I have enjoyed Greek (and Roman) mythology, as well as the history of Ancient Greece since I was about seven or eight. This book has made me love Greek mythology even more. This was well thought out and researched, and written in a contemporary way which doesn't feel stuffy. I liked how each chapter focused on a specific individual, so I was able to pick and choose who to read about specifically (my fave was Clytemnestra). This is a must read for any fan of Greek myths/mythology.

First of all, this was not what I was expecting when I chose this book and was kindly given an early copy for review. I was expecting a story, retold from a female perspective, in line with other books currently being published in this genre. However, I was not disappointed. Natalie Haynes is an incredible author. She writes what could be a dry and academic topic, with a brilliant voice filled with knowledge, reflection, and humor. She was educated in the classics and it shows through her work.
This book is a series of discussions really, about the women of mythology. This is not a retelling per se, but it has the lens of a feminist perspective to shed some much needed sunshine on how these women have been viewed throughout history. This pertains to writings, artwork, films, and public knowledge. As we know with some of the more mainstream names, such as Medusa and Pandora, that their stories as portrayed through these media over time, have created a mythology of its own. I loved the comparison of Pandora to Eve (and how this may or may not be an appropriate comparison). Each women has a discussion about her mythos in the public consciousness and how this perspective may have come about. Many of these ideas about the women have come into being due to a single translation that may have been incorrect leading to media and artwork portraying them in a different light than was intended. Having a women’s perspective to how the “take” on their stories came to be what they are and then the background knowledge to rethink those “takes” is a wonderful resource. This book is a great companion to many of the feminist retellings that are coming out.
I am loving being immersed in mythology again after loving it as a child but not reading much of it after that.
Highly recommend to those who want some background into these characters. If you love a deep dive, rabbit hole kind of peek behind the stories, look no further!
#PandorasJar #NetGalley #HarperPerennial

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

The Greek myths are one of the most important cultural foundation-stones of the modern world.

Stories of gods and monsters are the mainstay of epic poetry and Greek tragedy, from Homer to Virgil to from Aeschylus to Sophocles and Euripides. And still, today, a wealth of novels, plays and films draw their inspiration from stories first told almost three thousand years ago. But modern tellers of Greek myth have usually been men, and have routinely shown little interest in telling women’s stories.

Now, in Pandora’s Jar, Natalie Haynes – broadcaster, writer and passionate classicist – redresses this imbalance. Taking Greek creation myths as her starting point and then retelling the four great mythic sagas: the Trojan War, the Royal House of Thebes, Jason and the Argonauts, Heracles, she puts the female characters on equal footing with their menfolk. The result is a vivid and powerful account of the deeds – and misdeeds – of Hera, Aphrodite, Athene and Circe. And away from the goddesses of Mount Olympus it is Helen, Clytemnestra, Jocasta, Antigone and Medea who sing from these pages, not Paris, Agamemnon, Orestes or Jason.

RATING: 4⭐/5
There are NO spoilers in this review.

⭐ FULL REVIEW: Mythology and strong women? Sign me up! That was my first thought when I read the synopsis of this book, and let me tell you, upon reading this ARC, it definitely didn’t disappoint. I was already a fan of Natalie Haynes after reading A Thousand Ships, but this definitely solidified my belief in her and her talents in feminist storytelling. This book is about the stories of various women, commonly known from Greek myths. A lot of the time, their stories are intertwined with those of men, but this book focused solely on the women. Their dreams, their fears, their backgrounds, without the connection to others defining who they innately are.

I love how there’s a mixture of women who are immediately thought of as strong in the most common aspect — physical, due to them being warriors and outspoken women, unafraid of any obstacles being thrown their way. However, there were also stories of women who do not condemn their femininity, those who cherish it even, and that was such a refreshing thing to see.

Origin stories & different perspectives are my kryptonite so to see something other than what everyone deems to believe as truth because a man said so was so, so, so freeing. Natalie Haynes has this effortless & tasteful way of showing the perspective of the women being turned into the villains in their stories; how that came to be, what could have possibly happened, what they had to do. I think those things are important, because it shows that things aren’t black or white, and them being showed in a more human, positive light was a very refreshing change. I remember thinking as I continued reading the book, that I hoped more people — especially men — would take a chance on this book, because who knows the perspective they too can gain?

The author obviously showed that she knew a lot about classical Greek mythology, and aside from the storytelling being tasteful, I also found it humorous at times. It didn’t feel like heavy text, because it was fairly easy to follow, and it made me feel like I was sitting at a bonfire being told stories about women from long ago by someone who knew exactly what she was talking about.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! While it wasn’t a quick read, it definitely was a fascinating one!

📖 WOULD RECOMMEND TO: Everyone, but especially those who like Greek Mythology!

