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Hey there! I need some help. I've been writing a Christmas list since the beginning of this year and I know that I want to read many different Greek mythology books. I know there are a few stories in mind I wanna get like Song of Achilles, Circe, Cupid and Psyche/Eros and Psyche, Daphnis and Chloe, Illiad and the Odyssey. However, I feel like thwre are more great Greek tales thay I can get my grubbly little hands on, but I'm not sure which ones are woth it and which ones are not.
So far, the only Greek books I have is this childhood book of mine that is a collection of different Greek myths, and the Goddess Girls series from book one to book 7, and it's more or less Greek Goddess fanfiction. No shame on the series, I absolutely enjoyed it. I haven't read the Percy Jackson series, but I have heard good things about it, and yes I have read Lore Olympus.
Anyways, getting off track, I would like to know which Greek mythology book you'd recommend and a general synopsis of what it's about. I'll even take general book that is a collection of Greek Myths. I'm always open to different stories and I'm not picky about the genera nor the book length.
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warri0rs_.xun4rt
I'll tell you some books that are in my list. Greek mythology of course. My favourite trilogy, Ithaca , the house of Odysseus, the last song of Penelope. Clytemnestra, the shadows of Perseus , Ariadne , Atalanta, Hera, Medea (those are not just names they are books) girl goddess queen !!!! I hope you enjoy all of these books XD
Archer27
Yes, definitely Homer, but also the playwrights Euripides, Sophocles, etc... and there are also the Greek historians, Herodotus and Thucydides, though they focus less on the affairs of Gods and more on men/heroes. In fact, Thucydides doesn't even mention Zeus once... groundbreaking.
As for a general rundown of mythology, that would have to be Apollodorus' "Library", which sums up every myth, though I hear it's a very dry read. If you want the Greek Gods to be fun, then I'd stick with Homer or Hesiod. On another note: don't go with just any translation. Make sure to shop around to find one that's readable (enough).
I have a hunch that you might not actually want Greek literature, but Greek-themed fiction? In that case, go ahead and read Song of Achilles and Percy Jackson. Another good author of that "genre" is Mary Renault, which you might want to check out. Just remember though, that if you really love something and appreciate it for what it is, then you'll do anything to get closer to it. If you're truly falling in love with Ancient Greece, then don't settle for anything less and go straight to the source; Classical literature.