Status
Available
Call number
Collections
Publication
Back Bay Books (2008), 320 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Mythology. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:Being immortal is not all it once was. Yes, the twelve Greek gods of Olympus are alive and well in the twenty-first century, but they are crammed together in a London town house�??and are none too happy about it. Even more disturbing, their powers are waning. For Artemis (goddess of hunting, professional dog walker), Aphrodite (goddess of beauty, telephone sex operator), and Apollo (god of the sun, TV psychic), there�??s no way out�??until a meek cleaner, Alice, and her would-be boyfriend, Neil, turn their world literally upside down. When what begins as a minor squabble between Aphrodite and Apollo escalates into an epic battle of wills, Alice and Neil are caught in the cross fire, and they must fear not only for their own lives, but for the survival of humankind. Nothing less than a true act of heroism is needed�??but can these two decidedly ordinary people replicate the feats of the mythical heroes and save the world? GODS BEHAVING BADLY is that rare thing: a charming, funny, utterly original first novel that satisfies the head an… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member lilithcat
The idea that gods and other supernatural beings will lose power if people do not believe in them is not a new one. Neil Gaiman did it in American Gods; James Barrie did it in Peter Pan (I bet you clapped your hands for Tinker Bell!). Phillips has put a delightfully humorous spin on this idea. The
Enter a mortal. Eros shoots his arrow, causing Apollo to fall in love with a mortal woman. She does not return the favor, however, being in love with another mortal. All the gods get in on the act, with what might be disastrous results for the world.
Phillips has a keen sense of the absurd, but she also knows her ancient Greek religion. Every god behaves consistently with his character, modernized and updated, it's true, but Homer would have recognized chaste Artemis, bellicose Ares, jealous Hera. Her humans are like the people you know, everyday folks, but humans who, like many of us, can be clever and brave and selfless in an hour of need.
I ripped through this in an evening, laughing all the way. You will, too.
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Olympian gods are stuck in a tumble-down house in London, working menial jobs (though jobs suited to them - Aphrodite is a phone-sex operator!) and sniping at each other. They are slowly losing their strength, and when they make a mistake, they can't always undo it. Enter a mortal. Eros shoots his arrow, causing Apollo to fall in love with a mortal woman. She does not return the favor, however, being in love with another mortal. All the gods get in on the act, with what might be disastrous results for the world.
Phillips has a keen sense of the absurd, but she also knows her ancient Greek religion. Every god behaves consistently with his character, modernized and updated, it's true, but Homer would have recognized chaste Artemis, bellicose Ares, jealous Hera. Her humans are like the people you know, everyday folks, but humans who, like many of us, can be clever and brave and selfless in an hour of need.
I ripped through this in an evening, laughing all the way. You will, too.
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LibraryThing member ForeignCircus
I thought this was a fun book, mostly because it made me think back to those high school lit classes where we covered the Greek gods and read the Odyssey (and groaned a lot). The book is a very light-hearted look at an extremely dysfunctional family of deities living in a ratty house in London,
There were a couple of interesting and unexpected twists throughout the story, but the ending was a foregone conclusion (to me at least). Though the big revelation for the gods was no surprise to me at all, I suspect it wasn't supposed to be- just further proof of how out of touch they were. A quick and funny read, this book doesn't attempt to break any ground (in theology or literature) but was an enjoyable way to spend a rainy afternoon.
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wreaking vague havoc and small-scale mayhem as they drive each other slowly crazy.There were a couple of interesting and unexpected twists throughout the story, but the ending was a foregone conclusion (to me at least). Though the big revelation for the gods was no surprise to me at all, I suspect it wasn't supposed to be- just further proof of how out of touch they were. A quick and funny read, this book doesn't attempt to break any ground (in theology or literature) but was an enjoyable way to spend a rainy afternoon.
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LibraryThing member Aeyan
Artemis, great huntress, ravager of defiling men, chaste guardian of the moon, leader of the hunt amidst the unspoiled and serene wilds, wears a track suit and walks inbred dogs. At least, in modern times she does. She and her Olympian family have been forced to relocate to a crumbling house in
However 'Gods Behaving Badly' is not just about the pouting and insouciant downward plunge of faded deities. It is a love story. A love story of the grandiosely small scale. The main characters are pathetically human, not so very gifted with looks or wealth or power, even if the female is an absurdly astute Scrabble player. Such verbose acumen does not prevent her from being a pawn of the gods, cast into schemings and vengeance different from times past only in that the scale of power is significantly less (all the gods are a bit paranoid about wasting what little power they have left, not withstanding Apollo's retribution when his vanity is snubbed).
