Ithaca: The exquisite, gripping tale that breathes life into ancient myth (The Songs of Penelope)

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They think the greatest poems are the ones of death in battle and the ravishing of queens. But the stories that will live for ever are of the lost ones, the fearful ones, who through bitter hardship and despair find hope, find strength – find their way home. Follow me through the halls of the palace of Odysseus; follow to hear the stories that the men-poets of the greedy kings do not tell.

If North at first paints Helen as vain and silly, she later proves to not be the fool she pretends, displaying an unexpected wisdom and expertise. Penelope, she unfailingly portrays as oh so clever. Of Menelaus, Aphrodite says “A man who was once considered really rather ugly, and became through power and might and force of arms one of the most handsome men in the world… Menelaus likes it when women cry at his feet while begging for protection. Their tears help fill the leaking hollows of his fractured soul.”

Claire North is an award-winning author best known for the novel ‘The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August’. The story is told from the goddess Hera’s slightly detached perspective. Snarky and often acerbic, Hera brings a unique voice and point of view to the story, and her caustic wit spotlights the inequities between men and women regardless of station, as well as the injustices women face for duty, honor, and the patriarchy.

The writing of the work also left much to be desired. The POV used throughout the book alternates between third person omniscient, third person limited, second person, first person, then also shifts between present tense and sometimes using past tense. The writing constantly bounced between all of these. And the changes happen within a paragraph, which makes for a very frustrating read. There was an abundance of run-on sentences, over-flowery language that added nothing to the story or descriptions, weird smiles and metaphors that were nonsensical, as well as several typos and errors. The author also used modern words and phrases scattered throughout the work which completely broke the little immersion there was with this book. Ithaca by Claire North tells the story of Penelope, Queen of Ithaca. Set while Penelope is entertaining suitors and weaving (and unweaving) her father-in-law's funeral shroud, it explores what it means to rule as a woman who must be seen not to rule at all. I always enjoy feminist interpretations of myths, and this was no exception. The plot was fascinating and I really appreciated the insight into what it means to be powerful as a woman - which in ancient Greece meant to be powerful in secret. Narrated by Hera, the story comments on the different ways in which the most famous queens of Greece - Helen, Clytemnestra, and Penelope - navigate the balance between motherhood, womanhood, and queenhood. Three woman who join together to rent a large space along the beach in Los Angeles for their stores—a gift shop, a bakery, and a bookstore—become fast friends as they each experience the highs, and lows, of love. Webb was educated at the Godolphin and Latymer School, London, and the London School of Economics. [ citation needed] The best word to describe ‘The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August’ glacial. The pacing is really slow. Claire North has a tendency to digress, going off the beaten path and distracting from the primary plot with elements that many readers will admit are largely unnecessary.

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Throughout, as some of Penelope’s suitors hatch a nasty plot, as a young woman is murdered, as ships are set alight, as a daring escape is made, and as Spartan soldiers are defeated, those awful creatures, the Furies hang over Orestes, exacerbating the effects of whatever mortal poison ails him. Cranky old Laertes gets a decent role in this instalment, with some splendid dialogue, and Kenamon the Egyptian also shows his worth. Whatever anyone says about this novel, no one can deny the fact that it is such a compelling story. The elements of time travel are very unique. Claire asks a lot of questions about humanity and the dangers of altering destinies. A little historical and a little science fictional even while injecting elements of the spy thriller genre into the mix, Claire North definitely has something unique here. Ithaca is Claire North's idea of just what might have been happening in Odysseus's house while he was... lost... or being held hostage... or slaying cyclops... I should confess though it is Penelope's retelling, I enjoyed Elektra and Clytemnestra most, Yes we have Agamemnon's wife and daughter here, Athena and Artemis too! This isn't a bad book, yes hard to read and follow, and yes there are a lot of names and people who seem their existence wasn't necessary, but it is a GOOD story, not perfect, though I like to read the next book.