my eye. It's quite powerful, powerful images and an interesting way of retelling several different mythical stories.
It's made up of poetry, mostly, and some prose. It's a very fast read if it sounds interesting to you -- but I'm still not sure what I think, having stared at the screen for a while trying to put together a more incisive review.
It's made up of poetry, mostly, and some prose. It's a very fast read if it sounds interesting to you -- but I'm still not sure what I think, having stared at the screen for a while trying to put together a more incisive review.
December 19, 2022
You might like this a bit more if you are more versed in greek mythology than me (I barely superficially go what was going on) and if you enjoy writing about abusive relationships (okay that sounds horrible, but I was put off by it, as was hoping for some fluffiness).
I did like the way it was told in verse, but that just wasn't enough for me.
I did like the way it was told in verse, but that just wasn't enough for me.
July 13, 2010
i’d heard a lot of great things about this book before i read it, so when i started reading and didn’t immediately see the draw i was kind of disappointed. it wasn’t bad by any means, but it wasn’t fantastic. as i got closer to the end, however, and the different aspects of the story started coming together for the final conclusion i really thought to myself, this is a really good book.
the writing style is some kind of poetic, stream of consciousness, almost dreamlike approach that allows the reader to take in the information a different way than if it were presented normally. you almost want to pause over the information to make sure you’re taking it in correctly. the author doesn’t knock her self out with punctuation for most of the book. if there’s supposed to be a period or a comma she just skips down to the next line and continues on, but it wasn’t hard to read because of this, it just adds to the mood she’s trying to create.
the basic premise of the story is that there is this girl who lives out greek myths in the modern day. she is psyche predominately, but after she looses eros she goes through different phases and meets different people and becomes other mythological figures, which the author uses to describe different stages of life.
from the book, kind of near the end, but don’t worry you won’t know how it’s relevant until you read it
I have been young too
I have been psyche, I have been Echo
I have been eurydice
i have been persephone, like you
i thought i was not a goddess
my mother was a goddess
now i am demeter, like my mother
because of you
reading that kind of sums up the book, and when you tie in what the author creates around these myths, its kind of touching. a lot of time is spent on the details which makes the story more than just a plot, and in every part of the book we are told what dress psyche is wearing. i’m not much into fashion so i can’t tell you if the dresses she wore at certain times were significant to the plot, but in the beginning the dresses are her mother’s and by the end i think she gets one of her own.
anyway, psyche learns to stand on her own, exist by herself, which is a nice ending. and if you know your myths there won’t be any real surprises in plot, maybe in execution, but that why it’s interesting right? great read.
the writing style is some kind of poetic, stream of consciousness, almost dreamlike approach that allows the reader to take in the information a different way than if it were presented normally. you almost want to pause over the information to make sure you’re taking it in correctly. the author doesn’t knock her self out with punctuation for most of the book. if there’s supposed to be a period or a comma she just skips down to the next line and continues on, but it wasn’t hard to read because of this, it just adds to the mood she’s trying to create.
the basic premise of the story is that there is this girl who lives out greek myths in the modern day. she is psyche predominately, but after she looses eros she goes through different phases and meets different people and becomes other mythological figures, which the author uses to describe different stages of life.
from the book, kind of near the end, but don’t worry you won’t know how it’s relevant until you read it
I have been young too
I have been psyche, I have been Echo
I have been eurydice
i have been persephone, like you
i thought i was not a goddess
my mother was a goddess
now i am demeter, like my mother
because of you
reading that kind of sums up the book, and when you tie in what the author creates around these myths, its kind of touching. a lot of time is spent on the details which makes the story more than just a plot, and in every part of the book we are told what dress psyche is wearing. i’m not much into fashion so i can’t tell you if the dresses she wore at certain times were significant to the plot, but in the beginning the dresses are her mother’s and by the end i think she gets one of her own.
anyway, psyche learns to stand on her own, exist by herself, which is a nice ending. and if you know your myths there won’t be any real surprises in plot, maybe in execution, but that why it’s interesting right? great read.
June 29, 2009
Block plays to her strengths here: this is essentially written as a poem-poem interspersed with prose poems/vignettes. Gorgeously written, as always.
