Margherita Crepax Ordre des livres (chronologique)

The story of Penelope -- as told by herself. In The Odyssey, Penelope -- daughter of King Icarius of Sparta, and the cousin of the beautiful Helen of Troy -- is portrayed as the quintessential faithful wife. Atwood's dazzling retelling of the old myth is as haunting as it is wise and compassionate, as disturbing as it is entertaining. With incomparable wit and verve, she gives the story of Penelope new life and reality. "Homer's Odyssey is not the only version of the story. Mythic material was originally oral, and also local--a myth would be told one way in one place and quite differently in another. I have drawn on material other than The Odyssey, especially for the details of Penelope's parentage, her early life and marriage, and the scandalous rumours circulating about her. I've chosen to give the telling of the story to Penelope and to her twelve hanged maids. The Maids form a chanting and singing Chorus which focuses on two questions that must pose themselves after any close reading of The Odyssey: what led to the hanging of the maids, and what was Penelope really up to? The story as told in The Odyssey doesn't hold water: there are too many inconsistencies. I've always been haunted by the hanged maids; and, in The Penelopiad, so is Penelope herself." --from Margaret Atwood's Introduction to The Penelopiad

Liz è bella, bionda e ha una vita apparentemente perfetta: una grande casa a New York, un matrimonio invidiabile e un lavoro gratificante. Tuttavia, una notte autunnale la trova in lacrime sul pavimento del bagno, desiderando di essere lontana da tutto ciò. In quel momento, Liz realizza di non volere nulla di ciò che ha e compie un gesto inaspettato: prega. Come reagireste se Dio o qualcosa di simile vi dicesse che avete ragione, che quella vita non è per voi? Liz, dopo una riflessione, decide di raccogliere le forze per il futuro. Affronta un doloroso divorzio e una tumultuosa storia d'amore, ma intravede anche un'opportunità: un anno di viaggio alla scoperta di sé. In questo diario-confessione, l'autrice racconta il suo percorso verso la felicità: in Italia scopre il piacere e stringe amicizie preziose; in India trova la grazia attraverso la meditazione; in Indonesia un misterioso sciamano le insegna a superare la tristezza e a riaprirsi all'amore. "Mangia, prega, ama" è la storia di un'anima irrequieta, con cui è facile identificarsi.

On the country estate of his art-collecting uncle, Van Veen meets Ada, his beautiful cousin. Their relationship flourishes, but both were born into one of America's illustrious families, a vast over-extended empire, and this causes problems for the lovers.

Anastasija Kamenskaja, a successful Moscow detective, intends to recuperate from her lingering back ailment and bring order to her chaotic emotional life at a sanatorium. However, her keen instinct for deception and crime draws her into a mysterious case even far from the Russian metropolis. Strange occurrences unfold in the deceptive tranquility of the small town. Unusual visitors arrive at the sanatorium for just a day or two, and the guests seem to be seeking more than mere relaxation. Nastja notices odd advances from men, suspicious noises on the phone, and unsettling changes in her room. What is happening here? When a murder finally occurs, she is taken aback to find that it is not the local police seeking her assistance in solving the crime, but the Mafia, the true 'guardians' of the city. What role do they play in the deadly game of money and influence that Nastja begins to uncover?