Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Stone Blind
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
"Haynes is master of her trade . . . She succeeds in breathing warm life into some of our oldest stories.”—Telegraph (UK) The national bestselling author of A Thousand Ships and Pandora's Jar returns with a fresh and stunningly perceptive take on the story of Medusa, the original monstered woman. They will fear you and flee you and call you a monster. The only mortal in a family of gods, Medusa is the youngest of the Gorgon sisters. Unlike her siblings, Medusa grows older, experiences change, feels weakness. Her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know. When the sea god Poseidon assaults Medusa in Athene’s temple, the goddess is enraged. Furious by the violation of her sacred space, Athene takes revenge—on the young woman. Punished for Poseidon’s actions, Medusa is forever transformed. Writhing snakes replace her hair and her gaze will turn any living creature to stone. Cursed with the power to destroy all she loves with one look, Medusa condemns herself to a life of solitude. Until Perseus embarks upon a fateful quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . . In Stone Blind, classicist and comedian Natalie Haynes turns our understanding of this legendary myth on its head, bringing empathy and nuance to one of the earliest stories in which a woman—injured by a powerful man—is blamed, punished, and monstered for the assault. Delving into the origins of this mythic tale, Haynes revitalizes and reconstructs Medusa’s story with her passion and fierce wit, offering a timely retelling of this classic myth that speaks to us today.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
review
Cinfhen
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Mehso-so

I really wanted to love this one, but it was SUCH a chore to get through. I think this would have worked better for me in print, as I really needed to access the character list often and I disliked the author‘s narration. Billed as Medusa‘s story, Medusa is only a minor character in this telling of the Greek Gods & Goddesses. I was surprisingly bored and out of sorts. Disappointing #WomensPrize23LongList #52Books23 #GreekMythology

Librarybelle That‘s a shame! It does sound print is more accessible for this one. 16h
LeeRHarry I‘ve nearly finished it in print and I think it‘ll get a soft pick from me. 16h
See All 7 Comments
Cinfhen That‘s disappointing @LeeRHarry I really liked this one by the author 15h
LeeRHarry @Cinfhen yes I enjoyed that one too. 15h
KatieB I‘m reading this one currently and I constantly need to refer to the character list. I can see how the audio would be a struggle 14h
Cinfhen @KatieB I usually love the Greek mythology tales but I was really lost without the character list!! Hope you‘re enjoying the book 😁 14h
62 likes1 stack add7 comments
blurb
Deblovestoread
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image

#BookReport I enjoyed all 4 books this week but especially Stone Blind. It really lifted my mood. I am finally making progress on The Last Garden for #LMPBC and changed to In Dubious Battle for my next Steinbeck on my dad‘s recommendation.

Cinfhen Im struggling with Stone Blind, and I usually LOVE re-telling!!!! I can‘t keep track on audio πŸ€·πŸΌβ€β™€οΈ 4d
Deblovestoread I had a bit of trouble in the beginning and then it came together for me. Maybe print would be better? 3d
52 likes2 comments
review
Deblovestoread
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick

I have never been a fan of Medusa‘s story…because SNAKES…UGH, but I loved this book on audio. It has a cheekiness to it that I adored. I may not remember it down the road but the reading experience was perfection and I can see myself revisiting it in the future. 5 🌟. #WomensPrize #Longlist

review
Emilymdxn
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick

My favourite of Natalie Haynes‘ novels so far I think! I really love how many perspectives she writes from and how many mythological figures get to tell a fragment of the story. I also love how she goes very deep into choosing some characters few people have heard of, but it never stops me understanding the story. I really hope this gets through to the short list stage of the #womensprizeforfiction #womensprizeforfiction2023

54 likes1 stack add
review
squirrelbrain
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick

I struggled with the first half of this - too many characters and different POVs. (The character list of over 30 names almost put me off)

When all the threads began to draw together I started to enjoy it, and it turned out to be rather witty too, as you said @rmaclean4 , but it won‘t be one of my favourites on the Women‘s Prize long list.

#52books23 #featuring mythology
#pop23 #abookwithmythicalcreatures

Cortg I added this to my TBR. Yikes! That‘s a lot of characters! 1w
See All 8 Comments
jlhammar Good to know! I‘m not overly excited for this one, but will probably give it a try if my audiobook hold comes through. 1w
rmaclean4 @jlhammar the audio is good, read by the author. 1w
Cinfhen Im struggling with this one right now! I usually LOVE mythology retellings but there‘s a lot going on and I‘m NOT a fan of the author as narrator @jlhammar 1w
Librarybelle Wow! 30 names! 1w
youneverarrived This sounds good but the list of 30 names is putting me off! 1w
76 likes8 comments
review
rmaclean4
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick
LeeRHarry Good to hear, I have it out from the library and it‘s my next ebook I want to get to - forgot about the mythology prompt for 52books23 so thanks for the reminder 😊 1w
Librarybelle Sounds intriguing…especially the funny bits! 1w
squirrelbrain I‘m reading this at the moment but not loving it yet - it feels a bit scattered to me, with too many characters. 1w
rmaclean4 @squirrelbrain there are several storylines, but they pull together in the end. Not my favorite of the Womens Prize long list, but glad I read it. 1w
21 likes4 comments
review
NicoleCeBallos
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Panpan

