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39th out of 62 books
—
93 voters
Inside the Walls of Troy: A Novel of the Women Who Lived the Trojan War
Two women, one war. Helen, at age twelve, is not prepared to deal with her famous beauty: to have the face that will launch a thousand ships, kill fifty thousand men, and cause the fall of the world's greatest city. But when she is kidnapped by Theseus of Athens, she begins her journey into womanhood and finds passion strong enough to start the Trojan War.
Cassandra has the...more
Cassandra has the...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
August 31st 2004
by Simon Pulse
(first published 1996)
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Vomit. Unfortunately I have to teach this book to 7th graders this upcoming school year and I'm NOT a fan! I don't know if it's because I really don't appreciate Greek mythology and all that or if it really is the book but it was told from Helen and Cassandra's point of views (which I suppose is a nice change of pace from the usual Trojan war battle book) and the plot encompassed a decade or two which forced it to speed along so quickly (in just 190 pages) that it left no room for character deve...more
No, I just can't. Ugh. I got this book from my local bookstore (Thank god, it only cost 50 cents.)I gave this book a review of 2/5 stars. The only thing that kept this book from receiving a 1, was because at some points of the story drew me in. The reasons why i didn't like this book was because things were left UNANSWERED. The author would talk about how someone ended up dead but not told by whom. Believe me, i reread parts trying to figure out who killed who. It only happened about 1 time towa...more
Inside the Walls of Troy squeezes the whole Trojan War its plot, starting at Helen's childhood and going right up to the end. Helen is the narrator for the opening section and Cassandra is for the rest of it. In this version the two get along surprisingly well. The other Helen-related books I read recently each dealt with just a small section of her life, which I think worked better. This book, doing the whole story in less than 200 pages, has little space for description and often feels dry and...more
I had to read this for school and if you do too, trust me when I say it is honestly not a bad book. It started out really dull and not to my taste at all but once I got past Helen's part of the story, Cassandra's tale was much more interesting. The character of Cassandra is a more independent woman who wants to be taken sreiously in scoiety and not looked at like just another potential wife or mistress. Personally, that is the better half of this book so if you are on one of the earlier pages, s...more
I had this book as required reading my freshman year of high school, but was very surprised by its entertainment value. i am not even a big fan of mythology, but McLaren characterized the figures so well that they became relatable. I do recall the descriptions of scenery being very lush, which drew me into the Mediterranean setting. The action scenes were also very compelling even to those who are bored by fighting. So if you have to read this for school or decided to pick it up on your own, I a...more
Nov 05, 2008
Steven
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Steven by:
no one
Helen was a beutiful princess of Sparta who was known for being the most beutiful girl in the worl and for her father been the most powerful Greek God named Zeus. She had been kidnapped at the age of twelve by the Athenian legendary warrior Theseus that had defeated the half man half bull from Crete. When she was rescued she was to be married right away for fear that she would be kidnapped again. So twelve princes were gathered from all around Greece. The father of Helen and king of all of Spar...more
Aug 07, 2012
Kristen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mythology,
youngadult
Short & Sweet: I've always loved reading about the Trojan War, so I was excited to read this older title. We start the book off with Helen who doesn't want to be blessed with the beauty she has and tries to be content until Paris shows up. Paris confides that he won a wager for her love, but she cannot help herself and leaves both her husband and daughter behind to be with him. Which is how the Trojan War begins. Cassandra tries her best to hate Helen, who she has forseen to ruin their lives...more
I am a fan of mythology and I had a huge crush on Achilles back in high school when he was first introduced to us. Brad Pitt killed that fantasy for me...
I didn't like this book much. It was good to read and was well-written... but I guess I was just looking for more mud slinging from the women... but then again... that must have been the man in me. I should know that women would rather keep their silence than make a fist and end a fight.
I didn't like this book much. It was good to read and was well-written... but I guess I was just looking for more mud slinging from the women... but then again... that must have been the man in me. I should know that women would rather keep their silence than make a fist and end a fight.
It was ok. I went through an odd like it hate it phase with this book. (like-hate-like-hate) I would not recommend it for anyone because it's one of those books where only people who are into Greek mythology and romance would love. I like history so hearing a different type of point of view of this deadly war was interesting but I didn't care much for the romantic drama which is why I thought this book was...OK...
