Holbrook
I have always loved myths. Stories about how things came to be the way they are — why the chipmunk got its stripes, why the spider spins webs, etc. — have fascinated me since I was little. I never believed them as truth, but as wonderful stories — and there are so many wonderful stories that have come out of the various mythologies around the world.
The one mythos that has always held a special place in my heart, however, is Greek mythology.
The Olympian gods. Timeless heroes like Hercules and Theseus. Fantastic creatures, such as centaurs or cyclops, that still show up in fantasies today. There is so much to enjoy about the Greek myths. This fact is made even more evident by the countless number of retellings throughout the centuries.
Novels, plays, movies — the Greek myths entertain us over and over again, and for good reason. They are fantastic stories! These myths contain drama, humor, romance, horror, adventure, fantasy and more. From classic plays such as “Antigone,” to the hilariously awful movie adaptation of “Hercules” starring Lou Ferrigno, to some beautifully written novels that have been released within the last year, the Greek myths have truly stood the test of time.
One of my favorite retellings has been Stephen Fry’s Mythos series. In this multi-part series, Fry has captured various myths from the creation of the world to the Trojan War all in an approachable way that’s full of wonderful British humor. The stories feel so comforting to me, like a parent reading a bedtime story. Some tales are short and others long, but Fry does a beautiful job introducing a wide variety of myths. The printed books are beautiful, but I highly recommend listening to these books as Fry reads them himself. I’m not ashamed to say I have listened to all three of his books multiple times as I eagerly await the release of his newest book later this year.
If you prefer diving into a novel rather than reading a wide variety of short stories, then there are many engaging retellings that have been released recently. You can explore the story that is considered one of the earliest fairy tales with Luna McNamara’s “Psyche and Eros” novel. Explore the life of Greek’s greatest hero with Phoenicia Rogerson’s “Herc.” Both are beautifully written novels released within the last year.
Jennifer Saint and Madeline Miller are also must-read authors for any fan of Greek mythology. Jennifer Saint’s story of the female hero Atalanta has been my favorite of hers so far, while Miller’s story of Circe is one of the highest rated Greek retellings in recent years. I’m especially excited that Greenwood Public Library will be hosting a virtual author talk with Madeline Miller at 7 p.m. March 21.
Mythology fans will be able to meet at GPL to watch the live conversation together. We’ll even be raffling off a few copies of her books. I’m eager to hear from this talented writer and find out what she’s been working on (there’s rumors she’s working on a novel about the Queen of the Underworld, Persephone, which I’m excited about).
If Persephone is a favorite, or if you’re a fan of graphic novels, I highly recommend “Lore Olympus” by Rachel Smythe. This web comic series places the Greek gods in a modern setting as it retells the love story of Persephone and Hades. The story of Persephone and Hades also shows up in the recent Tony Award-winning musical “Hadestown” which tells the story of Orpheus and Eurydice.
Finally, I feel like no list of Greek mythology retellings is complete without Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. With the recent release of the Percy Jackson TV series on Disney+, this popular book series that follows the son of Poseidon during present day has introduced a whole new generation to the world of Greek myth.
Valerie Holbrook is the marketing specialist at Greenwood Public Library. GPL staff members share in writing this twice monthly column for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected].
