Greek and Roman Mythology discussion

I have a couple of ideas for books/poetry collections this group could read, but I'd love to hear any suggestions people might have!

Are you thinking retelling of myths, things inspired by mythology or academic books focusing on Greek and Roman mythology. Or perhaps any of these?

Anything, really! Even going back to the basics (Odyssey, Iliad, Antigone, etc.).

I've just joined the group. It seems like it could go in so many directions. If anyone would like to begin at the beginning, so to speak, I'd love to read (reread) the Iliad and hear from people who are new to it. Since I read parts of it almost every day, it doesn't matter to me where others are in their reading. For anyone interested I can recommend a number of translations which range from very accessible to "it's all Greek to me."

For a novel like Song of Achilles, Elizabeth Cook's "Achilles: A Novel" is a wonderful way to get a modern take on that very puzzling young man.

I look forward to hearing from others.

Mara

I would LOVE to read the Iliad!

Mara-- do you (or does anyone else?) have a preference for the next book? Otherwise, the Iliad sounds great to me! Is there an edition we'd prefer, or would any work?

Very glad to find this group. I spent about 18 months reading lots of Greek history and mythology, have slowed down a bit but still very interested, particularly in finding good modern retellings. For the Iliad, the Fagles translation is outstanding, and there is a recent translation by Caroline Alexander that I have not read. If you've already read The Iliad, then Alice Oswald's poem "Memorial" is a stunning poetic recap. I recently read Home Fire (modern Antigone) and thought it was excellent. Will look at library for the history of Odysseus that you're currently on.

Patti wrote: "Very glad to find this group. I spent about 18 months reading lots of Greek history and mythology, have slowed down a bit but still very interested, particularly in finding good modern retellings. ..."

I'd LOVE to read that modern adaptation of Antigone. That's one of my favorite histories (not sure if that's the right word) to read. Thanks for the recommendations! If there are other books you want to read please let me know, because I don't want to be the only one picking books for the group to read.

Happy to read the Iliad again, actually. There's also a short version by Baricca that has been recommended to me. There is a huge list of Iliad retellings on the librarything web site, but few authors that I've ever heard of; the book on Cassandra by Christa Wolf might be worth a try?

see: https://www.librarything.com/list/274... and https://www.librarything.com/list/273...

Patti wrote: "Happy to read the Iliad again, actually. There's also a short version by Baricca that has been recommended to me. There is a huge list of Iliad retellings on the librarything web site, but few auth..."

That looks great! Definitely worth adding to the "to-read" list (both my own and the group's). There's also a new translation of The Odyssey by Emily Wilson that I've been wanting to read!

to keep in our back pocket for future days if we want something a little lighter: https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

Oh, I just read a review of that Emily Wilson translation that you mentioned. Sounds amazing! I'm voting for that now....

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

Emily Wilson’s translation of the Odyssey must be really popular. I’ve been on the library waiting list for several weeks now - unusual in my library for classics, even new translations.

I recently read a retelling of the Trojan war written in segments by seven authors (I’m not sure if there is a special term for collaborative novels). It is called A Song of War. Although it is not as oriented toward the women of Troy as is Emily Hauser’s For the Most Beautiful,” it has exceptional imaginings of the women Chryseis and Briseis, who are somewhat marginal in the Iliad. Christian Cameron’s description of the all important relationship between Patroklos and Achilles is excellent and will likely not offend anyone. Worth reading.

Mara wrote: "Emily Wilson’s translation of the Odyssey must be really popular. I’ve been on the library waiting list for several weeks now - unusual in my library for classics, even new translations.

I recentl..."

Those sound fantastic! What is the title of the Christian Cameron book? I've been trying to add all these suggestions to our "to-read" shelf, so if there are any more you'd recommend I'd love to hear them!

I think I might wait until the Wilson translation comes out in paperback... I almost bought it for myself for a Christmas present! That IS surprising about the library wait list; that's never happened at my library either!

Hi everyone, I just joined the group and am excited to be here as I love Greek mythology and have immersed myself in reading and writing re-telling of myths. I'm also in a group on goodreads where we have been reading/re-reading Homer. We plan to read the Emily Wilson Odyssey in March.

I have a ton of recommendations to make for books on and/or retellings of myths:

Caroline Alexander is the first woman to translate the Iliad The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander.