How is it then that the fate of the world comes to reside in one rather innocuous mortal's ken? The gods screwed up...again, that's how. One would think that immortal beings on the verge of becoming not-so-immortal would harken to a greater sense of...well, something other than petty jealousy and revenge. One would think. And be wrong.
Full of wit and snark and joyous mythological winks and groans, Phillips has crafted a tale in the very spirit of the Greek myths, layering the blatant narcissism and self-interest of the gods over the poor humans who populate their shrinking playground. Anybody have the number for Aphrodite's direct line?
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London, expelled by the rise of Christianity from their Greek homeland and the minds of humans. To make ends meet, the gods must labor like the poor schlubs they would torment in the good old days. Aphrodite works as a phone sex operator; Apollo, when not transmogrifying rebuffing conquests into trees, tries rather vaingloriously and unsuccessfully to be a TV psychic. Hermes is a workaholic, having been drafted in earlier times as the god of money, he never gets to stop in the modern age of financial worship. Demeter is withering like the plants she struggles to tend, and nobody has seen Zeus or Hera in some time. To say the Olympian family has fallen from lofty heights would be something of an understatement. However 'Gods Behaving Badly' is not just about the pouting and insouciant downward plunge of faded deities. It is a love story. A love story of the grandiosely small scale. The main characters are pathetically human, not so very gifted with looks or wealth or power, even if the female is an absurdly astute Scrabble player. Such verbose acumen does not prevent her from being a pawn of the gods, cast into schemings and vengeance different from times past only in that the scale of power is significantly less (all the gods are a bit paranoid about wasting what little power they have left, not withstanding Apollo's retribution when his vanity is snubbed).
How is it then that the fate of the world comes to reside in one rather innocuous mortal's ken? The gods screwed up...again, that's how. One would think that immortal beings on the verge of becoming not-so-immortal would harken to a greater sense of...well, something other than petty jealousy and revenge. One would think. And be wrong.
Full of wit and snark and joyous mythological winks and groans, Phillips has crafted a tale in the very spirit of the Greek myths, layering the blatant narcissism and self-interest of the gods over the poor humans who populate their shrinking playground. Anybody have the number for Aphrodite's direct line?
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LibraryThing member sagustocox
Marie Phillips' Gods Behaving Badly is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. What would the ancient gods of Greece and Rome do in today's 21st Century world? Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, a phone sex operator; Apollo, the God of the Sun, a television psychic; Artemis, Goddess of the
The gods have weakened since their days on high at Mt. Olympus, and they are all crammed into a dilapidated home in London, getting on one another's nerves. The conflict truly begins one night during a taping of Apollo's psychic show where Eros shoots a love arrow into Apollo's heart, leaving him powerless against his love for the next person entering his view. Unfortunately, that person happens to be a mortal named, Alice, who cleans the theater where the show is taped. Alice and her friend Neil, who both love one another but are too afraid to make a move, become the center of conflict in the gods' world.
Watching these gods cope with the 21st Century is a hilarious delight, but even more delightful is Phillips' use of language on the page. From Aphrodite's bottom "bouncing like two hard-boiled eggs dancing a tango" (page 89) to her description of Neil as a teenager, "an ugly, spotty, skinny-arsed spoddy minger" (page 88). The dialogue is witty as well: "'. . .you'd better come quick. I've got a god passed out on my kitchen floor and I think the world's about to end.' (page 213)."
One of the best scenes in this book comes when Apollo finds Zeus in the upper floors of the house staring at the television much like a zombie would. He's lifeless, but still a god able to stand on his own and still strike down mortals with lightning. Reading this section brought to life the dilemma that often faces many of us, do we unwind too often in front of the television rather than through more challenging activities, like games, competition, reading, and exercise? Is this section a commentary on the lives we continue to lead now, watching television, zoning out, and withdrawing into ourselves away from society. But, I digress.
With an interesting cast of characters from a Christian Eros to a drunk, DJ in Dionysus, Phillips uses her cast of characters to dramatically set the stage for a modern day Greek comedy of errors and missed chances. Even readers who do not have a firm background in mythology will enjoy this book.
