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The Penelopiad
- The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus
- Narrated by: Laural Merlington
- Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins
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Publisher's Summary
Left alone for 20 years when Odysseus goes off to fight in the Trojan war after the abduction of Helen, Penelope manages, in the face of scandalous rumours, to maintain the kingdom of Ithaca, bring up her wayward son, and keep over a hundred suitors at bay, simultaneously.
When Odysseus finally comes home after enduring hardships, overcoming monsters, and sleeping with goddesses, he kills her suitors and - curiously - 12 of her maids.
In a splendid contemporary twist to the ancient story, Margaret Atwood has chosen to give the telling of it to Penelope and to her 12 hanged maids, asking, "What led to the hanging of the maids, and what was Penelope really up to?"
In Atwood's dazzling, playful retelling, the story becomes as wise and compassionate as it is haunting, and as wildly entertaining as it is disturbing. With wit and verve, drawing on the storytelling and poetic talent for which she herself is renowned, she gives Penelope new life and reality - and sets out to provide an answer to an ancient mystery.
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What listeners say about The Penelopiad
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Brittnee
- 10-21-11
An Intriguing Perspective on Greek Mythology
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, but it would depend on the friend. A fantastic story and a marvelous discourse on the roles of women in Greek Myth, but a bit inaccessible to those unfamiliar with the subject. This is top of the list to recommend to my feminist and anthropologically geared friends. Definitely not top of the list for casual readers.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The chorus of hanged maidens. I adored Atwood's inclusion of this uniquely Greek character(s). The chorus is often the voice of reason, truth, or sobriety. Their plain commentary on Penelope's situation and Odysseus' character was breathtaking, although sometimes painful.
What about Laural Merlington’s performance did you like?
The voice of the chorus. Spot on.
If you could take any character from The Penelopiad out to dinner, who would it be and why?
Probably Telemachus. I've always felt so badly for him, but I'd also like to give him a bit of a talking to. It would be a moment to lend him some needed compassion and ego busting, while satisfying my maternal instincts. Bingo.
Any additional comments?
This is my first foray into Atwood's story telling, and I found that I quite liked it despite some less than glowing reviews. I suppose that means I'll just have to give her best hits a go!
14 people found this helpful
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- sioux
- 01-02-12
Atwood- but not at her best
Is there anything you would change about this book?
Atwood can do no wrong as far as I am concerned. Her genius is such that I'm not sure that she's really one person. Each of her novels belongs to entirely different genres and her voice can be male, female, old, young, and even not entirely human. I suspect that it may one day be revealed that she is in fact the owner of a bizarre novel-producing labour camp that enslaves writers to produce histories, romances, science-fictions and most every other kind of novel. The real question is how she manages to find and keep such a range of incredibly talented authors producing such wonderfully enjoyable tales.
Having said this, I found the Penelopiad to be not-her-best work. I love the idea of a feminist retelling of Homer's Greek epic. I think she was true to the style and I have no doubt that someone who knows more than my smidgen of Iliad and Odyssey would enjoy multiple references that passed me by. But this novel failed to mesmerise me in the way every other Atwood novel has done. I admired it and enjoyed it but I wasn't enthralled by it.
If this book were a movie would you go see it?
I think this would, if anything, make for a better movie than a book. The fantastic gods, the wild adventures - they would really lend themselves to the big screen.
18 people found this helpful
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- KTL
- 08-15-20
The narration trivialized the story.
The narration trivialized the story. The narrator sounded like a silly young fifties housewife. Her tone and voice contradicted any seriousness Penelope's thoughts and reflections might have had. She did not make clever Penelope sound particularly clever. It was tedious to listen to. She did not seem to get Atwood's story at all.
7 people found this helpful
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- njishthe2nd
- 07-02-18
Humor and anguish
I'm reading Emily Wilson's new translation of The Odyssey with friends, and came across this, and Madeline Miller's Circe.They provide nice counterpoints to the male-centric Odyssey.
6 people found this helpful
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- Carla
- 10-23-09
Well done
I thoroughly enjoyed this interesting "take" on the Odyssey. The narration is truly outstanding.
6 people found this helpful
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- Vered
- 09-24-08
A good listen
Can't say this is Margaret Atwood at her best, but it's still an enjoyable intelligent Atwood book. Lighter than her usual writing.
Has some feministic downfalls, but as a whole, The sarcastic view of the Odyssey makes it a fun listen.
(Very good narration)
10 people found this helpful
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- Jonathan Cross
- 05-29-20
Must read/listen!
An excellent reframing of the Odyssey. A work of justice and feminine centering, I was quickly drawn in by Penelope. Atwood is brilliant.
4 people found this helpful
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- is
- 02-09-15
Interesting story, but fave read
Th story was intriguing and clever. I did jot care for the effect of the choruses, though. Why just tinker with one voice and layer it? Couldn't they just have two additional readers? It was distracting and really took away from the message.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Elizabeth Weingarten
- 08-27-08
Penelopiad
Read well but the book seems rather inconsequential. Certainly not the typical Atwood book. More like an exercise of some sort.
11 people found this helpful
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- Darwin8u
- 04-14-19
Keeping the Right Doors Locked
“Happy endings are best achieved by keeping the right doors locked”
― Margaret Atwood, The Penelopiad
I like looking at myths and great literature in another way. I enjoyed the book, but it just wasnt' great Margaret Atwood. It felt a bit dashed-off, almost an afterthought. Great in idea, but just OK in execution.
Things I liked:
1. the conception
2. the re-evaluation of Penelope in conjunction with Helen, Odysseus, Eryurycleia, Telemachus, etc.
3. the re-evaluation of Odysseus
4. the idea of the 12 maids
5. the idea of Penelope as female-goddess cult-leader
Things I didn't like:
1. the prose
2. the Chorus Lines
3. general execution
Anyway, I still adore Atwood. This one just happens to be my least favorite I've read so far.
6 people found this helpful
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- jane
- 05-20-10
The Penelopiad
Very funny and cleverly done in the style of a Greek Tragedy - typical smart stuff from Margaret Atwood
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- KAREN
- 03-10-10
PENELOPIAD
This is an outstanding book by an outstanding author but the narration really adds something to it, especially the songs and rhymes.