Play Book Tag discussion

** Steeplechase - Quest - 6 tags
**BWF Extra - Letter E - no tags

I think I would have appreciated this better if I had read it with a class that included information on the era, the culture, its traditions, etc. There were some notes and background but just reading that wasn't very engaging. The actual story reminded me of other ancient tales like Beowulf and of course Noah's Ark, since a character here builds a large boat to survive a flood along with animals and people. I was very surprised by the powerful role of women. Gilgamesh learns of a wild man who was raised by animals and is dangerous. Rather than fighting him directly, he brings a "harlot" who is instructed to bare herself to him. Of course the wild man is seduced and eventually uses up all his energy. (reminds me a bit of the Samson story.) Then the woman instructs this fellow on how to be civilized and he and Gilgamesh become best buddies (or more? there's sometimes a feeling of homoeroticism.) Later, a goddess has the power to extend curses and blessings. So it seems that men thousands of years ago had the same fascinations as now - superheroes and sexy/dangerous women.

There's a new fiction book coming out that uses the Tale of Gilgamesh as a unifying thread across three timelines / stories.

There Are Rivers in the Sky

Descriptions / reviews make me think of Anthony Doerr's Cloud Cuckoo Land

I read this for a class my freshman year at Barnard - a comparative religions class I recall. Still have my copy of it. Do I remember the discussions and lecture? Not at all, but I did like reading it! I think it is cool you read it.

@BC - thanks for the heads up on the retelling!

Robin P wrote: "So it seems that men thousands of years ago had the same fascinations as now - superheroes and sexy/dangerous women. ..."

We are such simple creatures.

I greatly enjoy ancient literature. I will add this to my list. Sometimes I enjoy reading the Wikipedia page more than I enjoy the story itself.

There is a giveaway for There Are Rivers in the Sky!