.Virtual Book Club

Ariadne

by Jennifer Saint

From the publisher's website:

Ariadne, Princess of Crete, grows up greeting the dawn from her beautiful dancing floor and listening to her nursemaid’s stories of gods and heroes. But beneath her golden palace echo the ever-present hoofbeats of her brother, the Minotaur, a monster who demands blood sacrifice.

When Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives to vanquish the beast, Ariadne sees in his green eyes not a threat but an escape. Defying the gods, betraying her family and country, and risking everything for love, Ariadne helps Theseus kill the Minotaur. But will Ariadne’s decision ensure her happy ending? And what of Phaedra, the beloved younger sister she leaves behind?

Hypnotic, propulsive, and utterly transporting, Jennifer Saint's Ariadne forges a new epic, one that puts the forgotten women of Greek mythology back at the heart of the story, as they strive for a better world.

*** WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! ***

Each week, VBC discusses sections of the book together. Below is a collection of weekly discussion questions posed by VBC leadership and members. Be aware that these likely include spoilers, so please do not scroll further if you have not read the book.

Week 1: Orientation meeting

1. What is your first impression of the cover? Hardcover and paperback editions have different covers; does the cover you got change your feeling on the book?

2. Retelling of classic stories are very popular in contemporary fiction. How can retellings change or expand our views of the original stories?

3. Myths are not just legends, they are stories of reason and purpose. Myths provided the Greeks with information on how to be happy, create harmony and how to live. What myths, legends, fables, or stories from your culture (or another) have significance to you?

4. Myths show us the extremes of our experiences, for example: radical reversals of fortune, or sudden and catastrophic events. Myths also teach us culture. What stories of today do you believe will live on as our modern-day “myths” to represent our current culture?

Week 2: Part 1

1. How did the unique names from antiquity impact your understanding of the story?
2. Ariadne makes a comment that boys are “lucky in (their) sex.” Ariadne dances when she wants to escape. On page 23 she explains: “I danced…waiting for the heavy clouds that fogged my brain and my vision to clear.” Is there irony in Ariadne feeling oppressed as a girl, yet dancing above her caged brother? Is Ariadne in fact, freer than she perceives herself to be, in comparison to both her imprisoned brothers Deucalion and Minotaur?
3. Do you think Theseus is a hero, villain, or somewhere in between in this story?
4. Phaedra is allegedly not at the pickup location. What do you think Ariadne should have done when she found out her sister was not at the meet up point? 
5. Daedalus details on page 48 that he believes that Theseus wants Ariadne’s help to defeat her brother because “…surely you have special knowledge, you must know the secrets, and you may be persuaded to give those away.” He says the rumors about her have reached Athens. Should Ariadne have been disloyal to her father? Was Minos deserving of his daughter’s betrayal?
6. From what we have read so far, what is your impression of Ariadne? Does Ariadne’s decision-making seem realistic or fantastical for a modern day 18-year-old? 
7. What lessons can be learned by the end of Part One?

Week 3: Part 2

General discussion of Part 2

Week 4: Part 3 & 4

1. Which setting in the book was your favorite? Why?
2. Were you more drawn to Ariadne's or Phaedra's storytelling? Why do you think the author chose to show both of their perspectives?
3. What relationships or characters within the book do you wish were explored more in-depth?
4. Let's explore the challenges and opportunities for working from source materials vs. working from an entirely "new" idea.