Into the Forest discussion

The Theme for our September 15-November 14 group read will be Greek Mythology!
Each Member can Nominate 3 Books from 3 Different Categories:
An original myth or collection of myths
A young adult novel
An adult novel.
Everything nominated should either be influenced by or inspired by myths or a direct retelling of a myth. The books can be fantasy or realistic or in between, as long as they contain a myth or myths.
Please only nominate books that You want to read or that you have read already and wish to discuss.
Oh and try please to only nominate books that are readily available.

After about a week polls will be set up where you can vote for the books you want to read. After another week the winners will be announced leaving you hopefully with enough time to find your books!

So nominate away!

Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold comes out next week in the states and I believe has been out in the UK for a couple years. That could be an option?

Adult Novel: "The Immortals" by Jordanna Max Brodsky

YA Novel: "The Key of Apollo" by Riley D. Brady

Collection: "Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes" by Rick Riordan

Robert Graves The Greek Myths, though it's a bit of a doorstop.

Adult book: Bright Air Black

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

In case anyone is looking for ideas, here are a couple lists:

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/gree...

https://bookriot.com/2019/07/22/best-...

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Adult: The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood - I realize most everyone (and their mothers!) has read this except me, but I'm throwing it out there anyway. :-)

YA: Promise of Shadows by Justina Ireland

Collection: I'll second The Greek Myths even though I know, if it won, I'd only be able to read a small selection during the two-month group read.

Jocelyn wrote: "Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold comes out next week in the states and I believe has been out in the UK for a couple years. That could be an option?"

While we prefer books that are also available in libraries, we have also chosen books that just came out. It totally fits and if you would like to read it or if you've recently read it and remember enough that you'll be able to participate in the group read go ahead and nominate it!

I'm not going to nominate an adult because I really want to read The Song of Achilles. I read Circe and really enjoyed it.

And actually, the YA books look good too!

Here are my noms:


Traditional/Collection: Medea by Seneca. I've read the Euripedes play but not the Seneca.

Lois wrote: "Adult Novel: "The Immortals" by Jordanna Max Brodsky

YA Novel: "The Key of Apollo" by Riley D. Brady

Collection: "Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes" by Rick Riordan"

Please highlight your nominations. :). When you go back to edit click on the "add book/author" above. That way 1. People can read about your nominations and 2. It makes it easier for us moderators!
Thanks!

Margaret wrote: "YA: Orpheus Girl by Brynne Rebele-Henry"

I was going to nominate that one too, but it doesn't come out until October 8th, so I thought that might be a little too new. Now I know for next time. :-)

Oops, I didn't realize it wasn't out yet! I'm going to rescind my nomination, then. Maybe we can do a buddy read of it later in the year!

For original myths I am not sure how to go about nominating one because I don't know where the originals can be found.

I am interested in reading the story about Ariadne, the daughter of king Minos of Crête and how she helped Theseus escape the Labyrinth and then she ran away with him, but he dumped her.

Does anyone know where I can find this myth? And if anyone knows any retellings of it
that would be great!

Jalilah wrote: "For original myths I am not sure how to go about nominating one because I don't know where the originals can be found.

I am interested in reading the story about Ariadne, the daughter of king Mino..."

For original: Life of Theseus by Plutarch. I've only read excerpts from mythology textbooks.

For retelling: The King Must Die by Mary Renault. I read it my first year in college, so it's been a while! But I enjoyed it.

I just finished editing a retelling of the Theseus myth and it's so good! I hope the author finds an agent and publishes it!

Jalilah wrote: "For original myths I am not sure how to go about nominating one because I don't know where the originals can be found.

I am interested in reading the story about Ariadne, the daughter of king Mino..."


There is also Bull which is YA (so consider this a nomination)

I would also like to nominate Winter of the Gods for adult.

The Penelopiad, by Margaret Atwood

Okay for my adult novel I nominate Circe by Madeline Miller
young adult novel Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett
Its about Ariadne of Crête, daughter of Minos
Original tale, I would like to nominate as I mentioned before a myth about Ariadne, but I am still looking for a collection with the myth about her.

