Book Review: Helen of Troy

I really do love to write my book review every month. I’m forced me into reading NEW books, as opposed to rereading my favorites over and over. Now that we’re closing out a school year, if you’re looking for a new book to read, check out my other book reviews.

I have a confession though. I haven’t yet finished this book. When we went to Vegas, I did so much reading on the plane to distract myself. I thought I would be totally fine with finishing the book at the rate I was reading. Phew…this one is a doozy.

Book Review: Helen of Troy

I’ve always been entranced by ancient times. The idea of mythology and the investment people had in these gods and their purposes is just fascinating! Margaret George is an author known for her ability to build epic biographies of stories that we all know and love. Helen of Troy is just one of these. She’s also written the story of Elizabeth I and Cleopatra.

Ms. George does a phenomenal job of giving the story of Helen a real back story. We all know of her marriage to Menelaus and later affair and marriage to Paris. She was the “face that launched a thousand ships”, known to those in Greece as the most beautiful woman in the world. Born of Zeus and Leda (a mortal), she was always destined to be something great.

And now the story…

The first part of the book is about Helen’s time in Greece. You are with her as she grows up, becomes a woman, finds a worth suitor, and even becomes a mother. You see her interaction with her sister and brothers, and how their royal family interacts with those of Sparta.

Enter Paris.

Immediately, they have a connection. Helen does her “best” to fight it. After all, she is 25 and he is but 16! However, their love was destined by the gods. After overhearing Menelaus in a passionate exchange with a Grecian woman, Helen makes the decision to follow her heart and leave with Paris for Troy.

They begin the journey to Troy. Their first evening, they encounter pirates and have a nasty skirmish. The remainder of their journey is slightly less adventurous, with the slight exception of running into Achilles dressing as a woman.

Their receipt in Troy is less amicable than they anticipated. Paris, fresh in love, was hopeful that his family would be accepting of Helen. However, it appears as though Menelaus’ men have already come through Troy to demand the whereabouts of their queen, thinking she had been taken against her will.

This begins the animosity between Sparta and Troy. During the quest to find Helen’s husband back in Sparta, the king made all of the suitors promise to uphold her choice of mate. Since she went against this original choice, it is these suitors who make the “thousand ships”.

I just got to the fleets arrival in Troy. They had the original skirmish as the Greeks attempted to come ashore. I still have 11 days in April to finish it, and I have high hopes that I will!

Book Review

This book is quite verbose, as most books depicting this time are. You actually feel  like you’re in Sparta or in the glistening walls of Troy. Reading it, you feel the intense pressure when Helen leaves sweet Hermione. I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. George’s storytelling ability. Now, do I feel these descriptions were necessary to appreciate the story? Probably not. It’s a very exciting story, and definitely worth a read (so far) if you love mythology and the ancient cities like I do!

What book did you read in April?

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