The Reading Party Podcast

Featuring the wildest backstory for Helen (who is “a child”), a disconcertingly graphic scene of sexual assault, and the weirdest Achilles we’ve met so far, join us as we laugh our way through the 20…

How does Madeline Miller take Achillles from lovestruck teen to fully-fledged warrior? Is this the most rounded Briseis we’ve come across? How do you tell the end of Achilles’ story from Patroclus’ p…

S1 Ep16 The Song of Achilles Part 1

We enjoy a teenage romance that takes us to Patroclus and Achilles before the war even begins, and debate whether Thetis’ dislike of humanity is reasonable, and whe…

We continue reading Pat Barker’s “Trojan Women”, and…well, we have questions! Why invent a totally unnecessary pregnancy for a minor character when the main character is so very pregnant? Why is Pyrr…

Moving on from the siege of Troy, we rejoin Briseis (and the rest of the Trojan women) as they wait on the beaches, slaves in the Greek camp, wondering when they’ll be herded onto boats and taken awa…

We continue with Briseis’ trials in the Iliad and - despite our myriad of problems with the book - truly enjoy it and recommend it to everyone. This book contains undisguised violence and sexual assa…

The Iliad, but from Briseis’ perspective! Join Megan and Lexie as they tackle the first half of Pat Barker’s brutal retelling of the Iliad, focusing on the experiences of Briseis as she is taken into…

Natalie Haynes joins Megan and Lexie to talk about writing A Thousand Ships, her new projects, and the importance of making the ancient world accessible to everyone who wants to know about it! Featur…

We’re back this week with the second part of Natalie Haynes’ “A Thousand Ships”! Does Penelope continue being awesome? What is the goddess of strife like? Exactly how much can we gush over Natalie be…

Lexie and Megan discuss the first half of Natalie Haynes’ excellent take on the Illiad, “A Thousand Ships”. Are we finally coming around to Helen? Is Paris as much of an idiot here as elsewhere? What…

Lexie and Megan cover the final two episodes of Troy: Fall of a City. These were hard to watch, and had about as much death and destruction as you’d expect in the final days of a brutal war. Does Hel…

Lexie and Megan discuss their impressions of the Amazons, Paris’s absence from Troy and its effect on Helen, and about the duels between Patroculs and Hector & Hector and Achilles. Find our full medi…

Lexie and Megan discuss the plot to steal Helen from Troy, Andromache’s reaction to Helen leaving her daughter Hermione, and the bombshell twist on the Achilles and Briseis' romance. Find our full me…

Lexie and Megan discuss the show’s casting choices with that of the Troy movie, how the show managed to give Helen agency and make her more sympathetic, and the odd costuming choices. Find our full m…

Lexie and Megan discuss where the gods are, the use of language & names, and why they passionately hate Paris and Helen. Find our full media list on our socials to read/watch along with us this seaso…

Lexie and Megan chat with author Maya Deane about all things “Wrath Goddess” and how she developed her characters, the story, and what inspires her. Find our full media list on our socials to read/wa…

Lexie and Megan discuss Achilles’ trip to Egypt, the unfolding of the end of the Trojan War, and how Maya creates a giant metal space-moon Kirby!  Find our full media list on our socials to read/watc…

Lexie and Megan discuss Achilles’ life on Skyros, new characters, how she is persuaded to join the Trojan War, and the major differences between Maya’s characters and their Homeric counterparts! Find…

Will we hear more from Penelope? Is Odysseus the most problematic favourite hero? In this bonus episode, Megan and Lexie chat about the Odyssey and discuss what they hope to see in this season's adap…

Will Achilles be just a dumb brute or a philosopher-warrior? Can Paris and Helen become more sympathetic characters? In this bonus episode, Megan and Lexie chat about the Iliad and discuss what they …