Books like 'The Penelopiad'
Readers who enjoyed The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood & Laural Merlington also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy action / adventure 20th century myths historical-fiction retellings classics literary-fiction ancient-civilization
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The Jolly Postman by Janet Ahlberg, Allan Ahlberg
25 ratingsNow republished in a larger format, this classic depicts amusing correspondence from one fairy tale or Mother Goose character to another, giving readers a chance to follow-up on some favorite tales. Full-color illustrations... -
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
58 ratingsWhat happens when the most beautiful girl in the world marries the handsomest prince of all time and he turns out to be...well...a lot less than the man of her dreams?As a boy, William Goldman claims, he loved to hear his father read the S. Morgenstern classic, The Princess Bride...Categorized as:
classics drama high-school historical-fiction humor literary-fiction satire 20th-century -
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
44 ratingsMoscow, 1929: a city that has lost its way amid corruption and fear, inhabited by people who have abandoned their morals and forsaken spirituality. But when a mysterious stranger arrives in town with a bizarre entourage that includes a giant talking cat and a fanged assassin, all hell breaks loose...Categorized as:
classics drama historical-fiction humor journey literary-fiction magical-realism religion -
Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield
28 ratingsAt Thermopylae, a rocky mountain pass in northern Greece, the feared and admired Spartan soldiers stood three hundred strong. Theirs was a suicide mission, to hold the pass against the invading millions of the mighty Persian army.Day after bloody day they withstood the terrible onslaught, buying time for the Greeks to rally their forces... -
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D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri d'Aulaire, Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
25 ratingsHere are the gods, goddesses, and legendary figures of ancient Greece--mighty Zeus, with his fistful of thunderbolts; gray-eyed Athena, goddess of wisdom; Helios, the sun; greedy King Midas--lavishly depicted by Caldecott winners Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire... -
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
40 ratingsAlternative cover for ISBN: 978-0-00-746123-3C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce is a classic Christian allegorical tale about a bus ride from hell to heaven. An extraordinary meditation upon good and evil, grace and judgment, Lewis’s revolutionary idea in the The Great Divorce is that the gates of Hell are locked from the inside... -
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
42 ratings“Spectacular...an absorbing and distinguished work...The House of the Spirits...is a unique achievement, both personal witness and possible allegory of the past, present, and future of Latin America...Categorized as:
classics drama high-school historical-fiction journey literary-fiction magical-realism university -
The Complete Fiction by H.P. Lovecraft
24 ratingsThe Nameless CityThe FestivalThe Colour Out of SpaceThe Call of CthulhuThe Dunwich HorrorThe Whisperer in DarknessThe Dreams in the Witch HouseThe Haunter of the DarkThe Shadow Over InnsmouthDiscarded Draft of "The Shadow Over Innsmouth"The Shadow Out of TimeAt the Mountains of MadnessThe Case of Charles Dexter WardAzathothBeyond the Wall of SleepCelephaïsCool AirDagonEx OblivioneFacts...Categorized as:
classics drama historical-fiction literary-fiction myths retellings university 20th-century -
Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan
24 ratingsNow available in trade paper with an eye-catching new cover from the bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis: Megs Devonshire sets out to fulfill her younger brother George’s last wish by uncovering the truth behind his favorite story. The answer provides hope and healing and a magical journey for anyone whose life has ever been changed by a book... -
The Library of Babel by Jorge Luis Borges, Erik Desmazieres
18 ratingsJorge Luis Borges's famous 1941 meditation on language, alphabets, and the library that contains all knowledge is an allegory of our Universe, and in this edition is complemented and enhanced by the etching of the French artist, Érik Desmazières... -
The Complete Stories and Poems by Lewis Carroll
26 ratingsThis commemorative oversized volume of the complete collection of stories and poems of Lewis Carol showcases his ingenious use of word play, inverted logic and satire. Lewis Carroll was the pen name and, it could be claimed, the alter ego of the Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a mathematician, writer and photographer...Categorized as:
classics humor literary-fiction retellings 20th-century action-adventure anthologies children -
Ronia, the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren
