What do you think?
Rate this book
Memorie di una cagna
Elena di Troia racconta la sua verità. Scandita da una scrittura lirica e musicale, la vicenda umana di Elena esce dal suo alone leggendario e irrompe sulla pagina con la forza di un personaggio vero, archetipo di tutte le donne che nel corso dei millenni hanno opposto le ragioni del cuore a quelle del potere e degli interessi materiali.
246 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2010
11 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
November 22, 2021
Het opzet om de vrouw in de mythe een stem te geven, waar veel vrouwen in de mythen vrij onmondig het lot en mannen ondergaan, blijft steken in een fantasieloos beeld van een Helena die zuiver leeft van haar samenzijn met mannen, alleen opleeft wanneer ze verliefd wordt (op een anonieme soldaat, op Achilles, Diomedes, Paris, Hector) en verder in depressie vervalt zodra haar die liefdesaffaire weer ontnomen wordt. Haar huwelijk met Menelaus is gearrangeerd en van haar kant liefdeloos, wat een soort verklaring biedt waarom ze wegvlucht met Paris. Je zou verwachten dat de auteur van Helena op zijn minst een round character zou maken, maar dat is Helena allerminst. Het is daarnaast ook nog eens een behoorlijk mannelijk vrouwbeeld (ook al is de auteur een vrouw) om een vrouw te schetsen die alleen maar opleeft wanneer een man haar pad kruist.
De taal die in La Repubblica 'weelderig' genoemd zou zijn (luidens de binnenflap) staat bol van de adjectieven, de metaforen, eindeloos en elke keer opnieuw, zelfs bij gelijkaardige scènes, vaak beelden die geforceerd aandoen.
Nochtans hou ik heel erg van metaforen en las in Bregje Hofstede's 'De herontdekking van het lichaam' een interpretatie die me zelfs zeer treffend toescheen: dat metaforen niet alleen helpen om een beeld te ondersteunen (een dienende rol), maar dat metaforen vervolgens ook ons denken sturen (een sturende rol), zo bv. natuurlijk bij het beeld van de burn-out, waar de metafoor van het brandstofgebrek gebruikt wordt, waarna de behandeling vaak gericht is op opnieuw brandstof tanken, waar het voor Hofstede (en ook in mijn ervaring, hoewel ik nooit gediagnosticeerd ben met burn-out) eerder te maken heeft met een leegtegebrek door een teveel aan prikkels.
'Memoires van een bitch' is vanuit het ik-perspectief geschreven, maar eigenaardig genoeg is er één stukje vanuit het vertellersperspectief, de korte bevallingsscène op p. 77. Aangezien ik de meerwaarde niet zie van deze perspectiefwisseling, vermoed ik dat het hier slordige redactie betreft (in het Italiaanse origineel, neem ik aan).
De taal die in La Repubblica 'weelderig' genoemd zou zijn (luidens de binnenflap) staat bol van de adjectieven, de metaforen, eindeloos en elke keer opnieuw, zelfs bij gelijkaardige scènes, vaak beelden die geforceerd aandoen.
Nochtans hou ik heel erg van metaforen en las in Bregje Hofstede's 'De herontdekking van het lichaam' een interpretatie die me zelfs zeer treffend toescheen: dat metaforen niet alleen helpen om een beeld te ondersteunen (een dienende rol), maar dat metaforen vervolgens ook ons denken sturen (een sturende rol), zo bv. natuurlijk bij het beeld van de burn-out, waar de metafoor van het brandstofgebrek gebruikt wordt, waarna de behandeling vaak gericht is op opnieuw brandstof tanken, waar het voor Hofstede (en ook in mijn ervaring, hoewel ik nooit gediagnosticeerd ben met burn-out) eerder te maken heeft met een leegtegebrek door een teveel aan prikkels.
'Memoires van een bitch' is vanuit het ik-perspectief geschreven, maar eigenaardig genoeg is er één stukje vanuit het vertellersperspectief, de korte bevallingsscène op p. 77. Aangezien ik de meerwaarde niet zie van deze perspectiefwisseling, vermoed ik dat het hier slordige redactie betreft (in het Italiaanse origineel, neem ik aan).
June 27, 2011
En estas memorias,
brilla por su ausencia
la astucia de la zorra.
brilla por su ausencia
la astucia de la zorra.
December 18, 2015
Another terrible The Iliad retelling I've had the misfortune to read in my hopeful wish that there might, just might be one that's good if not on par with Homer...
March 12, 2023
Als het de bedoeling was om me Helena leuker te doen vinden, is die poging zwaar mislukt. Gorgias' Lofrede op Helena slaagt er beter in dan dit boek. Zoals een paar reviewers al aanhaalden, is de enige plot dat Helena de hele tijd verliefd wordt op kerels die ze 1x heeft gezien, er haar wereld van maakt, en dan depri wordt als ze hen verliest. Misschien is het de bedoeling om ons diep te laten zuchten telkens wanneer ze dit opnieuw doet zonder iets te leren uit vorige relaties/affaires. Dan zou de opzet wel geslaagd zijn.
Also: don't do ma boi Hector dirty like that!
Also: don't do ma boi Hector dirty like that!