This book was phenomenal, a great read for any mythology fan. Haynes delves into women in mythology that have been twisted over time. She reaches back to the classics, picks apart translations, and shares how these famous females were originally portrayed.

Haynes weaved mythology, the various dramas & art into an incredible book. I was especially impressed and loved how often she put art, and analysis of art into her analysis of these mythological female icons. She makes a Strong case that in a lot of instances the original Greek source material was less misogynistic than the later retailings. modern versions of the stories leave out gods betraying these women often and they’re more noble qualities

This is one of those books that would be incredible as a coffee table book where you could flip through read essays and have color illustrations Of the jars, bowls, statues.

Forgive the grammar I’m doing talk to text and that’s how it’s going to be for this review.

Originally rated it four stars but ever since I finished it, I realize how much I got from it. Excellent

In this witty and informative book, Natalie Haynes explores the famous women from Greek myths. It is composed of ten chapters, each focusing on a woman (or group of women, in one case) and how she was written back then and more recently. My favorite chapters examine Jocasta, Helen, Medusa, and Penelope. I love her tongue-in-cheek writing when describing how these women were portrayed and then interpreted by men. Haynes adds flavor, making each woman a more complex and more rounded character. I especially loved her comments about artwork, Beyonce, and even Star Trek, that referenced many of these women.
I highly recommend this book to those who have loved Greek mythology in the past and/or have enjoyed the many retellings in the past few years.
Many thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperPerennial for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Pandora's Jar will be released on March 29th.

As a fan of retellings and of mythology and especially of mythology retellings, I've been hearing Natalie Haynes' name over and over. Despite having several of her books on my list to read, I hadn't quite gotten to them. But now that I've flown through this one, I can hardly wait.

Although this is nonfiction, it is definitely relevant for fans of Haynes' other writing, and other authors like Madeline Miller and Pat Barker and Jennifer Saint, authors who are interested in the role of women in stories we've been hearing for millennia. It would also be a great companion read with Women and Other Monsters by Jess Zimmerman.

This book takes a look at ten infamous women from Greek myths, and engages in feminist discussion of different translations, interpretations, and adaptations of their stories, from antiquity to present day. With a range of sources from Homer and Euripedes to Percy Jackson and Wonder Woman, Haynes explores how the "popular" or surviving versions of these women's lives have often flattened the complexity and fascination present in the origins of their stories. Full of sharp observations and witty prose, this left with me with a lot to ponder about what I learned about Greek mythology when I was obsessed with it as a kid and mostly was presented with interpretations of men.

I highly recommend, and I'll be returning to this often and ruminating on it for a long while.

Again I'll say, Mythology will forever be my favorite thing to read about. If it's a retelling, I want it. And Haynes never disappoints.

This was an interesting feminist take on the women of Greek mythology. I really enjoyed reading this book.

4.5. The feminist lens through which Haynes wrote this book made me rethink all of the Greek mythology retellings I read growing up (including the ones written by Robert Graves, an author Haynes critiques heavily!). If you ARE looking for standard retellings, this book is not for you; however, if you are looking for a critique of the ways in which famous women in Greek mythology have been vilified throughout history, this is a must-read. Haynes has thoroughly researched her subject (as evidenced by the notes and "Further Reading" sections), but her wryly funny remarks and insightful analyses prevent this from becoming a dry regurgitation of facts.

Greek history buffs: grab this one!

A witty, and smart feminist retelling of a collection of Greek myths focusing on the women that have largely been vilified or ignored through history. Perfect for fans of recent books like Ariadne and authors like Madeline Miller, Pat Barker and Claire Heywood. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!!

My rating: 4.5⭐️

Having read and loved 'A Thousand Ships' by Natalie Haynes I was eagerly looking forward to reading 'Pandora’s Jar : Women in the Greek Myths' and I was not disappointed!

The author describes Greek myths as “protean” stating that they operate in different timelines- the one in which they are set and the timelines of the subsequent versions and retellings. Each chapter in this book is devoted to a female character from the Greek myths and the author draws from multiple sources to discuss how these characters have been presented, represented and interpreted over the years. Chapters are dedicated to Pandora, Jocasta, Helen, Medusa, The Amazons, Clytemnestra, Eurydice, Phaedra, Medea and Penelope. Popular opinion and numerous translators and interpreters have defined these women and their roles in the myths -whether regarded as famous or infamous, labeled and judged as good (Penelope) or bad (Clytemnestra) and in many cases, held responsible for events that had more powerful forces at play (Medusa, Pandora, Helen) or marginalized and relegated to the background in the role of mother or wife (Jocasta), all the while waxing eloquent about the heroic exploits of their male counterparts. But as Haynes explains it, these women are so much more than a unidimensional presence in those stories, the narrative perspectives of which may differ depending upon the writer, narrator or translator. The author provides a broad overview of how these characters have been depicted in not only literature but art, theatre, music and film and the ensuing discussion of how and why these depictions and interpretations vary makes for an absorbing read.