Psyche's pretty much a masochistic drip: she falls for a power-tripping, game-playing heel (Eros, Shmeros) and spends her young adulthood putting herself through a series of torturous relationships to punish herself because he dumped her. Many masochisms later, they reunite and he dumps her again. But it's okay because she has a baby and that solves everything. For reals? For reals. This seems to be a Block theme--Weetzie Bat much?
Of course, in Block's defense, she is retelling Greek myths, so I guess we can't hold the plot/characters against her (at least I don't know how much to blame her for, since I'm not edumacated), which doesn't make them any more winning. And low self-esteem (which we learn at the end is what broke up Psyche and Eros--she leaves him, and not vice versa, because she's convinced that she's not a goddess and therefore not enough)? Really?
But she's all better (surprise!) in the end.
I especially appreciate that Block incorporates a special guest appearance by Marilyn Manson into the narrative--fun! Also fun is her casting of Kurt Cobain as Orpheus. And her casting Courtney Love as a maenad is inspired. Maenads rule!
And the ending, in which Psyche comes full circle with her daughter--and has to learn to let her go--is actually quite beautiful and touching.
In summation: I'm trying to read Ovid (yes, I know he was a Roman) right now. This was easier.
Psyche's pretty much a masochistic drip: she falls for a power-tripping, game-playing heel (Eros, Shmeros) and spends her young adulthood putting herself through a series of torturous relationships to punish herself because he dumped her. Many masochisms later, they reunite and he dumps her again. But it's okay because she has a baby and that solves everything. For reals? For reals. This seems to be a Block theme--Weetzie Bat much?
Of course, in Block's defense, she is retelling Greek myths, so I guess we can't hold the plot/characters against her (at least I don't know how much to blame her for, since I'm not edumacated), which doesn't make them any more winning. And low self-esteem (which we learn at the end is what broke up Psyche and Eros--she leaves him, and not vice versa, because she's convinced that she's not a goddess and therefore not enough)? Really?
But she's all better (surprise!) in the end.
I especially appreciate that Block incorporates a special guest appearance by Marilyn Manson into the narrative--fun! Also fun is her casting of Kurt Cobain as Orpheus. And her casting Courtney Love as a maenad is inspired. Maenads rule!
And the ending, in which Psyche comes full circle with her daughter--and has to learn to let her go--is actually quite beautiful and touching.
In summation: I'm trying to read Ovid (yes, I know he was a Roman) right now. This was easier.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2009
Her books are always interesting to read because of the way that they are written. She doesn’t give a lot of detail about the big things—about everything that is happening, but she gives extreme details about the little things. Like what the main characters mothers wardrobe is like, or how the scent of the flowers filled the air. I find it quite intriguing.
Block is obviously very interested in Greek mythology. It would be of great benefit to the reader if they had some sort of background knowledge about the Greek myths—especially that of Eros and Psyche, Persephone and Demeter, Orpheus and Eurydice.
This book is a wonderful coming of age story, one that provokes the mind to question how it perceives itself, and makes one wonder what their own self doubt has done to influence his/her own life. Psyche’s story of growth and self acceptance can be somewhat graphic at times, and it is for this reason that I would not recommend this book for a young audience—perhaps 15 and up.
My one grievance about the book was the implication that we all had to go out and find our own Hades—our own form of self punishment to survive through so that we could learn more. I believe it is true that growth could occur from such a situation, but I do not believe that we need to go and search for our own “hell god.”
Favorite quote: Is beauty monstrous?
Block is obviously very interested in Greek mythology. It would be of great benefit to the reader if they had some sort of background knowledge about the Greek myths—especially that of Eros and Psyche, Persephone and Demeter, Orpheus and Eurydice.
This book is a wonderful coming of age story, one that provokes the mind to question how it perceives itself, and makes one wonder what their own self doubt has done to influence his/her own life. Psyche’s story of growth and self acceptance can be somewhat graphic at times, and it is for this reason that I would not recommend this book for a young audience—perhaps 15 and up.
My one grievance about the book was the implication that we all had to go out and find our own Hades—our own form of self punishment to survive through so that we could learn more. I believe it is true that growth could occur from such a situation, but I do not believe that we need to go and search for our own “hell god.”
Favorite quote: Is beauty monstrous?
