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Sappho's Leap
by
Erica Jong
Fearless, exuberant, and passionate, Sappho is Erica Jong's most unforgettable heroine. Sappho's Leap is a Journey back 2,600 years to inhabit the mind of the greatest love poet the world has ever known. At the age of fourteen, Sappho is seduced by the beautiful poet Alcaeus, plots with him to overthrow the dictator of their island, and is caught and married off to a repel...more
Hardcover
Published
May 1st 2003
by W. W. Norton & Company
(first published 2003)
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VI sec a. C., Leucade. Il suo piedino calzato d'un sandalo d'oro si inerpica su, su, sempre più su. La bella cantrice di Afrodite ha timore dell’autunno della vita. Sale in fretta la scogliera mentre il cuore le pulsa forte in gola e rivede la sua bellezza e la sua giovinezza a Lesbo, l'ispirazione e le sue passioni, e calpesta il sogno dell’amore di Alceo. È mossa da un unico istinto: gettarsi dalla rupe. Ma le sue ginocchia ora tremano. In cima alla scogliera dell'isola, l'aria si fa più raref...more
2,600 years ago on the island of Lesbos in the great age when trade blossomed in the eastern Mediterranean there lived an actual woman who's songs survive to this day - on scraps of parchment and in the legends passed on through the ages. Sappho was known throughout this ancient world and her songs say much about the unchanging nature of love and lust, of power and wisdom. Jong has researched her character well and has woven a story of her life that is compelling and informative. How this woman...more
Wow. I don't quite know what to say about this book. I am very conflicted because although I found the book pretty terrible in execution, the content and imagery was mesmerizing and I found myself finishing the book while shaking my head in disbelief the entire time. The dialogue was odd and unnatural. There were times where I chuckled to myself imagining the characters actually speaking those words aloud to each other. There was also a lot of repitition and reiteration throughout the book. Coul...more
I have always been a fan of Greek mythology. Although I'd never heard of Sappho until discovering this novel more than a year ago, I've come to appreciate the attention Jong gives to Sappho's life and poetry.
The novel moves quickly and is just what I've come to expect from this author's writing. The prose is witty, sensual and retrospective as the protagonist laments the taking of her daughter while longing for the embrace of her lover. Imagery describing the Greek isle of Lesbos and other local...more
The novel moves quickly and is just what I've come to expect from this author's writing. The prose is witty, sensual and retrospective as the protagonist laments the taking of her daughter while longing for the embrace of her lover. Imagery describing the Greek isle of Lesbos and other local...more
Ohmygod. And here's the 2nd book I've given up on within 20 pages: in the last 5 years, that's happened only twice - and both in this week. Jong is a wildly uneven writer. Her heyday was the late-70s and she was truly a groundbreaking, explicit - & unusually accessible - literary novelist. Now, not so much. The very promising prologue of Sappho as an old woman, standing upon the cliffs reviewing her life in preparation for hurling herself into the sea, gave me false hope that died with the 1...more
Upon discussion with friends and through perusing way more reader reviews on this website than I have time for, it has been decided that Erica Jong is a genius-- but only her early years.
Erica Jong's ability to wield words like a sword is incredible. Her poetry is magnificent (my next tattoo will most likely be one of her verses, if that says anything) and I adore her. But I realized that most of my experience with her (prior to Sappho's Leap) was all her early work. Something happened to her wr...more
Erica Jong's ability to wield words like a sword is incredible. Her poetry is magnificent (my next tattoo will most likely be one of her verses, if that says anything) and I adore her. But I realized that most of my experience with her (prior to Sappho's Leap) was all her early work. Something happened to her wr...more
Erica Jong's novel retains just enough ancient history and philosophy to prevent it from teetering into either florid romance novel or purely pornographic fluff. Although thoroughly enjoyable, the novel falls short of greatness on several levels, most disturbingly so when the tone morphs out of Sappho's own and becomes disturbingly modernistic.