Haynes references the works of Hesiod, Homer, Ovid, Euripides, Aeschylus, Sophocles and other sources while also eloquently describing some surviving antiquarian artifacts and relatively newer artwork (paintings, sculptures etc) depicting the characters and scenes from the various versions of the Greek myths. The child friendly versions of the myths as presented by Nathaniel Hawthorne or Roger Lancelyn Green are also discussed in the context of how authors choose to whitewash the not-so-heroic exploits of popular heroes in order to emphasize the virtues of said character. I also enjoyed the more contemporary references interspersed in the discussions ranging from cinematic renderings such as Clash of the Titans and the more recent Wonder Woman franchise to how the myths have influenced select works of Dame Agatha Christie as well as characters and episodes from Star Trek or Buffy the Vampire Slayer and even Beyonce.

It should be noted that Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths is not a 'retelling' or 'reimagining' of the myths in the strictest terms but an insightful exploration into the different versions of the characters that have been presented through the ages. Smart, witty, engaging and brilliantly researched, Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes is a joy to read for fans of Greek mythology and especially those with an interest in learning more about the women in the myths. I loved the details of the art and artifacts described in each of the chapters and wished that there could have been more pictures embedded with the text. I found myself looking these up on the internet and that truly enriched my reading experience. Not only does Natalie Haynes explore how and why these women and their stories have been defined the way they have but in doing so also motivates you to question your own observations understanding of the women (and the men) in the Greek myths. While I enjoyed all the chapters in the book, I have to mention that those devoted to Pandora, Medusa and The Amazons were my favorites.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for providing a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is due for release on March 29, 2022 in the U.S.

I’ve enjoyed Greek mythology, in a completely non-academic way, since I was a small child. When I was in the 4th grade my class did a unit on Greek myths and, when I excitedly told my dad about it, he brought me a copy of Edith Hamilton’s Mythology which I read and reread over the years until it fell to pieces. So this charming book was right up my alley. Haynes style, which she admits in the epilogue is informal, was just a delight, her choice of subjects was inspired and her conclusions were well cited and supported. Very highly recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

Pandora's Jar is an excellent analysis of women in Greek myths by focusing on 10 women and their differing interpretations, subsequent depictions, and impact on culture. I love mythology and knew that I wanted to read this book the first time I saw it, and I'm so glad I did!

I loved getting to read about the 10 women! I felt like there was a good variation between the narratives which kept things interesting. I also liked that this book focused on specific stories instead of reviewing myth in general as it was easier to differentiate and see clear examples without getting lost in analysis. I thought that showing different interpretations from Greek writers was fascinating and made me realize that there isn't one "true" myth. I also enjoyed getting to read about more modern adaptations of the myths and how they changed over time to reflect shifts in society.

Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend it if you are at all interested in Greek mythology! 4.55 stars rounded up to 5. Thank you to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book!

Greek mythology retellings have become extremely popular in recent times, reimagining these characters as more than a foil or an unwitting participant in the consequences their actions has given many of the women of these stories new life. In Pandora's Jar, Natalie Haynes sets us straight on the adulteration of these myths through time and perspective on the time they were written. This helps us to understand why the women are so often painted as a villain or the impetus of something bad that has been unleashed on the world. Like in her previous novelizations, Haynes gives these women life and motivations and provides us all with a deeper understanding of how their roles have evolved with humanity. She explains how the words on the page informed our current understanding but also delves deeply into the spaces between the words on the page and how a new set of eyes at a different angle could make all the difference.

This book is divided into chapters which focus on one woman at a time: Pandora, Jocasta, Helen of Troy, Medusa, The Amazons, Clytemnestra, Eurydice, Phaedra, Medea and Penelope. Some of these women are more well known to us in the modern world and we get a new view and context for them, others are less well known and we get to hear where they fit in and how relatable (or not) that they are. We don't get full retellings rather analyses of the key pieces of the story that have made the woman infamous. Really intelligent writing and compelling, thought provoking analyses of a much loved genre of characters.

Thanks to Harper Perennial for a gifted advanced copy of this book. All opinions above are my own.

My love of Greek myths is pretty evident if you scroll my feed. This is my third Natalie Haynes book and I was so excited to receive an ARC. By receive I mean I reached out and basically begged because I had to have this book. I savored it. I brought it with me to get my hair done back in December.