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Hunt and Chastity, a dog walker.The gods have weakened since their days on high at Mt. Olympus, and they are all crammed into a dilapidated home in London, getting on one another's nerves. The conflict truly begins one night during a taping of Apollo's psychic show where Eros shoots a love arrow into Apollo's heart, leaving him powerless against his love for the next person entering his view. Unfortunately, that person happens to be a mortal named, Alice, who cleans the theater where the show is taped. Alice and her friend Neil, who both love one another but are too afraid to make a move, become the center of conflict in the gods' world.
Watching these gods cope with the 21st Century is a hilarious delight, but even more delightful is Phillips' use of language on the page. From Aphrodite's bottom "bouncing like two hard-boiled eggs dancing a tango" (page 89) to her description of Neil as a teenager, "an ugly, spotty, skinny-arsed spoddy minger" (page 88). The dialogue is witty as well: "'. . .you'd better come quick. I've got a god passed out on my kitchen floor and I think the world's about to end.' (page 213)."
One of the best scenes in this book comes when Apollo finds Zeus in the upper floors of the house staring at the television much like a zombie would. He's lifeless, but still a god able to stand on his own and still strike down mortals with lightning. Reading this section brought to life the dilemma that often faces many of us, do we unwind too often in front of the television rather than through more challenging activities, like games, competition, reading, and exercise? Is this section a commentary on the lives we continue to lead now, watching television, zoning out, and withdrawing into ourselves away from society. But, I digress.
With an interesting cast of characters from a Christian Eros to a drunk, DJ in Dionysus, Phillips uses her cast of characters to dramatically set the stage for a modern day Greek comedy of errors and missed chances. Even readers who do not have a firm background in mythology will enjoy this book.
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LibraryThing member lookingforpenguins
Need a good laugh? Look no further, especially if you retained any of the Greek mythology you were taught in college. Author Marie Phillips has given us the gods of Olympus all over again and this time, you'll never again forget just who was the god of what.
That's right, the gods of ancient Greece
The good news is that they've evolved with the times. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is putting her skills to good use as a phone-sex operator.
Remember Apollo, god of the sun? He still does the sun trick everyday (for the most part), but his stunning good looks and vanity have led him to a modern day career as an actor. Well, a failed actor, but still....
Eros, the god of love, has converted to Christianity, while Dionysus, the god of wine, runs a hip nightclub and contributes to all sorts of societal degeneration. Artemis, Hera, Hermes and even Zeus all make appearances and manage to contribute to the mayhem.
The bad news, though, is that their power is fading fast and they need to find a way to avoid dying off all together. Through two perfectly ordinary, endearing mortals into the mix and you have the makings of a riotous tale!
Raunchy behavior and language abound, so don't say you weren't warned, but aside from that Marie Phillips has written a thoroughly delightful tale that evokes both laughter and fond memories of your humanities professor. Enjoy!
That's right, the gods of ancient Greece
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are alive and well (sort-of) and currently residing in a dilapidated house in the suburbs of London. That's right. London.The good news is that they've evolved with the times. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is putting her skills to good use as a phone-sex operator.
Remember Apollo, god of the sun? He still does the sun trick everyday (for the most part), but his stunning good looks and vanity have led him to a modern day career as an actor. Well, a failed actor, but still....
Eros, the god of love, has converted to Christianity, while Dionysus, the god of wine, runs a hip nightclub and contributes to all sorts of societal degeneration. Artemis, Hera, Hermes and even Zeus all make appearances and manage to contribute to the mayhem.
The bad news, though, is that their power is fading fast and they need to find a way to avoid dying off all together. Through two perfectly ordinary, endearing mortals into the mix and you have the makings of a riotous tale!
Raunchy behavior and language abound, so don't say you weren't warned, but aside from that Marie Phillips has written a thoroughly delightful tale that evokes both laughter and fond memories of your humanities professor. Enjoy!
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LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
I liked it. The Gods are at the end of there of powers. They are living in world where they can't even get a job - Zeus is a somewhat powerful dementia old man, Aphrodite is A backstabbing phone sex operator, we have Artemis has all sorts of theories about this, but isn't capable of communicating
When an out of work house cleaner (who is out of work due to backstabbing Aphrodite) stops at the Gods old, run-down house looking for job, in a fit of spite, Artemis hirers her. This starts the cascade that sends Alice to Hell, her boyfriend trying to save her, and Apollo seems to have given up, making the sun go away. Its up to Artemis to save the world, and she does, even with the "help" of her fellow Gods.
