Ancient Myths and Legends Without Men by Mara Gold
This book grabbed my attention at an indie bookstore and I took my time with it, knowing I'd definitely come back to it often. I took a mythology class in high school and recently read the Percy Jackson series, so vague ideas of some of these characters were in mind, but in many ways I was starting from scratch. I think this book will appeal to people with any level of mythology knowledge. It explains everything so you're always on the same page with the writer, but also, the way things are explained doesn't feel over-the-top if you have that knowledge. It strikes a great balance.
Here's a quote I can't resist sharing. The balance of slightly snarky commentary with fact and research is a delight:
It certainly speaks to the view of women held by men in ancient Greece and Rome that any perils at sea were largely blamed on women, simply because they understood the mysteries of the ocean about as much as they understood women and their biology.
I'd say it's an easy-to-read reference book, in a way. It has a fair amount of info on LOTS of mythological women. I think it's good for a broad overview, and I know I'm going to use it to get ideas for my own writing or further research. It makes me think of similar books I have for general information and writing inspiration, like these favorites:
- How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg, illustrated by Kevin O'Malley
- Tall Tales, Legends & Hoaxes by Nat Segaloff
- Frightlopedia: An Encyclopedia of Everything Scary, Creepy, and Spine-Chilling, from Arachnids to Zombies by Julie Winterbottom, illustrated by Stefano Tambellini
- Unsolved Mysteries: Bizarre Events That Have Puzzled the Greatest Minds by Joel Levy
- The United States of Cryptids: A Tour of American Myths and Monsters by J.W. Ocker
I really appreciate the references to retellings and adaptations, both contemporary and older, so you can easily explore more of the sections that interest you. The purple color scheme is gorgeous, too, and I loved the illustrations. It's definitely a book to buy as a physical copy and show off on your coffee table!
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