I had been warned that this was not Madeline Miller, but I read it anyway because I love Greek mythology. I thought I would love to hear Ariadne’s chaI had been warned that this was not Madeline Miller, but I read it anyway because I love Greek mythology. I thought I would love to hear Ariadne’s character and story fleshed out. Ariadne, the character of Greek myth has all these interesting relations: a princess of Crete, granddaughter of the sun AND Zeus, brother to the Minotaur, her mother is cursed with madness and some legends say her father was cursed by Pasiphae, knows Daedalus (the brilliant mind behind the labyrinth and the wax wings for Icarus, his son), leads Theseus to slay the Minotaur, and wife of Dionysus. Other relations of interest but not sure if they crossed paths: cousin to Medea, niece of Circe. Also she is associated with dance.
This seems like a fantastic character one could build on and have fantastic ties into other myths, but I felt that Saint’s characterization of Ariadne was …bland? Phaedra, whom I did not expect to be sharing a large part of the story, was …annoying? Annoying does not balance out bland. It’s sad that the most interesting thing about Saint’s Ariadne is that she’s related to all these fascinating other myths and people.
In the beginning Daedalus gives Ariadne a gold necklace of a bee. This could have been an interesting tie in with her brother Glaucus who has a myth about drowning in honey and later being brought back to life, but no.
I did think that the story of the constellation was done well. Pasiphae’s madness is well done, and her curse on Minos is sort of alluded to. I was sad that Phaedra’s ending was rushed, I had read Euripides' play Hippolytus and enjoyed it, but without the mention or presence of Aphrodite it pissed me off. Especially since I recall Ariadne being mad at how the gods curse women with inappropriate attraction LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO HER MOTHER. Also the only god in the story it Dionysus, why? He’s decently written at times, but it does seem a little odd that he’s the only immortal in the entire book where Greek gods are known for showing up whenever and however they want....more
A very stripped down summary of The Odyssey that also includes a little bit of reference to Odysseus during the Trojan war and before. I was unimpressA very stripped down summary of The Odyssey that also includes a little bit of reference to Odysseus during the Trojan war and before. I was unimpressed with the art style and disappointed with how stripped down this was, more summary than story. ...more
I listened to this book so I didn't mind the "slow burn" and found it lovely to listen to. I rather liked that Patroclus was a potential suitor of HelI listened to this book so I didn't mind the "slow burn" and found it lovely to listen to. I rather liked that Patroclus was a potential suitor of Helen and was part of the oath sworn to go to her aide. I appreciated the intensity of Thetis and found Chiron to be interesting. I had hoped for the part where Thetis dips him in the river Styx, but there is no such part or even any allusion to it or the (in)famous heel in this book.
I was very confused and put off by the (view spoiler)[ sex scene between Patroclus and Deidamia (hide spoiler)]. I could understand Deidamia's motive, but not Patroclus'; if he was curious I wished that Miller had stated or alluded to that...maybe I missed something but it is because of that (and some bullshit about Briseis being a better swimmer than Achilles) that the book is three rather than four stars. The scene where Odysseus tells a story about Cleopatra that is a parallel to their situation and Patroclus says that his name is Cleopatra's with the syllables in a different order is fantastic.
Due to the Orange Award it inspired me to read some of Daphne du Maurier's stories and to read a graphic novelization of The Illiad, both of which I enjoyed....more
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