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The Children of Jocasta
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
29 posts | 15 read | 31 to read
In Children of Jocasta, Natalie Haynes reimagines the Oedipus and Antigone stories from the perspectives of two of the women who have often been overlooked; retelling the myth to reveal a new side of an ancient story. When you have grown up as I have, there is no security in not knowing things, in avoiding the ugliest truths because they can't be faced . . . Because that is what happened the last time, and that is why my siblings and I have grown up in a cursed house, children of cursed parents . . . Jocasta is just fifteen when she is told that she must marry the King of Thebes, an old man she has never met. Her life has never been her own, and nor will it be, unless she outlives her strange, absent husband. Ismene is the same age when she is attacked in the palace she calls home. Since the day of her parents' tragic deaths a decade earlier, she has always longed to feel safe with the family she still has. But with a single act of violence, all that is about to change. With the turn of these two events, a tragedy is set in motion. But not as you know it.
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review
bekakins
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Pickpick

I love a retelling of a Greek myth, so really enjoyed this! I thought Haynes‘ take on the story was interesting, and I enjoyed hearing from characters with less of a voice in other works.

#wintergames #snowangels #snowedin #promptmaze

PuddleJumper 🌞 🌞 4mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4mo
Emilymdxn I loved this book so much! Have you read 4mo
bekakins @Emilymdxn I‘ve not but it‘s on my list! I‘ve really enjoyed all her books that I have read, especially 4mo
9 likes4 comments
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this_teacher_reads
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful cover 💙🧡 10mo
perfectsinner How is it? I enjoyed A Thousand Ships 10mo
this_teacher_reads @perfectsinner I really enjoyed it. 10mo
23 likes1 stack add3 comments
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PuSsNbOoKs
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Pickpick

Beautifully framed retelling of one of psychology‘s favorite Greek mythologies. 👍🏼👍🏼

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TheEllieMo
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 75
#BooksToRead #TBRPile #TBRMountain

33 likes3 stack adds
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AliceFaustus
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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He has never owned an olive grove, but he said he enjoys imagining how he would tend to the trees he doesn't have.

review
Laughterhp
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Pickpick

I‘m glad I finally got a chance to pick up this book. I didn‘t remember what it was about and didn‘t realize it was a retelling of Greek mythology. I really enjoyed this book and because I didn‘t know anything about the original works I was along for the ride and enjoyed it. There is a plague in this book FYI. Great pick Rachel!

#BookSpinBingo - Got a second bingo!
#ReadingEurope2020 - Greece
#LMPBC - Round 8

mrsmarch I didn‘t think this pick was going to age well — we picked it in what, February?! — and lo and behold, I feel like we are way too close to life imitating art at the moment. 4y
mrsmarch Also I am fully aware my inner Classics nerd came out to play in this pick, sorry for dragging you along but I‘m glad you enjoyed the ride! 4y
Librarybelle Terrific! 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4y
Laughterhp @mrsmarch Yeah it was crazy relevant for nowadays. And I‘m totally okay with the Classic retellings. 4y
53 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Laughterhp
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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I got your package yesterday @UnidragonFrag ! Thanks for sending them both.

@mrsmarch I‘m still planning to read your pick. I‘m not sure when I‘ll get to it, but I‘ll try to get it back to you in July. (Sounds so far away but it‘s really not 🤪)

#LMPBC #Round8

night_shift You're welcome! Glad it made it! 4y
57 likes1 comment
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ImperfectCJ
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Mehso-so

Rain? In San Diego? In June? So weird.
Anyway, this book was okay. It kind of plods, and I considered DNFing but wanted to see how Haynes handled the ending. The parts about the plague stuck out, of course, but I wonder if Greek tragedies are maybe too extreme for me. People act very erratically and with weird jumps in logic. Not sure how much of that's Haynes and how much is Sophocles.
From May's #bookspinbonanza. Almost ready to start June!

mrsmarch I picked this (and read it and loved it) for the current round of the Litsy Markup Postal Book Club. The weird jumps in logic are all Sophocles. 😸 4y
48 likes1 comment
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ImperfectCJ
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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"The man looked across the room at his son, who lay shivering on the hard couch."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

review
Emily92Bibliophile
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Pickpick

While not exactly like the original myth, still an interesting read. However, I will echo the thoughts of the other reviews: it took a very eerie turn. The plague that struck Thebes again and again is very similar to what we are facing at present. Other than two characters, the others fell flat for me. Am I glad I read it? Yes. Is it a favorite ? No. Would I recommend it? Yes.

