Week 28-4 "Ithaka"

"Ithaka" by Adele Geras. Mar.1-4, Whole Book.

     If you haven't noticed, I read what is kind of a sequel to "Troy", which I also read this week. It doesn't have the same characters but it's still based on Greek mythology. This time though, the myth is about Odysseus's journey home after the Trojan War is done. News Flash: His island still has to wait another 10 years until her gets home! His wife Penelope is told by the goddess Athena that she has to remain unchanged for Odysseus to get home safely but Penelope doesn't know if he is dead or alive, so it's pretty hard on her. It gets worse when pig-like suitors show up and feed on the island and try to convince Penelope that Odysseus is dead so she should marry them. Penelope actually does like one of the men, Leodes, but she knows she cannot remarry if Odysseus is to come home. So basically, it's a struggle for her. The book also has another plot-line with another character, Klymene, who is in love with Penelope's son. I liked Penelope's story more though because it interested me more but I really liked the book. It wasn't as intense and grim as "Troy" but didn't have a 'light' tone to it either. But I liked this book, and hope the author writes more like it.