Moving on from the siege of Troy, we rejoin Briseis (and the rest of the Trojan women) as they wait on the beaches, slaves in the Greek camp, wondering when they’ll be herded onto boats and taken away from their country. Do we finally find a sympathetic Helen? How does Pat Barker handle the issue of forced pregnancies in slave women? Is this the most depressing book we’ve ever read?Want to drop us a question, comment, or opinion? Then please send us an email at [email protected]! We look forward to hearing from you! Follow us on Facebook @TheReadingPartyPodcastTwitter @ReadingPartyPodInstagram @TheReadingPartyPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHB1bZ-N9nWMayVsoMEU1QSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/readingpartypodCustom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We continue with Briseis’ trials in the Iliad and - despite our myriad of problems with the book - truly enjoy it and recommend it to everyone. This book contains undisguised violence and sexual assault, and episodes 12 and 13 of the podcast should be treated with caution by survivors of trauma and assault.Want to drop us a question, comment, or opinion? Then please send us an email at [email protected]! We look forward to hearing from you! Follow us on Facebook @TheReadingPartyPodcastTwitter @ReadingPartyPodInstagram @TheReadingPartyPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHB1bZ-N9nWMayVsoMEU1QSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/readingpartypodCustom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Iliad, but from Briseis’ perspective! Join Megan and Lexie as they tackle the first half of Pat Barker’s brutal retelling of the Iliad, focusing on the experiences of Briseis as she is taken into slavery in the Greek camp. This book contains undisguised violence and sexual assault, and episodes 12 and 13 of the podcast should be treated with caution by survivors of trauma and assault.Want to drop us a question, comment, or opinion? Then please send us an email at [email protected]! We look forward to hearing from you! Follow us on Facebook @TheReadingPartyPodcastTwitter @ReadingPartyPodInstagram @TheReadingPartyPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHB1bZ-N9nWMayVsoMEU1QSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/readingpartypodCustom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Haynes joins Megan and Lexie to talk about writing A Thousand Ships, her new projects, and the importance of making the ancient world accessible to everyone who wants to know about it! Featuring some serious fangirling behaviour by Megan and Lexie.Want to drop us a question, comment, or opinion? Then please send us an email at [email protected]! We look forward to hearing from you! Follow us on Facebook @TheReadingPartyPodcastTwitter @ReadingPartyPodInstagram @TheReadingPartyPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHB1bZ-N9nWMayVsoMEU1QSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/readingpartypodCustom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back this week with the second part of Natalie Haynes’ “A Thousand Ships”! Does Penelope continue being awesome? What is the goddess of strife like? Exactly how much can we gush over Natalie before it gets sickening? All this and more, on the Reading Party Podcast! Content warning: infant loss.Want to drop us a question, comment, or opinion? Then please send us an email at [email protected]! We look forward to hearing from you! Follow us on Facebook @TheReadingPartyPodcastTwitter @ReadingPartyPodInstagram @TheReadingPartyPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHB1bZ-N9nWMayVsoMEU1QSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/readingpartypodCustom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lexie and Megan discuss the first half of Natalie Haynes’ excellent take on the Illiad, “A Thousand Ships”. Are we finally coming around to Helen? Is Paris as much of an idiot here as elsewhere? What do we think of Natalie’s take on the goddesses? Join us this week and find out!Want to drop us a question, comment, or opinion? Then please send us an email at [email protected]! We look forward to hearing from you! Follow us on Facebook @TheReadingPartyPodcastTwitter @ReadingPartyPodInstagram @TheReadingPartyPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHB1bZ-N9nWMayVsoMEU1QSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/readingpartypodCustom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lexie and Megan cover the final two episodes of Troy: Fall of a City. These were hard to watch, and had about as much death and destruction as you’d expect in the final days of a brutal war. Does Helen actually feel emotions, or is she reacting the way she thinks she’s expected to? Does the show do Penthesilea a disservice? What differences are there between the conclusion of the mini-series, and the end of “Troy” the movie? All this and move in this week’s episode!TW: infanticide, suicideWant to drop us a question, comment, or opinion? Then please send us an email at [email protected]! We look forward to hearing from you! Follow us on Facebook @TheReadingPartyPodcastTwitter @ReadingPartyPodInstagram @TheReadingPartyPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHB1bZ-N9nWMayVsoMEU1QSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/readingpartypodCustom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lexie and Megan discuss their impressions of the Amazons, Paris’s absence from Troy and its effect on Helen, and about the duels between Patroculs and Hector & Hector and Achilles. Find our full media list on our socials to read/watch along with us this season! Want to drop us a question, comment, or opinion? Then please send us an email at [email protected]! We look forward to hearing from you! Follow us on Facebook @TheReadingPartyPodcastTwitter @ReadingPartyPodInstagram @TheReadingPartyPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHB1bZ-N9nWMayVsoMEU1QSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/readingpartypodCustom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lexie and Megan discuss the plot to steal Helen from Troy, Andromache’s reaction to Helen leaving her daughter Hermione, and the bombshell twist on the Achilles and Briseis' romance. Find our full media list on our socials to read/watch along with us this season! Want to drop us a question, comment, or opinion? Then please send us an email at [email protected]! We look forward to hearing from you! Follow us on Facebook @TheReadingPartyPodcastTwitter @ReadingPartyPodInstagram @TheReadingPartyPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHB1bZ-N9nWMayVsoMEU1QSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/readingpartypodCustom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lexie and Megan discuss the show’s casting choices with that of the Troy movie, how the show managed to give Helen agency and make her more sympathetic, and the odd costuming choices. Find our full media list on our socials to read/watch along with us this season! Want to drop us a question, comment, or opinion? Then please send us an email at [email protected]! We look forward to hearing from you! Follow us on Facebook @TheReadingPartyPodcastTwitter @ReadingPartyPodInstagram @TheReadingPartyPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHB1bZ-N9nWMayVsoMEU1QSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/readingpartypodCustom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.