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mrsmarch
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
Laughterhp Do you want me to mail my book to you or do we want to try and meetup like we previously discussed? Meet up with social distancing obviously 🙃. I just started my book today, so it would probably be sometime this weekend. I‘m not sure what the stay at home effect will do to my post office. 4y
night_shift I'll keep an eye out! I'm almost done with mine and should be sending it out soon! 4y
mrsmarch @Laughterhp If you want to mail it, that‘s fine. I think the POs are just going to have modified hours. If we end up taking a social distance scenic drive, we can fit that in our schedule. Our girls left the house for the first time in over a week today (not to take a walk around the neighborhood but in the car) and they were crazy they couldn‘t get out. 4y
25 likes3 comments
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mrsmarch
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 4y
47 likes1 comment
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mrsmarch
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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This book has taken a swift and eerie turn. The plague has come to Thebes — and it sounds eerily like the present day. #lmpbc #round8 #groupC

mrsmarch @UnidragonFrag @Laughterhp @Geenie Just finished. This book became eerily similar to what‘s going around in the news now. Do any of you feel you couldn‘t read a book that partially takes place during a plague right now? I mean...it‘s eerie. It‘s uncanny. I can try to find another book on my shelves if you feel this is no longer a good choice. 4y
night_shift I'm ok with that! But am ok with something else if that's going to bother everyone else? 4y
Laughterhp I‘ll be the last one to read this one. So I‘m thinking at the time I read it, I‘ll be okay with it. (Hopefully) 4y
mrsmarch @Laughterhp The potential change in POV from my reading to yours will be unbelievable. I‘ll finish my notes and pop this in the mail. 4y
44 likes4 comments
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mrsmarch
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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IT‘S ME 👈🏻👈🏻👈🏻👈🏻👈🏻📚🌙😴

Lcsmcat 😂 4y
SW-T 😂😂😂 4y
37 likes2 comments
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mrsmarch
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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1. First grader home from school 2 wks. DAR state conference cancelled. Friend‘s baby shower cancelled. Lord knows what April will look like.
2. I think so. I buy it when ever I get a coupon for it at BJ‘s because I believe it doesn‘t expire if I keep it in the basement a few months 😂
3. I didn‘t have any to start with! LoL.
4. Tagged, and a book of logic puzzles.
5. Frozen 2!! Highly recommend.

#randosurvey

Reviewsbylola I‘ve got a 1st grader home too—plus a kindergartener. Home schooling will be quite interesting. 😬😂 4y
Reviewsbylola Thank you!! 4y
40 likes4 comments
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mrsmarch
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Thank you for all the #LitsyLove birthday wishes...a couple cards pictured with the stuffed highlander cow I got myself as a present. It‘s a weird time to be having a birthday...my birthday gift to myself, a two night hotel stay at the DAR state conference, has been cancelled. My friend‘s baby shower on the 29th is cancelled. 👇🏻

mrsmarch Everything is cancelled and it feels like the end of the 🌎 is just around the corner...So much uncertainty is not good for my anxiety. School hasn‘t been cancelled here in my town yet but I feel it‘s only a matter of time. I restarted weekly milk delivery so I don‘t have to go to the stores for that staple item. I think we can endure a few weeks shelter in place if required of us. 4y
ValerieAndBooks Happy birthday 🎂. One you won‘t forget, at least! 4y
39 likes2 comments
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mrsmarch
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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🌑🌘🌗🌖🌕🌔🌓🌒🌑
- I need to water my healthy habits: Regular housecleaning. Maybe get some kind of unkillable houseplant.
- I am struggling a lot with despair. That needs to shrivel up & die.
- When I need to self-care I read the mashed potatoes of the book world, The Belgariad by David Eddings.

