Ithaca, Claire North

 

Ithaca by Claire North (pen name for Catherine Webb) is the first book of the Songs of Penelope.

Started: 4/12/2023
Completed: 4/16/2023
Recommendation: Mildly Recommended
Recommended By: Nobody

Review:

This is the latter part of the Odyssey told from the perspective of Hera about, primarily, the women left behind.  The focus is Penelope, wife of Odysseus, and her effort to avoid being married off in general.  It is an interesting look at how the people of Ithaca might have supported her in this venture (as well as the gods, particularly Hera).  In general, however, it was not engaging.  I didn't feel like I got to know any of the characters at all.  It is an approachable retelling, however, and it does go some lengths to explain why women are not remembered (for the most part and queens in particular) by the poets.