Troy
Adele Geras
Historic Fiction
120/358
Summary
The point of view switches around the characters Xanthe, Polyxena, Marpessa, Iason, and Halie, Theano, Danae, three old women who work washing clothes, telling of each's hardships during this war. Afterwards, Halie goes to the market to try and find some fish. She finds that no stalls are open, as she expected, but just as she turns to leave, she spies an old man at the edge of the market with a single, giant fish on the table in front of him. She goes to him, and he claims that he is Poseidon, the god of the sea. She thinks him mad, but listens to what he has to say, because he has the fish. Poseidon tells her of Achilles, the great Greek warrior that Lord Hector would soon meet in battle. He tells her that, when they see Achilles riding in to battle, it won't actually be Achilles. The great warrior is on strike after an argument with the general, and another will don his armour and ride in his place. Poseidon gives Halie the fish for a kiss, and Halie walks away, satisfied. However, when she looks down, the fish is gone! Also, she has no memory of what the man told her.
Later on, Xanthe takes Alastor to the wall because he insists. There, Hector rides into battle against Achilles, and slays him, but everyone quickly realizes that it is not actually Achilles but his cousin Patroclus. After the battle is over, everyone speaks of how much the two cousins loved each other, and how Achilles will get vengance on Hector. The next battle, Achilles returns, and, after a fierce fight, he stabs Hector in the neck with a spear. Achilles is so furious that he doesn't even return Hector's body to Troy, but takes it back with him to the Greek camp to rot.
Response
I'm really liking this book so far; the gods appear a lot in disguises, and the characters often forget they even spoke to them afterwards, which I find sort of amusing. The constant switching of the point of view, again, makes it interesting to see the different perspectives, but makes it hard to concentrate on the story itself. I'm really looking forward to reading more, and seeing what happens next.
Passage
"Somewhere at the back of her mind, there was a dim memory of someone talking to her, but as she didn't recall anyone at all being at the market, she decided she must have dreamed it. The sun could do funny thing to you, no mistake."
I like this passage, because this is about Halie, after she spoke with Poseidon. She has barely any memory of speaking to the god, and the fish that was given to her is gone. I find this funny, as the characters are constantly visited by the omnipotent gods, and most have no idea of it.
Adele Geras
Historic Fiction
120/358
Summary
The point of view switches around the characters Xanthe, Polyxena, Marpessa, Iason, and Halie, Theano, Danae, three old women who work washing clothes, telling of each's hardships during this war. Afterwards, Halie goes to the market to try and find some fish. She finds that no stalls are open, as she expected, but just as she turns to leave, she spies an old man at the edge of the market with a single, giant fish on the table in front of him. She goes to him, and he claims that he is Poseidon, the god of the sea. She thinks him mad, but listens to what he has to say, because he has the fish. Poseidon tells her of Achilles, the great Greek warrior that Lord Hector would soon meet in battle. He tells her that, when they see Achilles riding in to battle, it won't actually be Achilles. The great warrior is on strike after an argument with the general, and another will don his armour and ride in his place. Poseidon gives Halie the fish for a kiss, and Halie walks away, satisfied. However, when she looks down, the fish is gone! Also, she has no memory of what the man told her.
Later on, Xanthe takes Alastor to the wall because he insists. There, Hector rides into battle against Achilles, and slays him, but everyone quickly realizes that it is not actually Achilles but his cousin Patroclus. After the battle is over, everyone speaks of how much the two cousins loved each other, and how Achilles will get vengance on Hector. The next battle, Achilles returns, and, after a fierce fight, he stabs Hector in the neck with a spear. Achilles is so furious that he doesn't even return Hector's body to Troy, but takes it back with him to the Greek camp to rot.
Response
I'm really liking this book so far; the gods appear a lot in disguises, and the characters often forget they even spoke to them afterwards, which I find sort of amusing. The constant switching of the point of view, again, makes it interesting to see the different perspectives, but makes it hard to concentrate on the story itself. I'm really looking forward to reading more, and seeing what happens next.
Passage
"Somewhere at the back of her mind, there was a dim memory of someone talking to her, but as she didn't recall anyone at all being at the market, she decided she must have dreamed it. The sun could do funny thing to you, no mistake."
I like this passage, because this is about Halie, after she spoke with Poseidon. She has barely any memory of speaking to the god, and the fish that was given to her is gone. I find this funny, as the characters are constantly visited by the omnipotent gods, and most have no idea of it.
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