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adventurous
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I didn’t think it was possible to fall in love with Greek mythology any further, but reading Wilson’s translation of a beloved canonical text re-animated my love of the classics, something I started withdrawing from as it was so male-centric in voice and content.
Can’t understate how much I absolutely adored the introduction and how critical it was in my enjoyment of the translation! One could say it felt as if Athena herself read with me over my shoulder.
Can’t understate how much I absolutely adored the introduction and how critical it was in my enjoyment of the translation! One could say it felt as if Athena herself read with me over my shoulder.
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 stars ✨
I was worried going into this one with how old it was, but Emily Wilson translated it brilliantly. The language was digestible and approachable. I found the beginning of the story to be a little slow paced and the writing too lyrical to follow the plot, but luckily with it being a classic, I could look up chapter summaries if I was ever confused, and I only had to do it a handful of times. Despite being stagnant at times, it was immersive and engaging, and now I’m intrigued to pick up Emily Wilson’s other translations.
I was worried going into this one with how old it was, but Emily Wilson translated it brilliantly. The language was digestible and approachable. I found the beginning of the story to be a little slow paced and the writing too lyrical to follow the plot, but luckily with it being a classic, I could look up chapter summaries if I was ever confused, and I only had to do it a handful of times. Despite being stagnant at times, it was immersive and engaging, and now I’m intrigued to pick up Emily Wilson’s other translations.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Minus half a point because a few of the translation choices towards the end were questionable. As in, I questioned them but I’m not a scholar of Homer or Ancient Greek so what do I know!
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
Don't read this book if you don't like Greek mythology. I don't like Greek mythology and I did not like this book very much. It's hard to connect with the characters because there are so many of them, and the book dragged on forever. If I didn't read this for English class, I might've liked it better. But still, it's not my kind of book.
*side note* i changed the edition to one that was published more recently because the other one said it was published in -720, and that was messing with the reading stats bc it's an outlier. the version i actually read was the one where the cover was looking at earth from space.
*another side note* THEY ALL SAY THAT IS WAS PUBLISHED -720. it's still messing with my reading stats. i'll change it back to the one i read but i'm still salty because it makes my graph all weird
*side note* i changed the edition to one that was published more recently because the other one said it was published in -720, and that was messing with the reading stats bc it's an outlier. the version i actually read was the one where the cover was looking at earth from space.
*another side note* THEY ALL SAY THAT IS WAS PUBLISHED -720. it's still messing with my reading stats. i'll change it back to the one i read but i'm still salty because it makes my graph all weird
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The translation work was incredibly interesting to follow and I appreciated the author's care and perspective. The explanations around the translation and storyline were more interesting to me than the actual plot.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No