Jalilah wrote: "Okay for my adult novel I nominate Circe by Madeline Miller
young adult novel Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett
Its about Ariadne of ..."

Like I said, Life of Theseus should have it. I'm sure others do too but I don't know which ones.

Here are the nominations so far:

Adult:
The Immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky
Bright Air Black by David Vann
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Winter of the Gods by Jordanna Max Brodsky
Circe by Madeline Miller
Unsung Odysseys by Tamara Agha-Jaffar

YA:
The Key of Apollo by Riley D. Brady
Promise of Shadows by Justina Ireland
Bull by David Elliott
Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett

Traditional/Collection:
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold by Stephen Fry
Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan
The Greek Myths by Robert Graves
Medea by Seneca
Life of Theseus by Plutarch

You have the weekend to add more! Polls go up Monday!

I'm going to do something unusual and nominate a member's book (Christine and Jalilah, let me know if this is a no!). I'm nominating Unsung Odysseys by Tamara Agha-Jaffar for Adult. I already own it and have been meaning to read it!

Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Okay for my adult novel I nominate Circe by Madeline Miller
young adult novel Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett
Its a..."


Okay! I'll nominate Life of Theseus

Margaret wrote: "I'm going to do something unusual and nominate a member's book (Christine and Jalilah, let me know if this is a no!). I'm nominating Unsung Odysseys by [author:Tamara Agha-Jaffar|29..."

I always understood it was a rule that we don't nominate group members books, and I see the validity of it, but I think we can make an exception this time!

Thanks to Margaret for nominating it; and thanks to Jalilah for agreeing to allow it.
Even if it doesn't win the poll, I want you both to know I appreciate what you're doing.
Thank you!

Okay, I'll keep that in mind! I figured a group member shouldn't nominate their own book, but that it might be fine the other way around.

The rule has been -don't nominate your own book. If there is one by someone else, that's fine. So Margaret, it's fine.

BTW - Barnes and NOble is having their 50% off sale - it include a great many Percy Jackson books.

Polls are up: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/3...

Polls end tomorrow. Looks like we have a tie for Adult.

Margaret wrote: "Polls end tomorrow. Looks like we have a tie for Adult."

I am considering switching my vote to The Penelopiad because its available at my library without a cue, where as The Song of Achilles has 87 ahead of me.
As I said I would have voted for Unsung Odysseys, but I don't have a kindle and hate reading novels on my iPad

The disadvantage to reading The Penelopiad would be a number of active group members have already read it, so if it wins it may not generate much discussion.

Hmmm.....what should I do?

Jalilah wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Polls end tomorrow. Looks like we have a tie for Adult."

I am considering switching my vote to The Penelopiad because its available at my library without a cue, where..."

Just as an FYI:
Unsung Odysseys has gone to print as a paperback. It should be ready in about a week or two.
Also, I'm not voting on this poll since my novel is one of the choices. But I've read The Penelopiad, The Song of Achilles, Circe, and Bright Air Black. Of the four, my favorite was Bright Air Black although I recognize it might not be for everyone. It's written from the point of view of Medea. She's a force to be reckoned with and can be pretty gross and horrific, at times.
My least favorite was Circe.

If it is a tie, we just keep the two.

I wouldn't reread The Penelopiad, but I'd still participate in the discussion.

I'm a little over half way through The Song of Achilles and I really like it. (I heard that it should be read before Circe which my local book group read this past month. There are some spoilers in Circe if you haven't finished The Song for Achilles.)

I've read Circe and not The Song of Achilles. It read fine on its own! I enjoyed it.

Christine wrote: "If it is a tie, we just keep the two."

Good idea! I would like to read both anyway as well as Tamara's, so I won't change my vote. It will however be a while before I start The Song of Achilles. I don't want to buy it, but I will buy Unsung Odysseus

The winners are:

Adult: The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood AND The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Young Adult: Bull by David Elliott

Traditional: The Greek Myths by Robert Graves

Group reads start on September 15th.