The Melancholy of Untold History: A Novel

The Melancholy of Untold History: A Novel by Minsoo Kang

There was a lot of potential in this book, but the execution was not quite there. The book has a few parallel interwoven storylines. In the modern times, there is the story of a male history professor and his female protegé. They have a professional relationship and each have great relationships with their significant others. After the professor's wife dies in a helicopter crash, his protegé comforts him and they begin an affair. This seems to get broken off when her boyfriend calls with great remorse to report a minor indiscretion. We learn of the tragic backstories of these four characters as well as the work of the professor. 

He has determined that the "golden era" of history was not as it seemed. In fact, the kingdom was faltering at the time and the leader appeared to perpetrate a grand fraud to make things look good. There is another thread of historical times. We see the grand fraud. There was a great "new city" created. Workers and artisans were recruited from all over the country to work on it. However, instead of the expected visit from the emperor, troops appeared and rounded up and executed everyone involved. Later the emperor is deceived by his consort as to the fidelity of his general. This ends up leading to a the general rebelling and aligning with a queen of another kingdom. The queen's armies end up sneaking away during the heat of conflict and are able to take the empire. Afterwards, the emperor, general, consort and queen meet together and realize that they are another incarnation of the endless cycle of conflict that must be ended through reconciliation if they ever desire peace.

The third thread covers the mythological conflict. Two male and two female deities are having a get together. A naked sky baby appears and asks for some food. They refuse and the baby goes off in a huff. He ends up finding peaches and sharing with a dragon. A peach pit lands and grows a tree. One of the original four finds it and wants it. Another decides he wants it also. A third comes and argues with them. They get mad and continue to argue. Meanwhile the fourth comes, takes the peach and flies of. Finally the other three agree to share it, but it is gone now. They all blame each other and start the big conflict. They later appear in different forms as humans and animals to continue the conflict through history.

The book had interesting exploration of myth and history. The stories felt compelling, but did not quite make it together. The mythology was too vulgar and the modern times felt seemed to be lacking a bit of connection to the past. There was plenty of potential. Perhaps future in-universe books will help realize this potential.

Tales of the Greek Heroes

Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green

This book tells the story of the greek heroes as one continuous narrative. It seems like a good idea. I just more trouble getting into it than with other mythology books.

Troy

Troy by Adele Geras

This book tells the story of the Trojan war. It feels like a movie script, with overly dramatic and romantic scenarios. The characters have a very contemporary feel to them, with a little bit of ancient overlay to fit them in their settings. I had trouble focussing on the first part of the book. Though I finally could connect with the ending Trojan Horse scene.

The Helmet of Horror: The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur

The Helmet of Horror: The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur by Victor Pelevin

This books is weird. It is tied to both mythology and the modern world. Much of it consists of dialogs between mythological beings. They look at mythology, religion and other aspects of life. There is the maze and the natural and supernatural nature. There is enlightenment and other things. It felt interesting, but I wasn't sure where it was going.

Oceanic Mythology: The Myths of Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia

Oceanic Mythology: The Myths of Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia by Roslyn Poignant

This book explores myths of Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia and Australia. It includes a large number of pictures and photos and seems to be geared towards a popular audience. However, the text is very dry and academic. Rather than a telling of myths, it is an anthropological study of the mythology of the cultures with some details of the myths tied in. The photos may somewhat relate to the myths, but often just tangentially. Some common features for the myths are explored. It is a pretty dry book. 

Many of the societies were decimated before their culture was documented. How much of these stories had already tied in the encounters with the Europeans? Is it most often those in the least desirable areas that are still around? Are these representative? How were these part of worship versus stories like our super hero stories? It is difficult to tell today.

The Modern Myths: Adventures in the Machinery of the Popular Imagination

The Modern Myths: Adventures in the Machinery of the Popular Imagination by Philip Ball

We often think of myths as being something that early societies used to explain what we can now explain with science. However, humanity continues to create myths. Modern myths often escape their creator to take on a life of their own. They become a part of the culture. This work looks at modern myths with a focus on a few key myths. 

