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Goddess of Yesterday
Anaxandra is taken from her birth island at age 6 by King Nicander to be a companion to his crippled daughter, Princess Callisto. Six years later, her new island is sacked by pirates and she is the sole survivor. Alone with only her Medusa figurine, she reinvents herself as Princess Callisto when Menelaus, great king of Sparta, lands with his men. He takes her back to Sparta with him where Helen, his beautiful wife, does not believe that the red-headed child is Princess Callisto. Although fearful of the half-mortal, half-goddess Helen, Anaxandra is able to stay out of harm’s way–until the Trojan princes Paris and Aeneas arrive. Paris and Helen’s fascination with each other soon turns to passion and plunges Sparta and Troy into war. Can Anaxandra find the courage to reinvent herself once again, appease the gods, and save herself?
272 pages, Library Binding
First published June 11, 2002
About the author
Caroline B. Cooney
119 books1,697 followersCaroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 304 reviews
November 15, 2010
This book confirmed my theory that Helen of Troy was a spoiled ... um ... witch. Just think about this: you've been told your whole life that you are the most beautiful woman alive. That you are the daughter of a god, and more beautiful than the goddesses in heaven. Kidnapped repeatedly by eager suitors, married to a king . . . what kind of person would this make you?
The answer, according to Cooney: a horrible person. A person who thinks the world revolves around you, and doesn't care who she torments or even kills, because no one else matters.
Thank heavens Helen isn't the protagonist of this book! Instead, we see Helen through the wary eyes of Anaxandra, taken hostage at a young age but raised as a guest of the house of the minor king who took her hostage. Anaxandra is strong and smart and resourceful, but also very troubled. When Nicander's small island nation is destroyed, she is mistaken for his daughter by Menelaus . . . and decides not to set the record straight. As the daughter of a king she will have a little power, and a great deal of respect. But Helen is sharp-eyed as well as beautiful, and she can (and does) make things very unpleasant for anyone she doesn't like.
This is a creative and fascinating look at the world of ancient Greece at the beginning of the Trojan War. This topic has always fascinated me, and I think that Cooney does a beautiful job of bringing it to life.
The answer, according to Cooney: a horrible person. A person who thinks the world revolves around you, and doesn't care who she torments or even kills, because no one else matters.
Thank heavens Helen isn't the protagonist of this book! Instead, we see Helen through the wary eyes of Anaxandra, taken hostage at a young age but raised as a guest of the house of the minor king who took her hostage. Anaxandra is strong and smart and resourceful, but also very troubled. When Nicander's small island nation is destroyed, she is mistaken for his daughter by Menelaus . . . and decides not to set the record straight. As the daughter of a king she will have a little power, and a great deal of respect. But Helen is sharp-eyed as well as beautiful, and she can (and does) make things very unpleasant for anyone she doesn't like.
This is a creative and fascinating look at the world of ancient Greece at the beginning of the Trojan War. This topic has always fascinated me, and I think that Cooney does a beautiful job of bringing it to life.
January 18, 2014
This is one of those books that I read YA lit for! At first, I thought it would be fantasy, but I would categorize this as historic fiction because, while people speak as if the gods and goddesses were real, nothing happens that couldn't happen in real life. The reader gets a picture of what life was like in ancient times both normal days and the sudden, harsh violence that could destroy your world in a moment as fierce raiders, hungry for glory, gold, and slaves, descend upon you from the sea.
The main character is a very likable and very smart young girl. The horrible situations in which she finds herself will arouse the reader's sympathy as well as admiration as she finds ways to survive.
In general, though the author is dealing with some very brutal events, the depictions aren't too graphic. The author also refrained from inserting a too modern feel into the story with the exception of one interchange at a merchant's shop between the main character and a king. Anaxander's desire to use the tablets for communication (as a diary or letters) was perhaps a little anachronistic, but since she never used them that way, it was just a wish.
Helen was a perfect Helen - beautiful yet hideous in her soul. The saddest thing for me is that no one could see it. Perhaps Menelaus saw it and that's why he was not attracted to her, though the book just calls him as inattentive. Even Anaxandra while she knows Helen is evil still finds her appealing and longs for her smile.
One very moving line was from an old woman, once a queen, now a slave: "Does the life I lead make you think of gentle, loving gods?" No, the gods of this world were cruel, life was cruel, and humans were cruel, usually kind to their own but brutal to others. There was a code of honor but even that was often broken. Whenever I read anything about the Greek gods, I give thanks for my God who is loving and good and merciful.
The main character is a very likable and very smart young girl. The horrible situations in which she finds herself will arouse the reader's sympathy as well as admiration as she finds ways to survive.
In general, though the author is dealing with some very brutal events, the depictions aren't too graphic. The author also refrained from inserting a too modern feel into the story with the exception of one interchange at a merchant's shop between the main character and a king. Anaxander's desire to use the tablets for communication (as a diary or letters) was perhaps a little anachronistic, but since she never used them that way, it was just a wish.
Helen was a perfect Helen - beautiful yet hideous in her soul. The saddest thing for me is that no one could see it. Perhaps Menelaus saw it and that's why he was not attracted to her, though the book just calls him as inattentive. Even Anaxandra while she knows Helen is evil still finds her appealing and longs for her smile.
One very moving line was from an old woman, once a queen, now a slave: "Does the life I lead make you think of gentle, loving gods?" No, the gods of this world were cruel, life was cruel, and humans were cruel, usually kind to their own but brutal to others. There was a code of honor but even that was often broken. Whenever I read anything about the Greek gods, I give thanks for my God who is loving and good and merciful.
January 10, 2018
At age six, Anaxandra is taken as a hostage by King Nicander to be a companion to his crippled daughter Callisto. Just when things were going well, Siphons experienced another crisis. The island had gotten attacked by pirates and the only soul that survived that attack was Anaxandra. When a fleet of ships belonging to King Menelaus arrives on the island, she take the identity of Princess Callisto in order to survive. Things go up and down when she arrives in Sparta, since Helen knows that she stole an identity. When Menelaus and his men depart to attend his grandfather's funeral, Paris and Helen decide to leave Sparta and go to Troy together. When Menelaus finds out, he gets mad and charges for Troy, declaring war. Can Anaxandar prevent this from happening and gain forgiveness for the mistakes that she has done?
This story was very well written and deserves 4 stars. The detail and format in this book makes me picture the events in my mind. The overall plot was great, however the story didn't end as well as I thought it would. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy historical fiction.
This story was very well written and deserves 4 stars. The detail and format in this book makes me picture the events in my mind. The overall plot was great, however the story didn't end as well as I thought it would. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy historical fiction.
March 26, 2012
(more like 3 and 1/2 stars)
Anaxandra is six years old when King Nicander comes to the small island of her childhood and takes her away as a tribute and to be a companion to his sickly daughter Callisto. Unable to ever return to her family, Anaxandra comes to feel at home at Siphnos and to love her adopted family and for six years life goes unchanged. Until pirates attack the island and Anaxandra is the sole survivor. She is then rescued by King Menelaus of Sparta and afraid to be taken as a slave, she assumes the identity of Princess Callisto and because of that she is welcomed with opens arm into his household. Except that is, for his wife Helen, who doesn’t believe Callisto’s story and becomes a constant danger to Anaxandra. When Paris, the youngest spoiled son of the powerful city of Troy comes to visit, he and Helen fall in love with each other and leave Sparta for Troy. But Helen doesn’t go alone, she takes hers and Menelaus’ youngest son and is bent on taking their daughter Hermione as well. But Anaxandra who has come to love Menelaus’ family will do anything to protect the children and assumes once again, the identity of another person. In Troy, at the brink of the upcoming war Anaxandra will find herself having to choose sides.
