The Penelopiad: Introduce Yourself

Thinking about joining us for June's OLOB selection, The Penelopiad? Chime in here!

I guess maybe I'm the first one here? I just downloaded The Penelopiad to my Kindle Fire and plan to read it tonight. This will be the first One LibraryThing, One Book that I've participated in.

Hi I just joined this group! I used to be a member since the late 90's of Library Thing. But I used my work email in my user id/profile. I've entered a load of books since I joined w this email address. I retired in 2008 & lost access to the email & that account. The company sadly, also is no more.
Now I've rejoined w a different account id. But I don't feel up to re-entering all those books into my Library Thing library again.
So I'm starting slowly by joining the One Book read for Penelopiad. Andhave entered this book as my first entry for my new account! At least I've started this new beginning!
I ordered the Kindle version and it should be there on my Kindle Fire already. I also dropped it into my Kindle 2nd edition which sometimes I find easier to read.
AND - I've ordered the ppb edition, which should get here by Saturday!
I've always been fascinated by the Penelope character from the Odyssey. But I'm curious to see if there is more besides the faithful wife angle. Because I'm really having a difficult time being one - even after 40+ years of marriage to one man. Not so much physically - although I have trespassed ONCE in that area; but more on the intellectual, emotional & spiritual areas. I'm just having a lot of problems with the derivative "wifey" identity!
I hope to find some answers or at least insights from this book & stop feeling so guilty about not feeling guilty at all!

Hello everyone! Kayla here. I'm excited to join my first One LibraryThing, One Book, especially for such a fascinating book. I just requested it from my library so hopefully I can start reading soon! School just got out (I'm in grad school for Student Affairs), so I look forward to having a lot more free time to read :)

I am also a member of Club Read, ROOT Challenge, and TBR Challenge.

HI! I'm Susan. Planning on joining you for the June read.

>3 bellelettres: I bet if you contacted Tim and you could give him the e-mail and some identifying information from the account, that he would be able to restore it for you. You can find his contact info in the Contact link at the bottom of any page.

>3 bellelettres: You're welcome to email us at info@librarything.com, and include any information you might have regarding the old account. We'll do our best to track it down and restore it for you.

That said, I'm a bit confused, as you mention joining in the late 90s, since LibraryThing definitely wasn't around until 2005.

I'll find myself a copy of Ms. Atwood's book and join in!

Read it before and will read it again for this group, but quick question for the classicists out there: besides this book, what other recent novels use the ancient Greek chorus as a literary device?

A few years back I read The Penelopiad and the back end of The Odyssey congruent with The Penelopiad. I am interested in other readers' thoughts on it, but I am not likely to read it again.

Robert

I think I will join in this discussion. This is a book I have wanted to read for a long time.

Next trip into town I'll pick up the copy the library is holding for me.

I just read The Penelopiad last month! I had never read The Odessey before, so I started with the graphic novel by Gareth Hinds. It was a nice easy quick primer, and gave me a reference for Atwood's book. Where she followed, how/what she changed. I enjoyed reading both together.

I've been interested in reading The Penelopiad since I read The Song of Achilles a couple of years ago. I like the idea of an alternative version of the classic. I'm looking forward to discussions with the group.

I have had this book for years but never got around to reading it. This will be my motivation=)

Hi, I'm going to be joining you God willing and the creek don't rise.

Hey, sounds like fun! My name is Mary and I will go grab the book from the library and join in!

Hi! This is my third OLTOB. I've ordered the book and am waiting for it to arrive.

The Penelopiad is in transit and on its way to me from my library. If I can get a copy, I may read The Odyssey too considering I don't believe I have ever read it.

I'm happy for an excuse to read more of Atwood's work - so far, everything I've read from her has been well worth the reading.

>13 raidergirl3: thanks for the pointer to the Gareth Hinds treatment. I'll have to try to track that down!

>20 kiparsky: no problem! There was so much of The Odessey that was vaguely familiar so it was good to read it, especially in easy graphic form. It's like seeing Casablanca for the first time- it seems cliche until you remember this is where all the cliches came from.

#21
I felt the same way about Jane Eyre when I finally read it. I had to stop and take the time to remember that when it was written there was no cliche.

Margaret Atwood is my favorite author, but I've been holding off on reading the Penelopiad until I took the time to re-read the Odyssey and not just watch "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" as a substitute. So far, I've been surprised by the number of details I have forgotten and what I remembered. Reading Peggy's version should be a real treat.

>23 marctic: and not just watch "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" as a substitute.
tee hee -- although it's a pretty good substitute isn't it? Do not seek the treasure!

And if you don't want to read The Odyssey, watch the movie Ulysses with Kirk Douglas. Nice little telling of the tale.

