Rating: 4.5/5
Great Goddesses has been a stunning end of year read.
The stories are crafted beautifully, the poetry is empowering, and the artwork is stunning.
My only negative would be that I didn't always get the mythology...but that's hardly Nikita Gill's fault.
My particular favourites are the 'After' stories. They are set in a world where ancient gods have integrated with the modern world, adapting to our ways in order to survive. I thought they were a beautiful way to reimagine these stories. Retelling the stories of the Gods has always been a particular area of interest to me (one day I'll get round to reading Percy Jackson) so to find them situated in a book of poetry was a particular treat for me.
Whilst understanding the mythology may have helped with some of these stories, it was more the minor gods/goddesses that I needed help with in the poetry. Knowing them and their stories would likely have added extra layers to the poetry that I missed as I didn't understand them entirely, but it's possible to appreciate the language and sentiment without knowing the character it's about - especially in the beginning, with the creation stories.
Don't worry if you haven't got a clue who any of the gods/goddesses are though! Great Goddesses has a handy guide in the back as to who everyone mentioned is and how they relate to one another. It's by no means a thorough guide to Greek gods but it is definitely useful.
If you ever forget this exists (as I frequently did as I read), the illustrations help add context to the poetry. I love the inclusion of artwork in poetry books, I think it's a brilliant combination of art forms and really enhances the language.
Gill's collection also experiments a little with form. Some of the pieces are recognisable as poetry, whilst others seem closer to prose. I found this combination offered helpful breaking points when reading as I would pause after a longer piece to digest what I had read. It also means that those less inclined to read poetry may want to pick it up as it offers something a little more digestible than traditional (or even modern) poetry.
I thought Great Goddesses was a beautiful, empowering little read. I'll likely hold on to it for a long, long time and return to it whenever I need a reminder that life goes on and we adapt.
Actually, yes. That is my take away from Great Goddesses: it is always possible to adapt. The whole book is about evolving, learning to cope with what comes your way. Because you can. No matter your past, your family, your disposition, you will get through this - and you don't have to do it alone. Go read this book. It's wonderful.
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