Aug 06, 2011
Silmarillionstar
added it
I particularly enjoyed the retelling of the war through Cassandra's viewpoint, and I appreciated the insight into her relationships with others, especially with her brother Helenus and with the trouble-bearing Helen. I have come to see Helen as a sympathetic character, one with good intentions foiled by an obsession, an addiction, to her love for Paris.
I bought this book when I was probably 9 years old and I fell in love with it. I think I've read it more than 10 times and it's also one of the books with the most worn out cover in my book shelf. It's a great take on the Trojan war and it has a lot of romance. I really recommend it to the people who love Greek mythology as much as I do!
This book lke Goddess of Yesterday, talks about the Trojan war and how it started. But this book is told from the point of view of Helen. It is her life story starting from when she was only a little girl at the age of 12 and how she was kidnapped to the end of the Trojan war. This book was also very good because it was interestng to learn what a woman's lfe was like during that time. This book portrays Helen differently form the book before. In this book Helen is a child who is scared and who b...more
I thought this book was a very interesting take on the myths. I like these books that give the point of view of women. I liked how the divine component was played down. It felt more like the story of two young girls who bonded during a war. I also like how Helen felt compelled to be with Paris, like she couldn't help herself.
A very well written account of two of the women caught up in the Trojan war. The first half of the book is written from Helen's point of view, the second from Cassandra's, and both are quite compelling.
It's not a thick book, and it's an easy, quick read, but it's well worth picking up if you stumble across it.
It's not a thick book, and it's an easy, quick read, but it's well worth picking up if you stumble across it.
2004- We've heard the male version of the Trojan War for centuries. What about the women involved? How did Helen feel? What would it have been like to be Cassandra and have to watch your brothers head off into battle? The author takes you there. While personally I believe she could have included even more viewpoints of other women, and switched back and forth between Helen and Cassandra, the author opted to start with Helen's life as a child and switch to Cassandra's viewpoint after Helen arrive...more
3.5/4 stars
I read it in Middle School Language Arts. It was pretty good, creative how McLaren weaved both Helen and Cassandra's story together, because their stories are similar.
I read it in Middle School Language Arts. It was pretty good, creative how McLaren weaved both Helen and Cassandra's story together, because their stories are similar.
This book is the only one I didn't regret reading which my school told us to read. While reading, I tried to imagine how Helen would look like because she is known as the most beautiful girl on the whole world. It was lovely!
Interesting perspective on The Iliad. The author manages to pull the reader into the character's turmoil to the extent that I found myself predicting/wishing for an alternate ending to the Battle of Troy. Well done, and gives great background for the reading of both The Iliad and The Odyssey.
I read this book for school when we were doing roman history. I found that made it more interesting compared to if i had just read it for fun. This is the story of Helen of Troy. It starts when she is taken from her home by Theaseus and contiues until troy is destroyed after the war. I really like hearing it from the girls point of veif vereses all of the other books we read from the soldiers. You can really get a sense of some of the real facts as you read the book even though the bond betweeen...more
This book got me hooked on ancient Greece and mythology. It was one of my favorites when I was in middle school.
Mar 27, 2011
Genevieve
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
ya-childrens
Loved this as a kid. The author's subsequent books, which try to repeat the same device, were disappointing.
This was one of the first books I ever enjoyed reading way back in middle school.
A truly magical tale about Helen of Sparta and Cassandra of Troy.
I don't really know what to say about this...
It's okay
It's okay
this book is a classic story about the Trojan war. Helen a young and beautiful being capture at an age of 12. having to choose who she has to marry. he beauty cause many trouble for her and the people around her. she never knew this would happen, to her at least.
this book has two point of views but, it is still the same story. confusing at times, but if you reread those part it will be easier to understand.
this book is full of confusion, happiness and much more. even an old story can bring many...more
this book has two point of views but, it is still the same story. confusing at times, but if you reread those part it will be easier to understand.
this book is full of confusion, happiness and much more. even an old story can bring many...more
Feb 11, 2011
Maia B.
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
too-short,
historical
The writing is beautiful, and while I enjoy Helen's part of the narration more I like Cassandra a lot more. She's much more interesting, and Helen is sort of spoiled and unpleasant. I mean, sure, she's bone-sweet, but she's also really used to having everything done for her. And she threatens an entire population and she cares for her own happiness above the lives of several thousand men who didn't deserve to fight, suffer, and die.
It's a little short, but it couldn't really have been any longer...more
It's a little short, but it couldn't really have been any longer...more
Great
GREAT!
Rereading this one, it's still really good.
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30 ott. 21:06