Hardcover, 373 pages
English language
Published Nov. 7, 2023 by HarperCollins Publishers.
A fresh take on the story of Medusa, the original monstered woman.
They will fear you and flee you and call you a monster.
The only mortal in a family of gods, Medusa is the youngest of the Gorgon sisters. Unlike her siblings, Medusa grows older, experiences change, feels weakness. Her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.
When the sea god Poseidon assaults Medusa in Athene's temple, the goddess is enraged. Furious by the violation of her sacred space, Athene takes revenge--on the young woman. Punished for Poseidon's actions, Medusa is forever transformed. Writhing snakes replace her hair and her gaze will turn any living creature to stone. Cursed with the power to destroy all she loves with one look, Medusa condemns herself to a life of solitude.
Until Perseus embarks upon a fateful quest to fetch the head of …
A fresh take on the story of Medusa, the original monstered woman.
They will fear you and flee you and call you a monster.
The only mortal in a family of gods, Medusa is the youngest of the Gorgon sisters. Unlike her siblings, Medusa grows older, experiences change, feels weakness. Her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.
When the sea god Poseidon assaults Medusa in Athene's temple, the goddess is enraged. Furious by the violation of her sacred space, Athene takes revenge--on the young woman. Punished for Poseidon's actions, Medusa is forever transformed. Writhing snakes replace her hair and her gaze will turn any living creature to stone. Cursed with the power to destroy all she loves with one look, Medusa condemns herself to a life of solitude.
Until Perseus embarks upon a fateful quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon...
In Stone Blind, classicist and comedian Natalie Haynes turns our understanding of this legendary myth on its head, bringing empathy and nuance to one of the earliest stories in which a woman--injured by a powerful man--is blamed, punished, and monstered for the assault. Delving into the origins of this mythic tale, Haynes revitalizes and reconstructs Medusa's story with her passion and fierce wit, offering a timely retelling of this classic myth that speaks to us today.
I enjoyed reading this book. I appreciated that neither Medusa nor her sisters were monsters even though the latter are monstrous.
Otro punto del mito de Medusa y el "héroe" Perseo. Una narración ligera pero muy bien escrita.
Entré con dudas a esta lectura porque soy muy fan de la cultura griega clásica y he salido encantando.
Puntos de vista de personajes muy originales. Quizás es demasiado cruel con la figura de Perseo pero desde luego todo lo que le pasó a Medusa esta muy bien contado y no entra en conflicto con las cosas canónicas que conocemos.
Otro punto del mito de Medusa y el "héroe" Perseo. Una narración ligera pero muy bien escrita.
Entré con dudas a esta lectura porque soy muy fan de la cultura griega clásica y he salido encantando.
Puntos de vista de personajes muy originales. Quizás es demasiado cruel con la figura de Perseo pero desde luego todo lo que le pasó a Medusa esta muy bien contado y no entra en conflicto con las cosas canónicas que conocemos.
Almost a four
In 2008 Luciano Garbati created "Medusa with the Head of Perseus", and a modern version of the Medusa myth was lodged in minds, of a defiant strong woman taking revenge on her agressors.
That's not the Medusa myth Natalie Haynes tells.
Natalie tells the story of Medusa the victim, who did nothing wrong except exist and was tormented, tortured and then killed. Even after death, she's still a weapon, used by a cowardly mortal who solves all his problems with death. The Gods have done nothing but do what Gods do, which is use her as a pawn for her entire existence.
This is not a triumpant story, it's a story about the roles women play in society, and their relationships with Gods and men.
In 2008 Luciano Garbati created "Medusa with the Head of Perseus", and a modern version of the Medusa myth was lodged in minds, of a defiant strong woman taking revenge on her agressors.
That's not the Medusa myth Natalie Haynes tells.
Natalie tells the story of Medusa the victim, who did nothing wrong except exist and was tormented, tortured and then killed. Even after death, she's still a weapon, used by a cowardly mortal who solves all his problems with death. The Gods have done nothing but do what Gods do, which is use her as a pawn for her entire existence.
This is not a triumpant story, it's a story about the roles women play in society, and their relationships with Gods and men.
Natalie's audiobook narration is so entertaining! Who gets to decide who is a monster? This story tells the story of Medusa as innocent victim, unfairly punished for her rape. And Perseus is such a wet blanket, rather than the hero of myths.
I see some complaints that this is told from lots of perspectives, not just Medusa's but I enjoyed the story of Andromeda and the bickering gods too. And the scene between Perseus and the Graeae was so much fun. Although ultimately sad that one naive young man did so much damage to people he dismissed as monsters
Natalie's audiobook narration is so entertaining! Who gets to decide who is a monster? This story tells the story of Medusa as innocent victim, unfairly punished for her rape. And Perseus is such a wet blanket, rather than the hero of myths.
I see some complaints that this is told from lots of perspectives, not just Medusa's but I enjoyed the story of Andromeda and the bickering gods too. And the scene between Perseus and the Graeae was so much fun. Although ultimately sad that one naive young man did so much damage to people he dismissed as monsters