Just joined the group to read this book! I know Atwood by name but that's about it. I may have to skim the Odyssey as a refresher. I've read it multiple times but not in several years. Looking forward to my first group read.

I've never read the Odyssey, so I've borrowed it from the library on audio. I'll listen to that first, then go on to The Penelopiad which I've already got on my shelf. The only other Atwood I've read is The Handmaid's Tale.

Looking forward to this - my first OLOB. I love Atwood, have a copy of the Penelopiad, am familiar with the Odyssey and have been cursed with the given name Penelope so this seems the right time for me to participate!

excited to re-read the penelopiad!

I'm also glad to actually *read* The Odyssey and stop pretending like I have, cribbing from a Wishbone episode way-back-when. Tim recommended the Robert Fitzgerald translation for me and I'm enjoying going to the park by the water and reading it.

Hi, I'm Jothsna, I'm planning to join you all for the June read. This is my first time here and I've just finished downloading the book into my kindle. I've recently been very busy with work and very lazy with reading, and I hope to get back into reading with this. Have fun!

This is my first OLOB participation. I've ordered The Penelopiad and hope it gets to me in time to read it. It's not exactly my kind of book, but I think it will be fun to read it within a group. I'll need to read the Odyssey to prepare as well. So two books that aren't my thing! Time to branch out.

I feel the same way. Part of my interest in LT as a whole is finding new genres and ways to branch out from my comfort zone!

This is my first time participating in the One LibraryThing, One Book pick. Excited to read the book and join in the discussion.

May I join this discussion? I'm new to this site and need some help....

Yes, you can join. We have not started reading/discussing, yet. What kind of help do you need? The Welcome to LibraryThing group has lots of info for new members.

Yes I need info....Thanks Lois! Question: Am I allowed to post links to other sites on here?

#36
You can. Some of them require membership in the group but most just require that you chime in when you want to do so.

This particular group is going to be discussing one book "The Penelopiad" starting in June - hence it's group name, On Librarything, One Book. If you explore around on the tabs take a look at the tab with the word "group." This will show you all of the different groups LT has to offer. I am sure you will find yourself having to limit the possibilities - just as most of us have had to do. Otherwise you will find LT being a giant time suck. :-) Good luck. And check out that "Welcome to Librarything" group. There is lots of helpful stuff on there.

>9 Nialle:: I'm not absolutely sure and can't check the book right now but I believe Christa Wolf's Medea does.

>36 Soulwolf: I hesitate to answer your question about posting links to other sites because I don't know for sure that my answer is correct, so I will give you my OPINION.

Yes, you can post links to other sites if:
- they are of general interest to the LT community (eg. "Best Books of the Century")
- they are not soliciting money, votes, etc.
- they are not commercially benefitting from the traffic
- You are not commercially benefitting from the traffic
- they are not competing with LT
- they are in good taste

When we joined LT, we all agreed to abide by the Terms of Service (TOS) which I'm sure are much more explicit. I can't find a copy of them online, but my experience has been that if you use good common sense and stay on topic, you will be OK.

39>

That list of what's not okay is much too long. People are free to post links to sites that are offensive*, boring, of interest only to a few, and/or competing with LT. They just can't post links trying to sell something.

However it needs to be pointed out that that includes authors trying to sell their books. There are a couple groups where authors self-promoting their own books is explicitly permitted, most notably Hobnob With Authors; elsewhere, it's forbidden.

* There may be an edge case here if someone were to create an external site to attack a specific, named LT member or members. Links to a site like that would probably fall under the "personal attacks" prohibition - so a link to a anti-gay hate site would be okay. A link to a site saying "lorax is a big meanie" probably wouldn't. Tim's site, Tim's rules.

Hi, I'm Joie. First time in OLOB and here because I deeply love The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood, as well as Homer's The Odyssey. I studied Classics in college after years of informal study, then discovered Atwood's interpretation about a year after graduation. This is right up my alley. Perfect first OLOB.

Oh, and for those of you looking at reading The Odyssey for the first time or as a refresher, I highly recommend the Robert Fagels translation. It really strikes a good balance between accessible and faithful.

Count me in to the group read - I have the Penelopiad out from the library and am part way through.

This is my first one library one book group read I've participated in. I read the book a couple of weeks ago and I posted a review. I enjoyed Margaret Atwood's book, and I think this was a great choice for a group read book.

Downloaded The Penelopiad to my Kindle and I've started reading. For the last two years I have participated with my classroom in the One Book, One Community. I am excited to expand my horizons.

I've started reading Penelopiad in very small doses, so that I can savour every drop! It's a wonderful and witty juxtaposition of the epic and the ordinary, trivia and tragedy, the sacred and the profane, all neatly woven together.