I liked the book. Yeah, there’s a bit of a Jaded world is boring feeling - but the Gods are not set up for Modern Living, and being aspects of power, they can only do what they are designed to do. The counterpoint of Alice and Neil, the innocent human couple in love (but they don't know it) makes for a an interesting contrast to the worldly Gods. I especially like that Eros trying to be a good Christian, even though he doesn't believe in the God.
I recommend this for a story that is a bit sarcastic, a bit irreverent, but manages to have heart.
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them - Apollo sleeps will sleep with anything that has breasts... and than there is Artemis, the Goddess of Hunting and Virginity. When an out of work house cleaner (who is out of work due to backstabbing Aphrodite) stops at the Gods old, run-down house looking for job, in a fit of spite, Artemis hirers her. This starts the cascade that sends Alice to Hell, her boyfriend trying to save her, and Apollo seems to have given up, making the sun go away. Its up to Artemis to save the world, and she does, even with the "help" of her fellow Gods.
I liked the book. Yeah, there’s a bit of a Jaded world is boring feeling - but the Gods are not set up for Modern Living, and being aspects of power, they can only do what they are designed to do. The counterpoint of Alice and Neil, the innocent human couple in love (but they don't know it) makes for a an interesting contrast to the worldly Gods. I especially like that Eros trying to be a good Christian, even though he doesn't believe in the God.
I recommend this for a story that is a bit sarcastic, a bit irreverent, but manages to have heart.
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LibraryThing member BobH1
This is a sublime book, gently witty it catches (I think) the greek's own attitude to their gods. At school (way back!) we used to have a weekly session in our Latin Class which we called Chaos, where we learnt and talked about the greek and roman supernatural, this book chimed exactly with the
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irreverent approach we had to take then to the god’s incestuous relationships and continual bickering. I would encourage everybody to read the book for the laugh out loud pleasure and for the knowledge you will gain of the old gods. Show Less
LibraryThing member arubabookwoman
I am pleased to report that Gods Behaving Badly is a delightful read. It is a very funny and original book. The Olympians are alive and living in London in a decrepit house. However, since no one believes in them anymore their powers are somewhat weakened and must be preserved. No mortal can cross
Unlike the depiction of the gods in a lot of current books and movies as heroes and role models, the gods in this book are more like the gods in the Greek mythological tales: selfish, jealous, promiscuous and vindictive. Thus, when a young woman on the street refuses to comply with Apollo's request for oral sex, he turns her into a tree. Aphrodite, sick of Apollo's antics, convinces her son Eros to cause Apollo to fall into unrequited love with a nondescript mortal. One thing leads to another, and before you know it the whole world is at risk. A real hero must step forward to save the world.
All the major Greek gods play a role in this book. I loved it and read it in one day. I think you would enjoy it most it you are familiar with the Greek gods and their attributes, but it's probably pretty funny even if you're not. Highly recommended.
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their threshold. Some of them must hold down jobs to keep the family going--Artemis is a dog walker, Aphrodite is a phone sex operator.Unlike the depiction of the gods in a lot of current books and movies as heroes and role models, the gods in this book are more like the gods in the Greek mythological tales: selfish, jealous, promiscuous and vindictive. Thus, when a young woman on the street refuses to comply with Apollo's request for oral sex, he turns her into a tree. Aphrodite, sick of Apollo's antics, convinces her son Eros to cause Apollo to fall into unrequited love with a nondescript mortal. One thing leads to another, and before you know it the whole world is at risk. A real hero must step forward to save the world.
All the major Greek gods play a role in this book. I loved it and read it in one day. I think you would enjoy it most it you are familiar with the Greek gods and their attributes, but it's probably pretty funny even if you're not. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Goldengrove
I quite liked this, to begin with, fun idea, well executed. But I wasn't impressed with the ending, which felt rushed and unsatisfactory. I must confess, also, to some annoyance with the 'Christianity is dull and boring, and this is so much more fun' attitude throughout, but I don't suppose that
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would annoy everyone. Show Less
LibraryThing member grigoro
What a hoot! For anyone who has any knowledge of Greek mythology, this is a hilarious take on the Greek gods. The gods are all living in a dilapidated London rowhouse (Hephastus does the needed renovations...on his own time) that they snagged in 1665 "when property values were low, due to the
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Plague". They are bickering amongst themselves, forgetful Zeus is locked up in an upstairs bedroom to keep him from "escaping", Artemis is a professional dog walker, Aphrodite is a phone sex worker and they are BORED. Enter two mortals into the situation and (literally) all hell breaks loose. A unique take on mythology and a laugh-out-loud story Show Less
LibraryThing member lkernagh
Having read Phillips' rather humorous take on Camelot and the whole King Arthur legend in her book The Table of Less Valued Knights, I kind of had an idea of what I was in for with Gods Behaving Badly and Phillips did not disappoint. A rather fun read to refresh my mind of the Olympian gods, their
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powers and their temper-tantrums. The presentation of the underworld was refreshingly different, even though the journey to the underworld had a slightly Harry Potter feel about it. I am not completely sold on the ending and I struggled a bit with both Alice and Neil's character personalities but overall, a fun bit of escapism reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member nicolemaddock
Not only was this a surprise and random read for me, it was fantastic! As a classics major, I was skeptical at first. I'm very picky because I have too much background knowledge in this area to be able to enjoy something that is only loosely correct. Turns out I had nothing to worry about. The
This book is quirky and fun with a wonderful ending. I think anyone interested in classical mythology would get a real kick out of Gods Behaving Badly. I think anyone would find this book enjoyable for that matter. I wouldn't miss this one!
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characters of the Gods and Goddesses were excellently portrayed and all mythological details were there. Phillips didn't just get the details right, she created a light and lively story, while very cleverly inventing the Gods of Greek mythology, in all their glory and immorality, in a story set in 21st Century London.This book is quirky and fun with a wonderful ending. I think anyone interested in classical mythology would get a real kick out of Gods Behaving Badly. I think anyone would find this book enjoyable for that matter. I wouldn't miss this one!
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LibraryThing member RuthiesBookReviews
This book was quite colorful, even right from the beginning. A poor mortal gets turned into a tree because she turned down pleasing Apollo. That was just too funny. I've read a lot about Greek mythology and all of the gods. In the lessons that I had been too, stated that the Greeks looked at their
This is a fabulous debut from Ms. Phillips. Her world with the gods living with the mortals and living in a crappy old house in London - even the walls seem to ba falling apart, but a nice spin on our visions of the gods and goddesses. They don't get along, much like some humans don't. They may have powers but even those seem to be crapping out on them. So they really need to limit what they use their powers for. Plus, they all hold jobs to make money, like the rest of us.
Right from the get-go, Apollo has been up to no good. The poor mortal that was turned into that tree I mentioned above. Apollo has a TV show and in the spirit of things, Aphrodite wants to get back at him. So during the show she has her son Eros shoot an arrow through his heart to make him fall in love with the first woman he sees, which happens to be poor Alice. Who had yet to even profess her love for Neil. But as the story progresses, Alice and Neil are the focalpoint, it is their love that gets them through to the very end. Although, the gods and goddesses were still there causing havoc, the romance that ensued between Alice and Neil helped them to finally reached their goal.
Now Gods Behaving Badly wasn't something that I would normally read, but yet I enjoyed the way Ms. Phillips intertwined the Greek myths with those of the real world. It was a fun journey.
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gods and goddesses as having the same weaknesses as humans. So it was refreshing to read a book where that logic (oops, not logic, but myth ... LOL) was taken and put into prose.This is a fabulous debut from Ms. Phillips. Her world with the gods living with the mortals and living in a crappy old house in London - even the walls seem to ba falling apart, but a nice spin on our visions of the gods and goddesses. They don't get along, much like some humans don't. They may have powers but even those seem to be crapping out on them. So they really need to limit what they use their powers for. Plus, they all hold jobs to make money, like the rest of us.
Right from the get-go, Apollo has been up to no good. The poor mortal that was turned into that tree I mentioned above. Apollo has a TV show and in the spirit of things, Aphrodite wants to get back at him. So during the show she has her son Eros shoot an arrow through his heart to make him fall in love with the first woman he sees, which happens to be poor Alice. Who had yet to even profess her love for Neil. But as the story progresses, Alice and Neil are the focalpoint, it is their love that gets them through to the very end. Although, the gods and goddesses were still there causing havoc, the romance that ensued between Alice and Neil helped them to finally reached their goal.
