"The Penelopiad" by Margaret Atwood - Rereading Penelope from Homer's epics

To be honest, I was a little concerned we wouldn't have a whole lot to talk about. Taking up 90 minutes discussing this book seemed like it might take some stretching in my mind. Well, shame on me. I had to cut the conversation short! We had plenty to talk about regarding "The Penelopiad."

We started the discussion with a preface from the publisher. There's a line that reads, "Myths are universal and timeless stories that reflect and shape our lives--they explore our desires, our fears, our longings, and provide narratives that remind us what it means to be human." So far in this reading groups, we have read some texts that reinterpret and riff on old stories, and they resonate in profound ways. Atwood tells the story of Penelope from her point-of-view AND through a 21st-century lens. We agreed that it was a bold move, but she is sharp, playful, and adept. She pulls it off.

In many ways, Atwood is punching some holes in myths and stories that are perpetuated through the ages and are told from a patriarchal slant. She gives a voice (a funny one, at that) to Penelope and fleshes out her thoughts and emotions. Like Patroclus in "Song of Achilles," a previously minor and somewhat voiceless character is given the chance to narrate their own story. We talked about whether this makes the novel "feminist" or not. Atwood has come out and said that she does not write feminist novels. And one reader appreciated how this novel does not hate on men, like some aspects of some feminist movements.

The readers all had different ways of imagining the story, especially the interludes with the chorus and the court room. One mentioned it reminded him of Monty Python while another imagined it as a Tim Burton film. It was all over, which I think says as much about the readers as it does the text. It's a funny novel, and almost every reader had lines from the book they wanted to share. Atwood has some astute observations about the relationships between men and women. For example, Penelope knows how much Odysseus likes it when she listens to his stories. She said listening to a man's story is an underrated talent of a woman.

The relationship of Penelope and Helen was discussed. Penelope is obviously jealous of Helen, and often times feels insecure. It's important to remember that she is 15 years old! She is shy and growing into her own. It's only from a distance of thousands of years and being dead that she is now given a voice. The readers (all men) talked about how hard Helen and Penelope are on each other. Helen is seen as putting Penelope beneath her and tries to belittle her. They wondered if women are harder on other women than men are, especially in a feminist context. Atwood, again, has made the novel relevant to the aughts. By exploring what is said (and not said) in the relationships of these ancient characters, she is exploring our modern relationships. What was important in Homer's time shows up in his epics, while what is important in Atwood's time shows up in her novels.

We talked a lot about Penelope's maids. They made the best with what they were given. One reader noticed how they like to irk Penelope at the end, perhaps in response to Penelope's lack of responsibility in their death? They too were given more of a voice, adding to the depth of relationships explored.

Lastly, we talked about the role of Gods in this, and how cleverly Atwood portrays the afterlife and the relationships of Gods to mortals. In the novel, there's a passage about wanting to be humble and give credit to the gods when things go right. People still do that! And it's dangerous to take all the credit (hubris).

Oh, and before I forget, one reader talked about his experience thus far in prison. He talks about how he is separated from the world, and he can deal with things in a different way (for example, he gets out of his comfort zone by dealing with homophobia, or reading about feminism, things he wasn't exposed to on the outside). Prison is somewhat of a controlled environment, and moves a bit slower in some ways. He has a lot of time to think and digest, much like Penelope in the underworld. They both have a lot of time that they hope is instructive.

Next week, we are reading C.S Lewis' "Till We Have Faces."

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Atwood, her work, and anything else related in the comments!

You can buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck - Rereading Genesis

What is there to say about East of Eden? It's one of those novels that everyone knows about and people believe they should read. And many people have! It can just be intimidating to start a conversation with, "Alright, what'd you think of East of Eden"?

The first thing we talked about was the first chapter. Steinbeck lovingly and gently places the reader right in the Salinas Valley. He transports the reader there with what seems like little effort. We all noted how astounding it is. It is not wasteful, but does a lot for painting a picture. One reader said, "This is great. If you just want a quick story, go and read a James Patterson novel or something."

The conversation quickly jumped to Cathy and what a scary and frankly evil character she is. She was the character who we had the most difficulty sussing out their motivations. What drove her? After a certain point, it was revenge, but what about before that? Was it all about power? We couldn't quite come to a conclusion. Is her pregnancy the catalyst of of much of the story? We also talked about her being a mixture of Cain and Eve. She has a scar, or a mark on her forehead. And like Eve, she is the reason for the fall of some men, or at the very least a driving factor. One reader said he has a lot of familiarity with FLDS communities, and noted that they believe the apple in the Garden of Eden is symbolic for adultery, which lines up nicely with the novel, as Cathy's profession profits from adultery.

