Greek mythology

[drinkyourmilk]

Can anyone please recommend a book either about or based on Greek mythology please? Fiction or none - fiction , either is fine.

Depends what you want it for and who the audience is.

For an adult, you can't go far wrong with Robert Graves classic work on the greek myths.

For a child, this is a nice book:

www.goodreads.com/book/show/107186.Gods_Men_Monsters_from_the_Greek_Myths

I really loved gods behaving badly. Its fiction. Definitely for adults though, not children.

The Song of Achilles .

One of the best written books I've ever read.

www.amazon.co.uk/Song-Achilles-Madeline-Miller/dp/1408821982/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1447345482&sr=1-1&keywords=the+song+of+achilles

But only 1 legend/myth - not the lot.

I'd second the Song of Achilles.

I've also read a couple of kids' books on the Greek myths, can't remember what they're called, though. I have the Robert Graves book but haven't read it!

I ploughed through the Iliad a couple of years ago, which is OK if you've got the time (not a ringing endorsement, I know).

Books by Mary Renault?

I've just borrowed the Infinities by John Banville from the library, it is a fictional story I think with Greek gods watching events on modern day earth, but I haven't started it yet.

I thought the Song of Achilles was OK, but not a patch on Mary Renault's novels. My two favourites are The King Must Die and The Bull from the Sea.

Totally agree with Sadik

Myths are mostly a bit fictional.

Ilium by Dan Simmons

Thanks everyone. It's for my dh who doesn't read, but loves Greek mythology, so I'm trying to encourage him.

Mary Renault's The Bull From The Sea and The King Must Die are wonderful re-imaginings of the story of Theseus.

Agree about the Mary Renault books. SO SO good on the Theseus myth. Also enjoyed Song of Achilles but not as much

Try an amazing Audiobook called Metamorphoses by Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden. Beautiful retelling of Ovid. And definitely Mary Renault.

www.goodreads.com/list/show/92468.Greek_Hellenic_Myth_Inspired_Speculative_Fiction

Just noticed the above list

This is a lovely book. It's about the Minotaur - who end up as a line chef in modern southern USA. Highly recommend. Very unusual and moving.

www.amazon.co.uk/Minotaur-Takes-Cigarette-Break/dp/184195487X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447775257&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Minotaur+Takes+a+Cigarette+Break