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silver_lining_in_a_book's review against another edition
4.25
It’s fascinating that fully half of these six major goddesses have sworn off sex and marriage, given that they were worshipped during times when ordinary women had little choice about marriage, and almost no opportunity to reject it as a way of life. Perhaps the only thing we can read into this mismatch is that gods occupy a different plane from mortals and so would live unimaginable lives, and that being unmarried is as natural for a goddess (and unnatural for a mortal).
I really love Natalie Haynes' humour and writing style. This is my second read from her and she has really cemented herself as one of my favourite writers on Greek and Roman mythology already. I like the comparisons that she makes between ancient myth and current media, as well as sprinkling in some personal commentary and historical / archeological details, which really make her stand-out from the influx of mythology retellings we have been seeing recently.
I do not have much commentary to offer here. I found that I really loved this book and read it all in one go because of how interesting and well-written it was! I am afraid that it probably will not stick with me as much as some other books because of the incredible amount of information that was all squeezed into this book and the confusion I faced when the same characters was referred to by multiple different names (e.g. Greek, name, Roman names and all kinds of variations of it - I understand mentioning the different names but utilising them made me a little frustrated when I already always struggle with these names). Moreover, I think this would work so much better as a visual experience (e.g. a documentary or lecture series with slides) because of how often visual media such as art pieces and film snippets were mentioned. I am definitely not well versed in films, plays, musicals and TV series so all of these references went over my head despite me looking these things up after finishing a chapter.
All the negativity aside, I did truly love this and - who knows - maybe I will watch the films / series/ plays mentioned and give this a reread, I am definitely not opposed to that because this really was a good time!
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Classism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexism, War, Violence, Rape, and Infidelity
mars_loves_books's review
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Animal death, Death, Incest, Kidnapping, War, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Rape, Blood, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Child death, Murder, and Sexism
carijacqueline's review against another edition
3.75
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Torture, Suicide, Sexual violence, Rape, War, and Sexism
katerina_l's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Blood, Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Child abuse, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Rape
revoli's review against another edition
4.75
Moderate: Incest, Rape, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Suicide, Sexism, Grief, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Violence, Animal death, Blood, and Death
theatomicblonde22's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, War, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Death, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Murder, and Infidelity
spaceirony's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Sexism, Incest, War, Sexual assault, and Rape