Also!!! I created a list for you guys of all the books I could find about the Ancient Greek & Roman world :) Overtime I'll be updating this (and adding sections for Egypt, the Near East, Mesoamerica etc), so check it out via this link www.moaninc.co.uk/books/the-ultimate-classics-book-list
I think there’s a difference between a ‘retelling’ and a ‘reimagining’ of an ancient myth. IMO if a book is marketed correctly the reader can go into a book knowing whether the story is faithful to the original myth or more of a “what if” scenario created by the author using the existing characters/ themes as a basis.
For a GOOD Greek myths retelling, I strongly suggest “Lord of the Crooked Paths” & “Master of the Fearful Depths” by Patrick H. Adkins. And how many books have Metis as a main character?
What are your thoughts on Samuel Butler's translation of Odyssey? It was recently published by Blackie Books, translated to Spanish, and has become very popular in some youtube channels.
I'm sad you didn't enjoy Lavinia at all, but if you are simply not interested in the character that's quite understandable. I'd definitely recommend the book to more people - especially, as you said, so few people know it - because it's very beautifully written and very poetic. It discusses Roman religion, Vergil and Vergil's writing choices and Lavinia's reflection as the character in her own story in a very interesting light, imho - so what you said here, that she's not really a character, is in itself a topic in the novel. People interested in the Aeneid and Vergil should definitely go for it!
“Her” is me - hi! Just because you didn’t enjoy a novel and someone else did does not make them less trustworthy/less serious. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
@@MoAnInc it is not about not enjoying it you just gave so many full starts to a point I don't understand. how come its top one? it has too many weaknesses,
LeGuin is usually a good writer. I loved Earthsea and The Left Hand of Darkness when I was a boy/teenager. But I've never even heard of Lavinia. Didn't even know LeGuin did anything classically-inspired and not just fantasy/sci-fi.
Interested in your opinion: Could a fiction novel, Greek retelling, that intentionally diverges from historical record, (and reimagines the events entirely) ever be positively received by historians like yourself? If it was done purposefully and knowingly, in order to make a creative statement. For example, how and why people today take such an interest in Greek mythology.
I'm going to write a very unpopular opinion now, but once it is finished and the hype dies out you'll are going to see my point: Lore Olympus is a bad retelling, that had a promising start in S1, was a bit wonky in S2.1, but went totally out of the rails after the time skip for S2.2 and completely lost the plot in S3, where character arc are wrapped in a sloppy way at best and is so far away of mythology that you can change the names and never figure out who are this people
Honestly absolutely true, I dropped off sometime in early season two because it had annoyed me so much. Then I saw the printed copy in a library a few weeks ago, started on season 3, and basically went “terrible retelling, but hey the writing got better so I can enjoy if I just separate my knowledge of the myths”
oh, how sad! I will likely still read Lavinia, because I love Ursula K Leguin writing and have been on a binge of her work recently. but I'll keep in mind it will not do much. but HURRAY! i also thoroughly disliked the Penelopeid. it feels good to know others (with more knowledge of ancient Greek writing) agree
They’ll come out over time, simply because I’m trying to see the reaction to the previous videos before finalising my future episode plans (eg, like viewer retention, comments, etc). But there are loads scripted and planned for this series
House of Names by Colm Tóibín I hated hated hated HATED every single page of it. And it is a page-turner, mind you. A single sitting. I will NEVER forgive the author for what he did to ORESTES. I was fully repulsed. I know that retellings always bastardize one character beyond recognition. But man… there is creative license, then there is… whatever this was. His language is direct and blood-soaked; his story telling is merciless and freezing cold. Which I appreciated. The book has a very masculine language. But ORESTES… ughh. His weakness and submission were so hideously unsightly. Left a bitter taste.
I am also not a big fan of "Penelopiad", but honestly, nothing could be possibly worse than "Daughter of Troy" by Sarah B. Franklin. I came across this novel when I was nursing my book hangover after "The silence of the girls" and bought it just because it was supposed to be another retelling of the myth of the Trojan War from Briseis' POV. The book turned out to be a total waste of time and money, since it is male gaze-y as hell, and in addition romanticizes slavery and se*ual assaults.
