The Penelopiad : The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus (Myths series)
16 journalers for this copy...
Here's the order of the (first Myth) bookring:
merimag
StoryChaser
MonkeCatcher
Raindrop162004
Wistroll
Idpaulson
caligula03
xallroyx
librarymousie
LisaGriffith
legbamel
KarinAlyssa
Ibis3
Breeze144
colebear book is here 01/26/08
Erishkigal
terra57
tehuti
bookmaniac70
I enjoyed the book - it's a quick read - and a fun interpretation of The Odyssey. Off it goes this week to merimag and the beginning of a long ring!
Basic rules: journal the book when you receive it, journal again when you finish it (add your thoughts & comments and stars if you like), and mention the date you are sending it out. Please pass it along within 4 weeks. If you can't, e-mail the next person on the list and myself to let us know why & when you will be able to send it out. If you read the book before you get it in the ring, please let the person ahead of you know (and tell me too) so that we can delete you from the list.
In my ideal world, if someone in this list has a copy of Jeanette Winterson's and/or Karen Armstrong's book, they will offer it as a ring to everyone else in this ring, thereby completing the Myths ring. *grins and crosses fingers*
merimag
StoryChaser
MonkeCatcher
Raindrop162004
Wistroll
Idpaulson
caligula03
xallroyx
librarymousie
LisaGriffith
legbamel
KarinAlyssa
Ibis3
Breeze144
colebear book is here 01/26/08
Erishkigal
terra57
tehuti
bookmaniac70
I enjoyed the book - it's a quick read - and a fun interpretation of The Odyssey. Off it goes this week to merimag and the beginning of a long ring!
Basic rules: journal the book when you receive it, journal again when you finish it (add your thoughts & comments and stars if you like), and mention the date you are sending it out. Please pass it along within 4 weeks. If you can't, e-mail the next person on the list and myself to let us know why & when you will be able to send it out. If you read the book before you get it in the ring, please let the person ahead of you know (and tell me too) so that we can delete you from the list.
In my ideal world, if someone in this list has a copy of Jeanette Winterson's and/or Karen Armstrong's book, they will offer it as a ring to everyone else in this ring, thereby completing the Myths ring. *grins and crosses fingers*
I sent the book to merimag on December 20th. Enjoy!
The Penelopiad has arrived and I am looking forward to it. I am halfway through Weight and will get that in the post to ajsmom in the next few days.
I really enjoyed this retelling of the myth. It is interesting to look at the story imagined from Penelope's perspective. She is not pleased at how she has become the icon for the obedient wife. Like Weight by Winterson it is irreverent and wonderfully comic.
This book was sent to StoryChaser today (3/1/06).
This book was sent to StoryChaser today (3/1/06).
Journal Entry 5 by StoryChaser from Waterlooville, Hampshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Received today from merimag, thanks (and for the choccy). Love Margaret Atwood, can't wait to start this tomorrow.
Journal Entry 6 by StoryChaser from Waterlooville, Hampshire United Kingdom on Sunday, January 8, 2006
Journal Entry 7 by MonkeCatcher from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Sunday, January 15, 2006
Recieved in the post today. I'll put aside the book that I just started to read this straight away, as the other is large and I want to get this moving on as quickly as possible :)
Thanks for starting the ring, ajsmom :D
Thanks for starting the ring, ajsmom :D
Journal Entry 8 by MonkeCatcher from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Monday, January 16, 2006
I finished reading it tonight - what an absolutely fabulous book! Thank you so much for starting this ring, ajsmom - I have looked every book that I have read of Atwood's, and this is no exception. So compelling and interesting. I think that I will go out and buy a copy for myself now :)
I have PMed Raindrop, and will post as soon as I get her address, which will hopefully be tomorrow :)
I have PMed Raindrop, and will post as soon as I get her address, which will hopefully be tomorrow :)
Journal Entry 9 by MonkeCatcher from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Monday, January 16, 2006
I sent the book to RainDrop this afternoon - Happy reading.. it's a great book :D
Thanks!
Will read shortly and pass on to the next member. :)
Will read shortly and pass on to the next member. :)
I loved how it oozed feminism!
Penelope's point of veiw is very interesting to read and observe. I was sad for the 12 maidens. They were only trying to help. Poor things.
Overall, a wonderful read. I look forward to reading the continuing books of Ms. Atwood.
Thanks for starting this ring, I enjoyed participating!
Just recieved Wistroll's addy, will be sending it off shortly!
Journal Entry 13 by bookchick88 at Post Office swap shelf, 56 Whiting St. in Plainville, Connecticut USA on Sunday, February 5, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (2/6/2006 UTC) at Post Office swap shelf, 56 Whiting St. in Plainville, Connecticut USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
sending off to the next participant!
Enjoy!
:D
sending off to the next participant!
Enjoy!
:D
Arrived safely today with another bookring book. Neither one is very big, will get to this soon, shouldn`t have it too long!
Thanks for including me, Atwood intrigues me and I`m looking forward to this!
Thanks for including me, Atwood intrigues me and I`m looking forward to this!
I really enjoyed this. I probably would never have read this book if it weren`t for bookcrossing.
