Overall, what did you think of Aphrodite in Pieces? (No spoilers in this topic, please.)
I really enjoyed it myself. I wasn’t sure I’d like the self-told memoir style of the narrative but that actually ended up being one of the things that made the book so engaging.
I had a pretty deep familiarity with stories of Greek mythology going into the book, which I think gave me an added level of enjoyment, but I don’t think it was necessary to appreciate the story. It was a completely different perspective on the Aphrodite story and I really appreciated that. Honestly, the portrayal of all the Titans and gods of the Greek pantheon was quite different from what I studied in literature classes and that was one of the things that made this book so interesting.
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I was very impressed with how the author took all these separate myths which featured Aphrodite and wove them into a single, compelling story.
@Linda_B1, you say that the gods were depicted differently than what you learned in school. How so?
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I was impressed with the author’s knowledge of Greek mythology in general and her ability to incorporate the myths so effortlessly into her book.
I enjoyed the easy flow of the author’s narrative style and was engaged right from the first page.
I wasn’t expecting a page turner and for that I was surprised.
I really enjoyed this book. I’m not super familiar with all the Greek Gods and mythology but I thought this was a great way to break down some of the mythology in a relatable narrative.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite in Pieces is Greek mythology retelling magic! I devoured this book and loved every page. Women, whether mortal or goddess, were done wrong throughout Greek mythology and I am all about these retellings that give our girls their turn.
Lauren J.A. Bear reclaims Aphrodite’s tale, and allows her to shine with compassion and care often missing in traditional mythology.
Bear’s writing flowed so nicely, and allowed the story to be the star. Mythology books can often feel heavy and confusing with so many characters, but I didn’t get that at all here. Certainly it helps having read many of the associated stories but I think even those unfamiliar will find their way through.
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I absolutely loved it. I especially liked that Aphrodite was telling her story. Instead of one long story from someone else’s perspective, it was done her way and it was like a lot of short stories within the bigger story.
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This is my type of book! I’ve read Ariadne and Elektra both by Jennifer Saint. The greek myths never did justice to the women so I enjoy when a writer writes from their perspective.
I do not go looking for books on Greek mythology - the ones I have read were book club choices that were asssigned. I have to say reading Aphrodite in Pieces was very enjoyable. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of the characters but I realized I did not have to. The important ones kept reappearing. I liked it because it was thought-provoking as well as humorous with a touch of evil and sex. The perfect recipe.
Loved it! I already answered this in one of the previous questions. I love authors who bring myths into the present. I’m more drawn to ones that focus on the women characters as they have been slighted in the originals.
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I loved it! I gave it 5 stars because of the writing, the pacing, the storytelling and the clever ending.
I loved this book and now want to read Mother of Rome and Medusa’s sisters. I would give it 5 stars for its literary flow and the way she wove the story together. I found myself caught up in wondering what was going to happen next. I liked her look at the characters after Troy. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. To me Aphrodite was the story of all women. There is beauty in every woman if you look for it. It all comes down to what is beauty?
I loved this book! I have not studied or read much about Greek Gods or mythology, and this book makes me want to read more. I enjoyed Aphrodite’s encounter with Alexandros, the story that she told of her life, and the update about her modern-day life. It was a very enjoyable book.
I was surprised that I enjoyed the book as much as I did. I’m not drawn to fantastical books or movies that transcend reality with supernatural events, but Lauren Bear is a compelling writer. With so many different characters, her use of the first person narrative for all but the last two chapters kept the story grounded and easier to follow. The main character, Aphrodite, was well-developed. The last two chapters in the third person was an extremely clever way to end the tale. Thank you BookBrowse for helping me expand my reading horizons.
I didn’t completely love this book, which I think was partly because I found it difficult to read without much background in Greek mythology. At first, I approached it almost like a textbook, trying to understand every reference, which made it feel heavy. However, once I let go of that and allowed myself to read it more as a story, I began to enjoy it much more. What stood out to me in the end was how deeply the themes connect to women’s experiences across time, especially around identity, desire, and being seen for more than what others project onto you
Very interesting book that really brought Greek mythology alive.
I ended up really enjoying this book. At first I was not sure if I would get into it. I did like how it was Aphrodite telling her own story.