Ithaca

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According to myth, she is defined by her jealous and vengeful nature in dealing with those who offend her. And hearing from Hera how much of herself she saw in these queens, how she had experienced the same, really drove home the fact that height of station did nothing to spare these women.

Claire North's words are needles, and each one is directed at some tender part of the patriarchy in this pointedly feminist revision of The Odyssey. So yes, it's about war, too, and what war does to the women left behind, stuck in a culture that tells them they can do nothing even when there is no one else left to do it. I believe this novel is the beginning of a series, so perhaps with all the foundation laid in this first novel, subsequent ones will be easier to get into from the outset. Dillon’s use of the father-son bond and their parallel journeys—Odysseus’s traumatic, meandering trip toward home and Telemachus’s turbulent ascent to manhood—is as rich as it is complex.Hera, as a narrator, does not mince her words –be it on her opinions about her husband’s amorous exploits or her true feeling about her stepchildren, her observations on Penelope’s suitors or her biased opinions of the Grecian queens among whom Clytemnestra is her favorite. This fresh take on an ancient narrative will capture the imagination and heart of readers both new to and well versed in Homer’s works. Penelope balances on a razor’s edge, trying to keep the suitors fed and content as she constantly claims to be on the cusp of a decision, knowing full well that she can never choose because all of the spurned suitors will surely declare war on Ithaca. I, for one, cannot wait to learn what's next for Penelope – and how she will continue to be the clever and strong queen that Ithaca needs. Putting Hera in the narrator's seat, means that the gods and goddesses also linger at the edges of the pages of Ithaca, which is very exciting and leaves this reimagined world wide open for potential further explorations of Olympus.

Ithaca is a vibrant and fresh revival; Telemachus's struggles are illuminated through the use of his own voice. But it’s not often we get to see this side of her, so I liked how her perspective showcased the empowerment of the women involved and it certainly added a unique twist to the story. The presence of the Greek goddesses, each wielding their power over their devotees and their subtle manipulations, not to mention their limited interactions with one another makes for an interesting read. Overall, I really enjoyed Ithaca and look forward to the next book in the series, House of Odysseus. Ithaca by Claire North is the first book in a trilogy about Penelope’s Ithaca as she struggles to hold the kingdom together during Odysseus’ absence.so i think if youve never read anything about penelope, this will be a new and interesting story for you. When the others are dead and gone, when Clytemnestra’s body is burnt and Penelope has breathed her last, only Elektra will remain, the last woman to carry my fire. If you are looking for a kick-ass feminist retelling, then look elsewhere – that’s not really Penelope’s style anyway as she is more given to quiet wisdom and working the system from the inside rather than busting it open from without.

She has become so much more sympathetic and interesting to me through these works, and I absolutely adored her in Ithaca. It's awfully confusing, not to me personally because I know the Ithacan setting of the Odyssey very well so I know what is going on, but not every reader will, so this writing is likely to be discouraging.

But housed within that addictive pacing was deep and moving commentary on the lack of autonomy given to Grecian women and how cruelly they were often treated. Keeping one's own son, self, and people alive - now that's going to take a much wilier person than Odysseus. The Oresteia, which covers the lives and deaths of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon and their children, Orestes and Elektra, was also an integral part of this story.