Difference between revisions of "Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold"

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===Bad===
 
===Bad===
* Most of the stories just aren't that interesting, which isn't Fry's fault, he had to work with poor source material. The characters in Greek mythology (gods, heroes, and heroines alike) are just terrible people (rapists, murderers, etc.), and a lot of the stories are disjointed and bizarre. How many times will the supposedly hyper-intelligent gods fall for the "promise to grant my wish before I tell you what it is," trick? I just don't get much enjoyment out of the stories, even when jazzed up by Fry.
+
* Most of the stories just aren't that interesting, which isn't Fry's fault, he had to work with poor source material. The characters in Greek mythology (gods, heroes, and heroines alike) are just terrible people (rapists, murderers, etc.). The stories that aren't disjointed and bizarre and childish just-so fairy tales. How many times will the supposedly hyper-intelligent gods fall for the "promise to grant my wish before I tell you what it is," trick, or will mortals challenge a god who doesn't play fair despite already being superior? I just don't get much enjoyment out of the stories, even when jazzed up by Fry.
* Fry incorrectly states that there is evidence for a near-global flood, which is why both the Greeks and Hebrews have a deluge myth around the same time. While Christian apologists no doubt love this statement, there isn't actually any geological evidence that this such a flood ever happened. A much more reasonable explanation is that floods are a common natural disaster, and even an average-sized flood would seem to cover the whole world to ancient people.
+
* Fry incorrectly states that there is evidence for a near-global flood, which is why both the Greeks and Hebrews have a deluge myth around the same time. While Christian apologists no doubt love this statement, there isn't actually any geological evidence that this such a flood ever happened. A much more reasonable explanation is that floods are a common natural disaster, and even an average-sized flood would seem to cover the whole world to ancient people. He makes several other suggestions about the stories having some truth to them, which I know he doesn't mean because he's a staunch atheist, which makes the tongue-in-cheek suggestions rather pointless.
 
* Fry tends to romanticize a bit more than is necessary. For example, he acknowledges that some historians have suggested that the author who originally came up with Argus having 100 eyes may have been speaking metaphorically —— as in, he was so perceptive, it was as though he had 100 eyes —— but then refuses to accept this and says resolutely that the author intended to mean he had 100 eyes all over his body.
 
* Fry tends to romanticize a bit more than is necessary. For example, he acknowledges that some historians have suggested that the author who originally came up with Argus having 100 eyes may have been speaking metaphorically —— as in, he was so perceptive, it was as though he had 100 eyes —— but then refuses to accept this and says resolutely that the author intended to mean he had 100 eyes all over his body.
 
* Fry uses a fair amount of anachronisms having the gods use modern phrases and idioms. He mostly does this for comedic effect, but a lot of the jokes didn't land with me.
 
* Fry uses a fair amount of anachronisms having the gods use modern phrases and idioms. He mostly does this for comedic effect, but a lot of the jokes didn't land with me.

Revision as of 17:57, 18 January 2020

UK 1st Edition hardcover.

Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold is a book about Greek mythology written by Stephen Fry first published on 2017-11-02. In the book, Fry tells the bulk of the Greek religious stories, includes variants, and discusses how they still apply to modern day language and culture.

Status

I don't own this book, but I am reading it.

Review

Good

  • Stephen Fry is quite witty all throughout the book.
  • I enjoy how Fry explains how various words, phrases, and later cultural elements are based on the various names of the divine beings in Greek mythology.
  • Fry does a great job performing the audiobook.

Bad

  • Most of the stories just aren't that interesting, which isn't Fry's fault, he had to work with poor source material. The characters in Greek mythology (gods, heroes, and heroines alike) are just terrible people (rapists, murderers, etc.). The stories that aren't disjointed and bizarre and childish just-so fairy tales. How many times will the supposedly hyper-intelligent gods fall for the "promise to grant my wish before I tell you what it is," trick, or will mortals challenge a god who doesn't play fair despite already being superior? I just don't get much enjoyment out of the stories, even when jazzed up by Fry.
  • Fry incorrectly states that there is evidence for a near-global flood, which is why both the Greeks and Hebrews have a deluge myth around the same time. While Christian apologists no doubt love this statement, there isn't actually any geological evidence that this such a flood ever happened. A much more reasonable explanation is that floods are a common natural disaster, and even an average-sized flood would seem to cover the whole world to ancient people. He makes several other suggestions about the stories having some truth to them, which I know he doesn't mean because he's a staunch atheist, which makes the tongue-in-cheek suggestions rather pointless.
  • Fry tends to romanticize a bit more than is necessary. For example, he acknowledges that some historians have suggested that the author who originally came up with Argus having 100 eyes may have been speaking metaphorically —— as in, he was so perceptive, it was as though he had 100 eyes —— but then refuses to accept this and says resolutely that the author intended to mean he had 100 eyes all over his body.
  • Fry uses a fair amount of anachronisms having the gods use modern phrases and idioms. He mostly does this for comedic effect, but a lot of the jokes didn't land with me.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Media

Links

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