January 24, 2009
Psyche loses her first love to self-doubt, sure that she can’t be enough for a god. After he leaves, she sets about punishing herself in hopes of getting him back. She travels through Orpheus, Hades, her mother, Demeter. Eventually, she moves back home to work for her stepmother, who is fond of turning her into flowers and other things with which to make her dresses. But even Aphrodite can see how Psyche suffers, and one day brings her a book. A book so much like her life that she writes the author, and they agree to meet.
Finally, she has found her Eros. And is content in knowing that when he leaves this time, she will have a part of him with her always. Their child.
Follow her journey, in this modern retelling of popular greek myths.
Forewarning: there are brief instances where the language is fairly expicit; therefore, I would probably recommend this book for older teens only. But it’s only a couple of words, and it’s only a couple of times.
Any FLB lover will definitely appreciate Psyche. But it’s not Weetzie Bat, I guess that’s all I’m saying.
Finally, she has found her Eros. And is content in knowing that when he leaves this time, she will have a part of him with her always. Their child.
Follow her journey, in this modern retelling of popular greek myths.
Forewarning: there are brief instances where the language is fairly expicit; therefore, I would probably recommend this book for older teens only. But it’s only a couple of words, and it’s only a couple of times.
Any FLB lover will definitely appreciate Psyche. But it’s not Weetzie Bat, I guess that’s all I’m saying.
June 24, 2011
This is a quick read based on the relationships between gods and a mortal woman who takes the incarnation of various goddesses. I was familiar with almost all of the myths, so it was a simple enough story to grasp for me. I'm not sure if it would be confusing to those that are not familiar with some Greek mythology. However, I'm probably the only one who was a bit peeved by the use of Eros, the Roman form of Cupid, when all other names used were Greek.
I enjoyed this retelling, and the wonderfully creative blending of all of these myths in one woman and those surrounding her. It really portrays womanhood as a series of changes, becoming a different woman both in a her own mind and those that she interacts with.
Psyche, herself, is a intriguing character, someone who I could relate to at different times, as she struggles through these events and changes in her life.
All in all, a light read, written beautifully, and a study of the curious ways of one woman as she tries to understand herself and the people she loves.
I enjoyed this retelling, and the wonderfully creative blending of all of these myths in one woman and those surrounding her. It really portrays womanhood as a series of changes, becoming a different woman both in a her own mind and those that she interacts with.
Psyche, herself, is a intriguing character, someone who I could relate to at different times, as she struggles through these events and changes in her life.
All in all, a light read, written beautifully, and a study of the curious ways of one woman as she tries to understand herself and the people she loves.
June 23, 2008
With lyrical and whimsical words, Francesca Lia Block rewrites the timeless Greek myths of love into modern-day, chic tales for a more fashionable crowd. The story begins with Psyche, whom after that fated accident with her lover, Eros the god of love himself, transform into other mythological damsels. From Echo to Eurydice to Persephone, she puts herself through trials to find her god once again.
It's a small book, only 100 pages, but I still read it over and over, indulging in its poetry and tales of the men that come into Psyche's life. Like a memoir of all the boyfriends a girl's had in her life, the vain, the musically inclined, the dominating, the ones who seemed perfect.
No complaints. I loved this book.
It's a small book, only 100 pages, but I still read it over and over, indulging in its poetry and tales of the men that come into Psyche's life. Like a memoir of all the boyfriends a girl's had in her life, the vain, the musically inclined, the dominating, the ones who seemed perfect.
No complaints. I loved this book.
July 21, 2021
it was just yesterday that I was craving for a mythological retelling in verse.
my mind was pleading for a break from the dozens of mathematical sums that stung my brains bit by bit. I sought solace in this telling and indeed, I was spellbound.
what I expected the moment my eyes glimpsed at the first page was a tiny retelling about simply eros and psyche. I would’ve been happy with just that as I love the story. however, the words echoed in my head and cascaded down my brain, filling my body with ecstasy. I did not expect verse, and most certainly, it didn’t even cross my mind that I would meet with orpheus and eurydice, narcissus and echo, persephone and hades… as I muttered the story under my breath, it felt like an incantation—a bewitching one.
my mind was pleading for a break from the dozens of mathematical sums that stung my brains bit by bit. I sought solace in this telling and indeed, I was spellbound.
what I expected the moment my eyes glimpsed at the first page was a tiny retelling about simply eros and psyche. I would’ve been happy with just that as I love the story. however, the words echoed in my head and cascaded down my brain, filling my body with ecstasy. I did not expect verse, and most certainly, it didn’t even cross my mind that I would meet with orpheus and eurydice, narcissus and echo, persephone and hades… as I muttered the story under my breath, it felt like an incantation—a bewitching one.