I`m curious to look up more info now as I have no knowledge of any of the Myths being spoken in this series other than just hearing of them.
I like how Atwood writes and the way she took this myth from the female perspective and gave these characters a voice.
Looking forward to others in the series. I have Weight by Jeanette Winterson also and after I`m through reading that one, I will send them both along together to the next person on the list. Awaiting a response...
Thanks so much for including me in this ring!
I`m curious to look up more info now as I have no knowledge of any of the Myths being spoken in this series other than just hearing of them.
I like how Atwood writes and the way she took this myth from the female perspective and gave these characters a voice.
Looking forward to others in the series. I have Weight by Jeanette Winterson also and after I`m through reading that one, I will send them both along together to the next person on the list. Awaiting a response...
Thanks so much for including me in this ring!
Off with Weight by Winterson to ldpaulson today.
This arrived with WEIGHT. There are, however, other books in line ahead of both books. I'll start reading as soon as possible.
As much as I looked forward to this series, reading this reinterpretation of the Penelope myth was a slog. It just moved leadenly along and did not resonate at all with me. Much of the structure seemed contrived and some modern words and phrasings were jarring. Yet another example in the ongoing "Do I really like Margaret Atwood?" running arguement.
Book is here as is Weight. I really wish Weight hadn't been included. Unexpected book ring books makes scheduling difficult.
The Penelopiad suffers from the problem as Cat's Eye. Atwood seems to believe that "strong" female protagonists prove their strength by bitching about how hard their lives have been. Unfortunately this approach takes an interesting and tragic character and turns her into the one dimensional shadow that the Greeks belived people became in the afterlife! Atwood may have written many well received books but she should stick to her strengths, namely distopic near future science fiction. When it comes to epics, she is no Homer. For a much better modern interpretation of Penelope, watch the Coen Brother's film O Brother Where Art Thou.
Released 17 yrs ago (7/2/2006 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Mailing to xallroyx.
Mailing to xallroyx.
got in the mail today! Looks like a fast read so I should have it on its way quite soon!
I have been into Greek Mythology for most of my life and this reinterpretation of Penelope's story was a great read! I liked the idea of using the twelve maids as the chorus. Everytime Helen is mentioned I think about how her beauty is all she has. Very fast read!!
I have librarmousie's addy and will be getting off!
I have librarmousie's addy and will be getting off!
mailed today to librarymousie!!
Arrived today. I've got a couple of bookrings ahead, but I may bump this up since I'm currently reading Weight.
Thanks so much for including me in this ring--I'm really looking forward to reading this!!
Thanks so much for including me in this ring--I'm really looking forward to reading this!!
Wow! What a great retelling. I enjoyed the perspective--but I tend to enjoy Atwood anyway. What I really liked, even more than the notes of feminism, were the roiling undercurrents of class struggle. Provocative to say the least.
Have e-mailed next in line and hope to have this on its way to Cambridge in the next day or two.
Have e-mailed next in line and hope to have this on its way to Cambridge in the next day or two.
Book arrived last Friday.
The myth series books are really great! I recently read The Red Queen and the point of view was very similar to Atwood's in The Penelopiad. First person writing from the distant past writing about their life from the dead to modern readers. Interesting.
Anyway, thanks for sharing, ajsmom! And apologies for the delay. The book is on its way to legbamel (along with Weight)...mailed today.
Anyway, thanks for sharing, ajsmom! And apologies for the delay. The book is on its way to legbamel (along with Weight)...mailed today.
Ack - I'm so sorry! I thought I'd journalled this (and its companion, Weight) when they arrived 10 days ago but when I came to journal my thoughts and get the next participant's name I discovered that I had not. So my apologies, and I'll get this out in the mail straightaway.
At any rate, I agree that this was a very fast and fun read. I enjoyed the new perspective and the Chorus sections. Atwood is always good for a breath of fresh air on any topic, especially where women have been treated cavalierly as is very much the case in The Odyssey. Thanks for including me in the ring, and I'll PM for an address today.
At any rate, I agree that this was a very fast and fun read. I enjoyed the new perspective and the Chorus sections. Atwood is always good for a breath of fresh air on any topic, especially where women have been treated cavalierly as is very much the case in The Odyssey. Thanks for including me in the ring, and I'll PM for an address today.
Journal Entry 30 by legbamel at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Monday, January 8, 2007
Released 17 yrs ago (1/8/2007 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Off with weight to the next reader. Enjoy!
Off with weight to the next reader. Enjoy!
received ! I have another ring that I am currently reading, so it might take the whole month to read both books!
Thanks Ajsmom for sharing and to Lebgamel for sending on!
UPDATE
I forgot to review this amazing book ! I always enjoyed mythology and I was pleased to read Margaret Atwood's take on Penelope's story. I love how she wrote it although the chorus of the 12 maidens were superfluous at times.
Thanks AJsmom for sharing and sorry again for taking so long to get it to move.
Thanks Ajsmom for sharing and to Lebgamel for sending on!
