The Penelopiad
10 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Purple-lilly from Heathfield, South Australia Australia on Tuesday, December 20, 2005
In a contemporary take on the story of Penelope, Odysseus'wife, Atwood retells the story making the characters appear "real" and gives the reader an understanding of the motives and desires of the players. It is a thought provoking and fascinating retelling of the old story, giving new insights into the role of women and slaves in ancient Greece. Very easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable.
Soon to be my first bookray!
Well I think everything is okay to begin, so here goes. Please try and keep the book moving at a reasonable pace and remember to PM the next person on the list as you come near to the end.
jubby- Sydney- mail anywhere
sally906-NT- mail anywhere
squirrel1818-Penn.- mail within USA
indygo88-USA- mail anywhere
kizmiaz-Portugal-mail in Europe Its here!
quico-Portugal- mail anywhere
CatharinaL-Finland- mail within Europe
molekilby-UK
if there are any problems please PM me.
Soon to be my first bookray!
Well I think everything is okay to begin, so here goes. Please try and keep the book moving at a reasonable pace and remember to PM the next person on the list as you come near to the end.
jubby- Sydney- mail anywhere
sally906-NT- mail anywhere
squirrel1818-Penn.- mail within USA
indygo88-USA- mail anywhere
kizmiaz-Portugal-mail in Europe Its here!
quico-Portugal- mail anywhere
CatharinaL-Finland- mail within Europe
molekilby-UK
if there are any problems please PM me.
Journal Entry 2 by Purple-lilly at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (1/9/2006 UTC) at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to jubby as the first participant in my very first book ray!!!!
Sent to jubby as the first participant in my very first book ray!!!!
Just back from a lovely holiday, and look what I have found on the doorstep!
Thank you very much Purple-Lily! I am looking forward to jumping into this one.
Thank you very much Purple-Lily! I am looking forward to jumping into this one.
Oh my goodness!
I love the writings of Margaret Atwood, but this was incredible. The story of Odysseus told from the point of view of his faithful wife Penelope.
To be honest, I never read the original, and only have a vague idea of the plot, but even on it's own, this is a fabulous piece of modern writing.
I liked the maids' interludes as the tragic Greek chorus.
And like we all know, ladies rarely get the justice due to them in this age or the last - poor maids.
Thank you so much for sharing this book with me Purple-lilly. I enjoyed it so much, that I dashed out and got Jeanette Winterson's 'Weight', which is also in the series (another great little read).
I love the writings of Margaret Atwood, but this was incredible. The story of Odysseus told from the point of view of his faithful wife Penelope.
To be honest, I never read the original, and only have a vague idea of the plot, but even on it's own, this is a fabulous piece of modern writing.
I liked the maids' interludes as the tragic Greek chorus.
And like we all know, ladies rarely get the justice due to them in this age or the last - poor maids.
Thank you so much for sharing this book with me Purple-lilly. I enjoyed it so much, that I dashed out and got Jeanette Winterson's 'Weight', which is also in the series (another great little read).
Journal Entry 5 by jubby at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, January 30, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (1/30/2006 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Posted to Sally906 in Darwin.
Posted to Sally906 in Darwin.
What a surprise - was in the mail today - I have two books ahead of it - but should have this out in the next couple of weeks :)
Have just started reading this - will be finished by next week
Most people have heard of, and even read, The Odyssey, or the adventures of Odysseus as he spent many years returning home to his faithful wife Penelope after the Trojan war, where he kills the freeloading suitors, and 12 handmaidens. This quick book looks at the story from Penelope's point of view and explores why the handmaidens were killed. Is humorous, and gives a refreshing feminine look at the male version of the Greek myths.
Will be mailed off to the US tomorrow
Will be mailed off to the US tomorrow
Journal Entry 9 by sally906 at postal release in Secret Santa Exchange, Secret Santa Exchange -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, March 5, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (3/5/2006 UTC) at postal release in Secret Santa Exchange, Secret Santa Exchange -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed off to the USA Today
Mailed off to the USA Today
oops - is not, of course, the secret Santa release - selected wrong button :)
Received in the mail today. I will read it asap and pass it on.
