“List” Posts
The genre of retelling myths as novels keeps generating interesting new titles. I’m way behind on my reading. One of the ways I attempt to keep track of them is by looking through various “list” style posts. I found this “10 Subversive Retellings of Classic Myths and Legends” on The Portalist. The subtitle reveals the kind of subversiveness: “Women take control in these retold tales.”
Missing and Most Popular
The list leaves out some authors I would definitely include, most notably, Natalie Haynes, Amalia Carosella, and Zenobia Neil. It starts with the super popular (well-deservedly) Circe by Madeline Miller. I wrote an extended review of Circe, if you’re interested.
Atwood’s Classic
Second up is Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad. I confess I hadn’t read that title until recently, despite it being a classic of its own. Atwood’s Penelope is subversively snarky and not at all the perfectly devoted wife she is so often made out to be. That’s fine with me. Frankly, I find a good deal of subversiveness layered into Homer’s portrayal of her, although it’s easy for generations of patriarchally-minded readers to ignore those ways Homer tweaked the tradition. I didn’t connect very deeply with Atwood’s Penelope, but I think her retelling was meant as an intellectual reworking of the Odysseus tradition, a literary comeuppance for the sloppy cruelty inherent in Homer’s Odysseus. In that she succeeds.
Le Guin’s Roman Lavinia
The last book on this list, Le Guin’s Lavinia, is, as you’d expect from a master like Le Guin, great in all the ways you want a book to be. I read it a long time ago, before I was reviewing books, but I’ve pulled it from my shelf when I’m putting together a workshop and looking for examples of compelling writing that brings ancient women to the fore. She definitely drew her reader into Lavinia’s world.
Retelling Myths
The books in the middle of the list put me to shame as far as keeping up with what’s published. Some of these retelling myths are intriguing books I had not heard of. Others are books I’ve been meaning to read and want to.
If you enjoy novels that retell myths and put women in control, look through the list. Tell me in my comments section below which you’ve read and what you think. Should I bump any to the top of my giant to-be-read list? Are there some that are new to you, also? Which missing titles would you add?