Howdy everyone, I received the monthly message today and decided to participate in this discussion. Because of my work commute, I am going to listen to the title for this month on audiobook in addition to getting a copy in book format. Looking forward to participated in the discussion.

I'd like to participate as I've just finished performing in Margaret Atwood's play of The Penelopiad in which I portrayed both male and female characters. I enjoyed her take on the Odyssey and found her wit and irony delightful.

Hello everyone! Really glad to hear so much enthusiasm for this round's OLOB. So, I've never read Atwood. But I'm excited to. Currently, I am a few pages through my shiny new copy--just past the first "chorus"-- the jump-rope rhyme of the handmaidens. I enjoy the modernist cover choice; in a vague way it catches me as appropriate, with its with its striking red shawl.

Hi I am a circulation supervisor and just found out abut this program so I have ordered the penelopiad and look forward to the discussion.

Hello. I am very happy to see that The Penelopiad was chosen as June's read. This was my first Atwood and I loved it so much that when I had finished I went back to the beginning and read it again. It is quirky, funny, & informative of the myth 'gospels'.
I loaned to my 16 year old grandson's English teacher. She teaches the mythology classics. When our school made cutbacks she was let go & it was all so rushed that she was unable to get it back to me. I immediately ordered another copy. So I am ready to join you in this, my first 'One LibraryThing, One Book'.

Hello everyone. I guess I'll give it a try! I love Atwood, retellings and the Odyssey!
I also may or may not have written my masters thesis on the Penelopiad ;D

Hi, this sounds good for a new librarythingo like myself. Usually have more than one book going at once so I'll add this one too and find myself a copy.

I'm in!! Thought I wouldn't get to it but I did. I am about half way through. Not sure I will have time for the Odyssey though. Kind of a shame.

Love Atwood and first read The Penelopiad several years ago. I also enjoy ancient Greek literature. Looking forward to the discussions.

I'll be here too. Sounds like a good read.

Okay, checked it out, read it. Thanks thingers for such a nice short selection for my first club read!

yeah i would love to, so how do i get the book

>59 krazy4katz:

So that's the hard part - you either check it out of your local library, borrow from a friend or buy it. LT doesn't help you get the book.

>58 captainjohnmark: You buy it or take it out from the library.

Whoops, krazy4katz beat me.

Found an Amazon copy earlier this month, finished it on Sunday. Intriguing take on the myth. How does the discussion of the book work? (My first time on OLT-OB, obviously!)

>61 BookDoc16: Pretty simple, really. We will post a variety of starting topics on Tuesday, and members can create other topics as they find necessary—for example, if a juicy conversation merits a whole different thread. We'll try to include a wide range of subjects in the topics: questions you might already have considered as you were reading through the book.

Hello. I'm going to give this a shot. I planned on participating in the first one, and even read the book, but never read or contributed to any of the discussions. I just picked up The Penelopiad at the library today, so let's see if I can do a better job this time.

Book JUST arrived, so hopefully it is a quick read (as advertised by the team). Looking forward to the discussions!

Just getting back into Library Thing and I love Margaret Atwood, so here I am, ready to go.

Joining for the first time. Have downloaded the book from the library and started reading. Looks like it is going to be good.

Downloaded on my Nook and read it yesterday. Probably won't reread the Odyssey, have read it several times in different translation and studied it as an undergrad and graduate student (in translation). Penelopiad was shorter than I expected. Like the concept of the chorus.

I bought this book seven or eight years ago, but have not yet gotten around to reading it. Thanks to OLOB, it is now at the very top of my reading list! It looks like a quick read -- hopefully, I can find the time to finish it before it becomes old news. I have this tendency to arrive at parties just as the last guest is leaving...

Thanks, I'll track that down. I've got a side interest in ancient tragedy and am fascinated by how Atwood uses the chorus in the Penelopiad.

Hi. I've just picked up my copy from the library. I was going to do the first one, the Circle ? But didn't manage it. I tried to read A Handmaids Tale but didn't get very far. Im struggling to read anything worthy at present but will give this a go.

Hello all. Kevin (dylanwolf) in the UK here. I've been a member of LT since 2006 and have around 1,500 books catalogued. I've got a copy of The Penelopiad and I read it a few months ago along with Birmingham Book Club. There is a play adapted from the book which I saw a production of at the Edinburgh Fringe a few years ago.

Late, but here. Too many fires to put out and got too immersed in my own writing and forgot! But not until after my copy came in the mail and I read it. It seemed like a natural after finishing a re-read of Mists of Avalon. I did read The Odyssey years ago, probably at thirteen or fourteen, and a view from the female side seemed like an excellent idea.

Hi, I've been interested in Greek myth since I read my mom's copy of Bulfinch's Mythology when I was a kid. I read the The Odyssey fairly recently, so I still remember the plot.

Just finished the book last night. Off to the message boards!