Title: Stone Blind
Author: Natalie Haynes
Release Date: September 15, 2022
Page Amount: 371 pages, Paperback
The national bestselling author of A Thousand Ships and Pandora's Jar returns with a fresh and stunningly perceptive 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.
Review:
A fantastic retelling of Medusa. I loved all of the different perspectives we got. I also loved the questions this novel brought up about what a monster, who decides who is a monster, etc. That sort of theme has always deeply appealed to me. The second I read the first page of this, I knew I would love it. And I was absolutely right. The writing was wonderful, as was the characterization of everyone in the book. It was amazing, and I would highly recommend it. Especially if you are interested in Greek Mythology and retellings of Greek Mythology. I will certainly be reading more by Natalie Haynes in the future.
5 quills
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