Book Log 2022: The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

This novel reimagines the events of the Iliad from the point of view of Briseis, a local queen who is taken captive by Achilles after the Greeks ransack her city.  We see the war through her eyes, from the various conflicts that Achilles has with other Greeks to her relationships with the other women in camp, many of whom were her subjects. As the title suggests, there's actually not that much dialogue from Briseis, as much of her story is told in flashback or internally.

The book is very direct in how it portrays the horrors of war, and the specific trauma it inflicts upon women. Seeing this in the context of the Trojan War underscores how little this has changed in history, and how rare it is to get a female perspective on war and its aftermath. 

I did read a few reviews of the book, and many complained about the use of modern slang, saying it pulls the reader out of the ancient setting. I can't say it bothered me, but I can see the argument. Some also said it lacked the lyrical or magical qualities of Circe, but I would expect a book about war to be more direct than one about a demigoddess who lives on an island.

Overall, I liked this book very much and look forward to the sequel.