March 26, 2024
I got 'Memoirs of a Bitch' by Francesca Petrizzo many years back when it first came out. It is the story of the events leading up to the Trojan War and what happened during the war. The special thing about the book is that it is told from Helen's perspective. Once upon a time, there were not many books which retold the old Greek tales from a woman's perspective. I knew of only three – Cassandra by Christa Wolf, Medea also by Christa Wolf, and The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. I don't exactly know why there weren't more. I always wondered why there wasn't a book from Helen's perspective. So when I saw this book at the bookshop, I couldn't resist getting it. But unfortunately, a period as long as the Trojan War has elapsed before I picked it up to read. It sounds like a cool thing and perfect timing, but I feel ashamed that I waited for so long to read the book.
It was very fascinating to read the story from Helen's perspective. Helen comes through as a fascinating character, a normal woman who is swept by events beyond her control, and when she tries to do something that she likes and live her own life, it results in the Trojan War. I learnt many things through the book. For example, Helen was from Sparta and her parents were the king and queen of Sparta, and her husband Menelaus was not from Sparta but became the king because he married her. The book also says that Helen and Achilles were lovers and once Theseus kidnapped her and tried to rape her, but her brothers somehow managed to save her. I don't know whether these two stories are true or they are part of the author's imagination. I was also surprised to discover that Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's wife (who plays a major role in Aeschylus' play, 'The Oresteia') was Helen's sister. It was also interesting to discover that Helen's daughter was called Hermione. I'm wondering now whether Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series is named after her. When I was a kid, I thought that Paris kidnapped Helen and that is why the Greeks went to war against the Trojans. I was later surprised when I discovered that Helen and Paris actually fell in love and they eloped. Totally different story from what I thought. Later in the story as told in this book, Helen and Paris breakup and Helen and Hector, Paris' elder brother, fall in love. I don't know whether that actually happened or whether it is Francesca Petrizzo's imagination. But I loved the Helen–Hector love story. It was my favourite love story in the book. This book also gives a different version of Achilles' death, a new story that I've not heard of before.
I loved Helen as she was portrayed in the book. My other favourite characters were Hector (loved him, he is such a beautiful soul), Callira Helen's best friend, Cassandra, and an unknown soldier who comes at the beginning who is Helen's first love. I've always hated Achilles (because he killed my favourite Amazon Penthesilea), but in this book he is very likeable.
The friendship between Helen and Callira is very beautifully depicted in the story and it was one of my favourite parts in the book. In one place, Helen says this about Callira –
"Callira smiled and allowed one single ornament for my arm, a silver bracelet shaped like a serpent. Callira, Callira; a princess among her own people, and if I had been able to bear losing her I would have sent her back to them. But I was selfish, and she was always smiling; not faithful in the normal manner of slaves, but close to me with a closeness I could not explain except by saying I responded to it. We had come together by strange oblique routes, but we belonged with one another."
Towards the end of the story, when Troy is burning and everything is gone, this scene happens –
"I firmly detached Callira's clinging hands. 'If I am still your lady, you must do what I say. Just go.'
She was hesitating, I could see it in her face, but I too had the blood of kings in my veins and the throne had spoken through me. So Callira, slave and friend, my life companion, indeed the companion of all my many lives, let go of my arm, and with a desperation I knew only too well in myself, kissed my hand. 'Please don't die,' she said.
'We all die sooner or later. But you run off now.'"
I cried when I read that. I knew that they'd never meet again.
'Memoirs of a Bitch' is the story of a woman who was pushed along by people around her, and when she decided to do one thing that she liked, and live the life she wanted, two countries went to war and many people died. It was okay if a queen had affairs and a series of lovers. But if she wanted to leave her husband and start a new life with someone, all hell with break loose, and there'll be war and people will die. That seems to be Helen's story. If Helen had been an ordinary woman, it would have been easy for her to leave her husband and start a new life with her lover. But as she was a queen, it was hard. Still, she tried. Unfortunately, it ended in tragedy.
I loved 'Memoirs of a Bitch'. It is one of my favourite reads of the year. When I finished the book, I cried.
Francesca Petrizzo's writing is beautiful and flows smoothly like a river. Francesca Petrizzo was an undergraduate student when she wrote this book. Since then she has done her doctorate and has become a professor who teaches medieval history. 'Memoirs of a Bitch' appears to be her only novel, as she seems to have become a full-fledged academic now. I hope one day she writes another novel. It will be a shame if this is the only novel that she ever wrote.
Sharing some of my favourite parts from the book.
"And so I would go riding, bribing the grooms with gold and jewellery, and calling at poverty-stricken hovels in the foothills of the Peloponnese, where I mingled with shepherds and peasants and women worn down by constant childbearing and hard work. They would offer me water and ask for nothing back. The gods they prayed to had no relation to the gods venerated in the temples. If I had been born like them, I would have died after an anonymous life of exhausting labour and been buried close to the door of my home. They had never expected anything else. It was the only destiny open to them. They had read it in their mothers' wrinkles and sucked it in with their milk, accepting their destiny just as they accepted their own blood. But for me it had been otherwise. I had had the chance to live a different life, but it had been snatched out of my hands. Of course I was only flesh, bones and skin just like them, but I was also full of regret for what had so nearly happened for me."
