Medusa: The Girl Behind the Myth (Illustrated Gift Edition)

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I will be buying a copy of this book once it comes out (I have been reading this on my tiny phone screen). This is the Medusa myth that should be told to everyone. This is a hard review to write, folks, as I had really high hopes - but unfortunately, they were pretty thoroughly dashed. Without giving away too much plot here, Burton decides to radically re-fashion the original legend, resulting in an ending that offers Medusa a satisfying – though unintended – vengeance of her own, both on Perseus, and, by association, on all men who seek to harm or despoil the women they profess to love. It is, truly, a tale for the #MeToo era. “Too tame” The Medusa. What did he mean, the Medusa? My name was Medusa, and I was a girl. Perseus had made me sound like a mythical beast. I didn't want to be a myth. I wanted to be me.” Jessie Burton is the author of four novels, The Miniaturist , The Muse , The Confession , and The House of Fortune.

A story that is magical yet tragic and beautiful yet disturbing in its evocative themes, and poignant messaging. A book that is brilliantly conceived, vividly depicted, and expertly written and a book for everyone. Filled with glorious full-colour illustrations by award-winning Olivia Lomenech Gill, this astonishing retelling of Greek myth is perfect for readers of Circe and The Silence of the Girls. Illuminating the girl behind the legend, it brings alive Medusa for a new generation. Exiled to a far-flung island by the whims of the gods, Medusa has little company except the snakes that adorn her head instead of hair. But when a charmed, beautiful boy called Perseus arrives on the island, her lonely existence is disrupted with the force of a supernova, unleashing desire, love, betrayal...and destiny itself. Both Medusa and Perseus just youngsters, who were falling in love. Both forced to change, to be something they’re not. Medusa forced by the gods. Perseus forced by King Polydectes. When the novel opens Medusa has been living in a cave on a remote island for four years. When Perseus washes up on her island, she helplessly cannot resist talking to him. She makes Perseus stay on the outside of the cave wall while they converse and ultimately get closer to each other. With each day affection grows on both sides, with Perseus declaring that he thinks he loves Medusa, Medusa realizes that she feels the same.I did have some issues with the story, though. The writing wasn't really for me. At times it felt like it was trying too hard to be poetic and literary, in a way that didn't feel natural, and just felt weird. I've read poetic young adult with purple prose before, it's not that I have a problem with, it's more than I just didn't feel it worked well here. And there are times, during conversation, when the language becomes almost too simplistic. The dialogue between Medusa and Perseus felt too young. Now, this isn't a case of me saying "the children are too much like children," I don't expect them to sound like adults. But Medusa is 18 and Perseus 17, and the way 18-year-olds talk is very different from the way 13-year-olds speak. In that sense, it felt too young. And both of these elements together felt kind of clunky to me. Exiled to a far-flung island after being abused by powerful Gods, Medusa has little company other than the snakes that adorn her head instead of hair. Haunted by the memories of a life before everything was stolen from her, she has no choice but to make peace with her present: Medusa the Monster. But when the charmed and beautiful Perseus arrives on the island, her lonely existence is blown apart, unleashing desire, love... and betrayal.

Wow this book is another in a Medusa mythology retelling and it was needed! This tells Medusa’s story and gives her a voice which very few mythology tellings give notice to. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. The voice of a master: her detail, her humour, the beauty, the love of language. This book is talismanic to me, and it inspired me to keep going with the drafts of my debut, The Miniaturist. When I am anxious or sad, I reach for it. Not just because it’s a good story, but because it is a piece of work so palpably suffused with love, dedication and self-knowledge. I owe Hilary Mantel a great debt. Rhodes, Emily (5 October 2019). "Jessie Burton's The Confession is, frankly, a bit heavy-handed". The Spectator . Retrieved 3 January 2020.

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Kellaway, Kate (26 June 2016). "Jessie Burton: 'Success can be as fracturing to your self as failure' ". The Observer . Retrieved 26 December 2017.