Now Gods Behaving Badly wasn't something that I would normally read, but yet I enjoyed the way Ms. Phillips intertwined the Greek myths with those of the real world. It was a fun journey.
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LibraryThing member kell1732
This book had a rather entertaining idea but ended up falling short. While there were some moments that were rather funny, most of the book was just all right. I think one of the things that really didn't work for me with this book was the end. While the majority of the book is rather light, and
Plus, Artemis comes to a conclusion by the end of the book that I thought was rather obvious and logical (or as logical as Greek mythology and gods can be) that when she has this big eye-opening moment, I'm just confused as to why she didn't figure that out before. That, and the fact that everything that happens in this book is Aphrodite's fault is never really revealed to anyone else in the book and she thus goes unpunished. This seems a little strange considering the fact that if Artemis's plan didn't work out, the world would have descended into total darkness and would end. I actually felt like the author just kind of forgot about that part because she was so immersed in making this epic ending that didn't fit.
Despite all of the ranting, I didn't hate the book. In fact, my total lack of strong opinion about this book makes it really difficult for me to write a review about it. What is there to say other than "Eh." *shoulder shrug* I just don't really feel anything about it. I will most likely forget that I read it in a few months time. Therefore, my overall view of this book is: kind of entertaining, but utterly forgettable.
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vaguely interesting, the ending tried to make the book something that it just wasn't...exciting. By the end of the book, the world comes close to ending, and an epic love story occurs that lines up well with Greek mythology, but ultimately is a completely different tone than the rest of the book. It was also rushed and little confusing.Plus, Artemis comes to a conclusion by the end of the book that I thought was rather obvious and logical (or as logical as Greek mythology and gods can be) that when she has this big eye-opening moment, I'm just confused as to why she didn't figure that out before. That, and the fact that everything that happens in this book is Aphrodite's fault is never really revealed to anyone else in the book and she thus goes unpunished. This seems a little strange considering the fact that if Artemis's plan didn't work out, the world would have descended into total darkness and would end. I actually felt like the author just kind of forgot about that part because she was so immersed in making this epic ending that didn't fit.
Despite all of the ranting, I didn't hate the book. In fact, my total lack of strong opinion about this book makes it really difficult for me to write a review about it. What is there to say other than "Eh." *shoulder shrug* I just don't really feel anything about it. I will most likely forget that I read it in a few months time. Therefore, my overall view of this book is: kind of entertaining, but utterly forgettable.
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LibraryThing member calmclam
Fluffy and hilarious, Gods Behaving Badly tells the story of the Olympian gods stuck in a house in London, where they remember the glory days and sulk. Then Cupid shoots Apollo, and he falls in love with Alice, a shy cleaning woman in love with a man named Neil. Shenanigans ensue, including a visit
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to the underworld. Don't expect anything deep, but it was a perfect beach read. Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Read in a desperate attempt for escapist literature, Gods Behaving Badly delivered that and so much more. This modern-day morality tale is equal parts funny and tragic as well as 100 percent entertaining. It lived up to its description of a fun read while teaching what it means to be a hero.
Quite
Alice and Neil make for two unlikely heroes. As the complete opposite of the gods, they are quite literally everything they are not. Prudish and chaste, nervous and shy, their simplicity belies their strength of character and determination. They are the epitome of the underdogs, and readers definitely root for their success. Readers want them to succeed not because they want the gods to succeed but because Neil and Alice represent the power of the every man. Their struggle becomes the reader's struggle against impossible odds.
One cannot discuss a novel about gods without discussing the idea of faith. Some of the most amusing points in the novel occur when Eros discusses Christianity with his siblings. This amusing what-if scenario is a twist on our modern belief system and well worth considering the power of faith.
Ultimately, Gods Behaving Badly is not meant to stand up to scrutiny. It is meant to be what it is - an enjoyable, lighthearted screwball comedy with a hidden message about taking oneself too seriously and the hero that lies inside each of us. One couldn't ask for better when searching for escapist literature.
