Medusa

In a Nutshell: This book shows you why you must give a chance to indie writers too. There are some real gems in the indie world.There must be hardly anyone who hasn't heard of Medusa. One of the most feared of the Greek monsters, this gorgon sister is known for her gaze that could turn any man into stone. But here we have a book that reveals the other side of the picture. Why and how did Medusa become Medusa? Is she really a monster or a victim of her circumstances?In terms of its writing, this book is outstanding. The way the narrative progresses fluidly from one scene to the next leaves you hooked. At a mere 200+ pages, this book can easily be completed within a couple of hours.You don't need to know the classics in order to grasp the story. The author gives enough of a background into all the key characters to make sure that your reading flow isn't affected. There are some wonderful quotes in the book, with one of my favourites being "The most powerful revelations are the ones we discover for ourselves." I want to especially mention the feminist angle that the story takes at times. This could have been further developed upon but it was still a laudable attempt, especially considering how Greek myths glamorise only male heroes.Overall, this was a fast-paced and enjoyable read and I loved getting a behind-the-scenes look at Medusa. Definitely recommended to everyone looking for a quick break in between intense books.4.5 stars from me, rounding up to 5.

When I saw the cover and the blurb, I knew I had to read it. The book is 204 pages long but feels even smaller. I could finish it in 2 hours (though it was divided into two days) and must say I'm impressed by the author's voice.Naturally, the story is written in the first-person narrative, with Medusa tells us her version of history. The Stream of Consciousness worked very well as the story progressed. It made the narrator's voice stronger and clear.We've seen and read different versions about Medusa, and all of them show her as a monster who went on a killing spree. She has been a fascinating part of mythology for centuries.This book ticked almost all boxes and provided me with an intriguing version of Medusa. Retellings are always tricky. There's a thin line between a hit and a miss. This one is a hit because the narration held my attention from start to finish. I enjoyed the growth in the relationship between Medusa and her sister. The underlying introspective tone was another plus.Yes, I do wish there was more depth to the details. But guess the author would have had to tinker too much with the original. And research is never easy with topics like this. Also, there's the risk of turning the book into an emotional drama rather than the assertive version of what it is now.For a debut author, this is an impressive work, and I look forward to reading more from her.Maybe she could cut down a few adverbs in the next book. I do like the strength of the narrative.Overall, Medusa has been a lovely retelling, a feminist version with a controlled voice (not something I see in all feminist works).I received an ARC from Netgalley and Silver Wood Books and am leaving a voluntary review.

Medusa has always been one of the Greek monsters humans remember the most. She inspired paintings, sculptures, and movies. However, she is always portrayed as the thing to kill, without any real reason why she must die.Rosie Hewlett explores the life and death of Medusa in a new light - as a human transformed into a monster because of an unfair goddess, and who is still determined to try to beat the odds against her.Medusa tells us her story from the Underworld, where she has watched her story being told by men time and again and always inaccurately. She decides to finally speak the truth of what really happened.Medusa's mother is a primordial sea goddess and deserts her as soon as she is born because she came out human. She is found by an old temple maiden and raised as a virgin disciple of Athene. She is devoted to the goddess who never speaks to her, yet believing blindly in that divine protection.All goes horribly wrong when Poseidon sets his eye on the adult Medusa's beauty and rapes her in Athene's temple. Medusa calls out repeatedly to the goddess for help but to no avail.Athene only appears after the assault, blaming Medusa for the temple's desecration and punishing her by turning her into the creature we all know and love. Medusa's immortal sisters receive the same treatment as they attempt to explain it was Poseidon's lust to blame.Thus begins Medusa's story of being feared, pursued, betrayed by her mother and gods, finally hiding away so she cannot hurt anyone with her unwanted power. She ultimately finds a friend in the man sent to kill het but discovers instead a pregnant woman who does not deserve to die.Medusa's first-person prose is beautifully written, compelling, and speaks to today's females who must push through the testosterone miasma to be heard in today's society. Several sections would make a fantastic soliloquy for a speech class or an audition. They are so strong yet not pushy in what is being presented, which gives them almost a lyrical feeling.This needs to be made into a movie because Medusa is not amonster but a tragic figure and victim deserving her voice to be not only heard but to be sung in praise for enduring all the pain and cruelty, and leaving the mortal realm with dignity. Female directors and producers - this needs your unique touch to tell it with compassion and empathy.

Una novela que te atrapa desde el inicio.

it is nice to read. written in her perspective and like she is telling the story to the reader. and i was surprised as this is the first book i found that actually mentions her sons

Cracked up to be-Guys-So was he cute-Come hang out with us-The little prick-Cooking up dramas-These are just a few of the expressions to be found throughout the book, Medusa, continously. Hence 3 stars as it had me reading to the end.I've just criticised The Witch's Heart for it's bantering sessions and even so I gave it 5 stars, it was so original.I really don't understand all the 'hype' about this book. It was quite original storywise but it was a real strain to get through all these 'trivial and common' euphemisms in a book on mythology.Not even recommendable as a young adult read, IMHO.

When an author is so confident in their knowledge of a subject, so clear on the detail, the nuance, the wider picture, the narrower view, then no matter what situation is presented, the coherence of the narrative and the shape of the story will shine through with integrity and assurance.This was the experience of reading Rosie Hewlett’s re-telling of Medusa. Having no knowledge of anything resembling Greek mythology outside Disney’s Hercules, I could be forgiven for being slightly nervous when I opened the first page of this simply sensational debut novel. Was I going to be overawed by the complexity of the story, the relationships, the backdrop? Would the void left by a less than sophisticated general education be exposed? Absolutely not. Reading the book felt like being gently guided through the story by the sure-footedness of an author who quite simply knows her stuff and has the confidence to re-tell it, giving a powerful alternative reality to Medusa’s narrative.Quite simply, this is a phenomenal read and this is why;*The writing is poetic, educated, intelligent and effortlessly beautiful (although as the author’s Medusa would attest, beauty is not all its cracked up to be).*The storytelling is mature, thoughtful, insightful, layered, clever, funny, tragic and achingly sorrowful.*The characters are formed within a whisper of detail in no time at all (although as the author’s Medusa would attest, time is a bit of a pain). *Somehow, magically, the landscapes arrive in the reader’s consciousness without the need for long drawn out descriptions- as if the gods... or the Fates ...had decided that this is where they belong.Rosie Hewlett’s Medusa, like any other mortal, is shaped by the experiences she endures but is then saddled with the power to somehow right the wrongs inflicted by the patriarch. At all times she displays a strength in her vulnerability that makes her real, relevant to the age we are living in now and yet true to her heritage.