In Greek myth, Alcestis is known as the ideal wife; she loved her husband so much that she died and went to the underworld in his place. In this... read full description
reviews
Jan 25, 2010
Sheila
rated it: 
I just received an autographed copy of this from the author through Goodreads First Reads. Thank you Katharine!
I entered to win this book because I love reading about Greek mythology. But as much as I enjoy learning the stories of the gods and the mortals, usually the writing of Greek mythology is very dry, and often hard to follow. I enjoy learning, but often have to force myself to actually read it.
But then comes Katharine Beutner's Alcestis. Greek mythology written a More...
I entered to win this book because I love reading about Greek mythology. But as much as I enjoy learning the stories of the gods and the mortals, usually the writing of Greek mythology is very dry, and often hard to follow. I enjoy learning, but often have to force myself to actually read it.
But then comes Katharine Beutner's Alcestis. Greek mythology written a More...
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Sep 02, 2010
Ksenia
rated it: 
So the book follows this myth very closely. I wasn’t totally familiar with the original myth so I had to go and read about it. The part that the author focuses on during the last part of the book is Alcestis’ time in the Underworld. Now, I was wholly enjoying everything about the book while I was reading it, but when it got to those three days spent in the Underworld, I felt a slight disconnect. But first….
I really liked the fact that the gods were part of the mortal world, and that More...
I really liked the fact that the gods were part of the mortal world, and that More...
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Apr 17, 2010
Richard
rated it: 
Alcestis is a wonderful first novel from Katharine Beutner, and the only reason I mention it as a first is just because it amazes me that someone can be this good right out of the starting gate.
Alcestis' husband, the mortal lover of Apollo has been granted the boon of one refusal to death providing someone steps forward to take his place. Death comes, no one steps forward. Sensing the shame that would befall her husband if no one died for him, Alcestis steps forward. Hermes takes More...
Alcestis' husband, the mortal lover of Apollo has been granted the boon of one refusal to death providing someone steps forward to take his place. Death comes, no one steps forward. Sensing the shame that would befall her husband if no one died for him, Alcestis steps forward. Hermes takes More...
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Mar 07, 2010
Liza
rated it: 
The beginning of this Greek myth of 16 year-old Alcestis, who dies in order to save her husband, is enjoyably visceral. In some ways, I was reminded of HBO's Rome. Beunter did a nice job with the historical details, and I felt fairly sunk into the story early on. Descriptions of food, place, smells, and touch were placed throughout the text without going overboard.
I enjoyed the first half of the book, but then things started to unravel and the quality of the writing went downhill More...
I enjoyed the first half of the book, but then things started to unravel and the quality of the writing went downhill More...
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Feb 11, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
The ancient Greeks held up Alcestis as a model of wifely devotion. Her husband, Admetus, was spared from death on the condition that someone else die in his place. When Admetus’ relatives and friends refused, Alcestis volunteered herself and made the journey to the underworld, but was later rescued by Heracles. In her debut novel, a poignant literary fantasy, Katharine Beutner fleshes out the figure of Alcestis, and gives her a backstory that helps explain her willingness to sacrifice herself.
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Dec 30, 2011
Alice
rated it:
I was a strange child who spent more time with Greek myths than actual people, so this book made me very happy. It's a clever, subversive reimagining of the Alcestis myth, elegantly written. Alcestis's relationship with Persephone is fascinating and intriguing, reminding me of Kushiel's Dart (and Jacqueline Carey actually blurbs the book). I look forward to more work from Ms. Beutner in the future.
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Jul 12, 2010
Matthew
rated it:
Way back in the day, the ancient Greeks understood Alcestis as, quite literally, the perfect wife: In the story, when the time comes for her husband to die, she offers to go in his place. Three days later, Herakles travels to the Underworld and wrestles Death to bring her home. She has a kid or two, and that’s basically all those ancient Greeks got to hear from Alcestis.
Luckily for us, we get to hear a lot more about Alcestis, thanks to Katharine Beutner and her debut novel, Alcestis More...
Luckily for us, we get to hear a lot more about Alcestis, thanks to Katharine Beutner and her debut novel, Alcestis More...
