This is the shortest book I ever read (like short short, it took me 20 minutes to read it fully). And yet I so enjoyed myself and am drawn to the main character Galatea.
„Galatea“ is based on the greek Pygmalion myth. There a sculptor, Pygmalion, is disgusted with the shamelesness of prostitutes. To evade every contact with them he retorts to chiseling a beautiful statue in the form of a young and pure maiden. He falls in love with the statue and touches her full of desire, at the same time wishing to the gods they would make her a real woman. Aphrodite finally answers his call and awakens the statue who now becomes Pygmalions wife and bares him a child in the course of their shared life. The short story by Miller follows a new narrative, where Galatea tried to run with her daughter from her misogynistic husband, who captures her and locks her up in a sort of hospital. Will Galatea find a way out of her miserable situation?

I stand with Madeline Miller concerning the interpretation of the greek myth. The Pygmalion myth is a prime example of misogyny and fetishization of female bodies and „pure character“ for the male pleasure. It is therefore an important work for the modern discourse on female rights, equality and the misogyny that still exists in our modern society. And it was a pleasurable read on top of that.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 star read!