Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"I am wild, I am free. I am Atalanta."

The excellence of this myth retelling was wholly unexpected. It combined the lyricism of Homer's literary world with standard and well-arranged modern literary devices, making the novel gripping and beautifully written.

I've read Ovid's Metamorphoses a few times, but luckily, I forgot Atalanta's full story. The ending was gut-wrenching and rewarding. Why? Because of the journey that Jennifer Saint built for Atalanta and carried me, the reader, on.

One small complaint of mine: Saint's use/rephrasing of "rosy dawn" throughout her work (I'm thinking of this novel and Ariadne) feels ungenuine. Many of her readers have read The Odessey, so the attempt at reusing that phrase is irksome to me, even condescending. When I read Ariadne, it cheapened the reading experience for me, but I may have misjudged. The frequent use of this phrase, and others, could be an attempt at placing these myth retellings within Homer's poetic universe.

However, that's really my only complaint.

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My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not to make light of trauma, but who traumatized who in the writing and reading of this novel?

Never has a book frustrated me as much as this one—and I don't mean that in a bad way. Russell brilliantly recreates teenage angst and despondency, as well as the realities and alternate experiences of abuse.

At first, Venessa's petulance was relatable and understandable, but then, page by page, it nearly became unbearable. Yet, Vanessa is unpacked beautifully in the reflections of other characters, especially as she grows up.

On a craft level, the writing was beautiful, and every moment of dialogue was necessary.

Will I ever reread this? Probably not. But with that said, there are descriptions and scenes in this book that will stay with me for a long time.

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The Color Purple by Alice Walker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is an education. It’s heart wrenching, briefly heart warming, and does not feel like fiction. This book won the Pulitzer Prize for a reason. I’m glad I finally read it and will be thinking about it for a long time.

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