Mar 01, 2010
WillowBe
rated it:
This book really takes a turn in the last third, a very interesting, subversive turn. I really liked it; it definitely stretched my mind. I am sure some will be grossed out or hate it, or disturbed. The heroine's evolution isn't wholly believable and I was often felt the author was confused as her charactar in certain scenes. The live in the stultifying world she must return to. Would she look Admetus inthe eye and say, " No, i don't agree. That's stupid" Would she still subsume her ow
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May 23, 2011
Anila
rated it:
This book reminded me quite a bit of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's The Palace Of Illusions and that's good, because that book is what all myth retellings have to live up to in my mind.
Now, bear in mind that I'm not familiar with the original myth of Alcestis.
That being said, this book was gorgeous. The writing might seem overwrought to some readers, but I found it lyrical, visceral, and intense. Alcestis is very much a woman of her times and culture, not a feminist insert pu More...
Now, bear in mind that I'm not familiar with the original myth of Alcestis.
That being said, this book was gorgeous. The writing might seem overwrought to some readers, but I found it lyrical, visceral, and intense. Alcestis is very much a woman of her times and culture, not a feminist insert pu More...
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Jun 06, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
The Alcestis we know through myth is the ideal wife, one who loved her husband so much that she died to save his life, and went to the Underworld in his place. This is about as much information as we have about her. She is written about in songs and poems and Euripides wrote of her great sacrifice in his play by the same name.
Who was this woman, Alcestis? What happened to her during the three days she spent in Hades’ realm? Euripides’ play bears her name, but it is a story told by Ap More...
Who was this woman, Alcestis? What happened to her during the three days she spent in Hades’ realm? Euripides’ play bears her name, but it is a story told by Ap More...
Apr 06, 2011
Soho
rated it:
When I was first applying for my job at Soho, this book had just come out. I was reading up on recent Soho titles to prep for my interview, and I gotta say when I read ALCESTIS I realized I absolutely needed to get the job. This book is the "real thing" for me--genre-busting, smart, gorgeous, richly imagined literary fiction. It tickles a couple nerves for me: it's a retelling of a classical myth (tickle), but a feminist retelling (tickle), an integration of fantasy and history (tickle
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Dec 08, 2009
Tara
rated it:
This falls into the fantasy genre, I think. I normally read historical fiction, but my interest in Greek mythology caused me to pick this up. I have kept my personal tastes in mind while writing this review.
The first half of this novel is wonderful. Readers meet Alcestis, grand daughter of Poseidon, god of the sea. Alcestis's mother died birthing her and her father is a cruel man who really has nothing to do with his daughters. Therefore, Alcestis grows attached to her sisters, More...
The first half of this novel is wonderful. Readers meet Alcestis, grand daughter of Poseidon, god of the sea. Alcestis's mother died birthing her and her father is a cruel man who really has nothing to do with his daughters. Therefore, Alcestis grows attached to her sisters, More...
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Apr 02, 2011
Stephanie
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This is a different kind of book--one that's hard to categorize. It's certainly historical fiction. It's certainly historical fantasy. It's also allegorical, more literary than commercial, but a very poignant read. One of the delights of this novel is that the author takes the Greeks at their word. Olympian deities show up, just like in Homer, and they're terrifyingly alien and familiar at once. Forget to honor a goddess and she may throw snakes in your bed. You just never know. But instead of t
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Sep 20, 2010
Linda
rated it: 
Well I admit I did not quite finish the book but I was almost done when it was time for my book group - a first - not finishing when I lead the group!
This book was awful... I don't know why there were so many good reviews in other places. My book group won 10 copies from Book Movement.com So the only consolation is that the book was free for all of us.
It started out ok but then the characters were not likable and the story got completely muddled in the after-world. I r More...
This book was awful... I don't know why there were so many good reviews in other places. My book group won 10 copies from Book Movement.com So the only consolation is that the book was free for all of us.
It started out ok but then the characters were not likable and the story got completely muddled in the after-world. I r More...
Jul 28, 2011
Ali
rated it:
Unremarkable. Beutner's prose was well-written, but the book seemed divided into two (or even three) parts that didn't hang together well for some reason. The first part of the book describes Alcestis growing up and getting married to Admetus, which was engaging. The second part covers the three days she spent in the underworld, meeting and falling in love with Persephone -- this seemed disjointed and was hard to follow. The final short portion was her return to Admetus and the world of the
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Sep 29, 2010
Talulah
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 28, 2012
Naleen
rated it:
So, I didn't think I was going to make it through this story at first. I thought the begining was a little boring. I didn't appreciate the author forcing obscure details of ancient Greek life down my throat- it felt a little like Beutner was showing off her knowledge instead of building a world.
