Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

The Odyssey by Homer

30 reviews

hjb_128's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5


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therealslimkatie's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense 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


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mariakureads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I've read a different version of Homer's work but I was intrigued by this one and I have to say that I do love Wilson's translation of this epic poem.
Her use of modern language and choice of iambic pentameter for her translation felt new and contemporary and it was easier to read and visualize for me. This alone was a challenge as she managed to keep the same number of verses from the original Greek!
I never saw the big hero that others did in Odysseus, yes he had adventures and some were heroic indeed, but the man himself ...no I never truly saw it and in Wilson's translation I get some vindication as here we see a complicated man, an unreliable narrator to his own quests, a mischief maker, a doubter of his wife who he left alone for 20+ years while he himself is a huge flirt.
Wilson's translation is quite honestly a great read and a challenging one that makes you wonder about previous translations but even the violence is felt to be more violent and brutal and I can't tell if that's the modernized wording or if it was always there just worded differently so that it didn't come across as such.
All in all, I'm tempted to read Wilson's take on the Illiad.


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bookishmagpie's review against another edition

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adventurous tense 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

4.5

All I'll say right now is that Odysseus is a silly man who loves to lie.

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preciousmist's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

As a functional member of society with half a modicum of sense: Timeless and endlessly important book, that truly makes you realise the enormity of the inheritance of Ancient Greek in many works that came after. The fascination with Greek myth is forever something we can relate to, and I am glad that we have access still to these texts, so ancient that they were - perhaps a god interceded in their preservation.

As a reader who is a huge hater: Odysseus is a cunt, this has way too much sexism for me to interact with it confortably, seems rushed at times, Odysseus is an asshat, Chapter 24 is one of the most dissapointing endings ever, Telemachus is also a cunt, Penelope should have been given a gun AND JUSTICE FOR HELEN SHE DID NOTHING WRONG. ALSO ODYSSEUS IS A FUCKING WET TWAT.

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thealmightyrat's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75


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bookishly_'s review against another edition

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adventurous challenging medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A

4.5

At over 500 pages, Emily Wilson’s translation of Homer’s Odyssey is a hefty read. It is also immensely engaging and readable, with straightforward prose that definitely captures the sense of a world very different from our own. The only reason this wasn’t a five-star rating is because I’ve heard from people with more familiarity with Ancient Greek that it isn’t the most literal translation, which poses a few issues, but as an act of interpretative literary translation I think it’s incredible. Wilson makes some excellent translational choices that are well outlined in the Introduction and Translator’s Note, which I believe nobody should skip. Honestly fabulous, a much enjoyed reread.

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catherineallsop's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0


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athenian_frog's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark inspiring slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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strabbyfieldz's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

still thinking about odysseus' 'heh nothing personnel kid moment' where he dodges that cow hoof and gives a sardonic little grin. dude really thinks he's an anime protag.

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