I first came across Jessie Burton’s work in her novel The Miniaturist, an imaginative and intricate story of love and betrayal in seventeenth century Amsterdam, inspired by Petronella Oortman’s gorgeous doll’s house, on display to the public in the Rijksmuseum. it was clear from this debut piece, that Burton could handle a complex plot with style and subtlety. It is the reason I opened Medusa with such hopes of a roller coaster read. But it does not live up to her previous work, and even if, as some reviewers have suggested, this is a book aimed at young adults, it simply does not go dark or deep enough, to fulfil the fateful promise – or curse – of its legendary namesake. This retelling was YA but it’s not without dark and difficult themes. I have placed some trigger warnings at the bottom of this review. While this was a Medusa tale with some familiarity, it really portrayed her perspective, what life was like for her. I particularly thought for the first time what life would be like with snakes on your head, the loss of her hair and how that affected her with the same hopes and desires as any young woman. Her narrative alongside Perseus’ was bittersweet and yet still something to delight in. Utterly transporting ... This dynamic feminist retelling is illustrated with stunning, polychromatic power' - Guardian Books of the Year Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments This book was described as "a dazzling, feminist retelling of a Greek myth," which is a perfect fit for my daughter's reading pile. However, I bought it for myself & thoroughly enjoyed it. Although based on a Greek myth author Jessie Burton grounds the story in strong, truly believable characters & it works brilliantly. The story is enhanced by some superb illustrations by Olivia Lomench Gill.

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With this novel Burton tells the story of Medusa and Perseus from Medusa’s perspective. Giving her a very human side. There were so many moments in this historical retelling that will resonate with women in the now, be they young and older. Here’s a flavour of what hit me: power and powerlessness, victim shaming, body image, empowerment and finding your identity. Medusa sure had a lot to tell us. As they spend their days talking, they realise the growing intimacy and the sense of companionship. They discuss many things and seem to be open and revealing about themselves. Although both still hide a secret. What is Perseus’s true mission, and why won’t Medusa give her real name. Could this be love, and will it survive if they tell each other their hidden secrets?

Burton's second novel, The Muse, was published in 2016 and is set in a dual time-frame, during the Spanish Civil War and 30 years later in 1960s London. [10] It was nominated for the 2016 Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards. [11] Burton's story is a very feminist retelling. She has written the story in a way that makes it very related to the world we live in today; a world of impossible beauty standards, where a lot of a woman's worth is dependent on how attractive she is, a world where being too beautiful can lead to jealousy and abuse. It also shines a light on rape culture and victim blaming. In this fascinating reimagining of the myth of Medusa, author Jessie Burton presents us with a novel feminist twist to a character and story that has, for the most part, featured as one of Perseus’s heroic exploits. Simply put, Perseus has always been the hero and Medusa the vanquished. But Jessie Burton’s Medusa is much more than that. Cursed by the Goddess Athena and transformed into a Gorgon with snakes in place of her once beautiful hair, the once beautiful Medusa now lives on a deserted island with her sisters, Stheno and Euryale,and her dog Argentus. Her transgression? Being raped by Poseidon within the premises of the Temple of Athena. Filled with glorious full-colour illustrations by award-winning Olivia Lomenech Gill, this astonishing retelling of Greek myth is perfect for readers of Circe and The Silence of the Girls. Illuminating the girl behind the legend, it brings alive Medusa for a new generation. From Goodreads.A former stage actress, Burton's work in theatre includes The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other at the National Theatre, London in 2008. [6] Having aimed to be "a successful stage actress", by the age of 28 she had stalled in this career, and "could see the writing on the wall - the dream to be the next Kate Winslet wasn’t going to happen. I never fell out of love with acting, it fell out of love with me"; difficulty in getting auditions meant she worked temp jobs, including as a personal assistant in the City of London. [1] [7] Writing career [ edit ] So often [Medusa’s] robbed of agency, turned into a monster, and used as a stepping stone for heroes. The myth of Medusa is a tale of objectification and toxic masculinity, and the meaning of consent. Given the continuing revelations about men like Weinstein and (US president Donald) Trump, and others we have each encountered on our way through life, Medusa's myth is ripe for the retelling." Most of Roald Dahl’s books made me want to write. He made it seem easy, to a child, and very fun. Matilda, Charlie, Fantastic Mr Fox, Danny – the stories he wrote for them felt more real to me than life. To believe that about stories is the writer’s curse. ADDICTIVE ARTISTIC PERFECTION ! A retelling of Medusa like you've never heard before. A tale told by Medusa herself, revealing the absolutely despicable reasons (*cough* Athena & Posidon being sketchy & e v i l AF *cough*), that she was cast out of society & ended up, well, how she ended up ! I mean hair? Snakes? Turns people to stone? Give this a read & let a girl who is also a Gorgon tell her #metoo story, as well as the tale of the rest of her so very, totally & completely, unfair place in history. We all know what happens, but I will stop there, leaving you dear reader in Burton’s capable hands as she ends her marvelous retelling of this tale with a climactic ending.