Book Review: THE PENELOPIAD by Margaret Atwood

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


One-sentence summary?
"It is Atwood's re-telling of the ODYSSEY through the mouths of Penelope and the twelve so-called unfaithful maidens."

Now for the I-tried-to-keep-it-concise rave:

Oh WOW! This book (and feminist re-tellings of epics written by dead guys) is why I have trust issues. Atwood takes such a familiar tale and totally subverts it. Penelope may have been the best of wives... But what if she was the worst, by men's standards?

Every book has a chapter or two that is its golden core, its very heart, and for this book, it is certainly the 24th chapter (The Chorus Line: An Anthropology Lecture)... It is UNFORGETTABLE in terms of its mind blowing powers. My gosh!!! If you ever pick up a copy of this in the bookstore and are lacking in time and/or money and can only read one chapter, let it be Chapter 24. Do it. Your life will never be the same. I know mine isn't.

Grateful for stories like this one, that make me realize just how much of what I know and take to be gospel are stories told by men. There are many truths, and our world is richer for having both men and women share their sides.



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