I have been in the mood for historical fiction lately and I quite enjoyed Goddess of Yesterday both because of its ancient Greece setting and connection to the Trojan War but also because of its resilient main character, Anaxandra. Anaxandra is a creation of this author but I liked how the minor role she comes to play in the Trojan War is one that could have been. Taking care of Helen’s youngest child Pleisthenes and protecting him from Helen’s carelessness and Paris’ murderous intentions becomes Anaxandra’s main mission whilst in Troy. Oh, how I loved the author’s choice of portraying both Helen and Paris as dangerous, self-serving, egotistical, loathsome people.
The plot moves forward with increasing tension with the combination of Anaxandra always scared of being found a liar, Pleisthenes’ life in danger and the inevitable war looming in the horizon. The Trojans’ belief that they are unbeatable and the knowledge I had of how things turn out to be only made this story all the best to be read – especially when Anaxandra becomes friends with Hector, his future wife and his sister Cassandra (poor Cassandra) .
Anaxandra is the sort of character whose rebellion – if we can call it that – is that of the quietly reflexive kind and her main skill is her ability to adapt and to forgive in order to survive. I admit that at times, I felt a bit frustrated by how easily she would find herself being extremely sympathetic to “her kings”: Nicander, Menelaus and Priam but to be honest, this felt true to the character. She is quite perceptive as well and her narrative is full of keen observations about life in Ancient Greece– from the different ways of life in the different places, the different languages, and customs not to mention the horrid reality of slavery and violence throughout. I also loved how the Gods and Goddess are portrayed as being an intrinsic part of everybody’s everyday lives including people’s belief that their fate was completely on their Gods’ hands. Would I have preferred to see Anaxandra raging against being the plaything of Gods and Goddesses? Yes. But it made sense that she accepted it, and prayed and hoped her Goddess of Yesterday would be fair to her when other Gods weren’t fair or good to other people. Plus, it’s not like she just sat there and waited for things to happen as she took an active role – lies and all – to survive. I loved that.
Goddess of Yesterday is a short yet fulfilling story and I enjoyed reading it very much. I hear this author has a huge backlist – any recommendations about what I should read next?
Anaxandra is six years old when King Nicander comes to the small island of her childhood and takes her away as a tribute and to be a companion to his sickly daughter Callisto. Unable to ever return to her family, Anaxandra comes to feel at home at Siphnos and to love her adopted family and for six years life goes unchanged. Until pirates attack the island and Anaxandra is the sole survivor. She is then rescued by King Menelaus of Sparta and afraid to be taken as a slave, she assumes the identity of Princess Callisto and because of that she is welcomed with opens arm into his household. Except that is, for his wife Helen, who doesn’t believe Callisto’s story and becomes a constant danger to Anaxandra. When Paris, the youngest spoiled son of the powerful city of Troy comes to visit, he and Helen fall in love with each other and leave Sparta for Troy. But Helen doesn’t go alone, she takes hers and Menelaus’ youngest son and is bent on taking their daughter Hermione as well. But Anaxandra who has come to love Menelaus’ family will do anything to protect the children and assumes once again, the identity of another person. In Troy, at the brink of the upcoming war Anaxandra will find herself having to choose sides.
I have been in the mood for historical fiction lately and I quite enjoyed Goddess of Yesterday both because of its ancient Greece setting and connection to the Trojan War but also because of its resilient main character, Anaxandra. Anaxandra is a creation of this author but I liked how the minor role she comes to play in the Trojan War is one that could have been. Taking care of Helen’s youngest child Pleisthenes and protecting him from Helen’s carelessness and Paris’ murderous intentions becomes Anaxandra’s main mission whilst in Troy. Oh, how I loved the author’s choice of portraying both Helen and Paris as dangerous, self-serving, egotistical, loathsome people.
The plot moves forward with increasing tension with the combination of Anaxandra always scared of being found a liar, Pleisthenes’ life in danger and the inevitable war looming in the horizon. The Trojans’ belief that they are unbeatable and the knowledge I had of how things turn out to be only made this story all the best to be read – especially when Anaxandra becomes friends with Hector, his future wife and his sister Cassandra (poor Cassandra) .
Anaxandra is the sort of character whose rebellion – if we can call it that – is that of the quietly reflexive kind and her main skill is her ability to adapt and to forgive in order to survive. I admit that at times, I felt a bit frustrated by how easily she would find herself being extremely sympathetic to “her kings”: Nicander, Menelaus and Priam but to be honest, this felt true to the character. She is quite perceptive as well and her narrative is full of keen observations about life in Ancient Greece– from the different ways of life in the different places, the different languages, and customs not to mention the horrid reality of slavery and violence throughout. I also loved how the Gods and Goddess are portrayed as being an intrinsic part of everybody’s everyday lives including people’s belief that their fate was completely on their Gods’ hands. Would I have preferred to see Anaxandra raging against being the plaything of Gods and Goddesses? Yes. But it made sense that she accepted it, and prayed and hoped her Goddess of Yesterday would be fair to her when other Gods weren’t fair or good to other people. Plus, it’s not like she just sat there and waited for things to happen as she took an active role – lies and all – to survive. I loved that.
Goddess of Yesterday is a short yet fulfilling story and I enjoyed reading it very much. I hear this author has a huge backlist – any recommendations about what I should read next?
December 11, 2020
This is YA worth reading.
Finally.
Initially, it is told from the POV of a child, but it is not soft. For every childish mistake there are real consequences. Anaxandra is tossed from found family to found family, alway seeking safety and learning that she cannot depend on the adults around her. It’s a joy to watch her learn to trust her own instincts and take her fate into her own hands.
It is told by a teenager but there are no empty love triangles or passages wasted with descriptions of Anaxandra raging futilely against her fate like I see so often in modern YA. All sound and fury, signifying nothing (thanks Shakespeare for that apt description). Anaxandra is a doer. She doesn’t dither once she’s made a decision. But she isn’t rash either. She goes with the flow and lets opportunities come to her, so the path that she takes always feels realistic and justified.
It is told by someone who walked beside the great literary characters of Paris and Helen, Menelaus and Agamemnon, Andromache and Cassandra but somehow each character felt fresh, and complex, and wholly new to me. Menelaus as the inattentive husband, Helen as the cold and vain queen only seeking glory for herself, and Paris as the spoiled and frankly sociopathic braggart were fascinating to meet, and Cassandra stole my heart at the end with her surprising act of friendship.
Overall, this book was much more touching than I expected and far better than I hoped. It has become my favorite Trojan War retelling (even surpassing the Song of Achilles). Everyone who has been disappointed with lackluster YA lately should give this a chance.
Finally.
Initially, it is told from the POV of a child, but it is not soft. For every childish mistake there are real consequences. Anaxandra is tossed from found family to found family, alway seeking safety and learning that she cannot depend on the adults around her. It’s a joy to watch her learn to trust her own instincts and take her fate into her own hands.
It is told by a teenager but there are no empty love triangles or passages wasted with descriptions of Anaxandra raging futilely against her fate like I see so often in modern YA. All sound and fury, signifying nothing (thanks Shakespeare for that apt description). Anaxandra is a doer. She doesn’t dither once she’s made a decision. But she isn’t rash either. She goes with the flow and lets opportunities come to her, so the path that she takes always feels realistic and justified.
It is told by someone who walked beside the great literary characters of Paris and Helen, Menelaus and Agamemnon, Andromache and Cassandra but somehow each character felt fresh, and complex, and wholly new to me. Menelaus as the inattentive husband, Helen as the cold and vain queen only seeking glory for herself, and Paris as the spoiled and frankly sociopathic braggart were fascinating to meet, and Cassandra stole my heart at the end with her surprising act of friendship.
