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Patty
Rating:
 
Review
Helen of Troy is a new novel based on Homer's epic poem "The Iliad." The 602 page volume is laden with myths and prophesies, gods and goddesses, warriors, heroes and tragedies. George's version is masterful in detail, weaving the intricacies of mythology into a believable tale, and accurately reflecting ancient classic literature. The characters are real enough that one easily forgets the book is fiction. That's not to say it is an easy book to read. It must be approached with an open mind, plenty of time, and perserverance, and the patience to sort out the many personalities involved. It will help if the reader enjoys the idiosyncracies of the mythological world. Told from Helen's point of view the story begins when she is a child born to King Tyndareus and Queen Leda, of Sparta. Because of Helen's great beauty her parents try to protect her from the destiny prophesied by The Sibyl that "she will be the ruin of Asia, the ruin of Europe, and because of her a great war will be fought, and many Greeks will die!" Helen marries Menelaus at age fifteen, and they soon have a daughter Hermione. When Hermione is nine, Paris and his cousin Aeneas who are from a land called Troy across the Aegean Sea, visit the court of Sparta. Helen and Paris fall into heavy lust, guided by the manipulating hand of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. Leaving her husband, her daughter, and her parents Helen runs off to Troy with Paris where their indiscretion ignites a series of tragic events resulting in the lengthy Trojan War, and the annihilation of Troy. Now well into her 60s Helen nears the end of her life, and has lost nearly everyone she loves. Helen takes one last journey where she encounters the unexpected, and the novel ends with an unusual twist of fate. I thought this is a fine book, beautifully exploring an ancient tale in modern terminology. I can truthfully say I regretted turning the last page. I had to read "The Iliad" in college. It was not a pleasant assignment. If this book had been available for reference I would have enjoyed Homer's poem much more. Who knows? I might even have become a professor.
Best Line:
"I said my loyalty was to Helen," said Gelanor, "I did not say I was owned by Helen, going wherever her fancy took her." Gelanor is Helen's faithful friend, and has a significant role in the novel.
Kim
Rating:
Review
Those of you who have read some of my other reviews probably have figured out by now that I'm usually not a fan of big, fat, long books. There was no other way for this one to be, though. This story of Helen of Sparta, and later of Troy, is epic! One must set aside some serious time to enjoy this novel, as it is beautifully written in the believable voice of Helen herself. The book begins with Helen as a child, who is sheltered by her parents and siblings because her beauty causes seemingly normal people to point and gape at her, and eventually call in to question her lineage (being born into Spartan royalty isn't the issue, but that her real father may be a god). Helen marries young, has a daughter, and becomes queen of Sparta, when she meets Paris, and the rest is history. Okay, it may be history or it may be mythology, or it may all be a figment of another writer's imagination, but the details in this story are rich and inspired. Kudos to Ms. George.
Best Line:
"She and her twin brother Helenus had their ears licked by serpents when they were infants, and that gave them the gift of prophecy." Only Greek mythology could come up with a very cool explanation like that.
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