Happy Monday! Today I have a book that came highly recommended by my friend, Paula, at Book Jotter and my Goodreads friend, Tammy. Thank you to Doubleday for the ARC to review.
My Thoughts:
The Silence of the Girls is referred to as a masterpiece in its synopsis. Yes, it is absolutely a stunning masterpiece.
For over 10 years, the city of Troy has been under siege and in battle over Helen, a woman who can observe the war high atop a parapet within the city walls.
Another woman, Briseis, a former queen of a neighboring kingdom, has been captured by and lives in servitude of the man who murdered her husband and brothers, Achilles.
Agamemnon is the leader of all the Greeks, and he demands Briseis to be his, but not without consequences. Achilles, the top fighter for the Greeks, refuses to return to battle. As a result, the Greeks quickly lose ground in their siege on Troy.
Briseis’ voice is powerful. She speaks for herself but also for all of the thousands of hidden women involved in this war.
Pat Barker re-weaves a classic where women are present (not invisible), where they find strength among each other (and are not weak), and where they are depicted as living, breathing humans with opinions and emotions.
The writing is precise and glorious. While you may “know” some of these characters from popular Greek mythology, Briseis’ perspective and Barker’s rich storytelling combine in a way that each character is robust and complex in ways not depicted before.
Barker’s The Silence of the Girls is a study on war and its indelibly human impact as told by a resilient and brave (mythological) woman.
Thank you to Doubleday for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
From the Booker Prize-winning author of the Regeneration trilogy comes a monumental new masterpiece, set in the midst of literature’s most famous war. Pat Barker turns her attention to the timeless legend of The Iliad , as experienced by the captured women living in the Greek camp in the final weeks of the Trojan War.
The ancient city of Troy has withstood a decade under siege of the powerful Greek army, who continue to wage bloody war over a stolen woman–Helen. In the Greek camp, another woman watches and waits for the war’s outcome: Briseis. She was queen of one of Troy’s neighboring kingdoms, until Achilles, Greece’s greatest warrior, sacked her city and murdered her husband and brothers. Briseis becomes Achilles’s concubine, a prize of battle, and must adjust quickly in order to survive a radically different life, as one of the many conquered women who serve the Greek army.
When Agamemnon, the brutal political leader of the Greek forces, demands Briseis for himself, she finds herself caught between the two most powerful of the Greeks. Achilles refuses to fight in protest, and the Greeks begin to lose ground to their Trojan opponents. Keenly observant and cooly unflinching about the daily horrors of war, Briseis finds herself in an unprecedented position to observe the two men driving the Greek forces in what will become their final confrontation, deciding the fate, not only of Briseis’s people, but also of the ancient world at large.
Briseis is just one among thousands of women living behind the scenes in this war–the slaves and prostitutes, the nurses, the women who lay out the dead–all of them erased by history. With breathtaking historical detail and luminous prose, Pat Barker brings the teeming world of the Greek camp to vivid life. She offers nuanced, complex portraits of characters and stories familiar from mythology, which, seen from Briseis’s perspective, are rife with newfound revelations. Barker’s latest builds on her decades-long study of war and its impact on individual lives–and it is nothing short of magnificent.
Have you read The Silence of the Girls, or is it on your TBR? Have you read any other books by Pat Barker? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Wonderful review and beautiful picture, once again! I love books with precise writing and this one looks great!
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Thank you, Darina! I adored this book, and I’m still thinking about it! And precise writing is the best!
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I know I said this on Instagram, but, seriously, this book looks really interesting and your review only made me want to get it more. Thanks, Jen! You, master recommender you! 😉
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Thanks so much, Rach! I think you’d love this book! It’s so special! ♥️
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Terrific review Jennifer! So glad this turned out so well! 💜🌺
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Thanks, Lindsay! ♥️ It’s such a stunningly told story! I loved it!
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Lovely picture and review. Happy Monday.🌺❤️📚
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Thank you, Virginia! I absolutely loved this book! Hope you have had a wonderful Monday! 💗 🌸
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I do love your reviews. I’ll have to finish the three in the queue before I try another one.
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Thank you, Richard! I really appreciate that. I hope you enjoy this one, too, if you have a chance to read it.
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A historical retelling from the perspectives of the ‘hidden’ women. I love it!!
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It’s such an outstanding book, Nina! And the women get a voice!
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Sounds like a great read. I don’t often read retellings, but greek mythology is always an exception.
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I don’t think you’ll regret reading it, Jina. It’s a stand-out.
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I’ll see if it’s available.
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I love historical fiction and Greek mythology. If a tree is not blocking my road, or the road around the bookstore, I get this novel today! Plus reading about the Trojan war from the point of view of women is intriguing and interesting!!!!! Thnak you for reviewing this book for us!