July 9, 2013
Most of Block's books are pretty far out there for me, especially as writing style goes. I can get into them, but it takes a good bit of letting my mind go slightly out of focus. this was an interesting humaninzing of the god and goddess archetypes, which i appreciated.
when i finished it, i tried another--Ecstacia. I should have waited. i can only chew so much of her stories at a time.
when i finished it, i tried another--Ecstacia. I should have waited. i can only chew so much of her stories at a time.
May 31, 2023
I love the switch between storytelling and poetry and I enjoyed the journey of Psyche and how it was told through this structure.
June 12, 2023
Beautiful and heartbreaking. A quick read but worth it
December 29, 2021
A worthy stop on the Percy Jackson —> Hadestown pipeline
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February 11, 2023I just adore Francesca Lia Block’s writing! So unique, dreamy, and beautiful! This was a treat to read right before Valentine’s Day!
June 16, 2010
When I was in high school, I edited a zine of sorts. It was mostly comprised of teenage confessional poetry, the kind that prominently features rain and heartbreak and slashed wrists. People were always on me about improving the quality, being more selective about the contributions, elevating the tone. I knew full well that the zine mostly sucked, and yet I had no desire to improve it. I felt that these crappy, clichéd, maudlin outpourings of adolescent angst were just as vital, if not more so, than the smaller number of truly talented submissions we printed. I believed that not only did they give the writer a much-needed outlet, but they told other kids that they were not alone.
'Psyche in a Dress' has something of that feel of teenage group therapy about it. As poetry, it’s not much of a success, surprising from a writer whose prose is so lyrical. Perhaps the poetry of Weetzie Bat or The Hanged Man succeeds because it is grounded in the narrative, and flows with the characters and the plot, whereas Psyche feels much too abstract to be effective.
That being said, I believe that this, too, is an important book, and can’t be judged strictly in terms of its technical merits. Block is attempting to give a rootless generation a life-saving infusion of mythology, stories to help and to heal. And as such, it has to appear in the form of a poem: mythology delivered as poetry has a ritual force that not even the most poetic prose can approximate.
Where her better-known Weetzie Bat novels paint a picture of a sunny fairyland filled with promise, Psyche delves instead into the dark underside, into a world filled with demons, vengeful goddesses, and self-destructive heroines. It tackles body image, bad relationships, the vacuousness of western culture, poor role models, broken homes, drug use – everything a young woman faces in the world, punk rock diva or not. It’s the work of a woman who has emerged from the other side of despair, sadder but wiser, and as such provides an invaluable story for an entire generation of American girls looking for a path out of the darkness. For all its sorrow, Psyche is Block’s most hopeful, and possibly useful, book yet.
'Psyche in a Dress' has something of that feel of teenage group therapy about it. As poetry, it’s not much of a success, surprising from a writer whose prose is so lyrical. Perhaps the poetry of Weetzie Bat or The Hanged Man succeeds because it is grounded in the narrative, and flows with the characters and the plot, whereas Psyche feels much too abstract to be effective.
That being said, I believe that this, too, is an important book, and can’t be judged strictly in terms of its technical merits. Block is attempting to give a rootless generation a life-saving infusion of mythology, stories to help and to heal. And as such, it has to appear in the form of a poem: mythology delivered as poetry has a ritual force that not even the most poetic prose can approximate.
Where her better-known Weetzie Bat novels paint a picture of a sunny fairyland filled with promise, Psyche delves instead into the dark underside, into a world filled with demons, vengeful goddesses, and self-destructive heroines. It tackles body image, bad relationships, the vacuousness of western culture, poor role models, broken homes, drug use – everything a young woman faces in the world, punk rock diva or not. It’s the work of a woman who has emerged from the other side of despair, sadder but wiser, and as such provides an invaluable story for an entire generation of American girls looking for a path out of the darkness. For all its sorrow, Psyche is Block’s most hopeful, and possibly useful, book yet.
March 25, 2011
Another one of Francesca Lia Block's mind-bending stories. It annoys me when the book doesn't have a blurb on the back or on the front sleeve. I want to know what this book is about, darn it! It always leaves me wondering a little when I start the book. What is this going to be about? Am I going to enjoy it? Is bacon going to be involved?
But in FLB nature, this is a real FLB book. Poem-styled writing, lots of words I don't understand, and shifts in character development. It wasn't until the end of the book that I realised Psyche had become other characters- Persephone, Demeter, Eurypides and the like. It would have been nice if that had been pointed out earlier. I thought they were simply interwoven tales, how Psyche's story related to Eurypides, and that Demeter was Psyche's mother and so on. I guess this isn't meant to be modern interpretation of Greek mythology, however, and in a sense, the characters from Greek stories could all be seen as aspects of one greater person/god.
Anyway, this is another FLB book that I'll probably mull over a bit and decide much later that I did like it a lot, like the Weetzie Bat series.
But in FLB nature, this is a real FLB book. Poem-styled writing, lots of words I don't understand, and shifts in character development. It wasn't until the end of the book that I realised Psyche had become other characters- Persephone, Demeter, Eurypides and the like. It would have been nice if that had been pointed out earlier. I thought they were simply interwoven tales, how Psyche's story related to Eurypides, and that Demeter was Psyche's mother and so on. I guess this isn't meant to be modern interpretation of Greek mythology, however, and in a sense, the characters from Greek stories could all be seen as aspects of one greater person/god.
Anyway, this is another FLB book that I'll probably mull over a bit and decide much later that I did like it a lot, like the Weetzie Bat series.
Read
April 30, 2012Dawn States
Poetry
The short free flowing poetry book Psyche in a Dress is a beautiful, harsh, and descriptive retelling of the famous Greek myth of Psyche and Eros. The book follows the original myth closely, only it is an all new telling. Any fan of the great Greek myths will appreciate this book. Though strange in its construction and telling, the book ultimately makes sense and brings the elements of love, family and self to light.
Imagine the Greek gods and goddesses lived among us in this modern world. Who would they be and what would it be like? Hades a business man? Aphrodite a fashion designer? This is the world Psyche must navigate when Love comes to her. Psyche is a film star that is doubtful of her worth, so they part ways. She spends time achieving tasks to find him again. When they finally find one another again, they have a child named Joy. Once again they separate, and this time Psyche must learn her own self and raise Joy. When the time comes she is reunited with Eros yet again, learning as she does her true worth.
Poetry
The short free flowing poetry book Psyche in a Dress is a beautiful, harsh, and descriptive retelling of the famous Greek myth of Psyche and Eros. The book follows the original myth closely, only it is an all new telling. Any fan of the great Greek myths will appreciate this book. Though strange in its construction and telling, the book ultimately makes sense and brings the elements of love, family and self to light.
Imagine the Greek gods and goddesses lived among us in this modern world. Who would they be and what would it be like? Hades a business man? Aphrodite a fashion designer? This is the world Psyche must navigate when Love comes to her. Psyche is a film star that is doubtful of her worth, so they part ways. She spends time achieving tasks to find him again. When they finally find one another again, they have a child named Joy. Once again they separate, and this time Psyche must learn her own self and raise Joy. When the time comes she is reunited with Eros yet again, learning as she does her true worth.
January 14, 2012
I enjoyed reading this story. It was really interesting and the way Block wrote was simply amazing. To sum it all up, Psyche in a dress is a free-verse poem with bits of narrative tales about its characters. Combined with a modern twist, "Psyche in a Dress" is simply alluring and won't get hold of you no matter how short this work is.
January 4, 2011
I keep wanting to read and like Block's writing, but something about it makes me so sad, and not in a good way. I think we just have different opinions about life and love. I'm not going to read her again.
December 29, 2017
Just finished Francesca Lia Block's book "Psyche in a Dress" yesterday and was blown away. I think I might just have a new favourite author and a pretty awesome literary role model. Just..... WOW. That is all I have to say right now. Wow.
October 19, 2014
True to Block's edgy, lyrical, sensual style of writing, this collection of Greek myths retold is enthralling and breathtaking. The best part: the story of Hades and Persephone retold. Erotic but subtle; just perfection.
Hooray for old tales in new skins! Hooray for good writing!
Hooray for old tales in new skins! Hooray for good writing!
December 6, 2008
Loved the spin on the old story and a fast read.
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