I said in one of my previous posts that I wanted to talk more about my current reads. So, I decided to start writing short posts such as this one in which I’m going to tell you a little bit about the book I’m reading, share some of my thoughts on it, and maybe share an interesting quote. Hope you’ll like them!
The book I’m currently reading is The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. It’s a well-known book, I think, so most of you probably know what it’s about.
In this novella (I’d say it’s a novella since it’s only 198 pages long), Atwood allows Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, to tell her own story. Penelope talks about the events from The Illiad and The Oddysey from her own point of view. She shares her thoughts and feelings in a manner which seems very sincere. This Penelope is not just a loyal wife who waits her her husband – she actually hates that this is how she is remembered. The prose is raw, clever, and ruthless.
The very first paragraph really caught my attention, and I think it really shows what this book is about. So, I’ll leave you with this paragraph, and hopefully it will make you want to read the book. 🙂
Now that I’m dead I know everything. This is what I wished would happen, but like so many of my wishes it failed to come true. I know only a few factoids that I didn’t know before. Death is much too high a price to pay for the satisfaction of curiosity, needless to say.
I like Atwood and the book sounds interesting! Thanks for sharing. 😀
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It really is interesting! This is only my second book by Atwood but I will definitely read more. 😊
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Wow, I actually didn’t know this book before! I think I’m going to read it after A Handmaid’s Tale. Thanks for the rec ❤
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I finished it last night, it’s a very clever book! I had some minor issues with it (I didn’t like how Helen of Troy was portrayed), but overall I really liked it and would definitely recommend it! 😀
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I couldn’t get into The Handmaid’s Tale but having enjoyed The Iliad and to a lesser extent The Odyssey, this one sounds more promising.
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I liked The Handmaid’s Tale, but I’m watching the tv series now and I think it works better. (Blasphemy! 😂) This one is a very interesting take on Penelope’s life, and I enjoyed it very much, though I had some problems with it in the end. My main issue was the way Helen of Troy was portrayed. She was very one-dimensional. This is Penelope’s point of view, though, so maybe that’s just the way she sees her, but it annoyed me a little bit. But I would still recommend this book!
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Beautiful picture! I’ve never read anything Atwood and can’t decide which of her books to start with… this one sounds so interesting though!
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I’ve only read two books by Atwood, so I’m not sure if this one is a good place to start, but I really liked it. 😀
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