Overall, this book was much more touching than I expected and far better than I hoped. It has become my favorite Trojan War retelling (even surpassing the Song of Achilles). Everyone who has been disappointed with lackluster YA lately should give this a chance.
February 7, 2016
I'm no classicist, but I flatter myself that I know a bit more about ancient Greek history than the average Joe. But Cooney gave me a completely new perspective on the character of Helen, Paris and Menelaus. They became, for want of a better word, believable. As is so often the case, a wonderful book has been relegated to the YA shelves just because the protagonist is a young girl. Don't let that label keep you from reading this excellent tale. [Audiobook note: At first, I thought the narrator's voice was too deep for a young girl's. But once I got used to it, it did not impede my enjoyment. She does a first-rate narration.]
October 24, 2008
I wish I could give this book 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed it. Great story! I loved how the author enterwinded fact with fiction. The book had me on the "edge of my seat" as it were, for the entire last half of the book up to the very last page. She ended it nicely. I wasn't left wanting but the last 50 pages, at least, were intense!
If you are a mythology fan I HIGHLY recommned it!
If you are a mythology fan I HIGHLY recommned it!
April 16, 2008
Anaxandra is taken from her home island when she is six, so that she can be a companion to Princess Callisto. Six years later, her new home island is attacked by pirates and she is the sole survivor. She takes on the identity of Princess Callisto and is taken to Sparta with King Menelaus. This is how she becomes involved with Menelaus' wife, Helen of Troy, and the following war.
January 19, 2022
Read this way back in grade school. I might no have done well on the dreaded and enforced required reading test I hade to take for it, but I still liked it.
December 3, 2020
Anaxander is a remarkable character in how even when it looks like she has no choices, she always manages to obtain some agency and control. True, she is usually able to make more choices for herself with a lot of lies, but its is Bronze Age Greece, with a lot of might-makes-right attitudes, so she has to look for any advantage she can.
Anaxander ends up having a front row seat to the beginning of the Trojan War, and, oh my, this version of Helen of Troy - wow - total beyatch! Several times we see her smiling and rooting on soldiers to keep fighting, taking way too much pleasure in the thought of people fighting over her. Our heroine, however, sees war for the horrible thing it is, and is determined to try and keep those she loves safe.
February 28, 2014
This was one of my favorite books when I was growing up.
There is a huge range of novels out there concerning the Trojan War and the men and women whose lives were changed by the great event - so many books in fact, that it is difficult to find one that doesn't feel stale and predictable (after all, no author can really make shocking twists and turns in a war whose outcome is already known). Like books concerning the King Arthur legends, the Trojan War as a subject for a book is rapidly becoming dull.
So it is refreshing to find now and again a book that deals with this subject, and is actually *interesting*, suspenseful and surprisingly good. Such is Caroline B. Cooney's "Goddess of Yesterday".
Although all of the mythological details and events of the War are correct (at least as far as I could see), the author brings new personalities to well-known characters, thoughtful insights on blasphemy and the nature of gods, and a likeable young heroine that blends so easily into the events leading up to the War that one might be surprised not to find her mentioned in ancient sources!
Anaxandra is the beloved daughter of a chieftain father in a small rocky isle, taken away from her home and family as a tribute/hostage of King Nicander, who places her in his own household as a companion to his own crippled daughter Princess Callisto. Despite homesickness, Anaxandra adjust to her new life, only to have it shattered once more by pirates who plunder Siphnos. Thanks to an ingenious disguise, Anaxandra is the sole survivor, and when the ship bearing King Menelaus pulls in to investigate, she lies to ensure her future: telling the King of Sparta that she is the Princess Callisto.
Under this new identity, she is taken to Sparta where she mingles with the family of the king: his beautiful but dangerous wife Helen, his cheerful daughter Hermione, his two elder sons, and baby Pleisthenes. It is there of course, that the inevitable happens: Prince Paris of Troy arrives in Sparta, and when Menelaus is called away to his grandfather's funeral, Paris and Helen set sail once more for Troy...taking baby Pleisthenes and Anaxandra (again under a false identity in a bid to save Hermione's life) with them...
When retelling such a well-known story, it is impossible to change important events in the tale (scholars would get too stroppy), but the personalities of the people involved are always up for grabs. Cooney creates an interesting version of Helen, as a painfully beautiful demi-goddess, utterly cruel, cold, manipulating, and revelling in the blood of the soldiers who die for her sake. It's a shocking change from the usual somewhat reluctant follower of Paris, who would walk the walls in agony over the deaths below her. Hector and Andromache's characterisations I am less fond of: he's too heavy-set and gruff, and she's too frivolous and giggly. Cassandra, however is captured perfectly as the hysterical, but beloved princess in the tower, and Cooney instigates a very clever plot-twist in the details of her curse (that her prophesies are never believed), that caught me completely off-guard!
There are a few details that bothered me: Anaxandra often beseeches the deity that gives name to the book: 'the goddess of yesterday', but who this figure actually is and how she fits into the pantheon of Greek gods remains unknown. The same complaint lies with the use of Medusa as a "good-luck charm", and did anyone else think that Anaxandra's romance with Euneas was a little abrupt? One horse ride and she's in love?
Furthermore, there are alot of plot threads left hanging - does Anaxandra meet up with Euneas again? Cassandra hints that her parents are still looking for her - so does she ever meet them again? Does she have her revenge on the pirates of the twisted fish? And for someone who knows absolutely nothing about the Trojan War, they will be left dangling with absolutely no information on what happens to any of the characters - Cooney ends the book, so to speak, just when it seems like it's beginning. An epilogue fills in these blanks, but I would have liked to hear it from Anaxandra's point of view (plus Cooney forgets to mentions that Aretha is eventually rescued by her grandsons after the sack of Troy).
But all in all, Caroline B. Cooney has written a clear, beautifully descriptive story of an engaging young woman caught up in events much larger than herself, as well as a reworking of the traditional myths, and a reasonably accurate depiction of ancient Greek life. In terms of novel based on this "Trojan genre", this one is one of the best.
There is a huge range of novels out there concerning the Trojan War and the men and women whose lives were changed by the great event - so many books in fact, that it is difficult to find one that doesn't feel stale and predictable (after all, no author can really make shocking twists and turns in a war whose outcome is already known). Like books concerning the King Arthur legends, the Trojan War as a subject for a book is rapidly becoming dull.
So it is refreshing to find now and again a book that deals with this subject, and is actually *interesting*, suspenseful and surprisingly good. Such is Caroline B. Cooney's "Goddess of Yesterday".
Although all of the mythological details and events of the War are correct (at least as far as I could see), the author brings new personalities to well-known characters, thoughtful insights on blasphemy and the nature of gods, and a likeable young heroine that blends so easily into the events leading up to the War that one might be surprised not to find her mentioned in ancient sources!
Anaxandra is the beloved daughter of a chieftain father in a small rocky isle, taken away from her home and family as a tribute/hostage of King Nicander, who places her in his own household as a companion to his own crippled daughter Princess Callisto. Despite homesickness, Anaxandra adjust to her new life, only to have it shattered once more by pirates who plunder Siphnos. Thanks to an ingenious disguise, Anaxandra is the sole survivor, and when the ship bearing King Menelaus pulls in to investigate, she lies to ensure her future: telling the King of Sparta that she is the Princess Callisto.
Under this new identity, she is taken to Sparta where she mingles with the family of the king: his beautiful but dangerous wife Helen, his cheerful daughter Hermione, his two elder sons, and baby Pleisthenes. It is there of course, that the inevitable happens: Prince Paris of Troy arrives in Sparta, and when Menelaus is called away to his grandfather's funeral, Paris and Helen set sail once more for Troy...taking baby Pleisthenes and Anaxandra (again under a false identity in a bid to save Hermione's life) with them...
