Pat Barker - The Silence of the Girls

[Thellastunicorn]

Just finished reading this tonight. Absolutely outstanding work of fiction detailing the inner lives and realities of women in Greek Myth. The Guardian (bah) have called it "The Feminist Iliad".

It's given me a lot to think about in regards to issues that are relevant today, here and now. Namely - the silencing and erasure of female voices and the BIOLOGICAL basis of our oppression. Briseis did not " identify" as a woman ffs. Womanhood is not a feeling or a costume or a posture. Grrrrrrr.

Pat Barker gets it : sex is not a social construct - either culturally or historically. Gender on the other hand....

Has anyone else read this yet?

No. But it sounds interesting. Slowly building up a fortress of feminist literature.

I read this a month ago and loved it. Loved the descriptions of the 'set up', down to the smells and the richness of the characters, a brilliant read. Pat Barker is a brilliant author.

Thanks for the tip. I've just downloaded the audiobook and am looking forward to listening to it tomorrow.

Waaaah! I love Pat Barker and I wrote my thesis on the Iliad - can’t get to Amazon fast enough!

It is a stunning book.

Many thanks OP. Was unaware of it but now it's getting purchased.

Mamaogden
Slowly building up a fortress of feminist literature.
Love the way you put that!

I have to read this. Pat Barker is amazing.

I've been thinking about reading this. I loved Pat Barker's first world war trilogy and I've really enjoyed Madeline Miller's books about the Greek myths so this sounds perfect.

Thanks for the tip - it's on the Xmas list

Sounds great.
I've been pondering ancient Greece and it's relationships to women a lot recently.

Slowly building up a fortress of feminist literature.

Ha! Me too. I have so many suggestions Last week I took delivery of the beautiful new translation of The Odyessy by Emily Wilson - the first translation into English by a woman. Really looking forward to getting stuck into that.

Thank you - just bought it. She is indeed a fabulous writer. Really looking forward to this!

Have been thinking of asking for that translation of the Odyssey for Christmas. I saw Emily Wilson speak at Hay, and she was very interesting.

I have this book. I'm currently reading Jenni Murray's history of the word* but I will get to Pat Barker next.

*I would personally like to thank Oxford university for my purchasing of this book. You know why