"Patroclus was very young, and like all young men was excited by war. Convinced that somewhere among the dust, spilt blood and entrails, could be found that scrap of straw, that useless bauble, that object of foolish desire : glory – an empty and sinister word to my ears."
Have you read 'Memoirs of a Bitch'? What do you think about it?
It was very fascinating to read the story from Helen's perspective. Helen comes through as a fascinating character, a normal woman who is swept by events beyond her control, and when she tries to do something that she likes and live her own life, it results in the Trojan War. I learnt many things through the book. For example, Helen was from Sparta and her parents were the king and queen of Sparta, and her husband Menelaus was not from Sparta but became the king because he married her. The book also says that Helen and Achilles were lovers and once Theseus kidnapped her and tried to rape her, but her brothers somehow managed to save her. I don't know whether these two stories are true or they are part of the author's imagination. I was also surprised to discover that Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's wife (who plays a major role in Aeschylus' play, 'The Oresteia') was Helen's sister. It was also interesting to discover that Helen's daughter was called Hermione. I'm wondering now whether Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series is named after her. When I was a kid, I thought that Paris kidnapped Helen and that is why the Greeks went to war against the Trojans. I was later surprised when I discovered that Helen and Paris actually fell in love and they eloped. Totally different story from what I thought. Later in the story as told in this book, Helen and Paris breakup and Helen and Hector, Paris' elder brother, fall in love. I don't know whether that actually happened or whether it is Francesca Petrizzo's imagination. But I loved the Helen–Hector love story. It was my favourite love story in the book. This book also gives a different version of Achilles' death, a new story that I've not heard of before.
I loved Helen as she was portrayed in the book. My other favourite characters were Hector (loved him, he is such a beautiful soul), Callira Helen's best friend, Cassandra, and an unknown soldier who comes at the beginning who is Helen's first love. I've always hated Achilles (because he killed my favourite Amazon Penthesilea), but in this book he is very likeable.
The friendship between Helen and Callira is very beautifully depicted in the story and it was one of my favourite parts in the book. In one place, Helen says this about Callira –
"Callira smiled and allowed one single ornament for my arm, a silver bracelet shaped like a serpent. Callira, Callira; a princess among her own people, and if I had been able to bear losing her I would have sent her back to them. But I was selfish, and she was always smiling; not faithful in the normal manner of slaves, but close to me with a closeness I could not explain except by saying I responded to it. We had come together by strange oblique routes, but we belonged with one another."
Towards the end of the story, when Troy is burning and everything is gone, this scene happens –
"I firmly detached Callira's clinging hands. 'If I am still your lady, you must do what I say. Just go.'
She was hesitating, I could see it in her face, but I too had the blood of kings in my veins and the throne had spoken through me. So Callira, slave and friend, my life companion, indeed the companion of all my many lives, let go of my arm, and with a desperation I knew only too well in myself, kissed my hand. 'Please don't die,' she said.
'We all die sooner or later. But you run off now.'"
I cried when I read that. I knew that they'd never meet again.
'Memoirs of a Bitch' is the story of a woman who was pushed along by people around her, and when she decided to do one thing that she liked, and live the life she wanted, two countries went to war and many people died. It was okay if a queen had affairs and a series of lovers. But if she wanted to leave her husband and start a new life with someone, all hell with break loose, and there'll be war and people will die. That seems to be Helen's story. If Helen had been an ordinary woman, it would have been easy for her to leave her husband and start a new life with her lover. But as she was a queen, it was hard. Still, she tried. Unfortunately, it ended in tragedy.
I loved 'Memoirs of a Bitch'. It is one of my favourite reads of the year. When I finished the book, I cried.
Francesca Petrizzo's writing is beautiful and flows smoothly like a river. Francesca Petrizzo was an undergraduate student when she wrote this book. Since then she has done her doctorate and has become a professor who teaches medieval history. 'Memoirs of a Bitch' appears to be her only novel, as she seems to have become a full-fledged academic now. I hope one day she writes another novel. It will be a shame if this is the only novel that she ever wrote.
Sharing some of my favourite parts from the book.
"And so I would go riding, bribing the grooms with gold and jewellery, and calling at poverty-stricken hovels in the foothills of the Peloponnese, where I mingled with shepherds and peasants and women worn down by constant childbearing and hard work. They would offer me water and ask for nothing back. The gods they prayed to had no relation to the gods venerated in the temples. If I had been born like them, I would have died after an anonymous life of exhausting labour and been buried close to the door of my home. They had never expected anything else. It was the only destiny open to them. They had read it in their mothers' wrinkles and sucked it in with their milk, accepting their destiny just as they accepted their own blood. But for me it had been otherwise. I had had the chance to live a different life, but it had been snatched out of my hands. Of course I was only flesh, bones and skin just like them, but I was also full of regret for what had so nearly happened for me."
"Patroclus was very young, and like all young men was excited by war. Convinced that somewhere among the dust, spilt blood and entrails, could be found that scrap of straw, that useless bauble, that object of foolish desire : glory – an empty and sinister word to my ears."
Have you read 'Memoirs of a Bitch'? What do you think about it?
February 10, 2024
Rilettura. Ho letto questo libro per la prima volta 10 anni fa, me lo fece scoprire una mia amica che glielo avevano dato alle superiori come lettura.