Anyway. If you want a retelling, this book is not for you. If you want a thoughtful discourse on Greek myths through a feminist lens, a. this is for you and b. let’s be friends. I know it sounds boring but I promise it was definitely not. It somehow examined some of the most well known women from Greek myths, and no I don’t just mean Helen of Troy, compared the tropes to today while being fun and not reading like a textbook. And honestly? I’m a fan of slandering Theseus and Pandora’s Jar gave me that. Loved it. Not as much as I loved the part about Medusa, because that chapter was fantastic.

Like Mythos but feminist and cutting! Haynes re-examines the women of the Greek myths and brings them into the modern world. I adored this book so so much!

Thank you, NetGalley, Natalie Haynes, and Harper Perennial for the opportunity to read this book! It will be released on March 29th, 2022.

“To some people, a woman with power and a voice is always a monster. And for some of these people, death and disfigurement are an appropriate response to such women.”

PANDORA’S JAR
I have read Natalie Hayne’s previous book, A Thousand Ships and while it wasn’t my favorite mythology retelling, I still enjoyed it. When I found out she wrote a nonfiction book about the women of Greek mythology, I knew I would have to read it. Pandora’s Jar by Natalie Haynes discusses 10 famous women of Greek mythology: Pandora, Jocasta, Helen, Medusa, The Amazons, Clytemnestra, Eurydice, Phaedra, Medea, and Penelope. Pandora is the bible equivalent to Eve. Instead of eating the apple from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, she is tempted by the contents of the jar. Jocasta is from the tale of Oedipus while she is sensible and outspoken she is not safe from the will of the gods. Helen of Troy is the face that launched a thousand ships, but is she truly the reason for Troy’s demise? Medusa is always seen as a monster, but she is really more than that. The Amazons were female warriors and were the reverse of the male-dominated Greek society. Clytemnestra has the most heartbreaking story but is viewed as what a wife should not be. Eurydice and Orpheus are one of the more tragic love stories in Greek mythology. Phaedra is the stepmother from Hell. When one hears the saying, “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” that could easily mean Medea. Penelope is viewed as the perfect and most loyal wife even if her husband isn’t. The author dives into each story and discusses how these women reflect the views of society.

There is no doubt that this book is extremely well-researched. The author pulls from many sources and versions of the myths. She also discusses current media and compares them to the first sources. We see how women are viewed in Greek society but also if society has changed. While she breaks down each tale, we see that these women were stronger and more clever than even the Greeks made them out to be. It is about time that these tales are told from the woman’s perspective and broken down so we could see what they were going through. These women lived in a male-dominated society and did what they could to survive. When they chose to step outside the parameters of society they were often vilified.

I did like the format of this book, as it breaks down each tale. However, it still relied heavily on the men. There were times when the author would go off on a bit of a tangent. It would take a minute before she would work her way back to the point she would be making. However, I could not help but smile because her passion is palpable. She even included some sarcasm that made me laugh out loud. Overall, those who are interested in an analysis of women in mythology will love this book. I rate this 4 out of 5 stars.

Huge amount of thanks to NetGalley, picador, and Natalie Haynes for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my opinion.
Y’all! I legit screeched when I was approved for this one. I love thrillers and historical fiction, but Greek mythology is. My. JAM.
More of a discussion of select women rather than a retelling, each influential woman gets her own chapter. I especially liked that because stories and characters that old are often lost or reconstructed as time goes on, and Haynes reminds of you of each woman’s origin story while educating you at the same time. Seriously. The amount of knowledge she has is mind blowing.
And the cover! Although mine is black and white (and no less striking) because of my kindle, the pictures I’ve seen in color are gorgeous.
If you’re like me and geek out over all thing Greek mythology, do yourself a solid and grab a copy of this book!

For classical mythology fans!!! I loved this feminist exploration of female mythology figures by Natalie Haynes. And man do I wish this book was available when I was still teaching a humanities class on Ancient Greece.

This book had some major pros to me. First, I loved how Haynes explored each of the mythological women and how they have been treated throughout history. Haynes starts with the original Greek authors/playwrights perspective then progresses through history in how writers, movie directors, artists, composers have treated each of these figures. I love the connections Haynes made with how the view of each figure differed in each time period based on the culture of that time. Second, Haynes’ wit is just funny. You could absolutely tell she adores mythology and her side comments made me chuckle. The wit kept the book from dragging on for me and kept me interested.

Pandora’s Jar is very well researched. I have some experience in Greek Mythology (definitely not extensive like Natalie, but I’ve always enjoyed them). The characters I enjoyed the most were the ones I had the most previous knowledge about. I feel this is a personal preference because I wanted to know more about the figures I already had a connection too and hear their sides of their story. There were a few women (looking at you Phaedra and Eurydice) that I could have done without. But overall I loved the new perspectives on these Greek women!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for granting me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!