BOOK REVIEW: Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

I used to read Marie Phillips' blog, Struggling Author (now invitation only), and so I was familiar with Gods Behaving Badly before it even had a publisher. I always thought it sounded great (and I'd read the enthusiastic comments of industry bigwigs) so I was keen to read it.

As an idea, it's what Hollywood calls "high concept" - the gods behaving badly are Greek Gods, living in modern-day London. So we meet Apollo who is using his psychic ability to front a TV show, Aphrodite is working in phone sex, Dionysus runs a nightclub between Euston and Kings Cross and Eros has become a Christian. They all live together in a run-down house with a secret on the top floor.

Into this dysfunctional family comes Alice, an intelligent but timid cleaner who is in love with her best friend, Neil. Neil's in love with Alice too, but can't bring himself to tell her. When they go together to see Apollo's TV show, an unfortunate series of events finds their fate inextricably linked with that of not only the gods, but the entire world...

I enjoyed this book just as much as I thought I would. It's great fun. The Gods are hilariously narcissistic and Phillips fits them into the 21st century seamlessly. It's exciting, funny and features imaginative leaps that made me think of the Harry Potter series (I loved Angel tube station being the portal to the underworld).

Rating: 4/5

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Justine

Ooh, I always love it when they bring the stories from history into modern day! This shall be interesting (especially because you mentioned Harry potter!) :D

Nuala Melia.

I have just finished reading this book. Of course i must admit its reading was fueled by Wine so my opinion might not have the same rational as more sober readers might. Still it brought me back to the solitary pleasure of reading and i enjoyed the way it presented Greek Gods as having the same flaws as humans have. This is of course not the first time this idea has been expressed.

The humans in the story were much less flawed than the Gods. Their motives were pure.

Iva-Marie

I definitely want to read this. First off, it sounds fabulous. Second off, because it sounds a little like a screenplay I wrote several years ago. In mine, a goddess escapes the heavens to find love on earth. Hope I still have a shot with it despite similarities.