The Silence of the Girls
13 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by 
greenbadger
from St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 13, 2019
greenbadger from St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 13, 2019
This is just brilliant. The story of the Trojan war is reimagined from the viewpoint of Queen Briseis, taken as a spoil of war by Achilles who has killed her family, and then later a pawn in the power-play between Achilles and Agamemnon. The women in the camp are powerless, slaves, having no voice, putting up with rape and degradation to stay alive. This is wonderfully well-portrayed, the tensions between the soldiers, the growing filth in the camp, the difficulties of having a goddess as a mother... and most of all, the suffering and endurance of the women who have been written out of history.
Journal Entry 2 by greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 13, 2019
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 13, 2019
This will be travelling in the Favourite Book of 2019 Roundabout.
Here's the posting order:
estelle1806 Ireland
Fifna Netherlands
dutch-book Netherlands
Lamilla Belarus
Icila France
Billbooks Australia
Math-Girl40 Canada
Mcsar Canada
original-slicey USA
Valpete USA
Dark-Draco UK
Earthcaroleanne UK
Cross-Patch UK
Here's the posting order:
estelle1806 Ireland
Fifna Netherlands
dutch-book Netherlands
Lamilla Belarus
Icila France
Billbooks Australia
Math-Girl40 Canada
Mcsar Canada
original-slicey USA
Valpete USA
Dark-Draco UK
Earthcaroleanne UK
Cross-Patch UK
Journal Entry 3 by greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, December 14, 2019
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, December 14, 2019
Released 1 yr ago (12/14/2019 UTC) at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to estelle1806 who is next in the roundabout.
The roundabout is starting... NOW!!
Thanks for the book and postcard, greenbadger :-D
Thanks for the book and postcard, greenbadger :-D
A good read, with loads of gruesome descriptions... Didn't totally fall for the characters, but I enjoyed that book.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Travelling to Fifna.
Please let us know when you release it again...
Please let us know when you release it again...
Arrived safely, thanks estelle1806!
I love Greek mythology and this retelling of the story of the Trojan War is wonderful. Gruesome too - not for the fainthearted, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing - I hadn't heard of this book and this is exactly what the roundabout is about!
Journal Entry 9 by 
Fifna
at Heerenveen, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Wednesday, February 05, 2020
Fifna at Heerenveen, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Wednesday, February 05, 2020
Released 1 yr ago (2/6/2020 UTC) at Heerenveen, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Travelling to dutch-book.
Journal Entry 10 by 
dutch-book
at Heerenveen, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Monday, February 24, 2020
dutch-book at Heerenveen, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Monday, February 24, 2020
Received on the 7th of february.
Journal Entry 11 by dutch-book at Heerenveen, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Monday, March 09, 2020
dutch-book at Heerenveen, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Monday, March 09, 2020
Fitting theme yesterday reading this with International Women's Day. Interesting story. Great to read from the viewpoint of women. So much blood loss in history, so much cruelty.
Journal Entry 12 by dutch-book at Heerenveen, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Thursday, March 26, 2020
dutch-book at Heerenveen, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Thursday, March 26, 2020
Released 1 yr ago (3/25/2020 UTC) at Heerenveen, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Travelling to Lamilla.
received today along with the other book
ETA: After I got through the first 50 or so pages it became quite engaging. I read it mostly during Dewey's 24 hour read-a-thon, too, so got a lot of cheers and comments for it. 3.5 stars
ETA: After I got through the first 50 or so pages it became quite engaging. I read it mostly during Dewey's 24 hour read-a-thon, too, so got a lot of cheers and comments for it. 3.5 stars
You've found a travelling book. Hurray!
The book's journey continues by its finder's cooperation and creativity. By making a journal entry on this book, you can add to the book's story as it travels from reader to reader around the world.
Enjoy your reading!
Привет!
Спасибо, что нашли время зайти на сайт и сделать запись в журнале! Напишите, когда и где вы нашли книгу.
Перед тем, как попасть к Вам, она побывала в других уголках света. История ее путешествий записана на сайте, и теперь к ней добавился еще один пункт. Я очень рада, что она нашла нового читателя в Вашем лице.
The book's journey continues by its finder's cooperation and creativity. By making a journal entry on this book, you can add to the book's story as it travels from reader to reader around the world.
Enjoy your reading!
Привет!
Спасибо, что нашли время зайти на сайт и сделать запись в журнале! Напишите, когда и где вы нашли книгу.
Перед тем, как попасть к Вам, она побывала в других уголках света. История ее путешествий записана на сайте, и теперь к ней добавился еще один пункт. Я очень рада, что она нашла нового читателя в Вашем лице.
The book is here, thank you Lamilla.
I'm not very fond of Mythology but who knows ?
I'm not very fond of Mythology but who knows ?
Thank you for choosing this book, I never would have read it otherwise.
In the mail to Canada. Enjoy !
This book is here with me in Canada now. Looking forward to it!
I loved this retelling of the Trojan War story from the points-of-view of Briseis and the other Trojan women. Some parts of the story are gruesome, but Pat Barker's writing is beautiful. I've had a copy of The Iliad sitting on my shelves for a long time and I'm now inspired to finally read it.
