Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Iliad by Homer

39 reviews

cpratreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

I did not enjoy reading this book. It was such a slog. 

I am not a big fan of war focused narratives, so that part is on me. But the descriptions are simply too in-depth. I also would have an existential crisis if I lived in this book, as the Gods seem to always do what they want, except when they don't, so it doens't even make anything feel important. 

If you like lists, then boy do I have a story for you. The lists in this book are endless, and include: the name of every ship being sailed including a description and how many men are on board - the name of every person who dies ever in this war, how they die, and who they are related to - the names of everyone that participates in any sort of game, wager, race, etc.  A list lovers dream, truely. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Sexual violence, and War

Moderate: Blood, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Alcohol

dioinysus's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

5.0

This translation of the Iliad achieves one aspect of it that has long been forgotten, that the tale within it precedes writing. Oral tradition is the basis of all culture and before it was compiled and studied by the greeks themselves these were the legends told as history that were passed down through generations til they became myths. Without losing any the beauty and carnage of the poem this translation discards the "elevated language" that any "classic" story is often approached with, crafting what I believe is a version of the Iliad that is both truly engaging and exciting as well as heartbreaking but without falling into added meaning by the author. The tale is presented as was, is, and will be and it's up to the one that engages with it to do with it what they will, either as an insight on early greek culture and it's values or by grasping the human experience conveyed in it and understanding what makes this a timeless tale about grief.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and War

Moderate: Child death, Sexual violence, and Slavery

prettiestwhistles's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Gore, Grief, Violence, Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Animal death, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Rape, Kidnapping, and Alcohol

valenwhite's review against another edition

emotional funny informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

It was a bit too slow at times, and the fact that they'd just jump to 4-page speeches about their ancestry in the middle of the battlefield took me out of it, but the second half of the book gets more interesting and it was easier to digest.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gore, Violence, and War

Moderate: Slavery

gilnean's review

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Infidelity, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Violence, Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Genocide, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Incest, Vomit, Gun violence, Child death, Physical abuse, Body horror, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, and Excrement

starlesssky72's review

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Slavery, Rape, War, and Violence

ak2557's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-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

5.0

A beautiful, lively, engaging translation. Truly a triumph from Emily Wilson. As someone who has read the Iliad many times, this has shot to the top of my list of recommended versions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Gore

Moderate: War

elizabethjane's review against another edition

adventurous challenging slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, Violence, War, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Misogyny

nosferatwo's review

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book made me laugh a lot there’s such funny things everyone says like they’ll just pause and monologue in battle and make such disrespectful jokes it’s super funny. Quite interesting read but sometimes it gets monotonous 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Gore, and Violence

foxmulders's review against another edition

emotional informative slow-paced

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

3.75

"if only i had will and heart to do it
i would carve up your flesh and eat it raw, 
for the abominations you have done me."

"my friend patroclus, whom i loved, is dead.
i loved him more than any other comrade.
i loved him like my head, my life, myself.
i love him, killed him."

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery, Violence, Gore, War, Sexual violence, and Grief