When retelling such a well-known story, it is impossible to change important events in the tale (scholars would get too stroppy), but the personalities of the people involved are always up for grabs. Cooney creates an interesting version of Helen, as a painfully beautiful demi-goddess, utterly cruel, cold, manipulating, and revelling in the blood of the soldiers who die for her sake. It's a shocking change from the usual somewhat reluctant follower of Paris, who would walk the walls in agony over the deaths below her. Hector and Andromache's characterisations I am less fond of: he's too heavy-set and gruff, and she's too frivolous and giggly. Cassandra, however is captured perfectly as the hysterical, but beloved princess in the tower, and Cooney instigates a very clever plot-twist in the details of her curse (that her prophesies are never believed), that caught me completely off-guard!
There are a few details that bothered me: Anaxandra often beseeches the deity that gives name to the book: 'the goddess of yesterday', but who this figure actually is and how she fits into the pantheon of Greek gods remains unknown. The same complaint lies with the use of Medusa as a "good-luck charm", and did anyone else think that Anaxandra's romance with Euneas was a little abrupt? One horse ride and she's in love?
Furthermore, there are alot of plot threads left hanging - does Anaxandra meet up with Euneas again? Cassandra hints that her parents are still looking for her - so does she ever meet them again? Does she have her revenge on the pirates of the twisted fish? And for someone who knows absolutely nothing about the Trojan War, they will be left dangling with absolutely no information on what happens to any of the characters - Cooney ends the book, so to speak, just when it seems like it's beginning. An epilogue fills in these blanks, but I would have liked to hear it from Anaxandra's point of view (plus Cooney forgets to mentions that Aretha is eventually rescued by her grandsons after the sack of Troy).
But all in all, Caroline B. Cooney has written a clear, beautifully descriptive story of an engaging young woman caught up in events much larger than herself, as well as a reworking of the traditional myths, and a reasonably accurate depiction of ancient Greek life. In terms of novel based on this "Trojan genre", this one is one of the best.
January 9, 2018
This book shows how time, place and personality comes into play in every situation. A girl named Anaxandra gets taken from her home island when she was six to go with Prince Nicander to his island. Also, this book shows how much family is important and taps into the world of mythology, gods and goddesses. It's a great book for people who adventurous fantasy. The reason I give it a four is that everything comes into play from the little symbols, details, actions and creatures all play as symbols for the big picture that family comes with you wherever you go.
September 23, 2012
I've had this little young adults' paperback for years, from the time I collected anything, fiction and non-fiction, on the fall of Troy. I certainly didn't do myself any favours by leaving this one unread for so long, because it's an excellent re-imagining of the familiar tale.
The narrator is a young girl who is taken as hostage by the king of the island kingdom of Siphnos. On the island she becomes a valued companion to the Princess Callisto. When the island is raided by Trojans the girl, Anaxander, is taken captive. She assumes Callisto's identity for her own preservation - a matter which is going to trouble her conscience and create problems for her when she encounters none other than the famous Helen, Queen of Sparta.
Anaxander's tale takes her across the Aegean and overland to Sparta, and eventually back across the Aegean to Troy in the company of Prince Paris and the beautiful but dangerous Helen. Here her fate is destined to be bound up in that of the magnificent city of Troy and its people.
Although Anaxander/Callisto encounters the famous characters from Homer's Iliad, her's is a fresh perspective, and because she is a fictional invention of author Caroline B. Cooney, her fate is unanticipated from the outset of her tale.
If you are a reader who is enthralled as I was by "Goddess of Yesterday" you will devour this 264-page novel in a couple of sittings. For me the book is a definite keeper, and reminded me of how the greatest tales of mythology and history stand up to multiple re-tellings. Of course, not all authors are up to the task of making familiar tales fresh and interesting. Happily Ms Cooney is.
The narrator is a young girl who is taken as hostage by the king of the island kingdom of Siphnos. On the island she becomes a valued companion to the Princess Callisto. When the island is raided by Trojans the girl, Anaxander, is taken captive. She assumes Callisto's identity for her own preservation - a matter which is going to trouble her conscience and create problems for her when she encounters none other than the famous Helen, Queen of Sparta.
Anaxander's tale takes her across the Aegean and overland to Sparta, and eventually back across the Aegean to Troy in the company of Prince Paris and the beautiful but dangerous Helen. Here her fate is destined to be bound up in that of the magnificent city of Troy and its people.
Although Anaxander/Callisto encounters the famous characters from Homer's Iliad, her's is a fresh perspective, and because she is a fictional invention of author Caroline B. Cooney, her fate is unanticipated from the outset of her tale.
If you are a reader who is enthralled as I was by "Goddess of Yesterday" you will devour this 264-page novel in a couple of sittings. For me the book is a definite keeper, and reminded me of how the greatest tales of mythology and history stand up to multiple re-tellings. Of course, not all authors are up to the task of making familiar tales fresh and interesting. Happily Ms Cooney is.
May 13, 2011
The cover of my book was much more prosaic- an irish looking red haired girl on the cover. I enjoyed this. Be aware, this is a book for 13 and up. The realities of being female in such a time. The heroine is physicallly still a child, so escapes sexual violence. But her life and livelihood are always tenuous. Characters are murdered, in great detail, cruelty happens, innocents are cast adrift. But given that i have read several Roman/Greek era books, the gritty realism is all part of the "charm" of reading these books for me.
Good story, believable,intresting plot, held my attention so that I read it all in one sitting. So a teen should like it fine. I wasn't sure how it would end. Only thing I had a hard time with was the characterization of Helen as evil. Having read Penelope's Daughter where Helen is damn near a saint, it was hard to make the switch. But then, in PD, it was after the Trojan war, so maybe she had mellowed by then. Unlikely. But she was so very sympathetic in PD, and so very hateful in this book. Ms. Cooney did her research on Ancient Greece and it shows in the plot points and in how the heroine views herself and her world. I felt Ancient Greece was more authentic in this book than in PD. While reading, I felt as id I were there. But where the protag's connection to her Goddess feels more like deus ex machina here, it felt truly mystical in PD. I like them both, but in different ways.
Good story, believable,intresting plot, held my attention so that I read it all in one sitting. So a teen should like it fine. I wasn't sure how it would end. Only thing I had a hard time with was the characterization of Helen as evil. Having read Penelope's Daughter where Helen is damn near a saint, it was hard to make the switch. But then, in PD, it was after the Trojan war, so maybe she had mellowed by then. Unlikely. But she was so very sympathetic in PD, and so very hateful in this book. Ms. Cooney did her research on Ancient Greece and it shows in the plot points and in how the heroine views herself and her world. I felt Ancient Greece was more authentic in this book than in PD. While reading, I felt as id I were there. But where the protag's connection to her Goddess feels more like deus ex machina here, it felt truly mystical in PD. I like them both, but in different ways.
June 3, 2012
I don't normally give 4 stars to such short books, because there usually isn't enough time to build characters and storylines that I can get into. But Cooney packs a great story into this little paperback. I loved reading Greek mythology and The Iliad in high school, so returning to this topic was fun.
Anaxandra is a strong character and a vivid narrator as she witnesses events leading to the Trojan War. She gives insight into life during the Greek age, explaining the culture and religions of the people. Cooney works this info well, without going into tedious detail or bogging down the story.
It's interesting to read a 12 year old girl's take on Helen, the pending war, and how the ultimate outcome will impact everyone. The book isn't graphic, but Cooney doesn't sugarcoat the fact that looting, rape, and slavery make up the bounty of war. Anaxanxra's role and vulnerability as a girl in a society that values men is very clearly communicated.
