Pat Barker (1) (1943–)

Damn, what a read. I've been on a Greek mythology kick recently and this really helped fuel that. Told from the perspective of not a warrior or a god, but a "lowly" women (although she had been a queen), this viewpoint is much needed and most always overlooked. The female perspective of the Trojan War was a refreshing (albeit terrifying) read. Briseis is taken a prize of war and given to the might Achilles as a slave. From royalty to slave is a far fall, but he knows she still has it better show more than most of the women in the camp, she could be passed around from man to man, raped at will, having to sleep outside with the dogs. She is grateful that she is "higher up" but how grateful can you be, when you have to open your legs for the man who killed your husbands and brothers? A wonderful read and a refreshing new take on the Trojan War. show less

This excellent sequel to The Silence of the Girls continues the saga of the women of Troy in the aftermath of the war. Briseis, given to Achilles as a battle reward, has outlived him and his devoted friend Patroclus, and was made the wife of a Greek leader at the direction of the Greek hero before his death. This raises her status above that of the other Trojan women, most of who serve as slaves to the restless surviving Greek fighters, who await the changing of the wind that will send them show more home. The other narrator is Pyrrhus, the teenage son of Achilles, who has murdered Priam, King of Troy, in a most brutal manner and whose act is presumed responsible for the God-sent endless winds that disturb the camp. Surprisingly enough, there are no gods in this tale, and some of the company and the Trojan women lack belief in them at all. Cassandra, Hecuba, Helen, and the prophet Calchas all speak their truths and play their roles as the tragic chorus. This is a cornerstone of interpretation of the post-drama and aftermath of literally the most important conflict ever documented, as the author focuses on the stories that Homer and the Greek dramatists have neglected to tell.

Quote: "It was one of those moments that I think everyone experiences - and they don't have to be dramatic - when things begin to change; and you know there's no point ruminating about it, because thinking isn't going to help you understand. You're not ready to understand it yet; you have to live your way into the meaning." show less

A library sale find, Pat Baker's DOUBLE VISION (2003) was new to me. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed her REGENERATION trilogy, as well as LIFE CLASS and a couple more of her novels. Her characters are always real and compelling, and the ones here are no different. Kate, a sought-after sculptor, is recently widowed, her husband (a war photographer) killed by a sniper in Afghanistan. She is also temporarily disabled from an auto accident, and is working on a larger-than-life Christ, so is show more forced to hire a studio assistant, Peter, recommended by the local vicar. Turns out Peter has a rather questionable past, did some prison time. The vicar, who tries to help prison parolees, had taken him in. Peter even apparently had a brief, torrid affair with the vicar's daughter Justine, who is also an important character. Just nineteen, she takes up with Stephen Sharkey, a forty-something war correspondent who has come back to live in the country guest house of his doctor brother, Robert, where Justine is employed as an au pair for Robert and Beth's precocious ten year-old son, Adam, who has Asperger's syndrome. Stephen, suffering from PTSD, is taking a break from his dangerous profession to write a book about war. Oh, and he was best friends with Kate's late husband, Ben, and was there when Ben was killed.

So, whereas I fully expected Stephen and Kate to end up together, that didn't happen. Oh, and Justine is brutally assaulted by two burglars who break into Robert's home, but is rescued just in time by Stephen.

So here's the thing, plot-wise DOUBLE VISION is all over the place, messy, surprising and unpredictable. But then life can be that way, right? And all of the characters here are just so damn good! The ending was, well, there wasn't much of any actual ending. Did everyone - or ANYone - "live happily ever after?" Hard to say. Nevertheless I'm glad I found this book (only fifty cents), and very glad I read it. Pat Barker is simply a wonderful writer. Very highly recommended.

- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER show less

Barker picks up the narrative she began in The Silence of the Girls, the story of Briseis, a Trojan queen awarded to Achilles as a prize of honor. After Achilles's death, she was given to one of his captains, Alcimus, a kind and honorable man who is happy to marry the woman carrying the great Greek warrior's child. As a wife, Briseis has a measure of privilege and freedom not granted to the other captive women, but she is still watched and limited in her actions. She is also the target of show more jealousy from Achilles's son Pyrrhus. Although he never met his father, Pyrrhus has inherited his sword and shield and the command of a large number of troops. He is lauded for killing the Trojan king Priam, but rumor has it that this wasn't exactly a clean, honorable kill but more of a botched butchering. Pyrrhus's insecurities often erupt into cruelty. One such act is his edict that Priam's body be tossed on the shore and left to the birds, the animals, and the weather rather than being granted the burial customary for his status. Pyrrhus is sensitive to any criticism that might suggest that he is not worthy of being Achilles's son--and, of course, concerned that a new brother might outshine him in time.

Briseis's relative freedom of mobility allows her to visit the captive women's quarters and huts. Many of the enslaved women have been relegated to lowly tasks in the camp hospital or laundry, or to being used by the soldiers. Briseis visits her friend Ritsa, who now works in the hospital, and the fallen Trojan royals, including Andromache, Hecuba and Cassandra. She also forms a hate/love relationship with Amina, a slave who has been assigned to accompany her whenever she leaves the house. Amina appears to be a withdrawn, quiet girl, but a fire burns within her heart, and she draws Briseis dangerously close to the flames.

I was totally engrossed in this story and in Briseis's ability to act while remaining within the bounds of her captive role. I am sure there will be a third installment, since her child has not yet been born at the book's conclusion (and, of course, we all know that Barker loves trilogies!) show less