Pan, both goat and god, is a curious being who roams nature searching, wondering, and frolicking with maenads and satyrs. He plays melodies on his ...
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reviews
Oct 23, 2011
Emma
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The Great God Pan, by Donna Jo Napoli, is yet another beautifully written story of love and loss. Though it is short, it succeeds in conveying everything that could be wished. The Great God Pan is an interpretation of the Greek myths surrounding Pan, the god of nature. Pan is the son of Hermes and a goat, and is therefore stuck between two worlds, not really fitting into either. The book starts with a visit from his father, and continues on to Pan's meeting with a beautiful princess. De
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Jul 26, 2011
2004- I've read some of the author's other retellings and was a bit disappointed with this one. We meet Pan, the half goat/half god who basically flits around the woods with other mythical creatures all day. It isn't until he meets Iphigenia and falls in love with her that his life really seems to have a purpose. People with any background in Greek mythology know that Pan had a curse placed on him upon birth that he will never be loved in return. His quest to find Iphigenia again then seems a bi
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Dec 02, 2010
Ryon
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 07, 2009
Chelsea
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Donna Jo Napoli's The Great God Pan is the tale of young half Olympian god, half goat Pan. Pan is greatly adored by all creatures and gods of Olympus, but he is forever burdened by a curse put on him by the goddess of love, Aphrodite to be unloveable after his father Hermes forced her into bed with him. Pan is disturbed by this as well as his inability to be either completely god or completely goat throughout the book causing him to be caught in between two different worlds never knowing where h
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Sep 08, 2010
Anne
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Hotter than the Song of Solomon! Wow, the gods sure did get around. This is a beautiful book from cover to ending -- very romantic, and if you're not careful you might just learn something. This is slated as Y/A lit. Not sure my 10-year-old is ready for it, nor would he be interested in a romance between Pan and Iphegenia. It's more of a chick book (in a good way), and for a bit older -- I'd guess jr. high or older, depending on the person. Great summer read for me, though!
Sep 30, 2010
Melana
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The Great God Pan is a tame greek myth -- though seemingly a contradiction of terms -- written for the tween set. still, i enjoyed the quick read, as i had never much known of pan before opening the book, neither had i ever read a greek myth written in the first person. much fun.
Nov 24, 2008
Keith
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A bit of a tear-jerker, a bit of an Olympian love story, both of which should be obvious to anyone who already knows the related myths or the Greeks' penchant for classical tragedy. Napoli weaves a number of interrelated mytic stories into the tapestry, and in the process creates quite a plausible fill for two of the gaps in the ending of the central narrative of Pan and Iphigenia. It should serve as quite a good introduction to Greek mythology for school-age children who are just beginning to
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Aug 12, 2011
According to Napoli, Pan is the only classic god who is ever reported to have died. Napoli ties his story in with Iphigenia, the daughter of Helen of Troy, to explain how he died and why. A riveting re-telling of classical mythology.
Apr 05, 2010
Rosalia
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This book tries to fill in a gap found in the greek myths regarding Pan and Iphignia. The characters are interesting and well developed. It was a quick read that the Percy Jackson crowd might appreciate, part adventure story part doomed love tale.
Sep 30, 2009
A retelling of the Greek myths about Pan, both goat and god, whose reed flute frolicking leads him to a meeting with Iphigenia, a human raised as the daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra.
Jun 14, 2010
Wendy
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What a wonderful story. I loved mythology as a kid and this is a wonderful romp back into that childhood love. This is the story of Pan and his curse, his love of a human, and his sacrifice for that love.
Jan 03, 2012
Irvington Public Library
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I like mythology so I read it. Reads like mythology: it is "choppy" sometimes. You may feel that this short novel has too many characters in a small number of pages.
Jun 27, 2011
Shelley
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Napoli once again does a wonderful job of retelling greek myths in an engaging new way. Worth reading.
Sep 14, 2009
Nikki
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Read this when I was looking at novels based on mythology. I remember liking but not loving it.
Jul 10, 2009
Allison
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Pan is half-god, half-human, and he struggles knowing which nature and expectations to follow more.
I found this version of Pan to be mopey, and not at all fun like I was expecting.
I found this version of Pan to be mopey, and not at all fun like I was expecting.
Feb 10, 2012
Liz
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2/10/12 I wish the ending were different, I also wish it hadn't taken me by surprise. I should have remembered my mythology better.
May 22, 2009
Derek
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An interesting variation on the Greek tales of Pan and of the Trojan War.
Feb 09, 2010
Tiffany
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Aug 24, 2011
Kaila
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when i read this story I never knew too much of the god Pan. I only knew of his job and nothing else. This book was a heartbreaking story of a god who is not man nor beast. It was moving and had a wonderful vibe when reading it. It was a very short read but still enjoyable. It was had all the parts that would make a short story great and hoping it were longer. Good book a surpise only if you do not know the story of Pan.
Jul 21, 2008
Anastasia
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I always love a good Napoli retelling of a classic story. This is no different if occasionally a bit quick: Napoli attempts to explain the myth of Pan but glosses over some of the more interesting relationships between the gods. However, Pan comes across lively and charming and his awkward positioning between worlds and realms and categories is fun to relate to.
Feb 07, 2012
Jan 31, 2012
