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The story follows Penelope, Hera, Clytemnestra, and so many more women who are often glossed over in stories like The Iliad and The Odyssey. It's not the first time I've come across this kind of reading of Penelope; that honor belongs to my first and only classics course, provocatively titled, "Monsters, Barbarians, and Women.
The POV used throughout the book alternates between third person omniscient, third person limited, second person, first person, then also shifts between present tense and sometimes using past tense. The balance she was able to strike between respecting the material while also delivering snark and sarcasm in a way that brightened the story without ever making light of it, was astounding. I think this was actually a very clever device because it enables the occasional, brilliant 'flyover' of the Aegean to get a glimpse of the antics of Menelaus and Odysseus, far below, reminding us of the roles they play without it ever seeming forced. Had I not been familiar with these, I might have gotten lost in the names and the plot and not noticed the superb writing and how North was playing with form.As a woman, she cannot be seen ruling Ithaca in Odysseus' absence, but she also doesn't want her kingdom to be invaded while her husband is missing, presumed death – and so she threads the fine line between publicly being seen as timid and obedient, while cleverly pulling the strings behind the scenes until her son Telemachus is old, strong, and wise enough to take on the throne.
She walks a fine line trying to keep her kingdom from being conquered and her son out of assassins’ hands.
If you look for an engaging Penelope's retelling, a story that you may know of her and her son Telemachus, her love and passion for Odysseus, do this is NOT your book. Passend zur Geschichte ist auch der Stil entsprechend Blumig, auch wenn Hera öfter mal eine F-Bomb einwirft. Although it took me a while to become invested in Penelope, she did become a fascinating character and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her outsmart the men of Ithaca. Penelope is left to fend for herself and her son and run the kingdom of Ithaca with help of her household of maids and advisors. I sing for no creature’s pleasure but my own, and can attest that what you think you know of the last heroes of Greece, you do not know at all.
It also brings Elektra and Orestes to Ithaca in pursuit of their mother Clytemnestra, a twist and non-Homeric or Aeschylean narrative choice, that sometimes works well, especially to reflect on the complicated relationship North draws between Penelope and her son Telemachus, but often their presence crowds out the Ithacans. She naturally has a certain amount of sympathy for Penelope, as much as a greek god might spare for a mortal. But when I find a book that not only retells one of these timeless stories, it breathes new life into it, it becomes an instant favorite. Penelope is intelligent and skillful in navigating the labyrinth of obstacles and hordes of suitors plaguing her home. The plot expands to cover various maids that serve Penelope, though we perhaps don’t get to know any of them quite as much as we’d like (Priene is a standout for sure).I loved everything about Ithaca, except for the fact that it’s not the standalone I was for some reason expecting it to be.
Hera, is prone to rambling a bit it seems, and though I enjoyed her voice more than not, I do think it could have been trimmed in places. so i think if youve never read anything about penelope, this will be a new and interesting story for you. It's Hera, who looks down on Penelope, encouraging her along and rooting for her in times of difficulty.I who have nothing to lose that the poets have not already taken from me, only I will tell you the truth. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. Hera’s commentary on events and players, on the affairs of gods and mortals, is irreverent, insightful and often darkly funny.
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