Scan barcode
roxymaybe's review against another edition
5.0
if you can suspend your disbelief enough to accept the author's constant insistence on gender stereotypes, it's a really fun read
stephxsu's review against another edition
4.0
The likable storyteller, with his countless side stories and wise commentary, delivers to readers the delightful Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche. Psyche is the most beautiful mortal girl alive, and people often liken her to Venus, Goddess of Love. Some even claim that the mortal girl is more beautiful than the goddess herself!
Vain Venus obviously doesn’t like the attention Psyche is getting. She orders her son, Cupid, to make Psyche fall in love with something really stupid, like a boulder, so that she will be humiliated. In the process of attempting to carry out this task, Cupid is so struck by Psyche’s beauty that he wants to share his life with her.
Psyche’s father receives the prophecy that Psyche is to marry a powerful monster. Psyche is transported to a gorgeous castle far away on a mountain, where every night her “husband” comes to her, then leaves in the morning. Their love is exquisite, but Psyche would certainly like to know who, exactly, her husband is.
It is Psyche’s curiosity, mixed with the jealousy of some women surrounding Psyche and Cupid, that causes her future struggles, as powerful forces attempt to separate the happy couple. At the very end, Psyche must rely on her inner strength and love for her husband in order to be reunited with him forever.
CUPID is a masterful retelling of a touching love story. Julius Lester is a wise author who combines wit with wisdom in this tale that is sure to delight readers of all ages.
Vain Venus obviously doesn’t like the attention Psyche is getting. She orders her son, Cupid, to make Psyche fall in love with something really stupid, like a boulder, so that she will be humiliated. In the process of attempting to carry out this task, Cupid is so struck by Psyche’s beauty that he wants to share his life with her.
Psyche’s father receives the prophecy that Psyche is to marry a powerful monster. Psyche is transported to a gorgeous castle far away on a mountain, where every night her “husband” comes to her, then leaves in the morning. Their love is exquisite, but Psyche would certainly like to know who, exactly, her husband is.
It is Psyche’s curiosity, mixed with the jealousy of some women surrounding Psyche and Cupid, that causes her future struggles, as powerful forces attempt to separate the happy couple. At the very end, Psyche must rely on her inner strength and love for her husband in order to be reunited with him forever.
CUPID is a masterful retelling of a touching love story. Julius Lester is a wise author who combines wit with wisdom in this tale that is sure to delight readers of all ages.
jasmine_elizabeth's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading an in-depth look at the romance between Pcyche and Cupid that explained why he ran off instead of staying with her and how she felt at being compared to Venus.
This is actually a story that is quiet new to me so reading this retelling was so great. It wasn’t a story like Ariadne or the Song of Achilles, it just told the story of Cupid and Psyche, it didn’t embellish or feel in anyway atmospheric.
This is actually a story that is quiet new to me so reading this retelling was so great. It wasn’t a story like Ariadne or the Song of Achilles, it just told the story of Cupid and Psyche, it didn’t embellish or feel in anyway atmospheric.
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
4.0
This is a retelling of the Cupid & Psyche myth in the voice of an old southern storyteller. The narrator relays the story, adding wisdom and humor from his personal experience of relationships and affairs of the heart. The narrator also communicates directly with the story as another character, to give the reader a sense of how story develops and changes through the years and, in fact, must change in order for the new audience to relate to it.
At times the narrator's voice breaks the story's flow, but this is intentional and allows the reader to step out of events and evaluate what is happening.
Altogether a fresh and earthy look at an old myth and a humorous take on the orator's role in storytelling.
At times the narrator's voice breaks the story's flow, but this is intentional and allows the reader to step out of events and evaluate what is happening.
Altogether a fresh and earthy look at an old myth and a humorous take on the orator's role in storytelling.
librariandest's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not a big fan of audio books in general, which is weird because I love listening to stories on the radio. I suppose the difference is that when it comes to books, the experience isn't improved by bringing a third party interpreter into the picture.
Still, this was a good audio book. Great overall voice quality (rich, soothing, etc.), decent characterization (except that he gave all the females a kind of whine that sort of rubbed me the wrong way), and the book lent itself well to being told aloud (it wasn't too complicated or anything).
The book itself was okay, too. Not the most enthralling thing ever, but good for people who are interested in love, beauty, and myths. I liked how Lester made "the story" itself a kind of character in the book, too.
Just one more ridiculous thing: I have a strong preference for Greek god names over Roman ones, so that bothered me a little, too. I don't know where I picked this prejudice up, but I was surprised by the depth of my feelings on the subject.
Still, this was a good audio book. Great overall voice quality (rich, soothing, etc.), decent characterization (except that he gave all the females a kind of whine that sort of rubbed me the wrong way), and the book lent itself well to being told aloud (it wasn't too complicated or anything).
The book itself was okay, too. Not the most enthralling thing ever, but good for people who are interested in love, beauty, and myths. I liked how Lester made "the story" itself a kind of character in the book, too.
Just one more ridiculous thing: I have a strong preference for Greek god names over Roman ones, so that bothered me a little, too. I don't know where I picked this prejudice up, but I was surprised by the depth of my feelings on the subject.
aemkea's review against another edition
5.0
Short, but lyrical, this little retelling of the story of Cupid and Pysche is funny, charming and (when I say this I mean the characters' personalities and feelings, not the whole I'm a greek Goddess angle) relatable.
It's a little gem. Read it..
It's a little gem. Read it..
di_so's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
daughterofaphrodite's review against another edition
4.0
cute story 3.5 stars, bumped to 4 stars because the audiobook narration was delightful
bhauser's review against another edition
3.0
I like the author's narration of the story of Cupid and Psyche. He is absolutely correct when he says, "the interesting thing about this particular story is that it taught me that sometimes I act like Cupid and sometimes I act like Psyche." Like all good books we see a little of ourselves in the characters, and that helps to make us part of the universal story of life.
charlise_lin's review against another edition
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75