Abra and Cathy are two characters that different men (Aron and Adam) view through rose-colored glasses. They see what they want to see, for better or worse. And they are being fooled, they have a false perspective of these women. Their curated views lead them astray.

Knowing that the novel is based on Cain & Abel (or Genesis more broadly), it was tempting to seek a corollary in each character and name. Abra Bacon (or Abra-HAM), Cal & Aron the brothers, and of course, Adam. The people with C-names tend to be more flawed and filled with sin, where the people with A-names are more favored. The readers didn't seem to think it was too on-the-nose. Steinbeck earns his prose and takes his time to write a beautiful novel. Had the novel been okay or more flawed, perhaps it would have irked the readers more. For example, Steinbeck was clear that the mark of Cain might be viewed as an act of love. It sets him apart from society, allowing him to live and work out his own path and sort through what he did.

We closed the conversation on how universally resonant this novel is. Anyone that has a family, especially brothers, will find some parts of this novel ringing true. In talking about the word "Timshel" and its role in the novel, some readers talked about how it is up to every individual to deal with what they are dealt. We have to carve out our own paths. Everyone chooses their way and how they react to different situations.

At the end of the group, one reader said, "Please tell me that the next book doesn't make me cry. After East of Eden and Song of Achilles, I don't know that I can cry while reading again." I don't think The Penelopiad will summon tears, but I could be wrong.

Next week, we are reading Margaret Atwood's "The Penelopiad."

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Steinbeck, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

You can buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller - Rereading Homer's "Illiad"

One reader was very interested in the discussion around this novel. He had glasses (which he hadn't worn in the past) and a marked up copy of The Illiad. He was ready! The first thing we dove into was the way relationships are portrayed in this novel. In The Illiad, there's no explicit hint at a romantic/sexual relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. This novel paints some beautiful pictures in between the lines that the Illiad did not detail.

On that note, some readers commented how the author is trying to address 21st-century audiences through reworking an ancient story. In Homer's story, Patroclus is older than Achilles, where he is younger in The Song of Achilles. Even in TSoA, there is some shame and secrecy surrounding the relationship between the two. This stood out to the readers, because from what we know, homosexual relationships were not the taboo that they are in modern western civilization. The readers didn't love the move the author made by switching this around, but they understood that it adds some weight to their relationship and raises the stakes. She knows her audience.

We dissected Achilles from many different angles. He is the greatest warrior of his time. Half-man, half-god, he is the one many prophesy about. But that does not mean he doesn't have any downfalls. One reader talked about how Achilles gets too focused on revenge, and that's partly because he has a big heart. In some ways, this reader stated, this is his undoing. He was unable to see options that might be greater for others because his heart hurt too much. He cared too much about Patroclus. But as the novel shows, there is more to life than revenge and ego...love is what is important.

The "crush" aspect of the novel was something everyone could relate to. The way Patroclus admires and fawns over Achilles is something anyone who has ever had a crush can relate to. Some readers were admittedly a little uncomfortable reading the gay sex scene. They understood they were in love before that scene, but they said it didn't get too much in the way of their enjoyment of the novel and the development of the relationship. There's an emotional intimacy in the novel that draws the reader in and helps make the relationship believable.

This novel is able to make the themes and experiences of these mythical stories relatable to us humans today. One of the readers talked about the soldier-world aspect of the novel and related it to prison. He talked about it being a male society that is dripping in ego, pride, and spite. And this allows for a lot of blindspots in times both ancient and modern. One interesting correlation is the blind rage of Achilles. Once he learns Patroclus is dead, he goes into battle in a frenzy, not wearing any armor, indulging in self-destructive behavior. One reader likened this to the way some people deal with pain and grief--they might go on a drug binge or lash out at those around them.

The way Achilles carries the expectations others have for him was something we talked about. Achilles has not been the one to go out and proclaim himself as the best warrior, for that is left up to gods, oracles, and others. Achilles has this weight placed on him. But what about what he wants? Is he obligated to these duties? The readers talked about how they have shouldered different expectations others have for them at different times in their life.

