OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Angry Man and the Weaver" by Alexander Mescavage and Eunice Taylor.]

The Angry Man and the Weaver: Re-imagining the Odyssey is a historical fiction by Alexander Mescavage and Eunice Taylor. It was told in alternating narrations of Odysseus and Penelope. This novel spun an exciting and engaging tale of their destiny, love, and adventure.

Odysseus had a rough life as a child. Unable to feel anything, his parents worried about him. It seemed that he was always angry, and this earned him the name, “The Angry Man”. Fortunately, the Gods heard the constant prayers of his mother, the Queen. With the help the Wise Goddess, he was able to change little by little. From an emotionless child, he grew up to be a fine warrior with a very sharp and cunning mind. His intelligence and wit earned him aliases such as “Fox” and “Talks Like Snowflakes”. One day, he was summoned to The Land of the Palace. Those summoned would compete for the hand of Helen “Sunshine” of Sparta, the most beautiful woman in the world. He knew a lowly king of a little island would be unfit to marry a spoiled princess. However, he still graced the invitation as a sign of respect. Little did he know that on the same festivity, he will meet her destined partner in life, a woman named “Weaver”.

I commend Mescavage and Taylor’s ingenuity for creating such a compelling novel. The modern portrayal of the characters made it enjoyable to read. Moreover, the characters were more multi-dimensional and relatable. The characters’ way of talking did not modernize. Even so, readers could grasp the reason behind the characters’ actions. The novel was also rich in character development. For example, Angry Man’s shrewdness was developed well with the guidance of the Wise Goddess. Angry Man showed plenty of improvement. From a child who enjoyed killing and torture, he became a respectable king.

In the book, Mescavage and Taylor changed the characters’ Greek names to their Bronze Age equivalent. Some characters also had many names. For instance, Helen’s name became “Sunshine”. When she married, her name changed to “Virtuous”. The authors gave a word of caution about this change in the introductory part of the book. It was confusing at first, but as the story went on, I got used to it. I also noted some missing quotation marks but it did not hinder my pace in reading.

Overall, I give The Angry Man and the Weaver: Re-imagining the Odyssey 4 out of 4 stars. This book is a good match for readers who are interested in Greek Mythology. Readers who want to enjoy the heart-warming tale of Penelope and Odysseus’ love story would enjoy this book as well.

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The Angry Man and the Weaver
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Congratulations for the excellent review. This historical-fiction is indeed an enticing read. Stories of kingdoms and bravery engaging.

This does sound quite entertaining. I love reading new takes on old classics when they are done right. Thanks for the review.

I enjoy books that re-do old classics as well. I also have a small interest in greek mythology so this book might be an interesting read.

Great Review! ☺

Sounds interesting. Thanks for the detailed review.

I like the part where Odysseus develops from a retard to a great person. This gives hope that in real life children with disabilities can improve, with good care and intervention. Thanks for a good review.

I read The Odyssey in high school and really liked it. This sounds like a fun version of the story. That's good that it was "rich in character development." Thanks for the detailed review.

Amagine wrote:I enjoy books that re-do old classics as well. I also have a small interest in greek mythology so this book might be an interesting read.

Great Review! ☺

Thank you, Amagine! The re-telling was awesome. I'm sure you will enjoy this book as I did.

-- April 16th, 2017, 11:35 pm --

Chrys Brobbey wrote:I like the part where Odysseus develops from a retard to a great person. This gives hope that in real life children with disabilities can improve, with good care and intervention. Thanks for a good review.

Thank you, Chrys Brobbey! It was interesting to read this part. Odysseus seemed so helpless as a child without emotions but The Wise Goddess was a patient mentor.

I am not a mythology lover but your review has completely drawn me in. I enjoyed every bit of your review.

Congratulations on a well-written review! This book seems very interesting to read. It will bring us to the other world perhaps

Shreyoshi Sen wrote:I am not a mythology lover but your review has completely drawn me in. I enjoyed every bit of your review.

Thank you, Shreyoshi Sen! Mythology has its own appeal to the readers. Greek mythology is a favorite of mine. That is probably why I am able to review this book objectively. I hope you read and enjoy this novel.

-- April 17th, 2017, 11:35 pm --

michelonline29 wrote:Congratulations on a well-written review! This book seems very interesting to read. It will bring us to the other world perhaps

Thank you! As far as I know, Greek mythology is considered as a part of our history. It was said this happened during the Bronze age. With this book, we get to see how life was on those times. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I did.

Great review! This sounds like a really unique twist on a classic tale!

LivreAmour217 wrote:Great review! This sounds like a really unique twist on a classic tale!

Thank you, LivreAmour217! If you enjoy Greek mythology, then you might find this book to your liking as well.

Great review, I do love a good retelling and I really like the Odyssey too.

Thanks, Gingerbo0ks! If you liked the Odyssey, then you'll surely love this book as well.