Review: Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths by Bernard Evslin

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

The classic bestseller is now available for the first time as an ebook
With an incredible understanding of the nuances of classic mythology, Bernard Evslin brilliantly recounts the most compelling stories of heroes and monsters, light and dark, good and evil. Get to know the iconic gods, heroes, and tragic figures: Zeus, the all-powerful father of the gods; Hera, his cunning and jealous wife; seductive, golden-haired Aphrodite, the goddess of love; King Midas, who greedily loves gold above all else; the sculptor Pygmalion who falls in love with his creation; and many more. With each story, Evslin captures the beauty and power of Greek mythology—and through his funny asides, he gives life to these ancient characters. A perennial staple of curriculums around the world, Evslin’s Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths is an invaluable resource.

MY TAKE:
I'm not as well-versed on Greek mythology as I would like, so this book immediately got my attention.

In Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths, we are treated to stories of heroes, gods and monsters. The name of the person or god which will be discussed is indicated at the start of each chapter.

I thought that this book would be straightforward stories of the myths which were faithful to the original. Even though it's been awhile since I read any Greek myths, a number of the myths found in the book were different from how I remembered them to be. For example, I'm fairly sure that it was Hades who tricked Persephone into eating pomegranate seeds and not a small child. Perhaps the book got its inspiration from another version of the myth.

The myths are also told the way normal stories are, that is, there is plenty of dialogue. The lines aren't far from how modern people talk, so kids won't have a hard time understanding them. There aren't any illustrations, though, so it can seem monotonous.

Thanks to NetGalley and Open Road Young Readers for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

1. It covers a lot of heroes, gods and monsters.
2. The writing style makes the stories come alive.
3. Some of the dialogue can be pretty funny.

THE BAD:

1. The stories might not be exactly how you remember it.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

For all his mighty strength, she beat him, because she was a mistress of strategy.

READ IT IF:

1. You like Greek mythology.
2. You like myths.
3. You like new takes on old things.

RATING:


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