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A review by wylsonated
Modern Myths by Clara Chow
3.0
This book is divided into two sections of short stories - one section deals with the titular mythical gods amongst men, whilst the other deals with the mortals yearning for some kind of transcendence amidst variant versions of modern Singapore.
While the first section is charming at first and quirky, the mechanism of Greek gods living in the modern world feels a little "I can do that too", despite the mostly elegant, minimalistic prose. Gaiman had a whole book to flesh out his old gods, but this writer had to make do with just a few, leading some of the characterisations to feel trite, superficial and disembodied, and the clever nods to be slightly too clever. Marred also at points by the necessity to slot in clunky references to the modern day too.
It's a pity, as the latter mortals half is so much stronger in terms of both flow and writing, and more connected to obviously fuller human desires and fallibilities. The stories are more daring and imaginative (save in comparison to perhaps Siren's section in the first half). I felt the urge to turn page to find out what happens to these living brethren of ours than the divinities. Sadly, readers might have missed out on these lovely bits of storytelling if they gave up after reading the first half about these gods that are somehow no longer that inspiring.
While the first section is charming at first and quirky, the mechanism of Greek gods living in the modern world feels a little "I can do that too", despite the mostly elegant, minimalistic prose. Gaiman had a whole book to flesh out his old gods, but this writer had to make do with just a few, leading some of the characterisations to feel trite, superficial and disembodied, and the clever nods to be slightly too clever. Marred also at points by the necessity to slot in clunky references to the modern day too.
It's a pity, as the latter mortals half is so much stronger in terms of both flow and writing, and more connected to obviously fuller human desires and fallibilities. The stories are more daring and imaginative (save in comparison to perhaps Siren's section in the first half). I felt the urge to turn page to find out what happens to these living brethren of ours than the divinities. Sadly, readers might have missed out on these lovely bits of storytelling if they gave up after reading the first half about these gods that are somehow no longer that inspiring.