Devo ammettere che non me lo ricordavo così descrittivo ma mi è piaciuto comunque tanto, alcune frasi sono scolpite nel mio cuore.
La storia non è propriamente corretta e ripetiamo tutti insieme: ACHILLE E PATROCLO NON ERANO CUGINI.
La ship finale mi ha sorpresa davvero molto e mi è piaciuta davvero molto.
Devo ammettere che non me lo ricordavo così descrittivo ma mi è piaciuto comunque tanto, alcune frasi sono scolpite nel mio cuore.
La storia non è propriamente corretta e ripetiamo tutti insieme: ACHILLE E PATROCLO NON ERANO CUGINI.
La ship finale mi ha sorpresa davvero molto e mi è piaciuta davvero molto.
May 2, 2015
I'm always a sucker for anything Trojan War related, so when I saw this, I was expecting some sort of revisionist feminist take on it, a la Margaret Attwood's brilliant "Penelopiad" of a few years back.
No such luck. Francesca Petrizzo apparently believes that the big problems with the Trojan War story were as follows:
1) The plot made sense.
2) Helen didn't sleep with enough hot guys.
3) Helen was insufficiently self-pitying.
Not for this book the many, many suitors, or the oath they swear to each other (you know, the one that makes the war inevitable). Instead, Helen flits from bed to bed, shagging Diomedes, Achilles, Hector and possibly Aeneas (I confess, I was losing interest by that bit), in addition to Meneleaus and Paris (the former of whom the book goes out of its way to paint as apparently the only bad lover Helen ever had).
Finally, Helen herself, who narrates the book in first person, is shallow, self-pitying and just about a textbook narcissist. Seriously, she's so bad that even Achilles gently upbraids her for behaving this way (a point in the book at which hope briefly flared, but was soon doused, as Helen continued to whine for another hundred or more pages).
This book is basically the celebrity memoir version of the Trojan War, written by a celebrity who didn't need to be this vacuous.
No such luck. Francesca Petrizzo apparently believes that the big problems with the Trojan War story were as follows:
1) The plot made sense.
2) Helen didn't sleep with enough hot guys.
3) Helen was insufficiently self-pitying.
Not for this book the many, many suitors, or the oath they swear to each other (you know, the one that makes the war inevitable). Instead, Helen flits from bed to bed, shagging Diomedes, Achilles, Hector and possibly Aeneas (I confess, I was losing interest by that bit), in addition to Meneleaus and Paris (the former of whom the book goes out of its way to paint as apparently the only bad lover Helen ever had).
Finally, Helen herself, who narrates the book in first person, is shallow, self-pitying and just about a textbook narcissist. Seriously, she's so bad that even Achilles gently upbraids her for behaving this way (a point in the book at which hope briefly flared, but was soon doused, as Helen continued to whine for another hundred or more pages).
This book is basically the celebrity memoir version of the Trojan War, written by a celebrity who didn't need to be this vacuous.
September 4, 2017
De todas las novelas que he leido sobre el tema, esta es la peor de todas pero con diferencia. Helena está fuera de lugar y más que una zorra (como dice el titulo, no yo)parece una ninfomana bipolar.
Y además todo va tan rapido que ni siquiera da tiempo a profundizar sobre la historia o los personajes.
Nada, no he tenido mucha suerte con las historias de Troya ultimamente.
Aviso de Spoiler:
¿De verdad Hector y Helena? En que mundo paralelo, iba a preferir el noble y heroico Hector a Helena que a Andromaca, su esposa. Historia de amor de la Iliada al cuerno en menos de cien paginas.
Y además todo va tan rapido que ni siquiera da tiempo a profundizar sobre la historia o los personajes.
Nada, no he tenido mucha suerte con las historias de Troya ultimamente.
Aviso de Spoiler:
¿De verdad Hector y Helena? En que mundo paralelo, iba a preferir el noble y heroico Hector a Helena que a Andromaca, su esposa. Historia de amor de la Iliada al cuerno en menos de cien paginas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2020
This book summarised in two words: Irritation, frustration. What seemed like a promising idea ("The entire saga of Paris and Helen and the Trojan War from Helen's perspective? Bring it on!"), QUICKLY turned out to not make a good book (not in this case, at least). I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I should've known better the second I read the attention-seeking title.
I liked it up until around page 70. That's the point where the plot started irritating me as well as the style. The latter being comprised of too many similes and a lot of sentences that just didn't flow. At least they didn't in my Dutch translation.
Also, retelling an iconic story always is a risky thing to do, but it shouldn't be impossible to rewrite a classic tale. However, if done badly, it quickly becomes irritating AF. This version's plot didn't make a lot of sense. It's basically Helen picking her way through a lot of guys, changing her mind on said guys, causing a war and Troy being destroyed.
The characters didn't vibe with me. Helen was a superficial, empty vessel. Not that any other character was interesting enough, to be honest.
A final cherry on top, there were inconsistencies.
Glad it was over, to be honest.
I liked it up until around page 70. That's the point where the plot started irritating me as well as the style. The latter being comprised of too many similes and a lot of sentences that just didn't flow. At least they didn't in my Dutch translation.
