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acertaineh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
foxandrew23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Great story showcasing Ancient Greek beliefs.
brain_z's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The story is epic and all but after a while it gets a bit repetitive when every battle follows the structure of:
[insert name] prays to [insert god]
[insert god] makes [insert name] op
[insert name] drives the enemy back
[insert god 2] intervenes
Repeat
Also Homer really shouldn’t spoil the outcome of every duel.
Also the ending is kinda anticlimacticWhere is the killing of Achilles? Homer said 50 times that he would die then ended the poem before he died?!
[insert name] prays to [insert god]
[insert god] makes [insert name] op
[insert name] drives the enemy back
[insert god 2] intervenes
Repeat
Also Homer really shouldn’t spoil the outcome of every duel.
Also the ending is kinda anticlimactic
jhuma's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed The Iliad, even though I knew much of the story from pop culture references and from reading more fantasy-oriented Greek mythology books. Despite my familiarity, I found myself deeply invested in the narrative as if I were discovering it for the first time.
The battle scenes, though occasionally tedious due to the meticulous recounting of who killed whom, captivated me most of the time. Whenever heroes like Diomedes, Ulysses, both Ajaxes, Aeneas, Menelaus, Agamemnon, Achilles, and Hector took center stage, the book held my undivided attention.
The writing style was initially challenging for me to engage with. My experience could be likened to taming a wild horse: initially resistant but eventually familiar and manageable through persistence. The first few pages were a struggle, and I doubted my ability to finish. However, once I adapted to the style, following the story became much easier. The names, particularly those of minor fighters and gods known by their popularized Greek names, remained challenging until the end.
This is likely the oldest book I have ever read.
The storytelling was exceptional, though it occasionally wandered. It excelled in developing Achilles' character and maintaining interest in his return to the war. While I understand that my criticism is minor given the timeless nature of this epic, I believe I would have enjoyed it more with a more refined translation.
If you appreciate Greek mythology and are not deterred by the challenge of old English, you should give The Iliad a try.
The battle scenes, though occasionally tedious due to the meticulous recounting of who killed whom, captivated me most of the time. Whenever heroes like Diomedes, Ulysses, both Ajaxes, Aeneas, Menelaus, Agamemnon, Achilles, and Hector took center stage, the book held my undivided attention.
The writing style was initially challenging for me to engage with. My experience could be likened to taming a wild horse: initially resistant but eventually familiar and manageable through persistence. The first few pages were a struggle, and I doubted my ability to finish. However, once I adapted to the style, following the story became much easier. The names, particularly those of minor fighters and gods known by their popularized Greek names, remained challenging until the end.
This is likely the oldest book I have ever read.
The storytelling was exceptional, though it occasionally wandered. It excelled in developing Achilles' character and maintaining interest in his return to the war. While I understand that my criticism is minor given the timeless nature of this epic, I believe I would have enjoyed it more with a more refined translation.
If you appreciate Greek mythology and are not deterred by the challenge of old English, you should give The Iliad a try.
syliu's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Bruh.
We didn't get to see Achilles die, nor the Trojan Horse. Those are the like the best parts bruh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, War, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood, and Death
Minor: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Excrement, and Rape
crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
4.0
Bullet Review:
Wow. Just...wow! This was so much better than I could have imagined. I keep having these expectations that old books would be dry and dull, just endless pages of names or run-on sentences, but time and again, these old books prove me wrong.
I am so glad I didn't let "Song of Achilles" keep me from listening to this book! WOW!
Wow. Just...wow! This was so much better than I could have imagined. I keep having these expectations that old books would be dry and dull, just endless pages of names or run-on sentences, but time and again, these old books prove me wrong.
I am so glad I didn't let "Song of Achilles" keep me from listening to this book! WOW!
bluecorico's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
magmaa's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.5
whole lotta yapping
kegifford's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This translation was a revelation for me. Wilson said that she wanted to capture the excitement of popular entertainment, which is what the Iliad was, and she succeeded. Even though I well knew what was going to happen, the book had the quality of a page turner.
ewwa18's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, War, Death, Gore, Violence, Grief, and Animal death