Journal Entry 12 by squirrel818 at Controlled Release in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Indiana USA on Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (4/11/2006 UTC) at Controlled Release in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Indiana USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Received today! I've got a couple ahead of it, but it looks like a fast read, so once I get to it, hopefully I won't have it too long!
Wow, what a fast read! Kind of refreshing, actually. I would say I am not the most knowledgable when it comes to the stories of mythology (or perhaps rather, I've forgotten a lot of what I learned in school), so while reading this it made me curious and want to read more about the Greek gods and goddesses. I didn't find this book especially deep, but I don't think I was supposed to. This was my first book by Atwood, so I don't know how it compares to her others. Overall enjoyable, however. Thanks for sharing, Purple-lilly!
I'm waiting to hear from the next person on the list for a mailing address. I'll journal again when the book is on its way.
I'm waiting to hear from the next person on the list for a mailing address. I'll journal again when the book is on its way.
Sending out to kizmiaz tomorrow, likely via surface mail. Happy (& safe!) traveling!
That was fast. Got it today, thanks indygo88. Still have one to finish before this one but it won't take long.
This is a very well written book and a wonderfully structured narrative. Penelope and the maidens tell a story that differs from the classic Odyssey, and this time Odysseus is portrayed not so much as a super hero but just a man trying to get by on his wits and some cheating also. Maybe the author could have gone further in the maids’ tale to achieve that full circle feeling, but this way works nice too.
I'll be sending it on soon.
Just arrived! Thanks, Kizmiaz and Purple-lily!
I must confess a weakness for retellings of traditional stories and myths and this one was a pleasure to read! I've always thought that the old Penelope was too good to be true. Atwood's Penelope is a good match for Odysseus and reviving the maidens as chorus girls was a great idea. The book is now ready to go to CatharinaL.
Here it goes to CatharinaL in Finland. Enjoy!
Journal Entry 21 by CatharinaL from Pirkkala, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Thursday, July 13, 2006
The book just arrived in the mail--thanks so much for sending, quico! I'll get to reading this asap.
Journal Entry 22 by CatharinaL from Pirkkala, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Tuesday, July 18, 2006
I really enjoyed reading this book, but, as with anything I've read by Atwood, it left me speechless and unable to comment. Maybe because it was such a complete work on its own; there's no room for anything to add. I liked the story (always been interested in the Greek myths and legends) and especially the writing style and the method. This was intentionally a very easy read, a 'nice' read, and all the little details and the underlying message only start to form after reading the actual book and thinking about the reading experience.
I'll contact the next reader now and send the book on asap. Purple-lilly: thanks again for the ring; quico: thanks for the amazing bookmark from Coimbra!
[08/07/06] Sending the book on to molekilby today!
I'll contact the next reader now and send the book on asap. Purple-lilly: thanks again for the ring; quico: thanks for the amazing bookmark from Coimbra!
[08/07/06] Sending the book on to molekilby today!
Received today. Thanks CatharinaL for sending and Purple-lily for sharing. I signed up for this bookray because I had read Clive Cussler's 'Trojan Odyssey' and felt it may give a different perspective on the story. Will read soon.
This was a very quick read as I completed today. A good book and plenty of humour in there between the narrative. It's great to see a story from a different perspective.
I have a number of Atwood's books on my bookshelf (this is the first I've read), and I look forward to getting through them in due course.
This bookray has now been completed (well done folks) and Purple-lily (thanks for sharing) has said that it's up to me what to do next with it. I see there's a number of people with this book on their Wish List and I will select one next month to send it to in order to help me complete my 2006 personal challenge of a RABCK a month (see my bookshelf for details).
I have a number of Atwood's books on my bookshelf (this is the first I've read), and I look forward to getting through them in due course.
This bookray has now been completed (well done folks) and Purple-lily (thanks for sharing) has said that it's up to me what to do next with it. I see there's a number of people with this book on their Wish List and I will select one next month to send it to in order to help me complete my 2006 personal challenge of a RABCK a month (see my bookshelf for details).
Thank you so much for the RABCK! I have wanted to read this for a while so I was very excited to receive your offer. I can't believe how many countries this book has visited. I will try to move it on to a new country when I'm done.