Also, retelling an iconic story always is a risky thing to do, but it shouldn't be impossible to rewrite a classic tale. However, if done badly, it quickly becomes irritating AF. This version's plot didn't make a lot of sense. It's basically Helen picking her way through a lot of guys, changing her mind on said guys, causing a war and Troy being destroyed.
The characters didn't vibe with me. Helen was a superficial, empty vessel. Not that any other character was interesting enough, to be honest.
A final cherry on top, there were inconsistencies.
Glad it was over, to be honest.
August 19, 2016
Ще започна с хубавото - страхотната идея да се разкаже троянската война през погледа на жената, която става причина за нея. С удоволствие бих прочела такава история. За жалост не точно тази. След малко ще обясня защо.
Другото положително, което искам да отбележа, е стилът на авторката. На места е жив, колоритен и поетичен, а на други започва да бие на лилава проза, но като цяло книгата е добре написана.
Голямото разочарование за мен беше историята. Франческа Петрицо явно смята, че сюжетът на Илиада не е достатъчно добър и го е пренаписала. Аз очаквах и се надявах да прочета допълване и нов поглед към Троянската война, а получих съвсем нови събития. Променени са ключови и емблематични моменти или цялостните характери на важни персонажи. Сякаш авторката изобщо не е чела гръцка митология, а е гледала някакъв филм по темата и е решила да си изфантазира нещо.
Ще дам само един пример. Хектор е пример за човек на честта, смел, съвестен, верен и отдаден на семейството си мъж. Любовта и верността му към Андромаха са толкова характерен момент от историята, че епизодът с раздялата им се изучава в училище. В този роман обаче Хектор се превръща в доста разколебан тип. Той е оженен насила поради политически причини за четиринайсетгодишната Андромаха, която пък е някакво смотано момиченце и изобщо не успява да му привлече вниманието. През цялото време той върти любов с... хайде да не навлизам в спойлери.
Мисля, че казах предостатъчно за тази книга. Ако обаче не знаете нищо за Троянската война или не ви пука особено, че романът има само далечна връзка с нея, може да ви допадне.
Другото положително, което искам да отбележа, е стилът на авторката. На места е жив, колоритен и поетичен, а на други започва да бие на лилава проза, но като цяло книгата е добре написана.
Голямото разочарование за мен беше историята. Франческа Петрицо явно смята, че сюжетът на Илиада не е достатъчно добър и го е пренаписала. Аз очаквах и се надявах да прочета допълване и нов поглед към Троянската война, а получих съвсем нови събития. Променени са ключови и емблематични моменти или цялостните характери на важни персонажи. Сякаш авторката изобщо не е чела гръцка митология, а е гледала някакъв филм по темата и е решила да си изфантазира нещо.
Ще дам само един пример. Хектор е пример за човек на честта, смел, съвестен, верен и отдаден на семейството си мъж. Любовта и верността му към Андромаха са толкова характерен момент от историята, че епизодът с раздялата им се изучава в училище. В този роман обаче Хектор се превръща в доста разколебан тип. Той е оженен насила поради политически причини за четиринайсетгодишната Андромаха, която пък е някакво смотано момиченце и изобщо не успява да му привлече вниманието. През цялото време той върти любов с... хайде да не навлизам в спойлери.
Мисля, че казах предостатъчно за тази книга. Ако обаче не знаете нищо за Троянската война или не ви пука особено, че романът има само далечна връзка с нея, може да ви допадне.
August 30, 2017
Desde el momento en que lei la reseña, supe que me iba a resultar interesante leer la historia de uno de los personajes mas emblematicos de Esparta/Troya contado desde su punto de vista y no desde los hombres que la romantizaron, la usar0n como objeto de intercambio o excusa. Sabia que iba a ser diferente, ni bueno ni malo asi que me arriesgue.
No estoy desilucionada en absoluto, la historia esta bellisimamente narrada y aunque es cierto que quizas faltan descripciones y aclaraciones, el estilo de la autora lo compensa, es suave pero describe muy bien las sensaciones de los personajes y es, sin duda alguna, muy diferente a lo que se lee de forma habitual. En esta lectura por spuesto no estaba esperando un libro de historia, sabia que iba a ver fallos y los fui constantando a medida que rastreaba los heroes que aparecen frecuentemente y que, al ver las discrepancias con lo que decian otras fuentes, me creaban cierta confucion pero de todos modos, para alguien que no esta tan adentrada en la historia griega, fue una buena historia para pasar el rato, vale la pena de leer.
No estoy desilucionada en absoluto, la historia esta bellisimamente narrada y aunque es cierto que quizas faltan descripciones y aclaraciones, el estilo de la autora lo compensa, es suave pero describe muy bien las sensaciones de los personajes y es, sin duda alguna, muy diferente a lo que se lee de forma habitual. En esta lectura por spuesto no estaba esperando un libro de historia, sabia que iba a ver fallos y los fui constantando a medida que rastreaba los heroes que aparecen frecuentemente y que, al ver las discrepancias con lo que decian otras fuentes, me creaban cierta confucion pero de todos modos, para alguien que no esta tan adentrada en la historia griega, fue una buena historia para pasar el rato, vale la pena de leer.