We rounded out the conversation with linking the Trojan War to modern geopolitics. How have our perceptions of heroes changed? We went from the Greatest Generation to Vietnam (with draft dodgers) to the 21st-century soldier. How are soldiers treated? And if someone doesn't want to fight in war, how are they treated? It was difficult for us to imagine how Greek or Trojan defectors would have been treated anyway but unfavorably. One reader related the way Achilles pumps up other soldiers to a scene in Space Jam. Michael Jordan gives his team a special sports drink to help them play better. It was actually water, but the team believed it to be a powerful potion. Achilles and his armor provides people with a similar motivation and effect.

Mortality gives us a desire for honor and for some kind of legacy. The gods of mythology don't have to worry about it. But the mortals know they have a limited allotment of time and want to make the most of it. They want honor, or to be remembered in a good way. The readers related to this, as they have obviously done something that makes them viewed as less favorably. But from here on out, they aren't looking for honor or fame; they are simply looking to be good citizens. Their ideas of honor and their legacy have changed, and they are adapting to that.

The readers loved this novel. Many of them wanted to keep a copy for themselves or send it to a friend. A few of them admitted to shedding some tears in the final few pages. I'm glad we read it. It resonated in many ways with the group.

Next week, we are reading a classic (that I'm embarrassed to say I hadn't read up until this point): John Steinbeck's magnum opus East of Eden.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Miller, her work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a reader's guide to the novel, which also shares some background information on the novel. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"Foe" by J.M. Coetzee - Rereading "Robinson Crusoe"

We had an absolutely riveting discussion regarding Coetzee's "Foe." One reader thought it started out like a YA novel, but was soon dissuaded as soon as Susana Barton became more of a stalker. And then from here, we dove straight into the more metaphorical aspect of the novel. One reader wondered if this is a subtle commentary on Apartheid, as the author is from South Africa; he thought this might be a backdoor approach. Friday, the black native, has no tongue and cannot communicate. Others try to communicate for him. There are also instances of things being of substance, but not life (a stillborn, for example).

We then started talking about whether Barton's daughter was actually there, or if she is a figment of her imagination. And this naturally evolved into a conversation revolving around the "reality" of the novel. Does Susana Barton exist? Is her story something the character Foe made up? Or if she does exist, is she a crazed woman trying to insert herself into a classic novel.

The readers related Barton's existence to their own. She longs to be back in London when she is on the island. Then when she is in London, she longs to be back on the island. They wondered if they might find themselves in the same disposition with prison and the outside world. Related to this, one reader pointed out a passage that stuck with him throughout the week: "I ask you to remember, not every man who bears the mark of the castaway is a castaway at heart." He replaced the word castaway with prisoner, and said that even though bears the mark of a prisoner and is a prisoner, he is not one at heart; that he is in an important time in his life and is using it for a lot of self-reflection.

One reader (the librarian) suggested we read the final 5 pages aloud as a group. The final 5 pages are pretty disorienting and confusing, and we thought we could get more out of it by reading it again. And we really uncovered some things! One reader mentioned how he felt "marooned" at the end of the novel--completely separate from the rest of it. He felt like a castaway.

We also uncovered that the first paragraph of the novel is mirrored in the final page, with a change to the tense. This left us to wonder if the final pages actually took place first chronologically. Perhaps Daniel Defoe (in the novel) works through his subconscious in order to write this novel, and that's how it's illustrated in the last little bit. There's a lot to be said about the relationship between author and reader in this novel. There's the Susana-Foe relationship, Defoe-"Foe", Coetzee-Us.

Lastly, we wondered why Coetzee used Robinson Crusoe to tell this story. After all, this novel does take some liberties with details in the original story. But perhaps there is something universal about wanting our own stories to be told (one reader suggested Susana Barton is like a proto-Kardashian, wanting to exploit her story for fame). The librarian talked about how Crusoe was merely a device to explore certain themes for Coetzee, and it could have been any story. He is not making a commentary on Crusoe, but just using bits and pieces to formulate his own meta-narrative and explore the writing process. All in all, it was an absolutely fascinating discussion.

Next week, we venture into into the world of Homer's Illiad with Madeline Miller's Song of Achilles. So tune in next week!

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Coetzee, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to Coetzee's Wikipedia page. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is a link to an essay from 2012 by Marco Caracclio on the embodiment of meaning in Foe. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot