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The reason why I did not finish this book is that it was written in a poem, and I don't want to read a book that is in the style of a poem.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Old English is a bitch. I know The Odyssey is a classic and I love Greek Mythology like nobody’s business, but I really struggled to read this. I bought this version translated by Alexander Pope and the words just didn’t make any sense to me as I was trying to read it. I doubt it helps that I have dyslexia so sometimes I swap words anyway, but I physically could not read this book. So, instead of DNFing a book I needed for a reading challenge, I swapped it for an audiobook. Now, the version I listened to was translated by Robert Fagles and narrated by Sir Ian McKellen. It was a lot easier to get through at that point.
Now, I did not read The Odyssey as required reading and only knew the basics of the story for a very long time, at least until Epic the Musical came out. Once the musical was released, I had a deep curiosity to see how the two pieces of media compared to each other, and I have to say... I see now why Jorge said that you cannot use the musical in place of the book for school purposes. Jorge took quite a few liberties with the musical to change things that happen. But it is a great gateway to this classic so do not let that deter you from either one.
This story is told primarily as a flashback as Odysseus is relaying his story to people he encounters along the way. We meet Odysseus after he is already on Calypso's island which is towards the end of his lengthy journey. He has already finished the war and begun his journey home, he blinded the cyclops, he has spent years in Circe’s bed to protect his men, visited the underworld, faced and ran from Scylla, lost his crew to their own gluttony, and is being freed to begin his journey home once more. He tells the story to those who ask and spares no detail which moves his audience to aid him in his travels.
Taking place in ancient Greece, there are a few things to be warned about. There is foul language especially when it comes to women (just remember its par for the times). They are portrayed as being less than their spouses and discussed as objects by the suitors especially. As this story takes place after a war and involves run ins with mythological beasts, you also need to be aware there is a good bit of gore. Not all of it is heavily described but parts are gruesome so be warned of that if you are squeamish.
All in all, I don’t think I would ever give this work a second read but it wasn’t the worst thing I have read this year.
Now, I did not read The Odyssey as required reading and only knew the basics of the story for a very long time, at least until Epic the Musical came out. Once the musical was released, I had a deep curiosity to see how the two pieces of media compared to each other, and I have to say... I see now why Jorge said that you cannot use the musical in place of the book for school purposes. Jorge took quite a few liberties with the musical to change things that happen. But it is a great gateway to this classic so do not let that deter you from either one.
This story is told primarily as a flashback as Odysseus is relaying his story to people he encounters along the way. We meet Odysseus after he is already on Calypso's island which is towards the end of his lengthy journey. He has already finished the war and begun his journey home, he blinded the cyclops, he has spent years in Circe’s bed to protect his men, visited the underworld, faced and ran from Scylla, lost his crew to their own gluttony, and is being freed to begin his journey home once more. He tells the story to those who ask and spares no detail which moves his audience to aid him in his travels.
Taking place in ancient Greece, there are a few things to be warned about. There is foul language especially when it comes to women (just remember its par for the times). They are portrayed as being less than their spouses and discussed as objects by the suitors especially. As this story takes place after a war and involves run ins with mythological beasts, you also need to be aware there is a good bit of gore. Not all of it is heavily described but parts are gruesome so be warned of that if you are squeamish.
All in all, I don’t think I would ever give this work a second read but it wasn’t the worst thing I have read this year.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Homer is one of the major source materials we have for life during ancient Greece. There is little to complain about that feels warranted. There is a level of magic in being able to read something which was composed and told orally so many lifetimes ago.
The story is repetitive and rather slow; however, when you remember that it was told over a long course of time (rather than the week I spent on it) the repetition is forgivable. The translator did a wonderful job at making this edition approachable while sticking close to the source material. Her dedication to keeping the work in verse as was its original and keeping the work contained to the same line count is obvious by the sheer number of notes, pages of introduction, and maps.
I’m very happy to have read this and while I haven’t yet finished all of the introduction I do plan on doing so shortly. A solid story and a true feat in translation across history and time.
The story is repetitive and rather slow; however, when you remember that it was told over a long course of time (rather than the week I spent on it) the repetition is forgivable. The translator did a wonderful job at making this edition approachable while sticking close to the source material. Her dedication to keeping the work in verse as was its original and keeping the work contained to the same line count is obvious by the sheer number of notes, pages of introduction, and maps.
I’m very happy to have read this and while I haven’t yet finished all of the introduction I do plan on doing so shortly. A solid story and a true feat in translation across history and time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Murder
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wilson's words flew off the page. I loved how each character was defined and redefined.
in school textbooks, they always present a censored version of the original. do they know they are skipping literally the best parts? i think they do.