April 25, 2012
FINITO! Più di una volta, questo coso ha rischiato di essere buttato fuori dalla finestra ù.ù
Allora vi faccio un riassunto veloce:
Elena ha amato tutti loro.
FINE.
Allora vi faccio un riassunto veloce:
Elena ha amato tutti loro.
FINE.
August 2, 2014
Nonostante la giovanissima età della scrittrice, a mio parere è scritto in modo incantevole. Non avevo mai letto nulla sulla guerra di Troia dal punto di vista di Elena e questa versione mi ha piacevolmente sorpresa :)
July 12, 2015
Easy reading, maar een fijne easy reading.
September 4, 2016
From an interesting idea and a good start came not much of a book. A clear disappointment.
February 4, 2013
I liked it, a bit different point of view, but really nice book :)
March 13, 2021
Elena di Sparta; Elena di Troia; Elena la cagna.
Elena che fa scoppiare una guerra; Elena che viene riportata indietro come un bottino; Elena la più bella del mondo.
Quanti appellativi possono essere dati a una donna senza lasciarla mai parlare?
Di lei sappiamo che è nata a Sparta, che è stata data in sposa a Menelao, che ha dato alla luce Ermione e che è fuggita con Paride. Pare sia stato un capriccio degli dei, un premio di Afrodite per il principe troiano. Ma Elena cosa pensa? Qual è la sua versione?
Attraverso la penna di Francesca Petrizzo possiamo finalmente ascoltare le sue parole. Elena non è altro che una donna in cerca d'amore, quell'amore mai ricevuto dalla sua famiglia e che lei spera di trovare negli uomini. Ma la figlia di Tindaro è così ansiosa di lasciare la corte di Sparta, dove si sente infelice, da scambiare il desiderio per amore.
L'autrice ci racconta perfettamente lo stato d'animo della donna, il disprezzo che maturerà per Paride, la gentilezza che troverà in Ettore. Inoltre, mi è piaciuta molto l'amicizia che nascerà tra Elena e Cassandra, due donne sole ed emarginate che trovano conforto l'una nell'altra.
Conoscendo le varie storie del ciclo troiano, mi sono trovata davanti ad alcuni "colpi di scena", episodi che non mi aspettavo. D'altronde è la stessa Elena a metterci in guardia nella prima pagina del libro: <>.
Elena che fa scoppiare una guerra; Elena che viene riportata indietro come un bottino; Elena la più bella del mondo.
Quanti appellativi possono essere dati a una donna senza lasciarla mai parlare?
Di lei sappiamo che è nata a Sparta, che è stata data in sposa a Menelao, che ha dato alla luce Ermione e che è fuggita con Paride. Pare sia stato un capriccio degli dei, un premio di Afrodite per il principe troiano. Ma Elena cosa pensa? Qual è la sua versione?
Attraverso la penna di Francesca Petrizzo possiamo finalmente ascoltare le sue parole. Elena non è altro che una donna in cerca d'amore, quell'amore mai ricevuto dalla sua famiglia e che lei spera di trovare negli uomini. Ma la figlia di Tindaro è così ansiosa di lasciare la corte di Sparta, dove si sente infelice, da scambiare il desiderio per amore.
L'autrice ci racconta perfettamente lo stato d'animo della donna, il disprezzo che maturerà per Paride, la gentilezza che troverà in Ettore. Inoltre, mi è piaciuta molto l'amicizia che nascerà tra Elena e Cassandra, due donne sole ed emarginate che trovano conforto l'una nell'altra.
Conoscendo le varie storie del ciclo troiano, mi sono trovata davanti ad alcuni "colpi di scena", episodi che non mi aspettavo. D'altronde è la stessa Elena a metterci in guardia nella prima pagina del libro: <
April 9, 2018
Cosa dire? Libro carino, scorrevole ma la scrittura non è certamente nelle mie corde. E nemmeno il genere. Almeno c’ho provato.
Il tema mi attirava esageratamente e, adorando gli dei e gli eroi greci, mi ci sono fiondata.
Elena è un personaggio estremamente interessante ma non mi ha colpita molto, estremamente decisa sulla fine, e resa sola dalla sua bellezza.
Anche se quelli che mi hanno più compito sono stati Achille ed Ettore.
Alcune parti sono estremamente evocative, come quando, mentre i greci stanno arrivando guidati da Agamennone, ci si concentra sui sui alleati, in cui figurano anche Diomede e Achille, rispettivamente il suo secondo e terzo amore.
Anche la morte di Achille mi è piaciuta, diversa da quella che ci hanno sempre narrato.
Come il cavallo, d’altronde.
Paride l’ho odiato e, nel complesso, mi ha avvinto molto come libro, ma niente di indimenticabile.
Ho bisogno di più azione e avventura, forse se fosse stato narrato da Ettore che era immischiato nel vivo della lotta l’avrei preferito.
Ho letto che alcuni si lamentavano del fatto che tutti, ma proprio tutti, si invaghissero di Elena.
Ragazzi, è la sua “maledizione”.
Tremendamente bella e desiderata.
Lo consiglio sia per gli amanti del genere che non.
Carino ma niente di indimenticabile.
Scrittura aulica ed evocativa, non esattamente delle mie preferite.