I am not quite sure when this changed for me, but it definitely did. I really appreciated the balance that Beutner took in presenting this world from the point of view of a female character, More...
I am not quite sure when this changed for me, but it definitely did. I really appreciated the balance that Beutner took in presenting this world from the point of view of a female character, More...
May 25, 2011
Ana
rated it:
Wow. Where do I start? This book was amazing! A tragic love story... just not between the people the reader might think...
I learned about this book because one of my favorite authors, Stephanie Dray, was reading it. Since I like to get my hands on everything from Ancient Greece and Rome, I decided to buy it. At first I couldn't get past the first chapter; it was so sad (I didn't know about Euripides tragedies). But then I got around to it and, after the second chapter, I couldn't put More...
I learned about this book because one of my favorite authors, Stephanie Dray, was reading it. Since I like to get my hands on everything from Ancient Greece and Rome, I decided to buy it. At first I couldn't get past the first chapter; it was so sad (I didn't know about Euripides tragedies). But then I got around to it and, after the second chapter, I couldn't put More...
Dec 12, 2011
Brenna
rated it:
.5 Stars (rounded up to 3)
I've mentioned this before, but I'm a sucker for any book that has to do with Greek mythology. I honestly want to read them all (if only there was enough time)! Alcestis is one myth that I'm not nearly as familiar with, and I actually don't think I've read the original but this one intrigued me regardless.
With an excellent, strong start I fell in love nearly immediately... but I was a tad disappointed with a lackluster finish.
1.'Fan More...
I've mentioned this before, but I'm a sucker for any book that has to do with Greek mythology. I honestly want to read them all (if only there was enough time)! Alcestis is one myth that I'm not nearly as familiar with, and I actually don't think I've read the original but this one intrigued me regardless.
With an excellent, strong start I fell in love nearly immediately... but I was a tad disappointed with a lackluster finish.
1.'Fan More...
Oct 04, 2010
Tori
rated it:
Ancient Greek Myth Turned Acid Trip
I love me my Greek myths. Persephone’s abduction is explanation for seasons? Yes please. Athena punishes master weaver Arachne by turning her into a spyder who’s cursed to “weave” forever? Outstanding.
When I cam across Alcestis, an entire novel centered around a Greek myth, I thought, “yahtzee!” And to be fair, for the first half of the book, the author delivers: mortals co-existing with gods, gods manipulating mortals’ lives, etc. However, More...
I love me my Greek myths. Persephone’s abduction is explanation for seasons? Yes please. Athena punishes master weaver Arachne by turning her into a spyder who’s cursed to “weave” forever? Outstanding.
When I cam across Alcestis, an entire novel centered around a Greek myth, I thought, “yahtzee!” And to be fair, for the first half of the book, the author delivers: mortals co-existing with gods, gods manipulating mortals’ lives, etc. However, More...
Nov 25, 2011
AJ
rated it:
Reading this book was like watching a contestant self destruct on Top Chef: there were a ton of ingredients in this thing but not a lot of execution.
I'm still wondering what it was I just got through - historical fiction? Mythical fantasy? Lesbian Smut? Coming of age woman power? Character deep dive? It would be easier to pick one of these if any of them were done well but alas, the style tended to be schizophrenic. The main character was completley flat and there were a few More...
I'm still wondering what it was I just got through - historical fiction? Mythical fantasy? Lesbian Smut? Coming of age woman power? Character deep dive? It would be easier to pick one of these if any of them were done well but alas, the style tended to be schizophrenic. The main character was completley flat and there were a few More...
Sep 22, 2010
Alex
rated it:
Alcestis is a princess from Greek mythology, popularized in Euripides’s tragedy of the same name. It is the story of a wife who sacrifices herself in the place of her husband. Alcestis was the daughter of Pelias, who proclaimed to all her suitors that the only man who could take her hand would be one who could yoke a lion and a boar to a chariot. King Admetus, who will stop at nothing to marry Alcestis, does just this with the help of the god Apollo. Fulfilling his promise, Pelias allows Alc
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Jul 09, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
I'm surprised how many people loved this. The first part of the book, the part of the story that was already written by Euripides, was enjoyable.
