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Book Review
Atalanta
by Jennifer Saint
This novel retells the Greek legend of Atalanta. It's a fairly straightforward narrative that gives a feminist gloss on the story. Those of us whose childhoods included repeated listenings of Free to Be You and Me are likely familiar with the story of Atalanta's footrace and the golden apples, but there is so much more to her story than that. She was one of the Argonauts and took part in a legendary and tragic boar hunt, all before the famous footrace.
In Saint's version, Atalanta is a ward of Artemis and it is the goddess who bids her join the Argonauts and take the hero's path. However, Atalanta must not marry lest she lose herself. However, as Atalanta experiences the wider world and proves herself to be a formidable warrior, she also gains more understanding of herself and her place in the world. Atalanta is a woman determined not to be defeated and to preserve her independence and freedom to live and be as she wishes, even if this brings her into conflict with men and gods. I admired her fearlessness and determination. I do wish the novel had a bit more depth and had explored Atalanta's status as an unconventional woman a bit more.
by Jennifer Saint
This novel retells the Greek legend of Atalanta. It's a fairly straightforward narrative that gives a feminist gloss on the story. Those of us whose childhoods included repeated listenings of Free to Be You and Me are likely familiar with the story of Atalanta's footrace and the golden apples, but there is so much more to her story than that. She was one of the Argonauts and took part in a legendary and tragic boar hunt, all before the famous footrace.
In Saint's version, Atalanta is a ward of Artemis and it is the goddess who bids her join the Argonauts and take the hero's path. However, Atalanta must not marry lest she lose herself. However, as Atalanta experiences the wider world and proves herself to be a formidable warrior, she also gains more understanding of herself and her place in the world. Atalanta is a woman determined not to be defeated and to preserve her independence and freedom to live and be as she wishes, even if this brings her into conflict with men and gods. I admired her fearlessness and determination. I do wish the novel had a bit more depth and had explored Atalanta's status as an unconventional woman a bit more.