Il tema mi attirava esageratamente e, adorando gli dei e gli eroi greci, mi ci sono fiondata.
Elena è un personaggio estremamente interessante ma non mi ha colpita molto, estremamente decisa sulla fine, e resa sola dalla sua bellezza.
Anche se quelli che mi hanno più compito sono stati Achille ed Ettore.
Alcune parti sono estremamente evocative, come quando, mentre i greci stanno arrivando guidati da Agamennone, ci si concentra sui sui alleati, in cui figurano anche Diomede e Achille, rispettivamente il suo secondo e terzo amore.
Anche la morte di Achille mi è piaciuta, diversa da quella che ci hanno sempre narrato.
Come il cavallo, d’altronde.
Paride l’ho odiato e, nel complesso, mi ha avvinto molto come libro, ma niente di indimenticabile.
Ho bisogno di più azione e avventura, forse se fosse stato narrato da Ettore che era immischiato nel vivo della lotta l’avrei preferito.
Ho letto che alcuni si lamentavano del fatto che tutti, ma proprio tutti, si invaghissero di Elena.
Ragazzi, è la sua “maledizione”.
Tremendamente bella e desiderata.
Lo consiglio sia per gli amanti del genere che non.
Carino ma niente di indimenticabile.
Scrittura aulica ed evocativa, non esattamente delle mie preferite.
November 21, 2020
Certo, Francesca Petrizzo non è la Christa Wolf di Medea e di Cassandra, non foss’altro che per differente età e differente storia esistenziale. Ma devo dire che questo romanzo storico-biografico è di gran lunga migliore di quanto pensassi, tanto per la qualità della scrittura quanto per l’articolazione dei contenuti e l’impianto narrativo. Temevo di trovarmi di fronte a un Harmony ambientato nell’antichità, e invece ho tra le mani un eccellente romanzo, che rivela un adeguato studio delle fonti e si inserisce a pieno titolo nella tradizione del mito. Complimenti all’autrice diciannovenne, sempre sperando che la qualità finale sia tutta farina del suo sacco e non di quello degli editor... Se devo fare un appunto è per il titolo, che propone una chiave di lettura piuttosto tendenziosa, e tutto sommato vera solo per chi conosce superficialmente il mito e i suoi infiniti sviluppi. Per quanto riguarda il finale, secondo il Vecchioni di “Viaggi del tempo immobile” Cassandra non sarebbe stata uccisa ma sarebbe diventata preda di Agamennone (sempre secondo Vecchioni, che accoglie la lezione di Euripide, a Troia Elena non c’era mai stata). E la stessa Elena non si sarebbe tolta la vita, ma, millenni dopo, sottratta alla vendetta di Menelao sarebbe diventata la moglie di Faust, nella seconda parte della tragedia goethiana.
April 14, 2022
Difficile dare un giudizio a questo romanzo che anticipa il revival di miti greci del momento. Francesca Petrizzo anticipa un po' i tempi, narrando la propria personale versione della storia di Elena, la donna più bella del mondo e causa della guerra di Troia. In questa storia è proprio la protagonista, tanto vituperata dagli antichi, a dire la sua e per certi versi l'opera risulta interessante. La figura di Elena è succube del suo destino che la vuole estranea alla propria famiglia, un gruppo quanto mai disfunzionale. Scordatevi rapporti fraterni affettuosi. Questa Elena ha una madre perennemente sull'orlo del ripudio, un padre che forse padre non è, una sorella(stra) che la odia con tutto il cuore e due fratelli che si vogliono bene...forse anche troppo. In questo insieme si intrecciano varie vicende. Alcune soluzioni mi sono piaciute molto, come quella del misterioso amore di Elena, che pervade tutta la storia. Altre mi sono piaciute meno, come la libera interpretazione di alcune storie del mito. Alcuni personaggi, come Ettore, appaiono snaturati nel loro ruolo ma neppure tanto se si legge bene il mito. In sintesi la storia è particolare, sotto ogni punto di vista. La fantasia emerge a tutta forza sul finale, però non dispiace nemmeno tanto. In sintesi ne consiglio la lettura, a patto di chiudere un occhio sulle numerose licenze dell'autrice.
May 12, 2020
Lettura piuttosto leggera, ma con la giusta dose di liricità in grado di farti rivivere le atmosfere e le storie dell'Iliade con un certo coinvolgimento. Tutto molto piacevole, fino a che la rivisitazione non è stata tale da cancellare una delle storie d'amore più belle del mito (Ettore e Andromaca), e rendere Elena una protagonista decisamente fastidiosa, molto più del dovuto! Motivo principale per cui da 4 stelle che pensavo inizialmente di dare, ho optato per 3/5 (ma mi sono dovuta convincere, perché stavo quasi per scendere a 2, e quasi unicamente per la parte finale del libro..peccato).
October 26, 2022
Due stelline solo perché la scrittura della Petrizzo è poetica e avvolgente, veramente magnetica.
Per il resto, che dire: come snaturare l’Iliade.
