tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post4644040408013256505..comments2023-10-26T06:57:52.663-07:00Comments on ProSe: "The Odyssey" by Homer and "The Penelopiad" by Margaret AtwoodChristopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00428150254760548485noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-41737916206428823642011-05-24T18:39:52.641-07:002011-05-24T18:39:52.641-07:00I take a slightly different angle on women in The ...I take a slightly different angle on women in The Odyssey in my recent post, "Penelope as (M)Other: Telemachus’s Coming of Age in The Odyssey" at literatimom.blogspot.com. I argue that, in keeping with what we know about the circulation of women among men during this time period, women in this text are portrayed as objects to be owned and against which men were able to claim their own subjectivity. Telemachus others Penelope in multiple ways throughout the text in order to identify as a man and, specifically, as a warrior like his father.literatimomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18350416090357900369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-87434664058605698272010-11-13T06:53:48.295-08:002010-11-13T06:53:48.295-08:00I was excited to see your review of The Penelopiad...I was excited to see your review of The Penelopiad! I am planning on reading it for a mythology challenge starting in January. I haven't read any Atwood yet but she seems to be quite well-liked so I look forward to getting started.LLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11194834748090369779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-84697081260668497252010-11-10T15:37:08.191-08:002010-11-10T15:37:08.191-08:00Hi Christopher,
Thanks for stopping by my blog a...Hi Christopher, <br /><br />Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving your comment, I'm glad you enjoyed my post. I'm really enjoying your blog (I'm not done looking yet), and will add it to my blog roll so that my readers can find their way to you, and I can stop by to visit again!<br /><br />Best wishes,<br /><br />LauraLaura J. Wellner (author pseudonym Laura J. W. Ryan)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02521328695400639226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-15822363040580707222010-11-10T04:52:14.475-08:002010-11-10T04:52:14.475-08:00There's a readalong of the Odyssey going on ri...There's a readalong of the Odyssey going on right now and one member, Erin from Erin Reads, is listening to it on audio. I had to read The Odyssey in college, my very first book in my first semester, so I was barely 18, and I found the book difficult and boring. I've never wanted to revisit it, but hearing Erin talk about the experience of listening to what was originally an oral story made me think about possibly revisiting in that way. I might get more out of the book now at 32 than I did at 18.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026099426503180472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-88257884168281011842010-11-09T14:06:40.489-08:002010-11-09T14:06:40.489-08:00Fascinating post. I'm a huge fan of the Odyss...Fascinating post. I'm a huge fan of the Odyssey and not so much of the Penelopiad (although I love Atwood tremendously in general). <br /><br />I am absolutely blown away by Patrick's idea of a novel from Molly Bloom's perspective! Somebody has got to tell Atwood! (Or perhaps I'll sign up for NaNoWriMo next year...)Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09543197858284977937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-65618556889207702012010-11-07T16:02:46.405-08:002010-11-07T16:02:46.405-08:00It's not often that you can cover 3000 yeqrs o...It's not often that you can cover 3000 yeqrs of literature in a single post. Great review. I've been brought back to The Odyssey by Ulysses over the last several weeks. Maybe now is the time to give it another read after all these years. The Atwood book sounds great as well. What I wouldn't give for an entire novel from the perspective of Molly Bloom! Great reviews.Patrick (at The Literate Man)https://www.blogger.com/profile/05126952182728811711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-90114948917046635802010-11-07T06:54:45.727-08:002010-11-07T06:54:45.727-08:00Visiting from the Literary Hop, and grateful to Bl...Visiting from the Literary Hop, and grateful to Blue Bookcase for starting it! Atwood's book sounds wonderful, I'll definitely have to pick it up. I always enjoy your reviews. Have a great weekend!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-78113265536088656742010-11-06T17:58:59.681-07:002010-11-06T17:58:59.681-07:00I recommend that you read the same author's tr...I recommend that you read the same author's translation of Virgil's The Aeneid-I liked his translations of Homer a great deal-I thought Atwood's take on Penelope was very imaginative-I am a follower of your blog now-I found it via the literary book blog hopMel uhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714473754458914681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-65137097009280020722010-11-06T07:28:25.363-07:002010-11-06T07:28:25.363-07:00You're two steps ahead of me--I'm just beg...You're two steps ahead of me--I'm just beginning a reread of The Odyssey, and then plan on reading The Penelopiad. I'll come back and read your thoughts when I'm done.Shelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18408471966661831444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-24426366596555609402010-11-05T16:00:22.997-07:002010-11-05T16:00:22.997-07:00I'm looking forward to reading The Penelopiad,...I'm looking forward to reading The Penelopiad, having chosen it for the Read-a-Myth challenge to begin this January, but more importantly because I love Margaret Atwood. (Her <i>The Robber Bride</i> is my favorite.) I've heard that I should read The Odyssey before, and I can see from how you tied these together it would be the right thing to do.Bellezza https://www.blogger.com/profile/18073864187188953633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-67118906774347836562010-11-05T13:53:10.130-07:002010-11-05T13:53:10.130-07:00Awesome comments, folks! I greatly appreciate eac...Awesome comments, folks! I greatly appreciate each and every one of your visits and comments. This is really quite a lot of fun! I wish all of you happy reading and a great weekend! Cheers! ChrisChristopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00428150254760548485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-89497738524302265362010-11-05T13:36:49.669-07:002010-11-05T13:36:49.669-07:00Hopping by and found Homer. Coincidentally, I just...Hopping by and found Homer. Coincidentally, I just today read an essay comparing Fagles' translation to Alexander Pope's from the 18th Century. Fagles' is certainly more muscular and robust, but Pope's so lyrical and elegant. A toss up maybe. <br /><br />I look forward to vising more often.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" rel="nofollow">Rose City Reader</a>.Gilion at Rose City Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18080293172467000794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-80044572859154669212010-11-05T09:55:17.670-07:002010-11-05T09:55:17.670-07:00@ Ben--
I may have been a tad flippant saying tha...@ Ben--<br /><br />I may have been a tad flippant saying that <i>The Penelopiad</i> wasn't "feminist", as it certainly is in the sense of being from the female perspective; and she certainly addresses a myriad of feminist issues and ideas as Penelope and the Maids tell their tale throughout the novella. I also found it intriguing that Penelope does, in effect, establish a matriarchal hierarchy in the palace while Odysseus is gone. Penelope, however, rules largely benevolently in stark contrast to Agamemnon's wife Clytaemnestra (one can really see the differences with a read of Aeschylus' dramatic trilogy, <i>The Oresteia</i>). I think that my point was that even Atwood herself did not consider that this book was written to be solely a feminist statement. Thanks for the visit and your comment. Cheers! ChrisChristopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00428150254760548485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-50162119750762253902010-11-05T09:51:40.207-07:002010-11-05T09:51:40.207-07:00Hi Chris,
Found you through the blog hop and I...Hi Chris,<br /><br />Found you through the blog hop and I'm your newest follower.<br /><br />I love The Penelopiad, and thought it was a great spin on a classic. To me it was feminist, but in the true sense of the word as in showing females as equals with just as much strength, character etc.<br /><br />Have you read Weight from the same series? I have it on hold at the library and can't wait to get hold of it.<br /><br /><br />Sam at <a href="http://tinylibrary.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Tiny Library </a>Sam (Tiny Library)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16375434438465319913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-17505982434879986672010-11-05T08:07:00.452-07:002010-11-05T08:07:00.452-07:00Wonderful post, Chris! I have to say that I was de...Wonderful post, Chris! I have to say that I was delighted to see that you used the word "toddle," a word which has always amused me. Anyway, I'm glad you reviewed the Penelopiad, which I've always been curious about. Margaret Atwood is one of my favorite authors, and I love the spinoff of the Odyssey. Penelope as a character has always fascinated me as well ... she has incredible loyalty and personal strength. I'm glad you pointed out that the Penelopiad is more than just a feminist interpretation of The Odyssey. I would expect a little more complexity from Atwood and I'm glad to hear that she came through.<br /><br />Thanks Chris!IngridLolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079137600900264656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-61010128422097130912010-11-05T07:21:50.495-07:002010-11-05T07:21:50.495-07:00I disagree that Atwood's Penelopiad isn't ...I disagree that Atwood's Penelopiad isn't feminist, I just think she has a rational stance about it. I think the whole book makes a point for women in literature.Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11483490020980574428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-57542989007536734802010-11-05T06:35:13.088-07:002010-11-05T06:35:13.088-07:00Great post, Christopher! We have loved your commen...Great post, Christopher! We have loved your comments on our blog recently and appreciate your kind words here about us.<br /><br />I enjoyed this joint review, but it has me conflicted about the Penelopiad. Emily over at Reading While Female just reviewed the novella a couple of days ago and talked about how disappointed she was in the depiction of Penelope -- whiny and weak.<br /><br />Maybe I'll just have to read it and decide for myself. :)MedSchoolWifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00745408218333024946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-30159434914318251732010-11-05T05:56:10.199-07:002010-11-05T05:56:10.199-07:00The Penelopiad is now going on my TBR list, thanks...The Penelopiad is now going on my TBR list, thanks to you, Christopher! I have loved everything I have read by Atwood, so I'm sure I will love this one. I am always emphasizing to everyone I meet that a reading of both The Iliad and The Odyssey is a necessity to anyone interested in literature because the classical tradition has been handed down through the ages in so much poetry and prose. Besides, they are both incredible reads, if one takes the time to truly appreciate them. Thanks for the great review, as always! SusanSusan E. Harris-Gamardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02762043866907370527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-36918729790134002062010-11-05T05:16:17.629-07:002010-11-05T05:16:17.629-07:00(Let me rephrase that: I'm a follower. Not a ...(Let me rephrase that: I'm a follower. Not a new follower.)Deb Nance at Readerbuzzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128529491888701996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-29171907401078065042010-11-05T05:05:57.309-07:002010-11-05T05:05:57.309-07:00I'm stopping in via the new Literary Blog Hop....I'm stopping in via the new Literary Blog Hop. I'm a new follower!<br /><br />I read The Odyssey in high school. I could not believe how amazing it was. No getting inside someone's head here. Just an old-fashioned action-adventure story.<br /><br />I'd love to have you stop by my blog. The truth is that I read all the wonderful literary books, but I still write like I'm in primary school. Hope you can ignore my simple style and visit anyway.<br /><br />www.readerbuzz.blogspot.comDeb Nance at Readerbuzzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128529491888701996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-7577602147258111632010-11-04T22:31:13.297-07:002010-11-04T22:31:13.297-07:00One most definitely cannot go wrong with Trollope!...One most definitely cannot go wrong with Trollope! <i>Trolloping</i> in 'Trollopiana' is beyond belief. Thanks for the visit!Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00428150254760548485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818799708058096084.post-13467880463503509012010-11-04T21:31:40.661-07:002010-11-04T21:31:40.661-07:00Christopher, I love having the two books reviewed ...Christopher, I love having the two books reviewed together. I love Atwood's work, but have never picked this one up. First, though, I have to read the Illiad, which is on my nightstand, thanks to your persuasive post;) Right now, though, I am indulging in my favorite literary indulgence--Trollope!bibliophiliachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15495943887513443615noreply@blogger.com