That said, there were many strengths to the novel and Sappho herself is fabulously imagined. Far from historical fiction, the novel was wonderfully autobi...more
That said, there were many strengths to the novel and Sappho herself is fabulously imagined. Far from historical fiction, the novel was wonderfully autobi...more
Just finished this. It was almost-brilliant, falling just short of brilliance across the board. Insufficient supporting character development, and patchy, insufficient plotting (in particular the poorly-realized nonsense with the Amazons and centaurs, which had so much unrealized potential). Too hasty a resolution of the period on the unnamed island. Too many loose ends--the Pharoah in particular, and how Alcaus and Praxinoa came to be in the right boat at the right time at the end there. She sp...more
Not what I expected in the least! Based on Jong's other book that I read, I thought this would be some modern lesbian coming-of-age story. Instead, I got historical fiction about the real Sappho. It was enjoyable, with lots of sex and adventures. And I loved the meta aspect of Zeus and Aphrodite discussing the story as it went along. One thing I didn't like was the poems that Jong tacked on at the end, same as in her other novel.. I don't think they're as good as her prose.
Back in the 70's we all read Fear of Flying. It was a mandate for women's liberation. This is the first novel I have read of Jong's.
The life of Sappho, a writer of erotic songs, born about 2600 years ago on the Greek island of Lesbos, re-imagined as a beautifully told myth full of gods and goddesses and magical creatures. In the style one might expect from Erica Jong, this myth is racy, insightful and funny. The story parallels The Odyssey and is a fun read.
The life of Sappho, a writer of erotic songs, born about 2600 years ago on the Greek island of Lesbos, re-imagined as a beautifully told myth full of gods and goddesses and magical creatures. In the style one might expect from Erica Jong, this myth is racy, insightful and funny. The story parallels The Odyssey and is a fun read.
This book is well written, but I do not recommend it to those who are not prone to a book filled with....numerous....romantic interludes. The story is that of poet Sappho who is seduced by poet Alcaeus. All sorts of plots, overthrows, love trysts emerge, taking them both through Delphi to Egypt to the Amazon, and naturally to Hades. Jong translates many of Sappho's poems, and this was the hook for me.
Parts of this are very good, but I have to confess that Jong lost me when the story turns fantastical - it was going along nicely with the straightforward historical with light mythological overtones, so the turnoff to head into the underworld is a sharp one. I'm fine with either one, the other, or both interwoven smoothly; slapping the concepts together like a poorly made layer cake is less fine.
oh shit. good reads (or i) just deleted my entire crap review.
can i be bothered to rewrite?
meh.
this book isn't as bad as other reviewers are saying. no, it won't save your life. but it does offer a cute glimpse at the life of an icon, and given that so little is known about sappho, i'm impressed with jong's tale.
we see sappho grow up and hear some humorous dialogue between zeus and aphrodite. it's worth the couple of hours it will take you to read, and offers a pleasant, although not life-alteri...more
can i be bothered to rewrite?
meh.
this book isn't as bad as other reviewers are saying. no, it won't save your life. but it does offer a cute glimpse at the life of an icon, and given that so little is known about sappho, i'm impressed with jong's tale.
we see sappho grow up and hear some humorous dialogue between zeus and aphrodite. it's worth the couple of hours it will take you to read, and offers a pleasant, although not life-alteri...more
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This is one of my favorite books. I found Erica Jong's writing to be quite beautiful, lucid, and her story entertaining.
There were times as I read her words, that I felt as if I were in ancient Greece and singing my praises to Aphrodite right along side Sappho.
If you love mythology, I do highly recommend this.
There were times as I read her words, that I felt as if I were in ancient Greece and singing my praises to Aphrodite right along side Sappho.
If you love mythology, I do highly recommend this.
A friend of mine lent me this book years ago after she went to one of Erika Jong's book signings. I've always been fascinated by Greek mythology so this book seemed like an ideal read. I have to say, I was completely engrossed once I started reading. Wonderful imagery and beautiful story.
