2024/077: The Last Song of Penelope — Claire North

2024/077: The Last Song of Penelope — Claire North

"I will fight for the women. I will fight for the maids. I will fight ... in some way ... to keep them safe. Even if that means," a scowl of displeasure about her lips, "fighting to defend some ... Greek king. If it needs a man on the throne to keep them safe, even a man like Odysseus, then ... they are what matter." [loc. 2159]

The culmination of the 'Songs of Penelope' trilogy, which began with Ithaca and continued with The House of Odysseus. In my review of the latter I wrote that I suspected the third book's narrator would be Athena, and so it is. Poor Athena. She's convinced that she will only be remembered because of Odysseus, whom she's championed lo these many years. 'A good story can outlast almost everything. And for that I need Odysseus.'

Finally his long journey home is complete, and he returns to Ithaca disguised as a beggar -- a disguise which fools Penelope for about three seconds.( Read more... )