Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wins the award for my most dragged out book of the year.
I'm not sure I'm really qualified to pass judgement on this, I'm neither a great reader of literature nor do I know much about Greek history. This is a translation (rather than a re-telling in the style of Robert Graves) and the language flows and lilts along. There is a useful introduction that sets the context both of the Iliad's composition and an outline of subsequent scholarship.
Es gibt kaum Autoren, die hunderte von Seiten reiner Schlacht interessant gestalten können und ich hatte nicht erwartet, dass ein so altes Werk es schaffen könnte. Der Schreibstil ist ohne Zweifel gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber er schafft ein Gefühl von Epik, durch dutzende Namen, die teilweise nur für wenige Sätze auftauchen, aber das Gefühl geben, dass jeder eine Geschichte hat. Ja, es ist übermäßig kompliziert, aber für passt das.
(+)
- Unglaublich geile Momente / Reden
- Eine der besten Darstellungen von Göttern
- Überraschend viele Figuren bleiben im Kopf
- Viele kleinere Mythen mit drin
(-)
- Teilweise werden ganze Seiten Wort für Wort wiederholt
- Hätte gerne Achilles‘ Ende gesehen
Mein Booktube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWsL1fqbkgjZpzLPsXQYN6Q
Mein Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nico_fantasy_reviews/
(+)
- Unglaublich geile Momente / Reden
- Eine der besten Darstellungen von Göttern
- Überraschend viele Figuren bleiben im Kopf
- Viele kleinere Mythen mit drin
(-)
- Teilweise werden ganze Seiten Wort für Wort wiederholt
- Hätte gerne Achilles‘ Ende gesehen
Mein Booktube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWsL1fqbkgjZpzLPsXQYN6Q
Mein Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nico_fantasy_reviews/
DNF @ 24%. I'm far too stupid to comprehend.
Can’t forget this canonical work of queer literature
I got so excited by this I pre-ordered it and then didn't read it. Seems a good choice for first book started in 2024.
It seems ridiculous to even rate this book. Whether I "enjoyed" it or not isn't as relevant as the fact that it is a basis for so much of Western Literature. I mean I don't like reading about war, but it doesn't go away just because we don't look at it and this shows the grit, the hate, the honor, the fear, giving yourself up to fate, raging against the gods for their arbitrariness, forgiving, loving, and treating women like objects - so many themes in there. I am not sure about the Fagles translation. It is very active and the language seems quite modern, even informal at times.
I am angry with those gods. I read over the blood and gore bits quite quickly. In a nod to the orality of the story, I listened to Derek Jacobi reading it, but this version only covered about 60% of it, so I read the rest of it to myself. I think listening and reading together helped me like it more.
This is what I really loved:
1) It doesn't tell the whole story of the war - not the point
2) The description of the shield Hephaestus made for Achilles which is like its own world is so beautiful and I wonder if Keats was aware of it or if Fagles was thinking about Keats when he wrote it the way he did.
3) In WWI, many thought that God would decide who won even though religious people prayed to the same God and it's a tragically wrong idea. Both the Achaeans and the Trojans believed in the same gods and the gods took sides. It is just an incredibly sad connection to make, but something to think about.
4) The Gods are right out there saying every thought - they are characters - not so with the God of Abraham - read Auerbach's Mimesis on this - a really fascinating take on the traditions of Western Literature
5) They follow rules in their war partly based on hospitality
6) Finally, the best scene in the book is in book 24 - lines 559-646 - it might be the most poignant moment that I have read in literature.
I would highly recommend listening to it, but it is better if you can read along.
I am angry with those gods. I read over the blood and gore bits quite quickly. In a nod to the orality of the story, I listened to Derek Jacobi reading it, but this version only covered about 60% of it, so I read the rest of it to myself. I think listening and reading together helped me like it more.
This is what I really loved:
1) It doesn't tell the whole story of the war - not the point
2) The description of the shield Hephaestus made for Achilles which is like its own world is so beautiful and I wonder if Keats was aware of it or if Fagles was thinking about Keats when he wrote it the way he did.
3) In WWI, many thought that God would decide who won even though religious people prayed to the same God and it's a tragically wrong idea. Both the Achaeans and the Trojans believed in the same gods and the gods took sides. It is just an incredibly sad connection to make, but something to think about.
4) The Gods are right out there saying every thought - they are characters - not so with the God of Abraham - read Auerbach's Mimesis on this - a really fascinating take on the traditions of Western Literature
5) They follow rules in their war partly based on hospitality
6) Finally, the best scene in the book is in book 24 - lines 559-646 - it might be the most poignant moment that I have read in literature.
I would highly recommend listening to it, but it is better if you can read along.