The Oresteia by Aeschylus and more January reads

January reads

As February is slipping away, it’s past time to revisit my excellent January reads. So with no further preamble…

January reads: Ancient Greece

The Oresteia: “Agamemnon,” “Libation Bearers,” and “Eumenides” by Aeschylus

The Oresteia follows Agamemnon’s return from Troy, his murder at the hands of his wife (Clytemnestra) and lover (Aegisthus), his son Orestes’ revenge killing of them, and Orestes’ murder trial.

Continue reading “The Oresteia by Aeschylus and more January reads”

Why is Medusa’s sad backstory so rarely told in Greek myth retellings?

Medusa

One of my favorite stories from Greek mythology is the popular version of Perseus and Andromeda’s myth.

It’s one of the few I can recall in which the hero does NOT come to grief. Perseus does NOT enrage the gods via a fit of hubris. He does NOT suffer a tragic punishment. He fulfills his quest to chop off Medusa’s head, marries Andromeda, and they live happily ever after in the stars. Literally. The gods immortalize them as the constellations Perseus and Andromeda. Continue reading “Why is Medusa’s sad backstory so rarely told in Greek myth retellings?”

A Reading List for the Christmas Books Obsessed

I don’t mean to alarm you, but December is almost here. Seasonal coffee beverages have been released. Evergreen wreaths have been hung in shopping centers. Christmas trees are for sale. I even heard Christmas carols in a store this week.

What I’m saying is, I realize we haven’t celebrated Thanksgiving yet, but it’s time to talk about Christmas books. Continue reading “A Reading List for the Christmas Books Obsessed”

Don’t call it a TBR

Don't call it a TBR

Every last time I create a TBR, I fail to follow it. At least, that’s how it feels. I think one time, for a readathon, I read some of the books I said I’d read. Sort of?

Point is, I want to read a ton of books. Literally, one entire ton. So many that I can’t even keep track of them. It is not possible. Or maybe the part that’s impossible is actually reading all the books I want to read. Continue reading “Don’t call it a TBR”