For a book that claims to be a retelling of Medusa, there was very little of Medusa in it. The book's chapters were all different POVs (some had nothing to do with Medusa or Perseus), and yet every chapter read exactly the same. Somehow, Natalie Haynes managed to make the Medusa and Perseus myth so incredibly dull.

review
BriannaT
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick

I LOVED Pandora‘s Jar, so I was eager to read this. Instead of commentary, this is fiction - a myth retelling of Medusa and Perseus. In this house, we stan Medusa! I think it was a good book, and I was surprised by some twists Haynes made, but I keep forgetting how ultimately sad most myth retellings are. They dig deeper into the characters, exposing different sides, but the ending is ultimately the same. Though Athens‘s ending here is surprising!

review
Lesanne
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick

What a clever and witty retelling of the Medusa myth! I love when a book can make me laugh and feel sorrow all with such lovely prose. Medusa and her Gorgon sisters are the sympathetic figures here while Perseus and the Olympians are hilariously petty, vain and whiny. Definitely recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

73 likes3 stack adds
review
Lindy
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick

A witty reimagining of the tale of Medusa, as seen through a feminist lens. Medusa was raped by Poseidon in Athene‘s temple… and Medusa is the one who is punished. Athene curses her to turn every living thing she sees into stone. Multiple points of view are employed, including the understandably wrathful voice of the Gorgoneion, the head of Medusa that has been made into an amulet. Audiobook read by the author shows her passion for her subject.

43 likes1 stack add
quote
Lindy
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image

Apollo has always had a weak spot for trees. Ask Daphne, she‘ll tell you. Well, no, I suppose she won‘t tell you because she turned into a tree rather than be raped by the archer. And even then, he couldn‘t resist tweaking her leaves. Trees have a word for that sort of behaviour.

35 likes1 stack add
quote
Lindy
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image

Athene planted the rest of this olive grove to celebrate her victory. In case you didn‘t know, victors in competitions in Athens are still given olive wreaths as prizes. We are the most jubilant of trees.

30 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Lesanne
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image

Seems a good time to start my library hold that came in!!

57 likes1 stack add
blurb
LatrelWhite
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image

Saturday morning vibeπŸ“–β˜•οΈβ€¦priceless ❀️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Aimeesue πŸ’šπŸ’šπŸ’šπŸ’šπŸ’š! 1mo
Chelsea.Poole Perfect!! 1mo
22 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
LatrelWhite
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image

Picked up today at library definitely starting this the weekend!!

review
Itchyfeetreader
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick

It‘s taken me ages to finish this but I did really enjoy although not as much as her last book. It‘s beautifully lyrical and with multiple narrators and perspectives feels both old and fresh at the same time. My one slight regret even in this telling Medusa is still not quite her own woman.

ShyBookOwl When will someone finally do Medusa justice? πŸ˜’ 2mo
Itchyfeetreader @ShyBookOwl this is a sympathetic telling for sure I just felt she got a bit lost in the story compare to some of the other characters 2mo
ShyBookOwl @Itchyfeetreader That's too bad. But thanks for putting it on my radar! Stacked 😊 2mo
49 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
Anoukeboek
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick

All these stories about women fascinate me so much. I think it is really a great power to write such a moving story, when there's only the male point of view to go from. My favorite characters were the Gorgon sisters. The book also made me think about "monsters" and about who decides who is called a monster.
Some of the POV's were not really my cup of tea. But the snakes on the other hand made the most emotional chapter.
I'm glad I read this book.

review
Super_Jane
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick

5/5 πŸŒ•πŸŒ•πŸŒ•πŸŒ•πŸŒ• Beautiful writing βœ’οΈ. I was very surprised by how much I loved this #greekmythology #medusa #perseus #poseidon #retelling #greekretelling

CBee Looks like you love Greek mythology as much as I do! Looking forward to this one 😊 2mo
Follow.my.read Peeking at your shelf, which we all know we do, I LOVED The Crescent City books!!!! 2mo
Super_Jane @Follow.my.read just waiting for CC3 after that ending!! 2mo
Follow.my.read @Super_Jane OH MY ME TOO!!!!! 2mo
16 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
rachelsbrittain
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick

This fairly true-to-mythology retelling of Medussa was a compelling look into the life of one of the most interesting figures from Greek Mythology. Featuring a wide array of POVs, we get to see the entirely of the story, though the narrator is always sympathetic with Medusa as is good and right. I particularly loved the intersections from Medusa's beheaded head who is full of indignant fury. TW for lots of rape, because, you know, Greek gods.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Great cover πŸ’š 2mo
51 likes4 stack adds1 comment
blurb
emmaturi
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image

These were the books gifted to me from my son. I look forward to them all.

review
TheEllieMo
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick

This wasn‘t exactly what I expected it to be; I was expecting it to be more focussed on Medusa‘s POV. Instead it takes in the whole story of how and why Medusa turned from beautiful woman to decapitated gorgon, wholly as a result of others‘ petty squabbles. I can‘t quite equate Haynes‘ petulant Athene with a goddess of Intelligence and Wisdom, but it does provide a theory as to why Athene chose to punish the victim, not the perpetrator.

TheEllieMo It‘s an easy read - I enjoy Haynes‘ writing style - and for someone like me, who didn‘t have the opportunity to study the Greek myths, it‘s a great retelling of this story. 4mo
43 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
TheEllieMo
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image

#BookReport for last week - Finished Pandora‘s Jar, and I‘m c60% through Stone Blind, both by Natalie Haynes.

#WeeklyForecast I‘ll finish Stone Blind either today or tomorrow, and start on A Terrible Kindness; the latter is my book club‘s choice for a next meeting in early December, it‘s centred around the Aberfan disaster of 1966.

@Cinfhen

Cinfhen I‘m really looking forward to this book - How are you liking it 4mo
TheEllieMo @Cinfhen just finished it, I really enjoyed it 4mo
Cinfhen Thanks!! Im adding it to my #wishlist πŸ’œ 4mo
33 likes3 comments
blurb
TheEllieMo
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image

Starting this one today 😊

charl08 Loved it! I was too impatient to get mine signed though πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ 5mo
Dilara I like how her letters look almost greek πŸ˜„ 5mo
Aimeesue ❀️❀️❀️ 5mo
31 likes3 comments
blurb
charl08
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image

Gorgeous venue for a session on Natalie Haynes' latest book.

quote
charl08
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes

They fear us, so they call us monsters.

31 likes1 stack add
quote
charl08
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image

I'm wondering if you still think of her as a monster. I suppose it depends on what you think that word means. Monsters are, what? Ugly? Terrifying? Gorgons are both these things, certainly, although Medusa wasn't always. Can a monster be beautiful if it is still terrifying? Perhaps it depends on how you experience fear and judge beauty.

quote
charl08
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes

They had looked forward to her talking. But now Sthenno felt there should be more time between a child beginning to speak and a child asking questions of every single thing she could see or not see, from the birds in the sky to the wind in her hair. Why, why, why.

quote
charl08
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image

My very shiny (covered by the library) copy of Stone Blind.

The only good thing about Zeus's sexual incontinence, his wife Hera had often thought, was its extreme brevity. His desire, pursuit and satiation were so short-lived that she could almost convince herself of their irrelevance. If only it didn't invariably result in offspring. More and more gods and demi gods...

charl08 Even she, a goddess with an almost limitless supply of spite, could barely keep up with the number of women, goddesses, nymphs and mewling infants she needed to persecute. 5mo
52 likes1 comment
review
AllDebooks
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
Pickpick

Fascinating, more sympathetic portyral of the making of the more famous Gorgon Sisters (an ancient Greek version of Keeping up with the Kardashians? πŸ€”) As told from Medusa's POV.

#Teamslaughter

review
bekakins
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
This post contains spoilers
show me
Pickpick

Really amped this, love Haynes‘ approach to classical mythology and how she puts her own little (feminist) spin on them.

Also Perseus. What a d!ck πŸ™„

review
thewallflower0707
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick

#StoneBlind was the perfect book for my holiday on Corfú. It‘s Haynes best book so far. We get multiple perspectives and everyoneβ€˜s background and the gods are actually portrayed as immortal & powerful. Great writing and storytelling.

#greekmythology #retelling #nataliehaynes

charl08 Enjoyed this one so much (and love the photo). 5mo
16 likes1 comment
review
Marialou
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image
Pickpick

Just perfect.

Beautifully written and full of depth and richness in terms of both character and plot.

At times it is heartbreaking and rage inducing and at other times it is funny and touching.

Incredible

blurb
Mitch
Stone Blind: A Novel | Natalie Haynes
post image

Thanks to the British Library - my online date card for the autumn is filling up! πŸ‘πŸΌπŸ‘πŸΌπŸ‘πŸΌ

Itchyfeetreader This looks great just booked ! 8mo
Karons1 Wow 🀩 thanks for this info il check it out ☺️ 7mo
56 likes2 comments