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Gods Behaving Badly A Novel Marie Phillips 9780316067621 Books

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Gods Behaving Badly A Novel Marie Phillips 9780316067621 Books

An irreverent look at life in the 21st century for the Gods of Mount Olympus, whose power is waning because people no longer believe in them, and who -- since the advent of Christianity, an event that precipitated their decline -- have been living fairly quiet, uneventful, boring lives in London amongst the mortals. When a petty argument between sensuous and spiteful Aphrodite and her vain, impulsive nephew Apollo becomes a case of oneupmanship, two innocent mortals -- Alice and Neil -- are unwittingly pulled into the fray.

If you're familiar with the works of Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett then you'll recognize their influences all over this story -- not to mention that of another Neil: Neil Gaiman, whose book American Gods is a deeper, darker version of this theme. And it's probably no coincidence that the character of Alice was named as such -- for she takes a journey that put this reader in mind of that other Alice's trip to Wonderland.

This is a fun, quick read -- especially for fans with a pre-existing love of Greek Mythology (like me). It's whimsical and silly, yet manages also to have moments of true poignancy. Highly recommended to anyone looking for some entertaining escapist fun.


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Gods Behaving Badly A Novel Marie Phillips 9780316067621 Books Reviews

I read about this book in an article that recommended it for teens. No idea why that would be the case given a few pages in you encounter a raunchy sexual encounter in a bathroom. Glad I read the first few chapters before handing it off to my kid who loves mythology and all Rick Riordans books. Wish I could return this book and the other one by the same author that i foolishly bought.
This is one of the funniest books I have read in a while. The premise is that the ancient gods are not only alive. But living in Hampstead in London in a crumbling townhouse (which they bought in the 1660s during Charles II's reign. Coping with modernity is task, not only for the mortals in the book, but also the gods themselves.

This is the first book by Maria Phillips, a former employee of the BBC and all I can say is that this woman has a splendid career in store for herself. She has a wonderful imagination, shows great skill in blending folkloric elements into the modern day novel and what is most important in her case, a wonderful ear for dialogue. The book is one long series of wonderful exchanges between the gods and the two mortals (Neal and Alice).

Phillips has limited her cast of gods to three primary figures, Aphrodite, Artemis and Apollo, with Athena, Hermes, Ares, Eros, Demeter, Dionysus, Hera, and Zeus as supporting characters. Artemis is the primary goddess who manages in the end to be the only one of the Olympians who has any basic sense.

It is very difficult to explain the plot without spoiling some of the absolutely brilliant comic moments in the book. The gods behave, as they do in Homer, without and pangs of conscience for the harm they inflict on the mortals around them. Phillips manages to weave a comedic turn that combines plot elements of the legend of Orpheus as well as Cold Comfort Farm into a marvelous treat.
I originally picked up this book because I loved the premise - Greek gods, no longer used or needed are living out a droll life in modern day Hampstead, England. Nobody believes in them anymore and when you're immortal - well, there's only so much you can do before you've done it all - several times. And of course, I always love stories of immortality - goes right up there with invisibility. I gobble the stuff up.
So while I was eager to read the book, unfortunately I wasn't able to get to it right away until recently when I noticed my husband was reading his way through Rick Riordan's The Heroes of Olympus, The, Book One Lost Hero series. With renewed interest, I felt like I was sharing a literary journey with my beloved - while he reads about the half human son of Poseidon trying to discover his heritage and power in a Harry Potter-esque way - I was reading a slightly more um, adult version about the Greek Olympian gods.
Since they are no longer the deities they once were and have fallen out of the limelight, the gods have picked up some occupations to keep themselves busy - Eros is a born-again Christian and attends church regularly - even is considering joining the priesthood - which causes some confusion, Dionysius runs a seedy bar is rather a hot DJ and serves plenty of his famous wine, Aphrodite, true to her nature as the goddess of lust, has taken on the job as a 1-866 phone sex performer - which is hilarious when she takes a call in the middle of a conversation. Artemis, no longer able to hunt, is now a professional dog walker and seems to be the most grounded of the group, which then brings us to Apollo....well - aside from chasing Aphrodite and turning mortal women into trees, he's starting his own TV show that taps into the latest trend of TV Psychics.
Enter into their domain a meek but very mortal housekeeper named Alice with her new-found boyfriend Neil and suddenly everything is turned upside down. Alice and Neil go where no mortal has gone before - and live to tell about it. I just know you will love Hades and the Underworld - what a hoot, never would I have thought the game Scrabble would play such an integral part!
Phillips conceived the idea for Gods Behaving Badly while listening to a philosophy teacher's comparison between the Christian God and those of the ancient world - she explains
"He was saying that the gods of the ancient world had flaws, they were more human, and I suddenly thought, what if they were right? There is something arbitrary about belief; if you are a Christian, then you have to believe that the Hindus are wrong, and the other way round. You can back your beliefs up with archaeology or sacred texts, but ultimately it comes down to siding with one team or another. And I thought - what about the Greeks? No one sides with that team any more, but what if they were the ones who got it right? So here's this group of gods, imagine if they were still around..."
Interesting thought - and, a wonderful way to put that thought to words.
I bought this book solely because many years ago I read Thorne Smith's 'The Night Life of the Gods' (1931), and I wanted to compare the two. it surprised me that - while possibly Smith's book could have inspired Phillips' - 'Behaving' more than stands on its own. The Greek gods, living in a crumbling Tudor house in London for five hundred years, lead the kind of lives they've always lived - promiscuous and untrustworthy Apollo, lascivious Aphrodite - though their powers have greatly diminished. Secluded in the attic and mostly bedridden, Zeus is suddenly goaded to kill a mortal who's been cleaning their house, inspiring a Quest with an unlikely hero. Will true love triumph? Well, yes, it's a rhetorical question, because while I'm still forty pages from the end, a happy end is hoped for by this mortal.
An irreverent look at life in the 21st century for the Gods of Mount Olympus, whose power is waning because people no longer believe in them, and who -- since the advent of Christianity, an event that precipitated their decline -- have been living fairly quiet, uneventful, boring lives in London amongst the mortals. When a petty argument between sensuous and spiteful Aphrodite and her vain, impulsive nephew Apollo becomes a case of oneupmanship, two innocent mortals -- Alice and Neil -- are unwittingly pulled into the fray.

If you're familiar with the works of Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett then you'll recognize their influences all over this story -- not to mention that of another Neil Neil Gaiman, whose book American Gods is a deeper, darker version of this theme. And it's probably no coincidence that the character of Alice was named as such -- for she takes a journey that put this reader in mind of that other Alice's trip to Wonderland.

This is a fun, quick read -- especially for fans with a pre-existing love of Greek Mythology (like me). It's whimsical and silly, yet manages also to have moments of true poignancy. Highly recommended to anyone looking for some entertaining escapist fun.