The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus [Paperback] Atwood, Margaret Paperback – 28 November 2005

I read Circe and The Penelopiad together. Looking at the two characters involved with Odysseus from two different lenses has been thought provoking. Both loved and lost. Both now given a voice.

If sad and tragic reads do not leave you feeling down then this is a must read.

A slim book from Atwood for a change! Nonetheless, readable especially for those who have a knowledgeable background of the myths surrounding Hercules, the Trojan War, Ulysses of Homer, and the legend of Penelope. Not to forget Helen of Troy. Written from the perspective of these dead and gone heroines was a unique perspective in itself and very entertaining.

We need myths to be retold, as their truths shift with time and our perspectives expand with voyages and technology. This book does it stunningly enough to make one ot for multiple readings simply to savour the language. After all, it's Margaret Atwood.

I liked it. The book was small and cute. I do not know a lot about Greek mythology but this was certainly well written with rounded characters and beautiful description.

Short, sweet, sinful, sensuous

Love the language.

A wonderful read ! Twist - with a delightful hint of feminism woven to bring across the most exotic tale of Penelope , Helen of Troy and even Odysseus.

This new interpretation of more than 2000 years old Greek myth of Odysseus from the viewpoint of his wife Penelope gives us a truly remarkable new vision. Just like Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea stories which try to remedy the millenniums old patriarchal views of Hero, this tiny remarkable book by Margaret Atwood gives us a new vision of a Hero in the shape of woman. A truly fascinating book! Only thing that requires full appreciation of this book is that readers need to be fairy familiar with Homer's The Odyssey. Otherwise, one will miss much of Ms. Atwood's humour and irony. If you have been familiar with the details of The Odyssey, Ms.Atwood's/Penelope's viewpoints are truly delicious. Enjoy!!

Una reinterpretacion muy buena del mito griego de la Odisea y desde là perspectiva de Penelope y otros personajes femeninos a los que en el original ni siquiera se les da voz. Margaret Atwood conserva un humor ácido a lo largo del libro y con gran satisfacción les da vida a Penelope y a los personajes femeninos que la rodean.Una lectura muy recomendable sobre reinterpretacion y voces femeninas.

I got a refresher on the Odyssey and a new point of view to look at it from. What a marvelous book. Takes a special mind to develop characters the way Ms. Atwood does. Thank you - it was a treat!

Very good book

Excellent ! Brillant. Je suis un vieil helléniste qui lit et relit l'Iliade et l'Odysée régulièrement. Atwood colle au texte de l'Odysée, mais présente les choses sous un nouvel angle très intéressant qui pose de profondes questions.