In the process of rereading Emily Wilson’s translation of the Odyssey, I’ve been puzzling over the nature of the goddess Athena, one of the more intriguing conundrums of ancient Greek mythology.
Continue reading “What’s at stake in ancient representations of Athena?”
Recently, I’ve had multiple requests for book recommendations from readers who are new(ish) to Greek mythology. What’s a good entry point? they asked. My brain immediately exploded with possibilities, of course, but after I reassembled it, these five came floating to the surface.
Continue reading “5 Nonfiction Books for Readers New to Greek Mythology”
Recent reads:
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Homer: The Resonance of Epic by Barbara Graziosi and Johannes Haubold
Since the title explains the purpose of this piece, I’ll jump right in with my four personal favorite elements in contemporary novels that revisit ancient Hellenic mythology: Continue reading “4 Things I Love in Hellenic Myth Retellings”
My previous piece in this series ended with Dumbledore’s wisdom, as recalled by Harry: “It was important, Dumbledore said, to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then could evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated…” What I find especially striking is its notion of pursuit as the goal itself. With the ideals we hold dear, it can be difficult to remember that honor lies in pursuit, even when the ideal itself remains out of reach. Continue reading “Harry Potter as Homeric Hero”
You may have noticed that Greek mythology is having a bit of a moment lately. Several acclaimed novelists have produced fiction inspired by or in conversation with ancient literature…and have been nominated for awards. Continue reading “10 Contemporary Novels (and one Poem) and their Classical Sources”
Last month, I mentioned wanting to bump up my relaxation reading, and my Scribd subscription helped with that in October. For my reading the Odysseys project, I started Stephen Mitchell’s translation (it will be in my November review). I also focused on contextualizing by familiarizing myself with Homer scholarship and reading more reception literature. Continue reading “Enraged and more October reads”
My first exposure to Emily Katz Anhalt’s Enraged: Why Violent Times Need Ancient Greek Myths came via Mary Beard’s review of it in the New York Times, which several friends kindly sent me. Continue reading “Why I read this book: Enraged by Emily Katz Anhalt”
A challenge of researching reception of classical literature is that we cannot always know whether intertextual references are intentional or incidental. Rereading the Harry Potter series alongside The Odyssey, the parallels are striking. So much so that it’s difficult to believe they’re coincidental. As I’ve noted before, though, it may be a case of timeless human experiences and themes—home, identity, etc.—recurring across literary texts. Whether intentional or not, I love how intertextuality shows us that and how we are connected across time and place. Continue reading “Scars, Wandering, and Homecoming in Homer and Harry Potter”
In September, I worked on finding balance in my reading life. I’ve been so consumed with ancient Greece and The Odyssey that I’ve neglected my relaxation reading, meaning the reading I do to clear my mind at bedtime and when I first wake up. It can feel so self-indulgent to read without any destination or purpose other than relaxation and the pleasure of getting lost in a story. But I’m trying to allow myself this simple joy. Continue reading “September Reads in Review”