Frankenstein's monster was created in a novel by Mary Shelley. Since then it has grown to be a common word (often with a confusion of the scientist and is monster.) It explores the challenges with the power we have with modern technology. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde can be considered an extension of this and has gone on to form a mythology of its own.

Bram Stoker based dracula somewhat on existing stories. However, his spin on it spun out into a widespread popularity and spawned many different Vampire novels. The myth has been adopted by society.

What modern myths are being created now? The author explores Batman. the character is still controlled by DC comic, but has been interpreted be a variety of artists in different media. Batman has also inspired various other characters and stories. Will any of the additional stories of today go on to form their own mythology? Which ones are "different" enough?  Franchises like Star Wars and Harry Potter have well known characters, but follow well-established storylines and are still tightly controlled. Superheroes are popular, but have not often "broken free". A century from now we may know the answer. 

Drift

Drift by M. K. Hutchins

Drift blends elements from different mythologies along with originality to tell a compelling story. Tenjat narrates the story that begins with his journey from their home island with his mother and sister Eflet. They need to avoid the hazards of the water, which principally consist of the naga. Alas, the naga get their mother, but they make it to a new island where they grow cassava. Tenjat dreams of having enough stores to support his sister for three years. Then he will go take to the test to become a handler (the military/police force). After three years of training he can become a full handler, and allow his sister to live in the kin home.

The islands they live on are lands on a floating turtle. The fertility depends on the ability of turtle to feed appropriate. The island also includes a true where the handlers live. It has roots and branches that serve as travel and communication means. The naga attack the roots under the island and need to regularly be fought off. In society, being married is a sign of poverty. "Hubs" are men that get married and farm the land. They are seen as greatly inferior to the handlers and artisans. 

Tenjat takes the handler test. He discovers that all they need to do is be able to see imps to pass. He passes. He is then assigned Avi as a trainer. Avi is the loan female handler. (We later discover that she is the secret daughter of the chief handler and chief woman.) Tenjat goes through a number of the typical challenges of training and boarding school. He manages to silence the bully and defend others. He make friends with the week kid. We also start to see him develop feelings for his trainer (even though he denies it.)

Eventually the big challenge arrives. There is an impending naga attack. There is also a giant island that is approaching. They must accelerate their training. They must also find their treasures that will help them. (We later learn that the treasures were things that were buried with them when they died in an upper world. The special abilities depend on what these artifacts are. Tenjat's sister had extra special abilities because of how she was buried.) 

They have a special plan to fight the bad guys. It involves getting a special treasure to negotiate with the naga. It turns out they are "lost souls" that want to be given another chance. Tenjat promises to be a "hub" and birth many children that the naga can be the souls of. After a few turns and conflicts, they succeed and Tenjat and Avi get married and become farmers. The island is at peace and no longer needs the many handlers.

The world of the novel is very foreign, but also very accessible. Part is based on Mayan mythology. Other parts explore different concepts of society. Parenthood was seen as something only the poor did because they needed somebody to care for them. After peace was made, less could be devoted to military, and families and parents were seen as more valuable. The novel also explores the interplay of different world. The death from one is the birth of another. Those that were stillbirthed on one world may become great leaders on the other. There is value in following the "standard path" in society, but of also reaching out and doing things that are different.

The Kane Chronicles, Book One: The Red Pyramid

The Kane Chronicles series is s bit of Percy Jackson meets Indiana Jones. It seemed to also borrow from the feel of Fablehaven. They encounter all sorts of the Egyptian gods and their peculiarities. These ones are different from the Greek ones in the Percy Jackson book, and this series does seem totally disconnected from that universe. However, like those books, this is set in modern times. The narration of the audiobook was harder to follow than the other rick Riordan books.

The Mark of Athena: The Heroes of Olympus, Book 3

The Greek and Roman demigods are together. They (barely) manage not to kill each other. They also survive competing love interests. They need to go on quests. One takes them to an aquarium in Atlanta holding a lot of mythical creatures. They barely manage to survive (even as one turns into a goldfish to save himself.) There is plenty of adventure and comedic relief as they discover more about what is going on, the weird condition of the gods and the differences between similar Greek and Roman deities. 

The Last Olympian: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5

The stakes continue to get bigger for Percy Jackson and the gang. The world as we know could reach the end. He is also struggling with girls. The story takes many twists and turns as the prophecies do end up being fulfilled, but in ways different than everyone expected. It is people that were previously enemies that end up playing important parts in saving Mount Olympus. A great battle takes place in New York City, with even a few "mortals" helping out a bit. In the end, Percy chooses to grow up as a teenager rather than immortality.

The Sea of Monsters: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2

The Sea of Monsters: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2 by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is friends with an outcast boy at school. This comes in handy when a bunch of monsters try to attack him in a dodgeball game to the death. The boy turns out to be a cyclops. Later, things are different at camp half-blood, with the new leader. They have chariot races, which go about as expected. Percy wants to go on a quest for the golden fleece and to rescue his satyr friend, however, somebody else gets the call. Percy and Annabeth go. The "sea of monsters" is now by the Bermuda triangle. They succeed and Percy becomes more accepting of his half-brother cyclops. There are also plenty of mythological references (including massive fail with the Sirens).

The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1

The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1 by Rick Riordan

 I've read bits and pieces of the Percy Jackson book before. However, every time, my kids tend to "cheat read" ahead because it is so interesting. Percy is the son of Poseidon and his earthly mother. He lives with a miserable step father. Bad things seem to happen to him. He discovers who is father really is and that the gods are real. With his friends, he goes on adventure that can help prevent an Olympian war.

The book ties in all sorts of bits of Greek mythology and presents a rolickingly good tale.

Hercules

Hercules is one of those characters from Greek mythology that I have heard of frequently, but don't seem to know his history. Thus this Full Cast Audio production was a great treat. Hercules had the connection to the gods, but was raised as a mortal. He had strong morals and discovered his strength. Alas, when he would violate his own code, the results would be disastrous. In one case, he caved to drinking a toast with wine. This, alas, led him to cause great destruction. He tried to do what is best, but would often fall victim to the designs of those around him.

The Hero With A Thousand Faces

The Hero With a Thousand Faces combines Freudian psychoanalysis with mythology to present a "universal" of human beliefs. The comparison of different archetypal myths across different culture is appealing. However, the book gets really bogged down in the psychoanalysis. The discussion of myths is interrupted with analysis of dreams (which often seems to show some sexual or maternal feeling.) The analysis of different mythologies has an odd relationship with "non-western" mythologies. They are at the same time referred and treated as inferior. This may just be a symptom of the analysis which seems to bring out the most extreme views that match the thesis. This leaves me wanting more, and stories are often left half-told, ending once they have got their point across.
I was less than impressed with the book. The conclusion and epilogue were especially demoralizing. He was attempting a focus on mythologies and had great respect for the importance in societies. He acknowledged the many different explanations of myths, and laments the lack of myths in modern society. (Society discovered the "light" of science, but lost the "light" of myth.) There was so much potential in a work of comparative mythology. Alas, the actual work got bogged down with the then-modern theory of psychoanalysis that it was not able to provide adequate treatment of the different myths.

Classical Mythology: The Greeks

Classical Mythology: The Greeks (The Modern Scholar)

Peter Meineck is accomplished dramatist, and thus gives a "theater" focus to Greek Mythology. He puts a very modern spin on the Greeks, and starts with a definition of "myths" and various reasons for the creation of the Greek myths. He also explains why the Greeks are different from other cultures.

The approach was very "artsy", with strong attempts to make the mythology relevant to us and to the Greek history. Unfortunately, it seemed to spend a lot of time analyzing artistic relevance, and not enough time discussing the myths themselves and their role in Greek society. (Yes, most of the time was spent discussing just that, but it didn't seem that way.) There are plenty of other better discussions of Greek Mythology out there.