After reading Rhonda's book and chatting with her some, I knew I wanted to ask her to guest post. She is an absolute hoot! Thank you so so much Rhonda! Mythology in Modern Books -- Why is it so Popular?
I love books that take mythology and give it a modern twist. For me, YA is a fantastic place to find those unique reads. Stories that modernize ancient Greek and Roman legends are pretty much a must-read on my list. In fact, my Stupid Cupid trilogy is a modernization of the cupid concept—but instead of bows and arrows, my teen uses handheld technology to make love matches via email.
What makes mythology so popular, even after all this time? Well, people are creatures of habit. It’s scientifically proven. At least, I’m pretty sure it is—anyway, just run with me on this one. As humans, we love the familiar and seek it out because we are comforted by what we already know. But we’re also fickle creatures and want just enough splash of new and exciting. Which is why ancient mythology, when given a modern twist, is absolutely perfect.
Plus, it’s not like all that old stuff is boring. I mean, have you read any of Homer’s work? There’s illicit sex, monsters, fights, drama, intrigue, mystery, murder—all the good stuff people loved back in the day and still love now.
So for me, reading modernized mythology is like biting into your tried-and-true favorite chocolate ice cream and finding a delicious ribbon of peanut butter inside. Mmmmmm, peanut butter...
Anyway, what are your favorite books that update classic mythology?
7 comments:
Rhonda one of my fave mythological stories is the story of Penelope and Hades. I love reading a book and being able to see mythological connections!
Thanks so much!
I like that one too.
Thanks for having me on here! :D
Maybe an idea is brewing for another book? ;)
I tried to come up with some books that rework Greek mythology and although I know I've read some I can't remember their titles! But I am SUPER excited about this series, especially cos it looks like they're coming out pretty close together.
i'm a twilighter absolutely addicted to Twilight. Vampires in modern society :)
Best mythology novel I've read is Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline Cooney. It's not a modern retelling, but it's an awesome story about a girl who runs into Helen and gets caught in the events leading up to the Trojan War. Love, love, love it.
Yeah, Rhonda. Loved what you had to say about YA and mythology.
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