Reading Goddess of Yesterday makes me want to re-read Marion Zimmmer Bradley's The Firebrand. Her version of the Trojan War is also narrated by women, but addresses the violence and politics at an adult level. Fans of Goddess may like Firebrand.
Anaxandra is a strong character and a vivid narrator as she witnesses events leading to the Trojan War. She gives insight into life during the Greek age, explaining the culture and religions of the people. Cooney works this info well, without going into tedious detail or bogging down the story.
It's interesting to read a 12 year old girl's take on Helen, the pending war, and how the ultimate outcome will impact everyone. The book isn't graphic, but Cooney doesn't sugarcoat the fact that looting, rape, and slavery make up the bounty of war. Anaxanxra's role and vulnerability as a girl in a society that values men is very clearly communicated.
Reading Goddess of Yesterday makes me want to re-read Marion Zimmmer Bradley's The Firebrand. Her version of the Trojan War is also narrated by women, but addresses the violence and politics at an adult level. Fans of Goddess may like Firebrand.
November 24, 2013
This book is really a must-read!
It follows a girl named Anaxandra, who is swept off to be the playmate of Princess Callisto on the island of Siphnos. But when Siphnos gets sacked, she must take over of the identity of Callisto to keep her life. She gets swept on a whirlwind of adventures, traveling to new islands and meeting the sons and daughters of Gods.
When I first picked up the book, i was skeptical because it is set in roughly around 1250 B.C. in Greece. Upon discovering this, my immediate though was that this book was a sort of like The Odyssey, with crazy beasts and gods that are too out-of-this-world to be true. But I was very wrong. The way 'The Goddess of Yesterday' treats the idea of mythology and Paganism is very believable, and portrays them as beliefs. This is very different from other Fiction books about Mythology, because it kept everything semi-believable, and I really liked that.
The main character was pretty relatable and easy to care about. The writing was superb, and numerous juicy cliffhangers kept me reading. Caroline Cooney, the author, inserts many beautiful metaphors and similes to describe settings and convey emotions. Overall this book was very good, although I was not fond of the ending, and I recommend it!
It follows a girl named Anaxandra, who is swept off to be the playmate of Princess Callisto on the island of Siphnos. But when Siphnos gets sacked, she must take over of the identity of Callisto to keep her life. She gets swept on a whirlwind of adventures, traveling to new islands and meeting the sons and daughters of Gods.
When I first picked up the book, i was skeptical because it is set in roughly around 1250 B.C. in Greece. Upon discovering this, my immediate though was that this book was a sort of like The Odyssey, with crazy beasts and gods that are too out-of-this-world to be true. But I was very wrong. The way 'The Goddess of Yesterday' treats the idea of mythology and Paganism is very believable, and portrays them as beliefs. This is very different from other Fiction books about Mythology, because it kept everything semi-believable, and I really liked that.
The main character was pretty relatable and easy to care about. The writing was superb, and numerous juicy cliffhangers kept me reading. Caroline Cooney, the author, inserts many beautiful metaphors and similes to describe settings and convey emotions. Overall this book was very good, although I was not fond of the ending, and I recommend it!
July 3, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book, and it makes me sad to give it only two stars.
I loved the way it gave me a look into the time period and the way of life on the little Greek islands and in Troy. The settings, details, and descriptions were nice, and I felt like I was there with the characters.
I didn't like the set up of the plot. The book wasn't a thriller, but it had its exciting moments.
Many of the characters were interesting physically, but not personality-wise.
When I try, I can't even name any of the main character's traits. She was bland. She had to go through a lot of trial and tribulation. She seemed untroubled about giving up identity after identity, and she didn't seem to feel very sad when she first found out that , and so I was surprised when she showed emotion about it later on in the story.
The kings and the princes and Helen and the princesses were cool, well defined characters, though I think Helen could have been explored more deeply than she was. There could have been more character development all around.
It was an enjoyable but shallow read that gave me a fun look at ancient Greece and Troy.
I loved the way it gave me a look into the time period and the way of life on the little Greek islands and in Troy. The settings, details, and descriptions were nice, and I felt like I was there with the characters.
I didn't like the set up of the plot. The book wasn't a thriller, but it had its exciting moments.
Many of the characters were interesting physically, but not personality-wise.
When I try, I can't even name any of the main character's traits. She was bland. She had to go through a lot of trial and tribulation. She seemed untroubled about giving up identity after identity, and she didn't seem to feel very sad when she first found out that , and so I was surprised when she showed emotion about it later on in the story.
The kings and the princes and Helen and the princesses were cool, well defined characters, though I think Helen could have been explored more deeply than she was. There could have been more character development all around.
It was an enjoyable but shallow read that gave me a fun look at ancient Greece and Troy.
December 23, 2017
Anaxandra was the favorite father of her father. She lived in a family with her mom, dad and two brothers until one day when she was 6, King Nicander took her away as a hostage and she stayed on a island with Callisto, a 15 year old who lots the use of her legs and Queen Petra with Kind Nicander for another 6 Year’s until the Pirates came to attack in which she now had to survive with the identity of Callisto to save herself..
This book is recommended to people who love learning about how it was like to live during the Trojan war.
This book is recommended to people who love learning about how it was like to live during the Trojan war.
April 22, 2009
I loved this book! It was different from the usual Trojan War books that i've read. One of the main differences is that Helen is a "Bad guy" and that this book sides with the Greeks rather than the trojans.
The book is about Anaxandra, a slave that is brought from her home to a kingdom to play with the king's crippled daughter Callisto. The kingdom is attacked and Anaxandra is the sole survivor. She is found by King Menelaus and is taken to Sparta under the alias of Callisto. She ends up going to Troy with Helen and has many adventures.
This book was wonderfully written and is an adventure from beginning to end.
There is mild sexual content, but nothing graphic, just talk. There is violence, but other than that there isn't any offensive content.
If you enjoy this book check out
Troy by Adele Geras--About the servents of troy
Ithika by Adele Geras--About Odysseus's wife as she waits for her husband to return from the war. (Odyssey).
The book is about Anaxandra, a slave that is brought from her home to a kingdom to play with the king's crippled daughter Callisto. The kingdom is attacked and Anaxandra is the sole survivor. She is found by King Menelaus and is taken to Sparta under the alias of Callisto. She ends up going to Troy with Helen and has many adventures.
This book was wonderfully written and is an adventure from beginning to end.
There is mild sexual content, but nothing graphic, just talk. There is violence, but other than that there isn't any offensive content.
If you enjoy this book check out
Troy by Adele Geras--About the servents of troy
Ithika by Adele Geras--About Odysseus's wife as she waits for her husband to return from the war. (Odyssey).
November 14, 2018
This was a really good book. The one I think will get me out of my slump for good. I really liked the MC. She went by a lot of names so I'm just going to call her the MC.
I hated Helen in this book. I can't believe how little she cared for her children. I could see her not liking her husband but her children! -.-
Paris was also a monumental douche. I sincerely hope that he dies a horrible death and that Helen is horrible disfigured and is made to live the rest of her life like that. I doubt it will happen but a girl can hope.
I felt bad for the various princesses in this book. All had a very sad life.
I'm glad that the MC met so many wonderful 'foster' parents. Especially the fathers. They could have easily made her a slave or a concubine.
I really hope she ends up with that king she likes. I forget how to spell his name but I know it starts with an E.
I liked the mythology and the religious aspects of this book.
I hated Helen in this book. I can't believe how little she cared for her children. I could see her not liking her husband but her children! -.-
Paris was also a monumental douche. I sincerely hope that he dies a horrible death and that Helen is horrible disfigured and is made to live the rest of her life like that. I doubt it will happen but a girl can hope.