I recently finished her book, The War That Killed Achilles: The True Story of Homer's Iliad and the Trojan War

An Odyssey: A Father, a Son, and an Epic by Daniel Mendelsohn is part memoir, part critical analysis of the Odyssey. Mendelsohn is a professor of Classics and his father decides to sit in his class while he teaches the Odyssey. It's a great book that walks you through the Odyssey and through the father/son relatioship.

War Music: An Account of Homer's Iliad by Christopher Logue is not so much a re-telling as a re-imagining. Another great book.

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie is a re-telling of Antigone set in London. It was good, but I thought The Watch by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya was stronger. Also based on Antigone, it is set in an isolated American outpost in Afghanistan. It was very powerful.

One of my favorite re-tellings is Ransom by David Malouf. It re-tells the story of Priam going to Achilles to ask for Hektor's body so he can give it a proper burial. It was incredibly moving and sensitive.

And if you're into Medea, I highly recommend Bright Air Black by David Vann. It was brilliant. Thoroughly gruesome but thoroughly brilliant.

I love mythology and re-telling of myths, so I have tons more books to recommend.

I have reviewed all these books and have posted my reviews on goodreads and on my website at www.tamaraaghajaffar.com if you want to check them out.

And since I didn't see anything against promoting one's own books, just as an FYI: I have written two novels on Greek mythology: A Pomegranate and the Maiden which re-tells the story of Demeter and Persephone through the voices of the characters. And Unsung Odysseys which re-tells the story of Odysseus' return from Troy through the voices of the women.

Again, I'm glad to be here and so very excited. Sorry to burst in on the scene like this. Attribute it to my enthusiasm at finding kindred spirits who are interested in Greek and Roman mythology.

Tamara wrote: "Hi everyone, I just joined the group and am excited to be here as I love Greek mythology and have immersed myself in reading and writing re-telling of myths. I'm also in a group on goodreads where ..."

This looks amazing! I'll start working on adding them to our to-read list. Thanks for all the great recommendations!

Thanks, Christina. I'm really excited to be here. I look forward to seeing other recommendations from people on the list.

Thanks, Tamara, these look like excellent recommendations.

I'm fairly new to this group -- do you decide as a group to read one book, or is the point of the group to share recommendations and everyone reads what they like?

Also wondering, has anyone else read Atwood's Penelopiad? I was a bit disappointed with it. The idea of focusing on the injustice done to the slave women was good, but Penelope's voice put me off. Too casual or...lacking in nobility or something. Any other views on that one?

Patti wrote: "I'm fairly new to this group -- do you decide as a group to read one book, or is the point of the group to share recommendations and eve..."

Patti, I'm new to this group, too. I joined last week, so I don't know how the group read is chosen. Christina, the moderator, will probably let us know.

As far as Atwood's Penelopiad is concerned, I enjoyed it. But I felt it would have been stronger if she had shown some evidence of sisterhood among the women. The issue is that since those maidservants were slaves, did they really have a choice but to do what they did? I think greater sympathy could have been shown for them.

I read the novel over a year ago, so my memory is a bit sketchy. But I did post my review on goodreads.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Have you read Lavinia? I also read that a while back. I enjoyed it more and thought it was a better book. It's about Lavinia, the wife of Aeneas. Here's my review in case you're interested.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hi all,

I've recently joined Goodreads and was on the prowl for groups where readers are taking an interest in mythology. I myself am an author and my novel, Breaking The Foals, is set to be published on March 20th 2018 with Unbound; as I don't want to seem like I'm self-promoting, I'll let anyone here decide if they want to have a look, but the novel is based in Wilusa, the historical Troy, with the Homeric Hektor as protagonist - not a retelling of the Trojan War, as this has been done quite a lot.

I'm quite widely read in classical literature and modern research on, specifically, the Trojan War and so would be happy to contribute some ideas for reading. I've had a look through the current ideas and it's great to see books that I've never heard of, so will look those up for myself!

A few other books that might be worth considering are:

The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) by Quintus Smyrnaeus (4th century) - this tells the rest of the Trojan War from right after The Iliad ends to the taking of Troy itself.

Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow (Part 1 in a trilogy) by David Gemmell

House of Names by Colm Toibin

Anyway, I look forward to seeing where this group goes!