Part two, once Alcestis martyred herself to the Underworld, was confusing and choppy. I felt so disconnected to the story, I stopped reading it while at the beach and picked up a $7.00 romance novel from CVS instead.
I'm disappointed because I really wanted to love this, and my book club partner claimed she couldn't put it down!
Part two, once Alcestis martyred herself to the Underworld, was confusing and choppy. I felt so disconnected to the story, I stopped reading it while at the beach and picked up a $7.00 romance novel from CVS instead.
I'm disappointed because I really wanted to love this, and my book club partner claimed she couldn't put it down!
Jul 05, 2010
Leslie
rated it:
Hoping that Beutner's imaginative story of Alcestis, the wife who loved her husband so well she chose to die in his stead, would match up with Jo Graham's re-telling of the Aeneid (Black Ships), Alcestis unfortunately disappoints. Beutner has the imagination to create the untold story of Alcestis' early life and journey to the underworld, but her prose is dry enough in spots that it reminds one of the crumb coat put on before the real frosting on wedding cakes - sweet, thin, and not really satis
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Jun 16, 2011
Jennie
rated it:
So, I am a sucker for retellings of classical myths from the perspective of the ladies. Some of them are really really good. Some of the are really, really, really bad. Alcestis falls closer to the good end of the spectrum. I'm not sure I find story as presented in this book entirely plausible (controlling, of course, for the presence of things like gods and the underworld and stuff). I feel like if I were more detached and less of a sucker, I might be able to give a more nuanced and persua
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Jun 01, 2011
T.L.
rated it:
This started out really strong and pitch perfect, but unfortunately it started lag halfway through, and never quite returned to the promise of the beautiful storytelling of the beginning. Too much repetition in the middle sections that often left me wishing the story would just get on with itself. I'd had high hopes that unfortunately weren't maintained, particularly since it reminded me strongly of LeGuin's Lavinia, which was excellent.
Aug 17, 2011
Cindy
rated it:
there are some books that stay
with you even when you're not reading
it. i think these are the best kinds
of books, when the author has done such
a powerful job of bringing heroine and
story to life, that it lingers in the
corners of your mind even when the pages
are closed.
Alcestis is a fantastic debut by
beutner. i'm a HUGE fan of greek myth
myself (ever since my book report on it
in the 6th grade) but was not familiar
with A More...
with you even when you're not reading
it. i think these are the best kinds
of books, when the author has done such
a powerful job of bringing heroine and
story to life, that it lingers in the
corners of your mind even when the pages
are closed.
Alcestis is a fantastic debut by
beutner. i'm a HUGE fan of greek myth
myself (ever since my book report on it
in the 6th grade) but was not familiar
with A More...
Jun 28, 2010
Serra
rated it:
"Alcestis" is a beautifully written psychological study of the titular character. The traditional Greek myth tells of Alcestis's love for her husband, so deep that she would die to save him by going to the underworld in his place. It seems the myth's original purpose is to describe the ideal wife. This novel delves deeper, exploring not only Alcestis's dissatisfaction with her mortal life as wife and woman, but telling of her three days in the underworld; once there, she becomes locked
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Jun 22, 2011
Carol
rated it:
Alcestis is known in Greek mythology for her love of her busband. Katharine Beutner follows Alcestis into the underworld and spins a heady, erotic tale of what happens to her there, and how it changes her. Beutner breathes life into the landscape of Hade's with her words. Winner of the Publishing Triangle's 2010 Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction.
Nov 06, 2011
Faith
rated it:
I'm mightily impressed with Beutner's imagining of what the earth was like one or two generations after the gods mated with humans. Oh, wait a minute. Supposedly, there were no such days. But while you are reading this book, you might well believe that there were. You will also know exactly what the afterlife is like, from the ancient Greek point of view.
Perhaps the young author would not want this labeled a feminist novel, but it is; even though the narrator is a princess/queen, she More...
Perhaps the young author would not want this labeled a feminist novel, but it is; even though the narrator is a princess/queen, she More...