26 ratingsOn the night Ronia was born, a thunderstorm raged over the mountain, but in Matt's castle and among his band of robbers there was only joy -- for Matt now had a spirited little black-haired daughter. Soon Ronia learns to dance and yell with the robbers, but it is alone in the forest that she feels truly at home. Then one day Ronia meets Birk, the son of Matt's arch-enemy...Categorized as:
classics female-mc historical-fiction humor journey university 20th-century action-adventure -
Strega Nona: An Old Tale by Tomie dePaola
40 ratingsWhen Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works...Categorized as:
classics historical-fiction humor journey myths retellings 20th-century action-adventure -
The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes Gift Edition with Charm by DuBose Heyward
24 ratingsThe country bunny attains the exalted position of Easter Bunny in spite of her responsibilities as the mother of twenty-one children...Categorized as:
classics female-mc literary-fiction myths retellings 20th-century action-adventure animals -
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The Hollow Hills by Mary Stewart
27 ratingsKeeping watch over the young Arthur Pendragon, the prince and prophet Merlin Ambrosius is haunted by dreams of the magical sword Caliburn, which has been hidden for centuries. When Uther Pendragon is killed in battle, the time of destiny is at hand, and Arthur must claim the fabled sword to become the true High King of Britain...Categorized as:
classics drama high-school historical-fiction literary-fiction myths retellings 20th-century -
Aztec by Gary Jennings
25 ratingsAztec is the extraordinary story of the last and greatest native civilization of North America... -
The Portable Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
14 ratingsThe essential collection of the American literary master of terror, death, murder, fantasy, and revengeThe first new edition of this landmark anthology since 1945, The Portable Edgar Allan Poe presents a more complicated, perverse, and culturally engaged Poe...Categorized as:
classics literary-fiction satire university 20th-century action-adventure adult anthologies -
River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt by Wilbur Smith
28 ratingsTanus is the fair-haired young lion of a warrior whom the gods have decreed will lead Egypt's army in a bold attempt to reunite the Kingdom's shattered halves...Categorized as:
ancient-civilization classics drama historical-fiction literary-fiction myths religion spirituality -
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
34 ratingsIn this timeless tale of two mortal princesses- one beautiful and one unattractive- C.S. Lewis reworks the classical myth of Cupid and Psyche into an enduring piece of contemporary fiction. This is the story of Orual, Psyche's embittered and ugly older sister, who posessively and harmfully loves Psyche...Categorized as:
ancient-civilization classics drama female-mc high-school historical-fiction literary-fiction myths -
The Atlas of Middle-Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad
24 ratingsKaren Wynn Fonstad's THE ATLAS OF MIDDLE-EARTH is an essential volume that will enchant all Tolkien fans. Here is the definitive guide to the geography of Middle-earth, from its founding in the Elder Days through the Third Age, including the journeys of Bilbo, Frodo, and the Fellowship of the Ring...Categorized as:
classics historical-fiction myths retellings 20th-century action-adventure anthologies epic -
The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
26 ratingsIn Berlin in 1941 during humanity's darkest hour, three unforgettable young women must act with courage and love to survive, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Dovekeepers and The Marriage of Opposites Alice Hoffman. In Berlin, at the time when the world changed, Hanni Kohn knows she must send her twelve-year-old daughter away to save her from the Nazi regime...Categorized as:
drama historical-fiction journey literary-fiction magical-realism myths religion spirituality -
The Moon Under Her Feet by Clysta Kinstler
10 ratingsNarrative weaving the biblical account of Mary and Jesus, the Egyptian myth of Isis and Osiris, and the Sumerian story of Inanna and Dumuzi to create an exotic tale of a strong, sensual woman.From Publishers WeeklyThis feminist retelling of the conception, birth, life and death of Christ as narrated by Mary Magdalene may cause some uproar in Christian circles...Categorized as:
classics female-mc historical-fiction myths religion retellings spirituality 20th-century -
Manalive by G.K. Chesterton
16 ratingsPerhaps the most light-hearted of all Chesterton's "serious" works, Manalive pits a group of disillusioned young people against Mr. Innocent Smith, a bubbly, high-spirited gentleman who literally falls into their midst. Later accused of murder and denounced for philandering everywhere he goes, Smith prompts his newfound acquaintances to recognize an important idea in most unexpected ways...Categorized as:
classics drama historical-fiction humor literary-fiction religion spirituality 20th-century -
The Sea and Little Fishes by Terry Pratchett
16 ratingsFree online fiction. Novelette.This is the story of the time that Granny Weatherwax didn't win the Witch Trials and was nice about it, too. It was horrifying."It's not right! She's got no right to go around being cheerful at people!"Originally published in the collection Legends Vol. 3... -
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A Single Swallow by Zhang Ling
18 ratingsThe eagerly awaited English translation of award-winning author Zhang Ling’s epic and intimate novel about the devastation of war, forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring power of love.On the day of the historic 1945 Jewel Voice Broadcast—in which Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender to the Allied forces, bringing an end to World War II—three men, flush with jubilation, made a pact... -
The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker
20 ratingsChava is a golem, a woman made of clay, able to hear the thoughts and longings of the people around her and compelled by her nature to help them. Ahmad is a jinni, a perpetually restless and free-spirited creature of fire, imprisoned in the shape of a man... -
Wise Child by Monica Furlong
21 ratingsIn a remote Scottish village, nine-year-old Wise Child is taken in by Juniper, a healer and sorceress. Then Wise Child's mother, Maeve, a black witch, reappears. In choosing between Maeve and Juniper, Wise Child discovers the extent of her supernatural powers - and her true loyalties...Categorized as:
classics female-mc historical-fiction magical-realism myths religion retellings spirituality -
The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, Sandra Burr
45 ratingsLibrarian note: You can find an alternate cover edition here.This novel of awesome beauty and power is a moving saga about people, relationships, and the boundaries of love. Through Jean M... -
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
43 ratingsHere is the magical legend of King Arthur, vividly retold through the eyes and lives of the women who wielded power from behind the throne. A spellbinding novel, an extraordinary literary achievement, THE MISTS OF AVALON will stay with you for a long time to come...Categorized as:
classics female-mc historical-fiction myths religion retellings spirituality 20th-century -
The Shadow over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft
24 ratingsThe Shadow over Innsmouth is a horror novella by H. P. Lovecraft. It forms part of the Cthulhu Mythos, using its motif of a malign undersea civilization. It references several shared elements of the Mythos, including place-names, mythical creatures and invocations...Categorized as:
classics literary-fiction myths religion retellings spirituality university 20th-century -
The Deer and the Cauldron: The First Book by Jin Yong
6 ratingsOn the Dragon Throne of China sits the young Manchu Emperor Kang Xi. Back in 1644, his great-uncle Dorgon broke through the Great Wall from Manchuria in the north-east and took the Imperial capital, Peking. Now twenty years later, the Manchus are quelling the last sparks of Chinese resistance, hounding down members of the underground movement known as the Triad Secret Society... -
O'Sullivan Stew by Hudson Talbott
6 ratingsSomeone has stolen the witch of Crookhaven's horse, and there will be no peace in the village until it is returned. So bold, brassy Kate O'Sullivan takes matters into her own hands. But instead of saving the day, she manages to land herself--and her family--in trouble with the king. So Kate sets out to save their hides the only way she knows how--with a good story...Categorized as:
historical-fiction humor myths retellings 20th-century action-adventure animals book -
The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel by Nikos Kazantzakis
8 ratingsA continuation of Homer’s epic poem, Kazantzakis’s own Odyssey finds Odysseus once again leaving Ithaca on finding that the satisfactions of home and hearth are not as he remembered them... -
The Story of the Stone by Barry Hughart
17 ratingsIn the valley of Sorrows, a monk is brutally murdered for a worthless manuscript, and the abbot of the humble monastery calls upon Master Li and Number Ten Ox to investigate the seemingly senseless killing. The most likely suspect is the infamous Laughing Prince, founder of the valley, whose murderous frenzies have made him a legend... -
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Dictionary of the Khazars by Milorad Pavić
18 ratingsA national bestseller, Dictionary of the Khazars was cited by The New York Times Book Review as one of the best books of the year... -
The Time Garden by Edward Eager
18 ratings"Anything can happen when you have all the time in the world" says the frog-like Natterjack in old relative Mrs Whiton's thyme garden. Cousins Roger, Ann, Eliza and girl-crazy Jack ride for American rebels, bow to Queen Elizabeth I, and even rescue their own parents when they were children...Categorized as:
classics historical-fiction humor magical-realism myths retellings 20th-century action-adventure -
Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord by Louis de Bernières
18 ratingsIn this iridescent gem of a novel, Louis de Bernieres returns to the territory he mapped so well in The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts, a South American country of resplendent eccentricity, gargantuan corruption, and terrifying violence, where the ordinary machinery of government has rusted and the only thing that works is magic... -
The Mysterious Stranger by Mark Twain
20 ratingsrelates the adventures of Satan, the sinless nephew of the biblical Satan, in Eseldorf, an Austrian village in the year 1702. Twain wrote this version between November 1897 and September 1900. "Eseldorf" is German for "Assville" or "Donkeytown"...Categorized as:
classics historical-fiction humor literary-fiction magical-realism myths religion retellings -
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
56 ratingsProbably García Márquez finest and most famous work. One Hundred Years of Solitude tells the story of the rise and fall, birth and death of a mythical town of Macondo through the history of the Buendia family. Inventive, amusing, magnetic, sad, alive with unforgettable men and women, and with a truth and understanding that strike the soul...Categorized as:
classics drama high-school historical-fiction journey literary-fiction magical-realism university -
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
40 ratingsBeneath the kitchen floor is the world of the Borrowers -- Pod and Homily Clock and their daughter, Arrietty. In their tiny home, matchboxes double as roomy dressers and postage stamps hang on the walls like paintings. Whatever the Clocks need they simply "borrow" from the "human beans" who live above them. It's a comfortable life, but boring if you're a kid... -
The Glory of the Empire: A Novel, a History by Jean d'Ormesson
6 ratingsThe Glory of the Empire is the rich and absorbing history of an extraordinary empire, at one point a rival to Rome... -
The Two Collars by Jeri Massi
6 ratingsKrea is seven years old and a slave. With a ragged troupe of tumblers and jugglers, she travels from town to town in Folger, now a part of the kingdom of Bracken. Every day of the year she is walking or working, and she is always lonely. Then, as winter takes hold of Folger, the troupe realizes that an old woman is haunting their footsteps, and that she has her eye on Krea...Categorized as:
classics drama historical-fiction spirituality 20th-century action-adventure book children -
Russian Magic Tales from Pushkin to Platonov by Robert Chandler, Aleksandr Afanasyev
6 ratingsFor fans of fairy tales and the literary supernatural: a unique collection of Russian short stories from the last 200 years In these folk tales, young women go on long and perilous quests, wicked stepmothers turn children into geese, and tsars ask dangerous riddles, with help or hindrance from magical dolls, cannibal witches, talking skulls, stolen wives, and brothers disguised as wise birds...Categorized as:
classics journey literary-fiction myths retellings 20th-century action-adventure adult -
Love of Seven Dolls by Paul Gallico
10 ratingsA young girl called Mouche is about to throw herself into the Seine, when her attention is attracted by a voice. It turns out to be the voice of a glove puppet, called Carrot Top. She then meets Reynard the fox, Gigi, Alifanfaron, Dr Duclos, Madame Muscat and Monsieur Nicholas... -
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The Mark of the Horse Lord by Rosemary Sutcliff
10 ratingsPhaedrus is a Roman gladiator who has won his freedom. By chance, he is also the exact double of Midir, the Horse Lord, lost King of the Dalriad tribe. To rid the Dalriads of the usurping Queen Liadhan, Phaedrus agrees to a daring pretence -- he will impersonate Midir and become the Horse Lord... -
The Golden Fleece by Robert Graves
10 ratingsAlong with I, Claudius, The Golden Fleece is considered one of Robert Graves's most exciting and transporting historical novels. The Golden Fleece was at one time the most sacred religious object of the ancient Greeks, and had been sent away as the result of a power struggle between the Greeks and earlier inhabitants of the Greek peninsula... -
Sword at Sunset by Rosemary Sutcliff
14 ratingsThis brilliant reconception of the Arthurian epic cuts through the familiar myths and tells the story of the real King Arthur: Artos the Bear, the mighty warrior-king who saved the last lights of Western civilization when the barbarian darkness descended in the fifth century... -
The Bull from the Sea by Mary Renault
16 ratingsIn this sequel to The King Must Die Theseus defies the Gods’ and claims the throne of Athens a move that culminates in the terrible, fateful destruction of the house of Minos -- the Minotaur... -
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick, Josephine Leslie
16 ratingsBurdened by debt after her husband's death, Lucy Muir insists on moving into the very cheap Gull Cottage in the quaint seaside village of Whitecliff, despite multiple warnings that the house is haunted. Upon discovering the rumors to be true, the young widow ends up forming a special companionship with the ghost of handsome former sea captain Daniel Gregg...Categorized as:
classics drama historical-fiction humor literary-fiction magical-realism satire 20th-century -
The Street of Crocodiles by Bruno Schulz, Mikolaj Dutsch
20 ratingsThe Street of Crocodiles in the Polish city of Drogobych is a street of memories and dreams where recollections of Bruno Schulz's uncommon boyhood and of the eerie side of his merchant family's life are evoked in a startling blend of the real and the fantastic...
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