I felt bad for the various princesses in this book. All had a very sad life.
I'm glad that the MC met so many wonderful 'foster' parents. Especially the fathers. They could have easily made her a slave or a concubine.
I really hope she ends up with that king she likes. I forget how to spell his name but I know it starts with an E.
I liked the mythology and the religious aspects of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2008
Just finished reading this for the second time (April 2008). An absolutely incredible book. Definitely one that should not be judged by its (unfortunate) cover. The research alone that went into the setting of this book makes every page an amazing experience, but I also love love love the characters and the plot is so compelling. I want to read it over and over.
August 31, 2008
Anazandra's story stands alone even without the backdrop of Helen of Troy, but the more one knows about the events leading to the Trojan War, the more fascinating it is to see how Cooney plays one girl's story against that history.
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November 5, 2023Loved the feel and language in this young-teen story about a girl from a nameless island just prior to the Trojan war. A combination of luck and smart moves on her part result in her eventually knowing several of the main players in the Trojan war, but what's really charming and effective about the story is its conjuring of that distant time, making it feel very present without in the least modernizing it. The gods are real--and inscrutable: merciless and arbitrary in their decisions, and yet people still try to placate and bargain with them. At one point the protagonist, Anaxandra, thinks, How dare you? How dare you accept any gifts of life--fruit and flowers, blood and flame-and not return the gift when needed? And she feels the cold wind bring an answer: You will never understand us. Do not even try.
Anaxandra has never seen glass and never known the number one thousand, as there is nothing so numerous where she's from, but she's sharp and learns quickly, and puts her knowledge to use.
Some great language/concept moments: "Keeping-track lines [accounting notation: a precursor to writing] were for sheep and shields. But what if you could use them for keeping track of a family lost to you? For keeping track of your heart and your sorrow?"
"Dolphins swam alongside. Now and then they would leap out of the water and spin themselves like yarn."
Her first time on a horse: "The four hooves of the horse pounded in a wonderful rhythm. It was remarkably loud. The whole world would know that we were coming ... I could have sat forever in [Euneus's] lap, tasting speed."
Those are just a few, but there are many many more.
Anaxandra has never seen glass and never known the number one thousand, as there is nothing so numerous where she's from, but she's sharp and learns quickly, and puts her knowledge to use.
Some great language/concept moments: "Keeping-track lines [accounting notation: a precursor to writing] were for sheep and shields. But what if you could use them for keeping track of a family lost to you? For keeping track of your heart and your sorrow?"
"Dolphins swam alongside. Now and then they would leap out of the water and spin themselves like yarn."
Her first time on a horse: "The four hooves of the horse pounded in a wonderful rhythm. It was remarkably loud. The whole world would know that we were coming ... I could have sat forever in [Euneus's] lap, tasting speed."
Those are just a few, but there are many many more.
September 15, 2010
First off, I should say that I absolutely love Greek mythology. I do not consider myself sufficiently schooled in the subject, but it is a passion of mine. I do not, however, like reading about the Trojan War. Therefore, I was a bit iffy when I request this book from book swap on goodreads.com . After reading it, I was pleased that the novel barely touched on the war.
There are so many thing that I love about this book that I don’t know if I can even fit it all into one review. I normally do not like narratives, but I think this novel wouldn’t have been the same if it hadn’t been. When it first starts, the main character, Anaxandra, is only 5 years old and , thus, narrates through the eyes of a five year old (who knows how to express herself very well…). As the story progresses and Anaxandra grows older, the way she thinks and talks also evolves. You almost feel as if you grow with her, learning the things that she does and experiencing what she does with such clarity.
From page one, the plot unfolds, another thing I adore about any book. There is no excessive detail or long drawn out explanations of anything. Cooney wastes no time with excessive writing when she can sufficiently say it in a few sentences. Something I thought was very realistic considering the narrator. It almost reads like a stream on consciousness. It isn’t staccato and rough like Hemingway’s writing, reading smoothing while still sounding like what is going through a young girl's mind during the time.
The plot actually wasn’t too complicated. A young girl is given to a king as a companion for his daughter. Their village is sacked when she is older and she lies to Menalaus to save herself and thus becomes a companion for his young daughter. Helen meets Paris, and the rest is history. It sounds simple enough, but every page had something on it that progressed the storyline. It seemed that something was always happening.
Cooney's Helen of Troy had me clutching my book firmly in my claws, trying not to through it across the room in rage. I always picture Helen of Troy as a narcisstic woman who should have been put in her place. Cooney portrayed just that: a woman so caught in her own supposed birthright, beauty, and self bestowed power that, at time, Helen acted as if she was a goddess herself. She had accepted her life but was bored with it. It wasn't until someone as equally gorgeous and captivating as her came along, Paris, did she gain the courage to finally defy her husband.
I equally agreed with Cooney's portrayal of Paris. The young prince, who was also known to be quite the stud of his time, just bragged about his conquests and skills, of which, in truth, he had none.
What is not to love about two people wrapped up in themselves actually falling in love with each other? I wondered if they were only in love with the idea of them having a mate that compared to their unsurpassable looks.
All in all, there were far to many things in this novel that made me place it back on my shelf instead of donating it once I had finished. It lacks a certain maturity that I had grown use to from the other novels I have been reading as of late, but considering it is a young adult novel, I think Cooney can be forgiven for such a triviality.
If you like fiction about ancient Greece and Greek Mythology, I whole-heartedly recommend this little gem.
There are so many thing that I love about this book that I don’t know if I can even fit it all into one review. I normally do not like narratives, but I think this novel wouldn’t have been the same if it hadn’t been. When it first starts, the main character, Anaxandra, is only 5 years old and , thus, narrates through the eyes of a five year old (who knows how to express herself very well…). As the story progresses and Anaxandra grows older, the way she thinks and talks also evolves. You almost feel as if you grow with her, learning the things that she does and experiencing what she does with such clarity.
From page one, the plot unfolds, another thing I adore about any book. There is no excessive detail or long drawn out explanations of anything. Cooney wastes no time with excessive writing when she can sufficiently say it in a few sentences. Something I thought was very realistic considering the narrator. It almost reads like a stream on consciousness. It isn’t staccato and rough like Hemingway’s writing, reading smoothing while still sounding like what is going through a young girl's mind during the time.
The plot actually wasn’t too complicated. A young girl is given to a king as a companion for his daughter. Their village is sacked when she is older and she lies to Menalaus to save herself and thus becomes a companion for his young daughter. Helen meets Paris, and the rest is history. It sounds simple enough, but every page had something on it that progressed the storyline. It seemed that something was always happening.
Cooney's Helen of Troy had me clutching my book firmly in my claws, trying not to through it across the room in rage. I always picture Helen of Troy as a narcisstic woman who should have been put in her place. Cooney portrayed just that: a woman so caught in her own supposed birthright, beauty, and self bestowed power that, at time, Helen acted as if she was a goddess herself. She had accepted her life but was bored with it. It wasn't until someone as equally gorgeous and captivating as her came along, Paris, did she gain the courage to finally defy her husband.
I equally agreed with Cooney's portrayal of Paris. The young prince, who was also known to be quite the stud of his time, just bragged about his conquests and skills, of which, in truth, he had none.
What is not to love about two people wrapped up in themselves actually falling in love with each other? I wondered if they were only in love with the idea of them having a mate that compared to their unsurpassable looks.
All in all, there were far to many things in this novel that made me place it back on my shelf instead of donating it once I had finished. It lacks a certain maturity that I had grown use to from the other novels I have been reading as of late, but considering it is a young adult novel, I think Cooney can be forgiven for such a triviality.