UPDATE
I forgot to review this amazing book ! I always enjoyed mythology and I was pleased to read Margaret Atwood's take on Penelope's story. I love how she wrote it although the chorus of the 12 maidens were superfluous at times.
Thanks AJsmom for sharing and sorry again for taking so long to get it to move.
KarinAlyssa met with me today and handed over both of the Myths books. I see she hasn't reviewed them, but she did tell me they were good. I have a couple of other bookrings ahead of these, but I'll get to them soon.
Apologies for stalling these books for so long! I received so many rings at once that I found it difficult to keep up with journalling and posting them (reading them was no problem though, so I have to look these over now to try and recall my original impressions).
I'll have to say that I was a little worried about reading this book. The Odyssey is one of my favourite books, and I was concerned that what I expected to be Atwood's 'feminist revisionism' would ruin things. I'd already known that the maids were the chorus for this modern look at the ancient myth, and I thought that Penelope would be changed into an oppressed and vindictive bitch, the maids would be innocent victims of a brutal male dictator in Odysseus. I was happy to find my fears unrealised. I ended up liking Penelope, mourning the maids (while at the same time disapproving of *their* post mortes vindictiveness), and Odysseus was a bit of a dolt, but nowhere near cruel. I hated Helen though, with all her arrogance and schadenfreude, an interesting take on her character but not one I share.
As with The Life of Pi, the reader is left to determine for herself what actually happened (is this a Canadian sort of theme I wonder?).
The play opened this week in Stratford-upon-Avon and will be playing here in Ottawa in the fall. I hope to check it out.
I'll be sending this book out on Tuesday.
Note to Myth Series readers: I knew that ajsmom wanted to have a kind of spiral or package with all the MS books, so I bought Alexander McCall Smith's contribution to the series, Dream Angus. With the help of ajsmom, I've made up a list of people who want to read all three books:
Breeze144
Lauraloo29
Erishkigal
bookmaniac70
ajsmom
merimag
Wistroll
librarymousie
If your name is not here, and you do want the book, just let me know and I'll add you in.
I'll have to say that I was a little worried about reading this book. The Odyssey is one of my favourite books, and I was concerned that what I expected to be Atwood's 'feminist revisionism' would ruin things. I'd already known that the maids were the chorus for this modern look at the ancient myth, and I thought that Penelope would be changed into an oppressed and vindictive bitch, the maids would be innocent victims of a brutal male dictator in Odysseus. I was happy to find my fears unrealised. I ended up liking Penelope, mourning the maids (while at the same time disapproving of *their* post mortes vindictiveness), and Odysseus was a bit of a dolt, but nowhere near cruel. I hated Helen though, with all her arrogance and schadenfreude, an interesting take on her character but not one I share.
As with The Life of Pi, the reader is left to determine for herself what actually happened (is this a Canadian sort of theme I wonder?).
The play opened this week in Stratford-upon-Avon and will be playing here in Ottawa in the fall. I hope to check it out.
I'll be sending this book out on Tuesday.
Note to Myth Series readers: I knew that ajsmom wanted to have a kind of spiral or package with all the MS books, so I bought Alexander McCall Smith's contribution to the series, Dream Angus. With the help of ajsmom, I've made up a list of people who want to read all three books:
Breeze144
Lauraloo29
Erishkigal
bookmaniac70
ajsmom
merimag
Wistroll
librarymousie
If your name is not here, and you do want the book, just let me know and I'll add you in.
Sent to Breeze144 today.
Arrived here today! Thanks...can''t wait to get into this one!
Great book! I love Atwood, so I started with her's out of the 3 myth books. I loved the humour and irony in Penelope and I learned about Greek myths!
Reserving until I read the other 2 to send to colebear.
Dec. 20 - sent this off quite a while ago, but forgot to journal here....should be arriving with colebear anytime now!
Reserving until I read the other 2 to send to colebear.
Dec. 20 - sent this off quite a while ago, but forgot to journal here....should be arriving with colebear anytime now!
I picked this little gem up at the post office a week ago and started it today... well, actually I devoured it in a matter of hours.
I was upset by the treatment of the maids throughout this book, not just by Odysseus when he returned, but by Penelope raising them as daughters and then sending them to the wolves as it were, to do her bidding even though they suffered terribly for it. This book did not improve Penelope's reputation to me, she was still somewhat wilting. I felt for her that she was living among strangers, but to have not made any trustworthy friends in 20 years, other than the maids she raised herself, is a stretch for me. Though it is telling that she had no one to turn to since she protected her 12 maids so poorly.
Thank you for including me in this ring, and I should be able to keep it moving as soon as I complete the other books that are traveling with it.
I was upset by the treatment of the maids throughout this book, not just by Odysseus when he returned, but by Penelope raising them as daughters and then sending them to the wolves as it were, to do her bidding even though they suffered terribly for it. This book did not improve Penelope's reputation to me, she was still somewhat wilting. I felt for her that she was living among strangers, but to have not made any trustworthy friends in 20 years, other than the maids she raised herself, is a stretch for me. Though it is telling that she had no one to turn to since she protected her 12 maids so poorly.
Thank you for including me in this ring, and I should be able to keep it moving as soon as I complete the other books that are traveling with it.