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51/100 I know it's an old saying, but honestly, I could listen to Stephen Fry read a phone book, if they still existed. His narration really brings the story of Odessus to life, it's often quite funny when it's not being tragic, as Odessus has one misadventure after another, both helped and hindered by the various gods of Olympus. I know this is the last book of his Greek Mythology series, but I love to see him tackle Norse mythology. 5 🌟 read

Oh Boy! Oh Boy! Oh Boy! I did not know that Stephen Fry had a 4th book in the Greek Mythology series. I need to finish my current audiobook so I can get to this. I know it's going to be another winner. #SeriesLove2025

#UkKindleDailyDeal

4.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

Stephen Fry once again delivered a brilliant book about the e Greek myths. An amazing addition to his series.

#myths #greek

This retell of Homer‘s The Odyssey is a mix of poetry and prose. It‘s not quite a Halloween read, but the story is told by Penelope and the 12 maids after they are dead. They are angry at what happened to them, and they will have their say:

”we are the maids
the ones you killed
the ones you failed
we danced in air
our barre feet twitched
it was not fair …”

Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you can't go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.

I really love Margaret Atwood books. It was a very short story about Penelopeia, wife of Odesseus. She tells her side of the of well known story. It could have been a very long book about Greek women's life and status and all of the history but it was good as it was.

Ps. This book was very very expensive, however it is very short. I don't know what is going on in other countries but here books getting incredible pricy.

Finally managed to read this after reading Claire North's Ithaca. I liked The Penelopiad slightly better, because Penelope herself tells the story, rather than Hera, and the telling is much more economical. Adding the 12 hanged maids as the Chorus is also a good addition.

This is a fairly short, surprisingly readable look at the social aspects of the world described in Homer‘s epics. Whether that was truly some heroic age, or more reflective of Homer‘s own time is another question altogether. Writing initially in the late 1940s, with revisions in the 1970s, Finley incorporates lessons learned from the Linear B tablets to bolster/adapt his conclusions as appropriate. If you‘re a classics nerd, I recommend this.

In case anyone thinks scholars are dry and humorless…