An Asian Minor: The True Story of Ganymede

After my initial distraught at the writing style (because Ganymede reads like the teenage life advice column from the Bravo magazine at the turn of the millennium and not at all like a Classic Greek tale), the book started growing on me quite a bit. So I removed the rod of conceit stuck high up my ass, promptly called myself a philistine and began enjoying the story.

I must say this was quite the breath of fresh air: funny, well documented and Ganymede's witty barbs made me laugh out loud. He makes fun of immortals like Hermes, Ares and Apollo whom he twists around his little finger mercilessly. The speech is very contemporary but it works.

I compartmentalized the fact that Ganymede was actually 12 when Hermes had him and 14 when he show more became Zeus's (not spoiling you guys it's all in the blurb). I chose not to think about that too much. The reason for this was that in Ancient Greece there was the social custom of paiderastía , the socially acceptable romantic relationship between an adult male and an adolescent male. And I'm all for historical accuracy. Nothing pisses me more in a book that the lack of historical accuracy. When I see thousand year old tragic historical or mythological stories turned into HEAs for the sake of sales I feel like breaking my Kindle in half and never reading that author again. Happy to say this follows the story of Ganymede told in the Illiad.

I also got a little shout out at my two favorite boys and this brought a smile to my face:
"Achilles was also a good-looking guy, with a real doll for a lover, Patroclus."

I'm quite happy my dear Shin Mon recommended this book at the right time, because GR's passive aggressive messages informing me I'm behind my reading challenge were starting to feel like the worst whopping cough.

Later edit: This was written in 1981?? So awesome! show less

Frivolous retelling of the Ganymede myth. Light but fun.