Ithaka by Adèle Geras
Penelope has been patiently waiting for her husband, Odysseus, to come home for many years following the conclusion of the Trojan War. Untidy suitors from the neighbouring islands have descended onto the city of Ithaka in an effort to marry Penelope and seize control of the surrounding islands. Everything changes when a naked, half-drowned man washes up on the beach.
Ithaka portrays the quiet strength and patience of a woman’s enduring love for her husband and the ensuing chaos that threatens everyone as Penelope is pressured to remarry. It is told through the eyes of Klymene, a young girl who is like a daughter to Penelope and who longs for more than friendship from the young prince Telemachus.
Ithaka by Adèle Geras
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The epic poem THE ODYSSEY, which is well-known to readers, tells the tale of Odysseus’ arduous return trip from the Trojan War. In order to regain control of his realm and save his devoted wife from thieves, Odysseus outsmarts several monsters, witches, and even the gods. THE ODYSSEY is filled with adventure, thrills, and heartbreak. It can be difficult to read because even contemporary translations maintain the poetic structure of the original.
The story of THE ODYSSEY is narrated in ITHAKA by those who are anxiously awaiting Odysseus’s homecoming. Although it doesn’t have as many adventures as Odysseus’ journey, Geras’ approach to the material gives the events a calm dignity as they are related by a regular teenage girl and gives the narrative context for how women would have perceived it. Penelope, the tolerant wife of Odysseus, had Klymene as her handmaiden. Klymene goes through the changes that come with growing up and helps to prepare Ithaka for the return of a king she has never met while Penelope spends her days weaving and waiting for her husband to return.
It adds more flavour to the narrative and keeps you interested. These newly introduced characters are pretty well developed as well. The portrayal of Klymene as she matures would serve as an illustration. She initially thinks she is in love with Telemachus, but she quickly realizes her heart belongs to someone else. This book has many love triangles that only serve to further the already-dated premise of Penelope fending off prospective husbands.