Hi everyone! It's so exciting to have all these recommendations. I'm always on the prowl for more good mythology reads, so this is right up my alley.

So far we've had a smaller group on here, so it's just been whatever book someone recommended, but now that we have a larger membership we can start voting on what we want to read. Another thing we can do is just go down the list of recommendations and I can pick a random book someone has recommended per week/2 weeks/month (whatever works best).

Either way, I'd still love to hear whatever recommendations you have. I'm working on adding them to the group's "to-read" shelf so we can keep track of them all!

I finally wrote up my review of Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey.

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Tamara wrote: "I finally wrote up my review of Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey.

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

This was great! I'm looking forward to finally reading her translation (I've ordered the paperback, but it's still not out yet...).

It took longer than I expected, but I finally got it done.

An audiobook version of A Pomegranate and the Maiden is now available.

Based on the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone, the novel retells the story of Kore/Persephone’s abduction and its aftermath. The many characters speak directly to the listener, presenting multiple perspectives of the same event while sprinkling their narratives with stories from Greek mythology. Each perspective is deeply rooted in the character's psychology and gender—a mother grieving for her lost child; a young girl struggling for independence; a patriarchal father trampling on a mother’s rights; a lover resorting to desperate measures to win his beloved.

To hear a sample, go to https://www.amazon.com/A-Pomegranate-...

Gods and the Dust: Greek Mythology as a High Fantasy Epic

I just joined this group, being new to Goodreads. I've been interested in Greek Mythology for a long time and have just published my first novel based on it. It takes a lot of different disconnected myths from the oldest source material and strings them together into one winding plot.

I finished Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis. It's based on the myth of Cupid and Psyche. I gave it 3 stars.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker. It is a retelling of the Iliad mostly in the voice of Briseis, Achilles' concubine. I thought Part 1 was very strong, but Parts 2 and 3 were pretty much a basic retelling of the events in the epic.

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I recently finished Malouf's Ransom, which was recommended on this list. Thanks for the recommendation! interesting, but ultimately a bit disappointing for me. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... .

A recent houseguest left me Toibin's book on Agamemnon, so that's next on my list!

Unsung Odysseys is on sale from March 10-16.

Unsung Odysseys retells the story of Homer’s Odyssey through the voices of women caught up in Odysseus’ ten-year journey home from Troy.
Each female speaks directly to the reader in her own voice, describing her encounter with and feelings toward Odysseus. You hear the voice of the distraught mother; the patient wife; the loyal nurse; the love-struck princess; the benevolent witch; the possessive nymph; and the guide and mentor, the goddess Athena. Each character picks up the thread where the previous character left off, interacting on a human level.
The characters are easily relatable and have a story to tell. Although their stories are mythological, their perspectives and reactions to events are timeless and relevant.
This work will appeal to those interested in hearing women's voices in mythology and in the re-telling of ancient myths.

https://www.amazon.com/Unsung-Odyssey...

I finished Everything Under by Daisy Johnson.
A modern retelling of the Oedipus myth set near the murky river waters in Oxford. It includes elements of fairy tales and folk tales, conjures up a haunting atmosphere, and is very well done.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes. It's a retelling of the Trojan War from an all-female perspective.

My three novels are retellings of myths, so I enjoy reading what others have written. I thought this was one of the better ones I've read.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Kindle edition of A Pomegranate and the Maiden, my novel based on the Demeter/Persephone myth, is on sale until Sunday, July 7, 12:00 a.m. PDT.

A Pomegranate and the Maiden retells the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone through first-person voices deeply rooted in the character’s psychology and gender. The characters are given a contemporary feel, providing multiple perspectives on the same event.

Demeter experiences the stages of mourning coupled with guilt and anxiety over losing her child. Through Kore/Persephone, we witness the internal conflict of a young girl wanting to cut loose from her mother’s strings while simultaneously feeling guilt and remorse at rejecting the mother. Zeus, the father, dispenses with his daughter as he sees fit without considering the mother’s right. Hades, the god of the underworld, yearns for the companionship of the young maiden he loves.

Woven within their narratives are stories familiar to readers of Greek mythology.

There are eleven speakers in all, concluding with the pilgrim who describes his experience as a participant in the Eleusinian Mysteries, the ritual based on the myth and celebrated by Greeks for many centuries.

https://www.amazon.com/Tamara-Agha-Ja...

I read another re-telling of a myth. This time it was Ithaca: A Novel of Homer's Odyssey by Patrick Dillon, told mostly from Telemachus' perspective.
Disappointing--mainly because of inconsistencies and inaccuracies.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Kindle edition of Unsung Odysseys, based on the Odyssey, is on sale until Sunday, August 25, 12:00 a.m. PDT.

The novel explores Odysseus' ten-year journey home from Troy through the multiple voices of the women embroiled in his adventures--a distraught mother, a patient wife, a devoted nurse, a benevolent witch, a possessive nymph, a lovesick princess, and a loyal goddess. Their silence has finally been broken in words that vibrate with heartfelt clarity and timeless messages.

https://www.amazon.com/Unsung-Odyssey...

Christina wrote: "I have a couple of ideas for books/poetry collections this group could read, but I'd love to hear any suggestions people might have!"

There is We Goddesses and My Mothers' Daughter
which I think would be neat to read (or reread), given that they are told from the POV of Greek goddesses, and retells several myths from their point of view.

I read Antigone Rising: The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths by Helen Morales. She deconstructs some classical myths by interpreting them with a feminist lens and demonstrating their relevance to today. Some of the connections she makes are fascinating.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've added a comment to Tamara's earlier review of Pat Barker, but will copy it here as well, in case anyone is interested:

I finally got around to reading this book and agree with Tamara's views. The sudden interjection of a third-person omniscient narrator is unfortunate. I also found the sudden verbatim quote from Wilfred Owen very jarring (that whole scene where Achilles goes down a tunnel to meet the dead is copied from Owen's "Strange Meeting").

The most interesting part in the last third of the novel was the question Barker poses about the host/guest protocol. Achilles has the chance to end the war and save countless lives by simply holding Priam in ransom against the return of Helen, but he doesn't, because "Priam is my guest, so it would be rude." Priam has the chance to save Briseis from serial rape, but he doesn't because "Achilles is my host, so it would be rude." I could write a whole essay (perhaps I will!) about the suffering that has resulted from men (it is largely men that come to mind, I'm afraid) letting some warped concept of personal honour take precedence over compassion, basic decency and good sense. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Also, in case you haven't run across them, Natalie Haynes' series of podcasts on classical characters is a real treat! https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b077... I love her 30 minute version of the Iliad. Must read The Thousand Ships.

Patti wrote: "Also, in case you haven't run across them, Natalie Haynes' series of podcasts on classical characters is a real treat! https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b077... I love her 30 minute version of the ..."

Patti, I thought Natalie Haynes' A Thousand Ships is one of the better retellings I've read. I hope you enjoy it.

I read The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes. I loved her A Thousand Ships, so I was looking forward to this. But Haynes deviates too much from the original myth so it is barely recognizable as the story of Oedipus and Antigone. Disappointing in many ways.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

As far as Odyssey translations, I would like to recommend Richmond Lattimore’s extraordinary translation. No ones comes close to him. (I have read about 7 different English translations, including Emily Wilson’s, 1 Italian translation, and 2 Spanish ones, and none even come close.)

I read The Aeneid by Virgil, translated by Shadi Bartsch.
A new translation of the epic. Bartsch adheres as faithfully as possible to a line-by line translation, including adherence to Virgil's meter, number of beats in each line, simplicity in language, and his use of alliteration and assonance. She offers a valuable contribution to the reading of this classic.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read Ovid's Heroides: A New Translation and Critical Essays by Paul Murgatroyd, Bridget Reeves, and Sarah Parker.

A translation and critique of 21 fictional letters written by Ovid in the voices of women in Greek and Roman mythology. They include a letter from Penelope berating Odysseus for delaying his homecoming, Medea spewing her venom at Jason, etc. The letters are witty, angry, desperate, and touching depending on the situation. But all are entertaining and imaginative.

It's not as well known as Ovid's other works, but it should be. I think it is remarkable that a man of his time and place gave voice to the voiceless through these letters in the first-person voices of women, many of whom suffered in the hands of Greek and Roman "heroes."

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

BTW, if anyone is seriously into Homer, there's a five-day intensive blended course at UCL, 1-5 August, for only £140. Looks amazing: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/classics/outrea...