Margaret Atwood is among the most-honored authors of fiction in recent history. While she is best known for her work as a novelist, her poetry is noteworthy. Many of her poems have been inspired by myths, and fairy tales, which were an interest of hers from an early age. One of her more recent books,The Penelopiad, is a compilation of poetic ring chants and Homeric similes.
In this novel, she documents Penelope's account of Homer's The Odyssey and how she coped with her husband's twenty year absence. Although this is not the most entertaining and captivating piece of literature, Atwood's use of mythological references keeps students with historic mindsets intrigued. Her incorporation of Greek mythology helps to enhance prior knowledge of well-known myths and legends.
Catherine Taylor of Independent on Sunday says that "Atwood introduces a new and significant angle to Penelope's narrative -- the insistent chorus of her 12 maids...the distressing image of their execution...recurs throughout Atwood's account, as in turn she utilizes poetry, burlesque, mock trial and, less successfully, dour sociological tract." If you're someone who's interested in mythology or simply hearing the thoughts of someone who's seen it all then The Penelopiad is the novel for you. Wouldn't you like to see the past from someone else's eyes? - Kali, Aubrey, Lisa, Jackie, Danielle, class of 2009
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The book Dateline: Troy by Paul Fleischman gives readers a great insight to what happened in the Trojan War. It's a re-telling of the Illiad in a more creative and understanding way. The up to date newspaper clippings show how events today are related to events that happened during the Illiad.This book was an easy read but very informative. I would highly recommend it to people that are interested in mythology and love war, back-stabbing, and a little romance. Flieschman does a great job of intensifying the battle scenes, especially the one between Achilles and Hector. The book describes the lives of Greek and Trojan soldiers during the Trojan war. It begins with a boy named Paris who is doomed at the start. A oracle tells his mother and father he will bring destruction to Troy and the city will burn. They immediately know what they have to do; kill Paris. Paris is left on a mountain to die, but no one knows that he was found and raised by a family. One day Paris was needed in deciding which Goddess would get the golden apple. He gave it to Aphrodite and she promises him the most beautiful woman in the world. Later,Paris is reunited with his mother and father who are so happy to see him. What they don't know is he's about to steal the most beautiful woman in the world from Menelaus, a Greek. This is the start to the most destructive war in mythology. Who will win the Greeks or the Trojans? - Dana, Gianna, Gia, Daelynn, class of 2009
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