Book Review: Ithaca - Claire North

I'm an absolute sucker for Claire North's books. She has an almost supernatural ability to weave an intricate yet satisfying tale, all while leaving the reader hungry for more.

Ithaca presents a God's-eye-view of the story of Penelope. It's a fast, furious, and feminist story which plunges us straight into the middle of the Greek melodrama.

Kenamon takes his time to consider this. Penelope does not mind. The silence of men is a novel experience, and she is prepared to thoroughly enjoy it.

There are a lot of Greeks. It is sometimes a little confusing to keep straight Agamemnon, Andraemon, Aegyptius, and Aegisthus - but it is just about doable. The various twists of the story are well paced although, being an ancient tale, naturally a little clichéd.

Retelling the classics can be perilous - too radical an interpretation and it loses its timeless qualities, too conservative and you're just repeating work. Ithaca feels modern without being overly fashionable. A good tale, told well, with plenty of heart.