kspenmoll Do not, do not shrivel up please! So sorry you are in that place of despair- so painful. Sending you love💕🌺 4y
LiteraryinLawrence The world seems scary now but it will get better! I‘m so sorry you‘re in a dark place. 💜💜💜 4y
Leftcoastzen There is a lot in the world right now that causes despair, I love Litsy as a positive place , we try to help, but I know it‘s hard , hugs to you! 4y
See All 6 Comments
Crazeedi Sending a big hug, I've been in that place, want you to know you are not alone🥰💖 4y
Meaw_catlady Sending so much love , light and hugs! We all have your back and you have the strength to break through that despair! Blessings to you 🌙🖤💕 4y
ValerieAndBooks Hugs. We‘re here for you as you pull through this rough patch 💖 4y
30 likes6 comments
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mrsmarch
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Geenie 👍💖 4y
38 likes1 comment
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mrsmarch
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Ready Freddy! #lmpbc #Round8 #GroupC Green pen is ready for service.

Geenie 👍❤️ 4y
37 likes1 comment
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ImperfectCJ
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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#7days7covers #covercrush

I can't keep track of who's been tagged yet, so no tags today, just the cover.

sudi 😍 5y
25 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Emilymdxn
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Pickpick

I wavered between pick and soso for this. I went with pick because I think it was a very good book, I don‘t wanna hold it responsible for it not being just what I was in the mood for right now. The ending, definitely, was subtly beautifully written and emotionally affecting in a way I wasn‘t expecting. The afterword was amazing too - maybe Natalie Haynes‘ voice just glitters more when she writes non fiction? I definitely want to read some by her

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Emilymdxn
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Reading in Stockholm is everything I was hoping it would be... it‘s hard to concentrate it‘s so beautiful!

Freespirit It looks fabulous @Emilymdxn ❤️ 5y
BarbaraBB Great picture. Have a great time 😘 5y
56 likes2 comments
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Emilymdxn
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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I loved hearing Natalie Haynes at a literary festival so I‘m excited to read a book by her! I‘ve read a few books about Ancient Greek myths from other perspectives recently - both of Madeline Miller‘s and Pat Barker‘s The Silence Of The Girls so im excited to add another and see how it approaches a different myth

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Eyejaybee
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Pickpick

A marvellous retelling of the Oedipus story from the women‘s point of view. Utterly gripping, and written with great empathy and understanding. Read my Goodreads review at: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36524694-the-children-of-jocasta. #nataliehaynes #thechildrenofjocasta #classics #oedipus #greekdrama #legend #myth #thebes #classicalliterature #sophocles #jocasta #history #literature

11 likes3 stack adds
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Eyejaybee
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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mellissimo And a heart coffee ❤ 6y
12 likes1 stack add1 comment
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laurieluna
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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Pickpick

Well I don't even know where to begin with how perfect this book was. I loved the retelling of the Oedipus and Antigone stories from the perspectives of the women often overlooked, Jocasta and Ismene. Such a beautiful, tragic and heartfelt retelling. I couldn't put it down! 5/5 ⭐

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laurieluna
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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It's here and it's even more beautiful than I expected 😍
Can't tell very well from the photo but the cover is embossed and some of the leaves are gold as is the sun. Going to find it hard not starting this tonight...
#tbr #nataliehaynes #childrenofjocasta

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laurieluna
The Children of Jocasta | Natalie Haynes
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When your partner sees how dog tired and hormonal you are being 7 months pregnant and gives you licence to buy yourself a treat...and you sign in relief as you have a reason to explain away all the books you have coming yet you still buy one more 😂
This has been high on my #tbr list for ages, so it had to be done.

8 likes1 stack add