Silence of the Girls

 June brought us to Ed's home for a discussion of Silence of the Girls.  This novel, by Pat Barker is a retelling of the Iliad through the women who were witness to the battle and considered to be part of the rewards or trophies for the victors.  The story focuses on Briseis, who becomes Achille's concubine after witnessing the death of her husband and her seven brothers.  The women are treated as objects of status and at the fall of her home town, Lyrnesses, they are taken into captivity and assigned by age and beauty and worth to leaders and warriors.  There are harrowing tales of women who are sacrificed and killed.  Others are violated and raped.  The treatment of women was violent and without regard for their human dignity.  The novel also outlined the violence of war.  I love Pat Barker and this book was a gift from a friend.  

We commended Pat Barker for taking an opportunity to tell this classic from a female's perspective.  However, we found it hard to read about the pain and inhumane treatment of the women and the disregard for the pain and suffering of witnessing death and imprisonment of their families.  

We did take the opportunity to regale the trilogy we read and loved, Regeneration!  Next month we are meeting at Tim's on 7/22/2021 to discuss Gothic Romance by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.