Quite
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surprisingly, Gods Behaving Badly is not all humor and fun. It has its tragic moments as well. The idea of a group of powerful people, immortal or not, failing to adapt properly to its environment is depressing. Living in squalor and reliving the glory days are no way to go through life. Yet, in spite of its tragic undercurrents, this failure to adapt on the part of the gods creates some of the wittiest scenes in the novel. Their child-like attitudes do not mesh well with modern-day pragmatism, causing misunderstandings and other tongue-in-cheek moments that are as enjoyable as they are uncomfortable.Alice and Neil make for two unlikely heroes. As the complete opposite of the gods, they are quite literally everything they are not. Prudish and chaste, nervous and shy, their simplicity belies their strength of character and determination. They are the epitome of the underdogs, and readers definitely root for their success. Readers want them to succeed not because they want the gods to succeed but because Neil and Alice represent the power of the every man. Their struggle becomes the reader's struggle against impossible odds.
One cannot discuss a novel about gods without discussing the idea of faith. Some of the most amusing points in the novel occur when Eros discusses Christianity with his siblings. This amusing what-if scenario is a twist on our modern belief system and well worth considering the power of faith.
Ultimately, Gods Behaving Badly is not meant to stand up to scrutiny. It is meant to be what it is - an enjoyable, lighthearted screwball comedy with a hidden message about taking oneself too seriously and the hero that lies inside each of us. One couldn't ask for better when searching for escapist literature.
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LibraryThing member Auntie-Nanuuq
This was a light and easy read that towards the middle actually kept me interested enough to stay up late a few nights reading.
The Gods & Goddesses of Olympus have become despondent and are leading their lives out of a shabby rundown house in London... I a gesture of revenge Aphrodite urges Eros to
Alice is a "cleaner" for a Television station, she is in love w/ Neil, Neil is in love with Alice, but both are too shy & awkward to do anything about moving past their friendship.....
Alice gets fired from her job and goes to work cleaning house for Artemis... where she encounters Apollo, who has fallen in love w/ Alice......
Then things happen and become more interesting.......... However, I found the ending to be anti-climatic.
The Gods & Goddesses of Olympus have become despondent and are leading their lives out of a shabby rundown house in London... I a gesture of revenge Aphrodite urges Eros to
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make Apollo fall in love w/ a mortal, but not any mortal; one who will not love him back.... Which Eros does and Apollo does....Alice is a "cleaner" for a Television station, she is in love w/ Neil, Neil is in love with Alice, but both are too shy & awkward to do anything about moving past their friendship.....
Alice gets fired from her job and goes to work cleaning house for Artemis... where she encounters Apollo, who has fallen in love w/ Alice......
Then things happen and become more interesting.......... However, I found the ending to be anti-climatic.
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LibraryThing member dtw42
Great fun; an easy-to-read prose style which means that if you want to, you can dash through it pretty quickly. The characters of the gods and goddesses are well fleshed out. There are some really funny sequences, and also (unless it's just me getting old and sentimental, ahem) some unexpectedly
It's being adapted into a film, but in doing this the makers have relocated the action from London to New York. Why?!?!?
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moving ones.It's being adapted into a film, but in doing this the makers have relocated the action from London to New York. Why?!?!?
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LibraryThing member isabelx
Most of the Greek Gods have been based in London since 1665, when they bought a large house cheap as the plague had lowered house prices. Most of the family still share the same house, although it is overcrowded and they are forever squabbling and getting on each other's nerves. The Underworld is a
The Gods act like Gods, being just as petty, jealous, and vengeful as they were thousands of years ago. They still have their individual roles to play in running the world, with Apollo making sure that the sun comes up each day and Ares keeping an eye on wars all around the world, but they are hampered by the waning of their powers, with Artemis being especially worried as both chastity and hunting seem to have gone out of fashion. But when Aphrodite gets her revenge on Apollo for a slight by making him fall in love with a mortal woman called Alice, and then manoeuvres Artemis into hiring Alice as the family's cleaner, it acts as a catalyst for change.
The story starts with Artemis having a chat with a tree in the local park which wasn't there yesterday, and discovering that it is a woman called Kate who has been turned into a tree by Apollo for rejecting his advances, and I was hooked from the first chapter.
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dull and changeless place, in which a talent for Scrabble is likely to come in useful in staving off boredom, but Persephone has got used to living there, and is coming back to the London house later and later each spring, as sharing a room with her sisters in the dirty and decrepit old house is just not the same as living in a palace! The Gods act like Gods, being just as petty, jealous, and vengeful as they were thousands of years ago. They still have their individual roles to play in running the world, with Apollo making sure that the sun comes up each day and Ares keeping an eye on wars all around the world, but they are hampered by the waning of their powers, with Artemis being especially worried as both chastity and hunting seem to have gone out of fashion. But when Aphrodite gets her revenge on Apollo for a slight by making him fall in love with a mortal woman called Alice, and then manoeuvres Artemis into hiring Alice as the family's cleaner, it acts as a catalyst for change.