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You’re welcome! The perspective is refreshing and important. I hope you are able to get out and about safely today. It’s a mess here, too, with trees and water everywhere. I also hope you love the book!
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Wonderful review Jen! Happy Monday and Happy reading!💕💕
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Thanks, Sus! ♥️ I hope you have a wonderful Monday, too! Xoxo
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I studied Greek and Roman mythology with real seriousness when I was in the 5th and 6th grade (we were living in Italy at the time with extraordinary teachers) and continued into adulthood. I still find it fascinating and your review intrigued me in almost a visceral way! Wonderful that you’ve included something different with a lovely review, Jennifer.
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Thank you, Jonetta! I loved hearing your personal connection to mythology, and you brought back a memory I had not connected to reading this book. I took a couple of Classics classes in undergrad for my liberal arts requirements, and one was on mythology. I was mesmerized by all of it! I think you’d enjoy this book and the different take. To me, it felt like a completely different story, and I loved that!
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I have this to read…I may have to read it right away!
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I hope you love it, Patty! It’s pretty special!
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It sounds special!
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This sounds so good!
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I loved it, LP!
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Wow, what a glowing review! You’ve got me so excited to read this one!
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Janel, I’m soooooo excited for your thoughts on this gorgeous book!
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Lovely review, Jennifer – I’m so pleased you enjoyed this one. Thank you so much for the mention and link. 💙🐏🌺
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Thank you, Paula, and you’re most welcome. It’s the least I can do for your review enticing me to read this book! Thank you for the thoughtfully chosen emojis, and now it really is safe travels! See you in Cyprus! ✈️ 🏖 🐚 ♥️
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Ahh such a beautiful review, Jennifer!! ❤ I adore Greek mythology so this is 100% going on my wishlist!
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Thanks, Kathy! I am certain you will love this one, and I cannot wait to read a Kathy review of it! You will really be able to do it justice! 💗 xo
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I’m such a huge fan of Ancient Greece, this book is on my tbr but it’s one of those I’m a little scared of picking up because I know it’s gonna deal with some hard stuff. Ancient Greece was fascinating in many aspects, but when it came to women’s rights it was pretty harrowing.
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Carolina, you are absolutely right. It is absolutely difficult, but Barker has a way of empowering women even within the status that they held. I definitely understand needing to be ready for it, and when you do read and review it, I’ll look forward to your thoughts.
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I definitely plan on reading and look forward to it. But you’re right I’ll need to be the mood for it.
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Another awesome review, lovely!! I hope your week is an excellent one!!
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Thank you, Dee! I loved this book! I hope you have a great week ahead, too! ♥️
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Another awesome review and picture from you, Jen. I really enjoyed reading this book, and if I hadn’t already, your review would definitely make me want to 😀 xx
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Thank you so much, Bibi! ♥️ This book is so special I hope everyone will read it!
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I’m so looking forward to reading this! I have it, but I think I’m going to have to push it up the TBR. Great review 🙂
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Thank you, Jo! It’s a terrific read and one that really stays with you. I am excited to see what you think of it!
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Love this review, Jennifer! It’s not one I’d normally pick up, but I do love Greek mythology (and female characters!) 💕
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Thank you, Mack! It doesn’t read heavy like mythology can, and it feels “real.” I had to keep reminding myself that it was a myth! This is a stand-out book, and I think it may be a good fit for you someday when you can fit it in. I am probably going to pick up a hard copy from BOTM to have on my shelf! ♥️
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I definitely want to try it!!! Adding it to my growing list 😊
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This sounds like a very different read! I enjoyed reading your review.
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Thank you, Chrissi! It was different but oh-so compelling!
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I found the book, but the only one they have at the bookstore is the hardcover book. I read a few lines here and there and I have to buy it…..! I will run to the used bookstore tomorrow. I am not a big fan of hardcover books….they are too bossy and combersome like a whale sitting on my sofa 😉
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I understand! It is a big one! This book was just released in the US so you may not find it not in hardcover at the moment. Do you read ebooks? That may be the way to go?
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I will buy the hardcover copy then. I got another book from the store….The Shadow of the Wind….a modern Gothic novel….I am preparing for October…..my fav. month of the year!
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I wonder if we both read the review from Jo today about The Shadow of the Wind? I had it unread on my Kindle and cannot wait to read it! Have you read any William Gay books? I just read my first, The Lost Country, and now I want to read all his southern Gothic novels!
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No I did not read the review. I was surfing the web for Gothic novels and there it was! Maybe Florence connected our brains this week….I cannot wait for your review!
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It’s too cool of all the books we were both looking at that one today! It will be a while before I can read it, but it’s waiting for me! I bet you’ll read it first, and I look forward to your thoughts!
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*cumbersome
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Phenomenal review Jennifer! I already have my hold placed at the library.☺️
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Thank you, Kim! You will love this book- I have a feeling! ♥️
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Been seeing lots of glowing reviews for this one, and now yours! If only there was enough time to read all the books… *sighs* Maybe one day! Great review. 😀
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Thank you, FF! I think you’d like the storytelling in this one, but I understand. You’ve worked diligently to keep your TBR manageable. 😉 😊
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Fantastic review, Jennifer! I thought about getting this as my BOTM then decided I didn’t want to read another retelling, so I skipped my month. Now I wish I could take it back! I’ll have to get this one because I’m sure that I will enjoy it. ❤
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Thanks, Steph! Yes, you need to get this one next month! I am certain you’ll love it! I am going to get it, too, because I will re-read it. It was that good! To me, it had such a different feel than The Iliad, and of course, I’ve not read that since high school, so that helped too! I liked The Odyssey better than The Iliad, but now after reading this, I wonder if I’d feel the same way as an adult. So far, not rain tonight- yay! ♥️
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I definitely do! I didn’t since I just read the Song of Achilles back in July, which is a wonderful retelling of the Iliad. I love both the Iliad and the Odyssey although I think I love the Iliad more. I’ve reread them as an adult, and you might feel differently. Yay to know more rain!! I hope it stays that way for a while!! ❤
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Another blogger said that the two books complement each other well because Song focuses on Achilles and why he is the way he is, and Briseis’ story offers a different perspective. She said they are not like reading the same book, and she read them close together. Her site is Novel Visits if you want to check it out. It made me even more excited to read Song! No rain so far- yay! 💗
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Oh, that’s right! I did read Susie’s review of both a little bit ago! I’m sure they would complement each other. Honestly, I was mad at BOTM when it was time to pick this month’s choice that I really didn’t put too much thought into it lol. I still hadn’t received my August books by the time it came to pick it! It’d been marked undeliverable by the post office for some weird reason…I finally got them early last week, but they wanted me to explain why I was just saying something, and I had to tell them about being in the hospital, etc. But it was such a pain..like the USPS tracking number wasn’t proof enough I didn’t get my box? Song was excellent and so was Circe if you plan on reading it! Good! We got some sprinkles but nothing major! 💖
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BOTM used to have wonderful shipping, and they have changed to a different method because it is SLOW. Yes, I have Circe too! 😂 I think I got that from BOTM instead of NG. So many great reads ahead of us both! ♥️
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It’s definitely something! I was sure they were going to lose my August box again, lol. I have Circe and Song on my Kindle…I bought Circe on sale for $2.99 one day, so that was a steal! I enjoyed both so much though that I need to buy physical copies. True! I don’t think we’ll ever have time to read them all, lol! 😅❤
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Beautiful review!💕💕
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Thanks! ♥️
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Amazing review, Jennifer. I like the sound of this one and the historic perspective. Glad that you enjoyed it.
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Thank you, Diana! This is definitely a favorite book of mine now- I just loved it! 💕
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I dunno why i’m usually intimidated by books like this, but this one sounds pretty good!
(and kinda intimidating too, haha) 😀
Great review!
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Thank you, Norrie! Maybe because it references the classic story? I felt that way. I thought it would be overwrought and intimidating, but it is so approachable and soooooo good. ♥️
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Yea, i think so.
I remember reading Illiad and that was traumatic 😀 These books just feel super serious to me.
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Glad The Silence of the Girls worked for you. I thought it was great, too. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller makes a great partner to The Silence of the Girls. It’s focused on the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus and I highly recommend it.
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Thank you, Susie! I just checked out your review of these two and loved reading it. I am definitely looking forward to The Song of Achilles and thank you for the reminder to read it!
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Wow, this sounds amazing! I’ve seen the cover featured on various book-related sites, but had no idea it was about Troy. Great review – you’ve convinced me that I need to check it out!
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Thank you, Lisa! I don’t think you’ll regret adding this one. It’s just too good to miss!
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Wonderful review Jen as always. I’ve been so curious about this book and now I definitely think I need to read it! 🤔
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Thanks, Beth! Yeah, I think this will be up your alley! I can imagine you loving it! ♥️ xo
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Excellent review! As always! 🙂
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Thank you, Didi! ♥️ Hope the kids – and you – are having an easy transition to school. Xo
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We’re slowly but surely getting into the swing of things. Thank you for remembering and thinking of my kidos, you’re so sweet! XOXO
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Of course! 😘
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Really enjoyed this one. Definitely want to read more of Pat Baker in the future!
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Me, too! After this book, I would read anything she writes for sure!
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Sounds like one I would enjoy. Terrific review!
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Thanks, Marialyce! It was absolutely fantastic! I would read it all over again right now if I could.
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I have the galley, but haven’t gotten to it yet!
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Myndi, I am excited to see what you think!
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