Stone Blind: A Novel

**2.5⭐️** Not the book for me. The first half just dragged on. The second half definitely picked up, but it still didn’t leave me feeling satisfied at the end. This book represents the gods in their usual selfish, greedy, slimey manner. Zeus and Poseidon are just casually raping women and leaving them to deal with the consequences. Random children popping up everywhere. Athena was spoiled and a little unhinged, but she was mildly entertaining. Perseus was an idiot the entire time, even more selfish and uncaring than the gods most times. As per usual, I can’t fucking stand Zeus. I usually enjoy a Greek Mythology retelling, but this completely missed the mark. I thought we could get more Medusa, but instead she was just screwed over by the gods time and time again.

Natalie Haynes' voice is really compelling - I found her writing style for her nonfiction work very funny for a nonfiction book about gender in greek mythology - and this more narrative work is beautifully written. I don't really have words for how much I loved this book.

Medusa's kindness and empathy, the cruelty of the gods, the discussion of what makes a monster is going to stick with me for a while. Perseus being considered a hero while he selfishly runs around tricking, stealing from, and killing everyone he encounters, while Medusa and her sisters are seen as monsters despite their defining characteristics being their love for one another and empathy.

This is, for me, the definitive greek mythology retelling, and Natalie Haynes is THE author for feminist greek mythology work. Unparalleled, until/unless she decides to write another.

Whiny boy who constantly likes to remind people who his daddy is surprisingly turns out to not be a good person

There is a lot I disliked about Stone Blind but my two main issues, which I’ll break down further are: it is not about Medusa despite the ENTIRE synopsis saying it is, and it is NOT a feminist retelling, in fact I’d say it’s the opposite. If you’ve ever read that children’s book about the Big Bad Wolf telling his side of the story, then you’ve essentially read Stone Blind. The wolf just wanted some sugar for the cake he was baking and the pigs went off and tortured him for no reason before trying to eat him and now he’s in jail. Medusa just wanted…. well we’re not sure what Medusa wanted since her perspective was maybe present for about 20% of the book? (And that’s being generous). Let’s say she just wanted to vibe but men (and women) came and raped her, tortured her, murdered her, and used her, again for no real reason. That’s your insight into Medusa because for the other 80% Of this book, Haynes instead decided to focus on the perspective of every other god, goddess, Demigod, king, queen, mortal, snake, crow, olive tree, and mythical creature. There is a plot to this tale, the well known story of Medusa and Perseus is there, but it’s so muddled down and lost amongst all these other perspectives and side stories that I often found myself wondering what was the point? What was the point of ANY of this?? Stone Blind is not a masterful retelling of these beloved myths, it is essentially just a watered down, poorly written, fanfiction of Greek mythology. Honestly, I’m really not a fan of retellings to begin with unless they’re well written and truly provide a new look at a story. For example, Circe by Madeline Miller is a true feminist masterpiece. It’s superbly written from the perspective of Circe, a minor character in a well known epic, providing the reader with a unique take on an old tale. Seriously, ignore Haynes and go read anything by Miller! In Stone Blind, we do not get a unique perspective, we instead get dozens of unnecessary perspectives written with awkward dialogue and Haynes’ “wit” which falls flat. The gods and goddesses argue and behave with dialogue that makes the novel feel like a 90s sitcom, all it needs is the laugh track because all the insensitivity, misogyny, and boring lines are all there. While Miller writes with beauty, precision, and skill, Haynes writes in average prose with straight to the point descriptions and a complete lack of understanding for the content. Rape is thrown around in this novel with no real look at the impact or emotional turmoil the act causes. There are 2 rapes within the first 20 pages, both tactless and abrupt. Rape is a theme throughout the novel and it is never addressed respectfully or even with any purpose, making it the complete opposite of necessary, feminist, or emotional. It is just another thing that is done to women and you move on. Honestly if this had not been a book club pick, I would have returned this book immediately after the disgusting take of rape that occurs on page 8! Along with poorly written characters, too many characters, a lack of focus, old re-used plot, lack of originality, lack of tact, and annoying attempts at humor, this book is also just BORING. Since there is nothing new to this retelling there is no reason to read it! I gained nothing from this, no new insights, no new feelings, no new perspectives, and no new lessons. Other than Haynes beating you over the head with her message that MEN ARE TERRIBLE GALS AM I RIGHT??? I got nothing. Obviously, I don’t recommend this. Go read Circe or Son of Achilles by Madeline Miller instead, you’re welcome

Didn’t bring as much to the mythologies as I had hoped