The story starts with Artemis having a chat with a tree in the local park which wasn't there yesterday, and discovering that it is a woman called Kate who has been turned into a tree by Apollo for rejecting his advances, and I was hooked from the first chapter.
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LibraryThing member clare.wigfall
This book was destined to be a huge success because it is based on such a brilliant premise (Greek gods behaving badly in modern-day North London), but beyond that it is also a hugely enjoyable read. An intelligent, witty, rambunctious book that demands to be devoured!
LibraryThing member melydia
The Greek gods are alive and well and living in a crumbling London house. And they still get a kick out of messing with mortals, namely the awkward and timid would-be couple Alice and Neil. I laughed quite a bit at this one, but I will say that it's much funnier to people familiar with Greek myth.
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The humor is rather adult, but then, so were the antics of the gods in Greek myth! I think I'll get a copy for a friend of mine whose passion is ancient mythology. Show Less
LibraryThing member lonepalm
The Gods Behave Badly; Novel Isn't Much Better: Gods Behaving Badly has a great concept: Greek gods living in contemporary London trying to deal with a decline of their powers. The gods get involved with humans. Hilarity ensues. Unfortunately, the application of the concept is not so great. I have
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two problems with this novel. First is the weak dialogue; it's forced, contrived and not very funny. Second, and less troubling, is the vacuum in which the novel takes place. It's been a long time since I've read Edith Hamilton's Mythology and I confess, I've forgotten the qualities of some of the lesser known gods. As this novel is supposed to be a light-hearted novel and not an intellectual tome, I think it would have been helpful if either in the novel or in an introductory section with some background information about these gods. The characters (all of them, gods and mortals alike) are put in front of the reader with no background at all. Perhaps the omniscient narrator could have given a little introduction to these characters. There are in the novel, however, some really funny one-liners, so it is not completely without merit. Show Less
LibraryThing member calexis
This book was HILARIOUS! I have to admit that some parts of it was more sexualized that I thought, but for the overall feeling, it made me laugh out loud multiple times. The humour is witty and amusing. The gods and goddesses are true to their personalities as to what I remember from reading about
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Greek gods a few years ago. This is a definite must-read for any fiction readers or those interested in Greek mythology. It takes all those mythical aspects into present day. Show Less
LibraryThing member dudara
Remember the Greek gods? Zeus, Hera, Athena, Artmis, Persephone, Apollo and Hermes, to name but a few. Their legendary acts are just that, the stuff of legend. But imagine how this rather unique, incestuous family would manage in modern times. Dsyfunctional doesn't quite fit the bill.
These gods are
Things get interesting when they hire a mortal cleaner, Alice. As in tales of old, the mortals play with human emotions and lives. However, this time their games take a deadly turn of events.
This is a funny tale, which gives nice nods to the greek legends and myths of yore. The characters are endearing, and at times downright funny. (Think about Aphrodite working as a telephone sex line operator). The book is short, snappy and lively.
These gods are
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the real deal but the unfortunate lack of a believer base means that their powers are in decline. That's gotta be tough for once-omnipotent beings to deal with.Things get interesting when they hire a mortal cleaner, Alice. As in tales of old, the mortals play with human emotions and lives. However, this time their games take a deadly turn of events.
This is a funny tale, which gives nice nods to the greek legends and myths of yore. The characters are endearing, and at times downright funny. (Think about Aphrodite working as a telephone sex line operator). The book is short, snappy and lively.
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LibraryThing member speedy74
I read this as part of the Atlantic Monthly's Twitter book club. As I have never been too interested in the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses, I was looking forward reading this book and understanding them through a different angle. The beginning was very humorous and I applaud the author's idea
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for the modern day setting juxtaposed with the classical legends, however, as the book progressed, I found myself laughing less and becoming bored with the book. While the premise of the book was very interesting, I found the plot to stagnate and eventually fizzle out. Show Less
Awards
Desmond Elliott Prize (Longlist — 2008)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2007-12-10
Physical description
8.25 inches
ISBN
0316067636 / 9780316067638