Thanks, greenbadger, for offering this book. This is another one of those books that would have remained unknown to me had I not signed up for the roundabout.
Thanks, greenbadger, for offering this book. This is another one of those books that would have remained unknown to me had I not signed up for the roundabout.
This book is on its way to mcsar now.
The book is here. Thanks for sending. This looks very interesting. I will start this very soon.
I enjoyed this one very much. It kept me engaged throughout the book.
To the next reader.
It has arrived. It's next up on my reading list.
On to the next reader in the Round-About. I think I'm in the minority. I found it too brutal and didn't want to believe the total disregard for life.
Journal Entry 26 by 
dark-draco
at Ledbury, Herefordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, November 21, 2020
dark-draco at Ledbury, Herefordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, November 21, 2020
Received... thank you 😀
Journal Entry 27 by dark-draco at Ledbury, Herefordshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 07, 2020
dark-draco at Ledbury, Herefordshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 07, 2020
WOW!
I read Barker's Regeneration Trilogy when I was younger - I liked it, but I think a lot of it probably went over my head. It had never really occurred to me to me to see what else she had written - but this was exactly my cup of tea.
There is a level of brutality and acceptance in the novel that a modern person might find hard to understand, but the utter hopelessness of the women's lives is what comes through. I found myself urging Briseis and the others to just run away from the Trojan camp, but you soon realised that option just didn't exist - there was nowhere for them to run too. For better, for worse, this was their life.
Barker does a great job at dealing with the rape scenes - so many times I've read this sort of book and you're not sure whether the author wants you to be revolted or titillated! But here there is none of that - the sex is almost just brushed over. It happens and the women get on with it, somehow finding a way to accept and survive.
The level of supernatural was just right too - the visiting ghosts, the goddess mother, the god-wrought plague - all of it is just seen as another aspect in the short, brutal lives of these early civilisations. It was spot on.
A fantastic read - one that is wasn't on this year's roundabout I would definitely be choosing for next year, as I think it's the best thing I've read in 2020.
I read Barker's Regeneration Trilogy when I was younger - I liked it, but I think a lot of it probably went over my head. It had never really occurred to me to me to see what else she had written - but this was exactly my cup of tea.
There is a level of brutality and acceptance in the novel that a modern person might find hard to understand, but the utter hopelessness of the women's lives is what comes through. I found myself urging Briseis and the others to just run away from the Trojan camp, but you soon realised that option just didn't exist - there was nowhere for them to run too. For better, for worse, this was their life.
Barker does a great job at dealing with the rape scenes - so many times I've read this sort of book and you're not sure whether the author wants you to be revolted or titillated! But here there is none of that - the sex is almost just brushed over. It happens and the women get on with it, somehow finding a way to accept and survive.
The level of supernatural was just right too - the visiting ghosts, the goddess mother, the god-wrought plague - all of it is just seen as another aspect in the short, brutal lives of these early civilisations. It was spot on.
A fantastic read - one that is wasn't on this year's roundabout I would definitely be choosing for next year, as I think it's the best thing I've read in 2020.
Journal Entry 28 by dark-draco at Book Roundabout , -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Monday, December 14, 2020
dark-draco at Book Roundabout , -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Monday, December 14, 2020
Released 4 mos ago (12/14/2020 UTC) at Book Roundabout , -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to the next reader in the roundabout.
Journal Entry 29 by earthcaroleanne at Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, December 23, 2020
earthcaroleanne at Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Arrived today!
Journal Entry 30 by earthcaroleanne at Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, January 28, 2021
earthcaroleanne at Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, January 28, 2021
So this is another book I never would have read if it hadn’t been in the roundabout. I was intrigued by this story but not enough to be desperate to pick it up at every opportunity. However I found it really interesting. Some parts of the story are gruesome enough for a modern person to be horrified but we need to live in the period our book is set.
Journal Entry 31 by earthcaroleanne at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, January 29, 2021
earthcaroleanne at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, January 29, 2021
Released 2 mos ago (1/29/2021 UTC) at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending on in the roundabout.
Journal Entry 32 by 
Cross-patch
at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, February 05, 2021
Cross-patch at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, February 05, 2021
Arrived along with Fifna’s. I’ll get to it as soon as I can. A brilliant choice might I add.
Journal Entry 33 by Cross-patch at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Cross-patch at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Best of the best of 2019 for me. ‘Nuff said. Thank you greenbadger for sending it round
Journal Entry 34 by Cross-patch at Book Roundabout , -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Cross-patch at Book Roundabout , -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Released 1 mo ago (2/25/2021 UTC) at Book Roundabout , -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Going home. Deserves all the praise it gets.
Journal Entry 35 by greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, February 27, 2021
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, February 27, 2021
Back with me. Thank you for all the reviews.
Journal Entry 36 by greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Thursday, March 04, 2021
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Thursday, March 04, 2021
Released 1 mo ago (3/4/2021 UTC) at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Travelling next to Sparkish who has it on her wishlist.
Thank you very much for sending greenbadger, much appreciated! Will get to it as soon as I can, but it might be a little while. Lots of interesting opinions, it’s great to receive such a well travelled book 😊