If you like fiction about ancient Greece and Greek Mythology, I whole-heartedly recommend this little gem.
April 28, 2016
I was very impressed with this story and where it went. The author has beautiful descriptions. As a reworking of a traditional tale, this story comes alive with an original character and new perspectives.
The author laces historical beliefs and rules and creates a relatable tale. It’s a great time period to explore. The main character, Anaxandra, goes through a lot of growth. She learns about the different societies and takes the readers along in her observations. I really like the details the author included. For instance, the men of Sparta laugh at men of Troy because they ride on the back of a horse, finding it a pointless exercise. "Kings were not stable boys, to handle animals." I also love how the characters notice differences in Greek dialect between cities! I felt very immersed in the time period.
In terms of writing style, I think the author used "but" too many times before clauses. I've found a few cases where "and" would have made the sentence flow better. While I think this largely relates to the author mimicking the literary styles of ancient Greek authors & playwrights, a few sentences did not fully make sense the way they were structured.
Gods and goddesses are portrayed as being an intrinsic part of everyday life, including peoples’ belief that their fates were completely in their gods’ hands, and this strongly ties the story to the Illiad’s style. I liked this aspect and felt it was very believable for the culture. The author is never graphic, yet issues are laid out clearly about the life of islanders and pirates. Societies and their points of view came alive as I read.
The author is honest about what is taken from historical records and what is fiction. Anaxandra is a creation of this author, but I liked the minor role she comes to play in the Trojan War. It helped bring her redemption of her guilt. It also gave her meaning to a life otherwise dictated by the kindness or cruelty of strangers. Women at this time had few if any rights and thus were not always an active participant in where their life went. This is portrayed gently in the story and came to a satisfying conclusion at the end. Anaxandra persevered through all the boulders thrown in her path.
There are small plot threads that come back later in Anaxandra’s life, like the idea of men riding on the backs of horses and how actually experiencing this changed her outlook. In addition, her hair is a constant bit of conversation. When Helen orders it shaved a second time, Anaxandra believes she is being punished by the gods and that it will never grow back (hair being considered a glory of a woman’s life). Yet the author gives us hope again after she return Plies to Menelaus. The author is great at resolving not only major events but also the subtle occurrences that affect the characters. There is a beauty illuminated when things great and small wrap themselves together. The author gave us that. Would it have been nice to have a bit more pages about when Anaxandra landed on King Euneas’s island?... Yes. But I was left satisfied with the ending nonetheless. I would enjoy reading more from the author.
The author laces historical beliefs and rules and creates a relatable tale. It’s a great time period to explore. The main character, Anaxandra, goes through a lot of growth. She learns about the different societies and takes the readers along in her observations. I really like the details the author included. For instance, the men of Sparta laugh at men of Troy because they ride on the back of a horse, finding it a pointless exercise. "Kings were not stable boys, to handle animals." I also love how the characters notice differences in Greek dialect between cities! I felt very immersed in the time period.
In terms of writing style, I think the author used "but" too many times before clauses. I've found a few cases where "and" would have made the sentence flow better. While I think this largely relates to the author mimicking the literary styles of ancient Greek authors & playwrights, a few sentences did not fully make sense the way they were structured.
Gods and goddesses are portrayed as being an intrinsic part of everyday life, including peoples’ belief that their fates were completely in their gods’ hands, and this strongly ties the story to the Illiad’s style. I liked this aspect and felt it was very believable for the culture. The author is never graphic, yet issues are laid out clearly about the life of islanders and pirates. Societies and their points of view came alive as I read.
The author is honest about what is taken from historical records and what is fiction. Anaxandra is a creation of this author, but I liked the minor role she comes to play in the Trojan War. It helped bring her redemption of her guilt. It also gave her meaning to a life otherwise dictated by the kindness or cruelty of strangers. Women at this time had few if any rights and thus were not always an active participant in where their life went. This is portrayed gently in the story and came to a satisfying conclusion at the end. Anaxandra persevered through all the boulders thrown in her path.
There are small plot threads that come back later in Anaxandra’s life, like the idea of men riding on the backs of horses and how actually experiencing this changed her outlook. In addition, her hair is a constant bit of conversation. When Helen orders it shaved a second time, Anaxandra believes she is being punished by the gods and that it will never grow back (hair being considered a glory of a woman’s life). Yet the author gives us hope again after she return Plies to Menelaus. The author is great at resolving not only major events but also the subtle occurrences that affect the characters. There is a beauty illuminated when things great and small wrap themselves together. The author gave us that. Would it have been nice to have a bit more pages about when Anaxandra landed on King Euneas’s island?... Yes. But I was left satisfied with the ending nonetheless. I would enjoy reading more from the author.
January 9, 2018
Anaxandra is taken away from her home island at the age of 6. She is taken to the island of Siphnos in which she befriends the princess Calypso, who is crippled. A few years later, the island is attacked, killing everyone except Anaxandra, who uses an octopus to feign being Medusa, scaring away the attackers. Anaxandra is now found by King Menelaus of Sparta and to survive, she steals Calypso's identity and is taken to Sparta. There, she finds a family that treat her like one of their own. Everything was great, except for one thing. Queen Helen believes that Anaxandra is not Calypso and if her true identity is revealed, she will be killed because she had stolen a birthright. Soon Troy attacks and that is when the real hardships begin. I rated this book a 4 out of 5 stars because it was interesting and portrayed ancient Greek lifestyle very well, but the language was hard to understand at times. I would recommend this book to those who have an interest in ancient Greek culture.
July 14, 2012
I adored this book. 4.5 stars! This book is beautifully written. I came across it by accident because it was a book that was available as an ebook download from my library. The book is based on Greek mythology and the writings of Homer ("The Illiad" and "The Odyssey.") Ms. Cooney takes the story of Helen ("The face that launched a thousand ships,") Paris, Menelaus, and Agamemnon and makes it even richer with the addition of the story of Anaxandra. Anaxandra seems cursed by the gods. She is given away by her father as hostage and tribute to Nicander (a king from a nearby island.) Life is tenuous for Anaxandra and after six years with Nicander, pirates sack the island, killing her host family, and leaving Anaxandra all alone with no hope of rescue. Her only comfort comes from praying to her goddess of yesterday and relying on her faith. When King Menelaus comes across the wrecked island and sees Anaxandra mourning the loss of her king, he believes she is the princess Callisto. Anaxandra assumes the identity of princess Callisto and travels to Sparta with Menalaus where she meets his wife Helen, the evil beautiful demi-god (daughter of Zeus.) After the introduction of Helen, the story takes off with a visit from Paris which ends in Helen fleeing the city of Sparta with her lover and causing the Trojan War.
I love mythology, so this story appealed to me from the very beginning. However, it was the writing that captivated me most. The writing is luscious. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
"The smack of the sea was as blunt and flat as the slap of an angry hand. I felt broken."
"Nicander had cared more about gold than about gods. And it seemed that I cared more about staying alive than being true."
"They spoke no language that I knew, but they were mothers, and for a moment, they were my mother."
"I was sorry, because a good collection of curses is a useful thing, and Tenedos probably knew some I had not yet heard."
"We passed fields of flax being harvested with scythes. I had never seen this, and I found the rhythm and the gleam of the curved blades quite beautiful. Having set in motion my new life, could I keep it swinging back and forth, like a scythe? Or like a scythe, would it cut my throat?"
"Here is my advice to you. Stay silent. Be fearful of Helen. The daughter of a god pays no price for any action she takes. She cannot suffer and so does not discern the suffering of others."
"A wasp in amber did not describe Menelaus. It described Helen."