Feb 26, 2011
Julia Skinner
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction
I enjoyed the book overall, and Jong did a good job of bringing the character alive and of sharing the environment of ancient Greece that inspired her. There were a few points that I felt were a little expected, but overall it was entertaining, well-written, and seemingly well-researched.
This is my favorite book of all time. It was the first book that made me feel like I wasn't the only bisexual in (my teenage) world. I finished the whole book in one sitting, i couldn't put it down. I hold it close to my heart and I still enjoy reading it from time to time.
I was so sorely disappointed by this book. I'm still sad when I think about it! It was so lyrical and beautiful and had some scintillating lesbian love scenes, but in the end, is dissolved into little more than a middle-aged woman's "Mrs. Robinson - esque" fantasy...
i liked the book itself, but it seemed a little too coincidental at times, and sappho's journeys into the underworld were a bit out of place. that being said, it made me much more interested in sappho as an artist and a person. unfortunately there is so little known about her.
This was a novel that I felt I should have loved but I just didn't. I don't really know why but I found turning the pages a struggle and very nearly gave up. Sappho irritated me abit and I found the middle of the book a little lackluster. The one element of this book I did like though were the conversations between Aphrodite and Zeus they were the most entertaining part.
After studying Sappho in the original and as we know so little, it amazes me how in our time, her work still stands out. The story is pure fiction and crosses some elements of what we know of her but in the end, it turned out to be an okay read.
I was surprised by how erotic this book was. I have read and researched Sappho in the past and I knew of her sexuality but I didn't expect the author to get so graphic! Lol I guess we can describe this as a fun read but not one to take too seriously. It should definitely be categorized differently!
I love Sappho, so I was excited to read this novelization. This was a fun read, full of mythology, Greek history and adventures. Not a particularly deep novel, but one full of interesting quests and adventure, for those who like historical fiction.
If Odysseus had been a woman, this is the journey he might have taken
History and fantasy, sex and myth, a woman's odyssey.
wooohooo!
I liked the subject, but it felt choppy and a little flat. There was too much exposition. The song lyrics included throughout the text were not that interesting--it was as if they tried to mimic lyric poetry from that time but fell short.
Jong took on a difficult task - to create a historical novel about a poet who didn't exactly leave much in the way of biography (or in extant works). I appreciate that, as well as Jong's feminist stance. However her attempt comes off as somewhat heavy handed - and the argument between Aphrodite and Zeus that is interspersed throughout the story becomes annoying after a while.
Good effort, but not a good read.
Good effort, but not a good read.
The book was interesting and aspects were well phrased but I constantly felt as though I was merely skimming across the story rather than feeling involved. It read more like a history book than an evocative story of Sappho's life. That being said the different characters and the myths that were woven into the story were intriguing and for the most part the writing was well done.
My pick - oh well
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Erica Jong—novelist, poet, and essayist—has consistently used her craft to help provide women with a powerful and rational voice in forging a feminist consciousness. She has published 21 books, including eight novels, six volumes of poetry, six books of non-fiction and numerous articles in magazines and newspapers such as the New York Times, the Sunday Times of London, Elle, Vogue, and the New Yor...more
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“Without the gods, how would I sing?' I asked.
With your own voice,' he said.”
—
36 people liked it
With your own voice,' he said.”
“But if the gods do not exist at all - then we are lost,' I said.
On the contrary - we are found!' said Aesop.
But when we are afraid, who can we turn to, if not the gods?'
Ourselves. We turn to ourselves anyway. We only pretend there are gods and that they care about us. It is a comforting falsehood.”
—
34 people liked it
More quotes…
On the contrary - we are found!' said Aesop.
But when we are afraid, who can we turn to, if not the gods?'
Ourselves. We turn to ourselves anyway. We only pretend there are gods and that they care about us. It is a comforting falsehood.”
