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adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns
driven time and again off course, once he had plundered
the hallowed heights of Troy.”
The thing I was most looking forward to about reading this work of foundational literature was all the scenes that still capture our modern imagination: meeting the Cyclops, the Sirens, the journey to the underworld, the cannibals, etc. What completely threw me off was how little time was spent in those stories: in fact, half of the Odyssey actually takes place on Ithaca, after Odysseus returns. While of course there needs to be enough time for Odysseus to plot his revenge on the suitors and win back his home, I think I needed to adjust my expectations slightly for the structure of the book.
I will say, the structure of the Odyssey is more sophisticated than the Iliad, with uses of frame narrative, multiple POV’s, and a deft hand at manipulating time. Odysseus himself is a warrior, a thief, a lover, a leader, a beggar, and a complicated man who’s morally gray actions repeat whether he is sacking the city of Troy or killing the slave of his own household. The women, slaves, and general population that inhabit the world have much more variety compared to the male warrior dominated world of the Iliad. However, the writing itself left me feeling a little cold; I simply felt that the emotional highs of the Odyssey didn’t meet what I had expected from the Iliad. I found myself less bowled over by the words on the page, it was more up to the plot to make my hair stand on end rather than the power of speech that was found in the Iliad. If you had told me a month ago I would walk away from a month of Homer with a deeper appreciation for the Iliad rather than the Odyssey, I would not have believed you! But maybe since we live in a time of feeling like our modern society is at a fragile crossroads, a post-pandemic era of uncertainty and anxiety, maybe the Iliad is more fitting for our present day at the moment.
As for Homer himself, I am so glad I pushed myself to read these two foundational works. They were far easier to read than I expected and were the perfect way to kick off a summer of adventure reads. I think the Homeric works have inspired in me a quest to connect with ancient culture, as now I feel ready to move on to some Greek tragedies. My scope of the timelines of humans often feels limited, because the majority of the music I perform only goes as far back as the late 1600s. To read something three thousand years old with modern themes that are truly affecting and emotional was eye opening to experience. I didn’t want to leave Homer’s world because it feels so similar to our world! I think this is the beginning of a lifelong love of these works, and I will for sure be reading them again in new and old translations.
It's shocking to me how little I remember about some of these books I read when I was thirteen. Maybe it shouldn't surprise me, but it does.
I really enjoyed this, though. It reminds me of entire genres of thrillers, wherein the hero assumes a false identity to spy on people they know and then go on a murdering spree. Which is, you know, something that happens here. I'd post spoiler tags, but come on. This story is 2,500 years old, and the plot is hardly the point here. It's literally the journey, which is something simply described by Odysseus--another thing I didn't remember (though I wonder if this is much more influenced by the film depictions of the Odyssey which skip the framing aspects and so we live through the journey with Odysseus and his men).
The story reads somewhat like a blueprint for so many stories I've read/seen throughout my life. The beleaguered hero returns full of rage and vengeance!
There are some interesting aspects, too. Penelope's boundless fidelity to Odysseus while he wastes no time jumping into bed with a woman who turns his men into pigs. The repeated mutinies of his men. The betrayals of his own household servants. His pitiable war against Poseidon.
For a story so devoted to honor and fidelity and loyalty, there are countless examples of Odysseus betraying and being betrayed. In fact, you could even argue that he betrays his own nation by murdering its most promising men (though there's ample evidence that they are not, in fact, promising, and would likely be disastrous for the nation if they ever gained power).
If the Iliad is about Achilles' rage, then this is really about Penelope's fidelity. It's an odd kind of duology, especially since it's very likely that Odysseus is not worth the fidelity, and Achilles' anger manages to get assuaged.
But, yes, very solid and enjoyable to read.
I really enjoyed this, though. It reminds me of entire genres of thrillers, wherein the hero assumes a false identity to spy on people they know and then go on a murdering spree. Which is, you know, something that happens here. I'd post spoiler tags, but come on. This story is 2,500 years old, and the plot is hardly the point here. It's literally the journey, which is something simply described by Odysseus--another thing I didn't remember (though I wonder if this is much more influenced by the film depictions of the Odyssey which skip the framing aspects and so we live through the journey with Odysseus and his men).
The story reads somewhat like a blueprint for so many stories I've read/seen throughout my life. The beleaguered hero returns full of rage and vengeance!
There are some interesting aspects, too. Penelope's boundless fidelity to Odysseus while he wastes no time jumping into bed with a woman who turns his men into pigs. The repeated mutinies of his men. The betrayals of his own household servants. His pitiable war against Poseidon.
For a story so devoted to honor and fidelity and loyalty, there are countless examples of Odysseus betraying and being betrayed. In fact, you could even argue that he betrays his own nation by murdering its most promising men (though there's ample evidence that they are not, in fact, promising, and would likely be disastrous for the nation if they ever gained power).
If the Iliad is about Achilles' rage, then this is really about Penelope's fidelity. It's an odd kind of duology, especially since it's very likely that Odysseus is not worth the fidelity, and Achilles' anger manages to get assuaged.
But, yes, very solid and enjoyable to read.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
I read this for school and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. A wonderful, (extremely) old book that shares timeless tales.
adventurous
dark
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
5 stars for the translation
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading nearly all the Percy Jackson books was an unexpected help in enjoying the OG tale. The stories of Odysseus' adventure home are familiar and it was nice to read them in order rather than ad hoc as I had in the past.
Reading criteria: 1-5⭐
1. do I like the writing? 3,5
2. good Plot? 4
3. niice Characters (development)? 3
4. Enjoyable? 3
5. Emotional reaction? 3
6. Vibes? 4
= 3,5⭐ (rounded up)
1⭐ Abyssal
2⭐ mech, not the worst, but I had a big problem with smth
3⭐ middle ground, it's fine
4⭐ yaay, I like it so much
5⭐ perfection
1. do I like the writing? 3,5
2. good Plot? 4
3. niice Characters (development)? 3
4. Enjoyable? 3
5. Emotional reaction? 3
6. Vibes? 4
= 3,5⭐ (rounded up)
1⭐ Abyssal
2⭐ mech, not the worst, but I had a big problem with smth
3⭐ middle ground, it's fine
4⭐ yaay, I like it so much
5⭐ perfection
Reading criteria: 1-5⭐
1. do I like the writing? 3,5
2. good Plot? 4
3. niice Characters (development)? 3
4. Enjoyable? 3
5. Emotional reaction? 3
6. Vibes? 4
= 3,5⭐ (rounded up)
1⭐ Abyssal
2⭐ mech, not the worst, but I had a big problem with smth
3⭐ middle ground, it's fine
4⭐ yaay, I like it so much
5⭐ perfection
1. do I like the writing? 3,5
2. good Plot? 4
3. niice Characters (development)? 3
4. Enjoyable? 3
5. Emotional reaction? 3
6. Vibes? 4
= 3,5⭐ (rounded up)
1⭐ Abyssal
2⭐ mech, not the worst, but I had a big problem with smth
3⭐ middle ground, it's fine
4⭐ yaay, I like it so much
5⭐ perfection
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes