Review 
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips, 2007, 292 pages
This story is interesting on many levels. It’s about Greek Gods. It’s set in present day London. It is light commentary on our current culture and various degrees of religiosity. That may not be the right word, but I like it. The book has a lot of humor! Quite a few contrasts between wanton sexuality and chastity (uh, Apollo and Artemis.) It’s a love story, actually quite a few love stories. And a thriller, including end-of-the-world destruction and devastation! Oh my!!
So, Apollo is looking for a good shag; when he’s turned down, he turns one poor girl into a tree. His sister Artemis decides his behavior is in need of improvement so she makes him swear to no longer harm mortals. His aunt (and lover, ahem) Aphrodite decides to play a trick on him and all sorts of hi-jinks and coincidental events happen (but, of course, with these gods, there can hardly be any coincidences, right?) Introduce a few mortals into the mix and the rest of the story is a rush to save the world. The end.
I enjoyed this book, it was fun. Although I don’t think it necessary to know more about Greek Mythology to enjoy this novel, I wish for myself that I knew more. I don’t get why Zeus was locked up in the attic and why Hera had to guard him. I didn’t get all the little squabbles between the gods, but I suspect that all the stories in the ancient times might explain a lot of it. And I really didn’t ‘get’ Artemis. Maybe I just didn’t like her much. I don’t know.
♦
Other Reviews
Kim of Sophisticated Dorkiness (THANKS KIM!!!)
Serena at Savvy Verse & Wit
♦
A passage that reminded me of the last book I just read: John Green’s Looking for Alaska:
Neil was aware that time was passing, but it didn’t feel like time as he was used to it. Time had split in two. There was time before; time that seemed so real and sharp, and short and over. And then there was time after; there was now. And this time had no features, and no end. A slow , lugubrious present without future, without hope. A hideous now that he would be stuck in forever, always on the wrong side of the cruel, finished intransigent past. A past that he could look at whenever he liked, and often when he didn’t want to, but that he could never touch again.
I’m going to try and keep track of books that have something in common with the books I’ve already read – unexpected delights!
Three Stars: I liked it.
I loved this books. I think a bit of knowledge about the Greek Gods might help to understand their relationships and their actions/personalities.
Zeus is guarded because he has become so frail that the “Kids”/other gods who are more powerful may see fit to kill him and assume the role of King…much like Zeus did to his father.
Oh yea, ok, I think that makes sense.
I can’t wait to read this book!
It’s a fun one.
I put this on my wish list months ago, then promptly forgot all about it. Thanks for the reminder…I really want to get my hands on this one!
You are giving me an idea…. I need to think some more.
Oh, you know, I won this book in a blog drawing and never got it! Hmm, wonder if the postal workers used it to build a fort. They do that, you know. Then they throw parcels at each other. I’m making that up.
Thank you for the snowman card, Care!!!! I just got it, today! What fun to get a piece of real mail with handwriting. Everything else I’ve gotten lately has been ads, bills or things that are stamped “Important Tax Document”. You’re so sweet! I think the 5-day mail thing is an empty threat, though. The post office is the #1 money-making gov’t branch.
Yea, but, none of the other govt branches are trying to make any money.
I read Kim’s review, too, and I really want to read this book. Thanks for reminding me!
It’s fun – I bet you’d like it.
I’ve got this book on my wishlist for some time now. I read the first few pages in a shop only a couple of days ago and it seemed to be quite good and entertaining. Must go and pick it up now.
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I read half of this before it had to go back to the library (I hate the new release lending policy) anyway, I really liked what I read of it. The author did such a great job of presenting how the gods/goddesses might seem in our world.
Yay, I’m glad you liked it. I agree, knowing about the Greek gods isn’t a necessity, but I think it helps. I was obsessed when I was in middle school, so the book brought a lot of that back to me which was another reason I liked it.
I moved during junior high; the school I moved to had just taught it and the school I left was just about to teach it.