Ok i retelling, ma non si possono cambiare eventi decisivi per la guerra di Troia e particolari su cui la mitologia si fonda! Giusto per citarne qualcuno…
-SPOILER-
Elena che uccide Achille puntandogli un pugnale al petto? Ma siamo seri? Elena che ha una relazione con Ettore? Achille che lotta al fianco di Patroclo quando quest’ultimo muore? Achille che non fa fare i tre giri delle mura al corpo di Ettore? Ermione, la figlia di Elena, che ha Achille come padre? Scusate, ma per me è davvero troppo!
Per il resto, che dire: come snaturare l’Iliade.
Ok i retelling, ma non si possono cambiare eventi decisivi per la guerra di Troia e particolari su cui la mitologia si fonda! Giusto per citarne qualcuno…
-SPOILER-
Elena che uccide Achille puntandogli un pugnale al petto? Ma siamo seri? Elena che ha una relazione con Ettore? Achille che lotta al fianco di Patroclo quando quest’ultimo muore? Achille che non fa fare i tre giri delle mura al corpo di Ettore? Ermione, la figlia di Elena, che ha Achille come padre? Scusate, ma per me è davvero troppo!
February 23, 2023
Es una de las reseñas que me ha costado comenzar porque es un libro que no me ha gustado nada.
Me llamó la atención por su sinopsis y porque era sobre Helena desde sus inicios y conocer toda su historia. Sin embargo la siento un poco vacía, muy superficial, solo vemos lo que dice el título: Memorias de una zorra, y no solo de Helena sino de todos los personajes que aparecen. No es una novela que le recomendaría a nadie, porque además tiene una gran cantidad de errores históricos que, aunque se sabe que un escritor puede agarrar un personaje histórico y darle su propio giro, lo que se hizo con Helena no me gusta para nada.
Me llamó la atención por su sinopsis y porque era sobre Helena desde sus inicios y conocer toda su historia. Sin embargo la siento un poco vacía, muy superficial, solo vemos lo que dice el título: Memorias de una zorra, y no solo de Helena sino de todos los personajes que aparecen. No es una novela que le recomendaría a nadie, porque además tiene una gran cantidad de errores históricos que, aunque se sabe que un escritor puede agarrar un personaje histórico y darle su propio giro, lo que se hizo con Helena no me gusta para nada.
April 18, 2019
Mucho hemos leído o escuchado sobre Helena de Troya, pero aquí podemos conocer un poco más de esta historia y guiados por ella misma. Sus pasiones, sus dolores y los motivos detrás de todas aquellas terribles decisiones.
La trama es interesante pero definitivamente la narración es lo que termina por atraparte; ligera y lo suficientemente descriptiva (pero sin hacerse tediosa) como para poder encontrar el sentir de los personajes dentro de uno mismo aún y cuando no te identifiques por completo con ellos. A mi me encantó.
La trama es interesante pero definitivamente la narración es lo que termina por atraparte; ligera y lo suficientemente descriptiva (pero sin hacerse tediosa) como para poder encontrar el sentir de los personajes dentro de uno mismo aún y cuando no te identifiques por completo con ellos. A mi me encantó.
September 15, 2019
Es una lectura fácil y aún así me tomó bastante tiempo leerlo. La narración es buena, está bien escrito y le doy crédito por eso, sin embargo aunque mi expectativa no era una historia épica en torno a la guerra de Troya, mi mayor problema es que Helena es un personaje que me pareció bastante irritante en ocasiones y es una novela centrada enteramente en ella. No se si lo recomendaría, es un libro dominguero, pero hay mejores.
April 24, 2023
Entretenido ... Pero me esperaba que siguiera un poco la verdadera historia.
No diré spoliers
Pero , hubiera preferido que Aquiles muriera como en la verdadera historia con una flecha sobre su talón y en esta...bueno ... No diré nada más.
Pero creo que la autora debió contar un poco más de verdad...
No diré spoliers
Pero , hubiera preferido que Aquiles muriera como en la verdadera historia con una flecha sobre su talón y en esta...bueno ... No diré nada más.
Pero creo que la autora debió contar un poco más de verdad...
April 7, 2018
Me pareció diferente a lo que acostumbro a leer; un estilo narrativo más poético…más romántico; de mujer en primera persona.
Me sorprendió la muerte de Aquiles en esta trama y de manera positiva la división de la obra en las dos ciudades donde se desarrolla la vida de Helena: Esparta y Troya
Me sorprendió la muerte de Aquiles en esta trama y de manera positiva la división de la obra en las dos ciudades donde se desarrolla la vida de Helena: Esparta y Troya
February 26, 2019
Horrible title for an okay book. Got it for free at an event. Light read, perfect for reading at the poolside. Not a life changer, mostly light entertainment, but since the author is very young, I'm still giving it three instead of two stars.
August 17, 2020
Mi è piaciuta questa rivisitazione delle vicende che hanno per protagonista Elena di Sparta/Troia dal suo punto di vista, è una narrazione molto femminile, che a volte stravolge la classica concezione di alcuni eroi, ma che non dispiace.
March 22, 2025
Francesca Petrizzo geeft haar eigen draai aan de eeuwenoude en nog steeds tot de verbeelding sprekende mythe rond Helena van Sparta/Troje en de mede om haar gevoerde Trojaanse oorlog. Alleen doet ze dat met zulke bloemrijke taal dat het verhaal er enigszins bij in is geschoten.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews