Book 9 - Ithaka by Adele Geras

Ok, so I was on a bit of an ancient myth kick after reading Chimera. I studied Homer and Ovid at uni and have always had a bit of a fascination with these ancient myths. So while at the library I picked up Ithaka, a young adult novel by Adele Geras, an author with a history of reversioning fairy tales and myths.

Ithaka is the "other" story of The Odyssey - the story of the people waiting for Odysseus to return. For those of you not familiar with the myth, Odysseus came up with the idea for the "Trojan Horse" which ultimately caused the fall of Troy. Because of this he was cursed by Poseidon (the sea god) to wander the seas for many years before being able to return to his kingdom Ithaka, and his wife Penelope. During the intervening years, many lords invited themselves to Ithaka and took advantage of Penelope's hospitality, with the intent of forcing her to admit Odysseus's death and marry one of their number. To buy time she said she would decide only after finishing the burial shroud for her father-in-law. Each night she would unravel half of that day's weaving, until Odysseus finally did return.

In Ithaka, the long wait is seem through the eyes of two young people. Klymene is a kind of lady-in-waiting to Penelope. She and her brother Ikarios were childhood friends of Telemachus, Odysseus' son. Their idyllic childhood is shattered when rough men overrun the palace, gorging on wine, food and pretty girls. The two must grow up quickly to survive in such an enviroment. They must also cope with the usual difficulties of adolescence - first loves, strained friendships and betrayals. Klymene must watch her childhood love Telemachus fall for a beautiful and cunning girl, even as he struggles with his inability to take his father's place and cast the suitors from the palace. The book surges with the daily tension of waiting which is ultimately resolved in Odysseus' return and a battle with the suitors in which the young people play a pivotal role.

An interesting feature of the book is the role of the gods. As in the Iliad and Odyssey, they walk among the humans, creating hope or havoc in their wake. Klymene and Ikarios are blessed with a form of second sight that allows them to see and even converse with gods such as Poseidon, Aphrodite and Athena, a gift that gives them insight into the greater scheme that is the Odyssey. It is important also to note the significance of Penelope's weaving - in addition to the shroud, Athena grants her the power to weaves Odysseus' story as it happens. It is intimated that she not only sees Odysseus' adventures through this but also protects him as he journeys homeward.

Adele Geras has a strong interest in the role of women in myth, which flows through in Ithaka and its earlier companion novel, Troy. They are bound by their circumstances but exercise power over the men around them, and sometimes even the gods. Troy and Ithaka are both enjoyable reads from the Young Adult genre and I would recommend them to anyone with an interest in ancient myths or the role of women.