"Greece is a violent land, with violent weather and violent men. Always the sea churns, the heroes clash and the passion burns."
There were so many more wonderful quotes. I just adored the lyricism of this story and the idea that because of her faithfulness, the heroine of the story prevails. I definitely recommend The Goddess of Yesterday for anyone who likes mythology. It is YA, but I felt it was a very sophisticated YA, and because of the beauty of the prose, I recommend it for adults.
I love mythology, so this story appealed to me from the very beginning. However, it was the writing that captivated me most. The writing is luscious. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
"The smack of the sea was as blunt and flat as the slap of an angry hand. I felt broken."
"Nicander had cared more about gold than about gods. And it seemed that I cared more about staying alive than being true."
"They spoke no language that I knew, but they were mothers, and for a moment, they were my mother."
"I was sorry, because a good collection of curses is a useful thing, and Tenedos probably knew some I had not yet heard."
"We passed fields of flax being harvested with scythes. I had never seen this, and I found the rhythm and the gleam of the curved blades quite beautiful. Having set in motion my new life, could I keep it swinging back and forth, like a scythe? Or like a scythe, would it cut my throat?"
"Here is my advice to you. Stay silent. Be fearful of Helen. The daughter of a god pays no price for any action she takes. She cannot suffer and so does not discern the suffering of others."
"A wasp in amber did not describe Menelaus. It described Helen."
"Greece is a violent land, with violent weather and violent men. Always the sea churns, the heroes clash and the passion burns."
There were so many more wonderful quotes. I just adored the lyricism of this story and the idea that because of her faithfulness, the heroine of the story prevails. I definitely recommend The Goddess of Yesterday for anyone who likes mythology. It is YA, but I felt it was a very sophisticated YA, and because of the beauty of the prose, I recommend it for adults.
July 1, 2022
Uno dei finali più belli che abbia mai letto, mi piange il cuore giuro.
April 1, 2012
I was loaned this book on tape (yes, tape!) by a friend. She thought I might like the book. I listened to the first half of the first tape and thought, why am I still listening...??? I kept going and that was the last time I had that thought.
Caroline Cooney spins an amazing tale about ancient Greece and Troy. She starts when Anaxandra is a six year old hostage from a siege on her home island. She is taken to live with King Nicander to be a playmate for the Princess Callisto, a crippled girl near her age. Anaxandra survives when a band of pirates attack and kill Nicander and most of the residents of the island. She buries Nicander and as she is standing guard over his grave, a fleet of ships lead by Menelaus picks up Anaxandra. She survives by telling them she is the Princess Callisto.
Menelaus introduces her to his wife, Helen. Helen is part goddess, her father is Zeus and her mother was Lida. Helen sees through the disguise and knows that she is no princess. Anaxandra is sure the gods are punishing her for stealing another’s birthright. She becomes friends with Hermione, the daughter of Menelaus and Helen and takes care of Pleisthenes, their youngest son (just an infant).
When Paris of Troy arrives everything changes. Helen leaves Menelaus and plans to sail to Troy with Paris. When Hermione realizes that her mother is planning to run away she is furious and decides to kill her. She is stopped by her nurse and Anaxandra. Anaxandra is disguised as Hermione and leaves with Pleisthenes in order to save the life of Hermione. When she arrives it doesn’t take long for Helen to realize that she has been deceived. Anaxandra spends the rest of the book trying to make sure that Paris doesn’t kill Pleisthenes.
Cooney shows a great deal of attention to detail in this great book. She mixes fiction with history (and the writings of Homer and others) to create a delightful story. Themes of self-sufficiency, coming of age, family and identity abound. What starts off slowly grows into a beautifully woven tale of life in ancient times.
Caroline Cooney spins an amazing tale about ancient Greece and Troy. She starts when Anaxandra is a six year old hostage from a siege on her home island. She is taken to live with King Nicander to be a playmate for the Princess Callisto, a crippled girl near her age. Anaxandra survives when a band of pirates attack and kill Nicander and most of the residents of the island. She buries Nicander and as she is standing guard over his grave, a fleet of ships lead by Menelaus picks up Anaxandra. She survives by telling them she is the Princess Callisto.
Menelaus introduces her to his wife, Helen. Helen is part goddess, her father is Zeus and her mother was Lida. Helen sees through the disguise and knows that she is no princess. Anaxandra is sure the gods are punishing her for stealing another’s birthright. She becomes friends with Hermione, the daughter of Menelaus and Helen and takes care of Pleisthenes, their youngest son (just an infant).
When Paris of Troy arrives everything changes. Helen leaves Menelaus and plans to sail to Troy with Paris. When Hermione realizes that her mother is planning to run away she is furious and decides to kill her. She is stopped by her nurse and Anaxandra. Anaxandra is disguised as Hermione and leaves with Pleisthenes in order to save the life of Hermione. When she arrives it doesn’t take long for Helen to realize that she has been deceived. Anaxandra spends the rest of the book trying to make sure that Paris doesn’t kill Pleisthenes.
Cooney shows a great deal of attention to detail in this great book. She mixes fiction with history (and the writings of Homer and others) to create a delightful story. Themes of self-sufficiency, coming of age, family and identity abound. What starts off slowly grows into a beautifully woven tale of life in ancient times.
August 16, 2014
Closer to a 4.5
This was my second time reading through this book and that in itself says something.l Photographic memory kills rereading books for me and this one waited a solid 8 years before I could reread it. First time reading it, I was 15 years old, just barely getting my foot in the door for both mythology and becoming a reading addict. It was a good book that was both easy to read and hooked me in when . I mean, come on, what teenager hasn't messed up big and seriously feared that their parents might disown them. Really relatable at that time in my life.
This time, I chose to reread it during my lunch break because the book was the right size to fit in my lunch bag and the book left a good impression on me. This time the book wasn't quite up to par but that was perfectly fine for me since I knew it was YA and I was 23. I'm not a grammar nazi so the sentence structure/flow didn't really bother me. I was more annoyed by the pointless repetitiveness of some things. YES we KNOW Helen was the demigoddess child of Zeus and graced with beauty comparable to full goddesses but don't remind me more than five times MAX. I also felt that the book needed more of a proper ending. It hints to many things, but after reading about all the misery and loss our heroine endured, I wanted to read the happy ending. Unhappy endings are only okay if there is another book coming and endings that just drop make me one sad sad puppy. The book is still very enjoyable and builds a very unique world that may not be insanely exciting but is great for a quiet adventure during lunch. Just no "happy" happy ending.
This was my second time reading through this book and that in itself says something.l Photographic memory kills rereading books for me and this one waited a solid 8 years before I could reread it. First time reading it, I was 15 years old, just barely getting my foot in the door for both mythology and becoming a reading addict. It was a good book that was both easy to read and hooked me in when . I mean, come on, what teenager hasn't messed up big and seriously feared that their parents might disown them. Really relatable at that time in my life.
This time, I chose to reread it during my lunch break because the book was the right size to fit in my lunch bag and the book left a good impression on me. This time the book wasn't quite up to par but that was perfectly fine for me since I knew it was YA and I was 23. I'm not a grammar nazi so the sentence structure/flow didn't really bother me. I was more annoyed by the pointless repetitiveness of some things. YES we KNOW Helen was the demigoddess child of Zeus and graced with beauty comparable to full goddesses but don't remind me more than five times MAX. I also felt that the book needed more of a proper ending. It hints to many things, but after reading about all the misery and loss our heroine endured, I wanted to read the happy ending. Unhappy endings are only okay if there is another book coming and endings that just drop make me one sad sad puppy. The book is still very enjoyable and builds a very unique world that may not be insanely exciting but is great for a quiet adventure during lunch. Just no "happy" happy ending.
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