Description
A plucked narcissus opens a chasm to the underworld and sets into motion the timeless story of a daughter’s search for independence, a father’s feeble plans to control his house and his wife, and a mother’s search for revenge.
A Pomegranate and the Maiden explores the harrowing tale of Demeter and Persephone by giving new voice to the myth’s gallery of memorable characters as each recounts the strange and shocking events surrounding a daughter’s kidnapping and her mother’s unforgettable scheme for justice.
Faith –
I have always loved mythology, so the book really struck a chord with me. The characters are fun and interesting, the story fascinating. There is romance as well as mystery and suspense. Good reading!
The author was the narrator and she did a wonderful job. She brought the story to life.
I requested this audio book from Audiobooks Unleashed and have voluntarily left this review.
Mel –
~Disclaimer: I received a free audiobook copy of this book.~
I enjoy reading/listening to retelling myths and fairytales. And the authors introduction to the story got me excited about what I was going to read:
“The myth resonates on many levels. It is an ancient story of a mother’s inconsolable grief at the loss of her child. It is a story of a young girl’s passage to womanhood. It is a story that begins with an abduction and ends with love. And, finally, it is the story of how the maiden Kore becomes Persephone, the Bride of Death, the Queen of the Underworld, and the Goddess of Spring.” (pg 8)
However, while I did enjoy the feminist take that the story has and the many examples that pop up throughout the story of double standards and the like; I did end up having some problems with the story. My main issue was there were too many different voices. In a longer book you can flesh out the perspectives, but in such a short narrative the constant switching perspectives is confusing (especially in an audio format).
Narration: The sample is representative of the sound quality of the audiobook. There was some occasional scratching sound to the recording, but it wasn’t a big issue (I noticed on Chapter 6 and Chapter 12 of the audiobook). In my opinion the narration lacked the emotion behind the lines you get from a professional narrator which made it more difficult to enjoy.
Recommended for those who: enjoy retellings of myths, those familiar with greek mythology, and who enjoy feminist stories.