Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

The Iliad by Homer

42 reviews

thatbcami's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

4.5

this was so unexpectedly entertaining and i even cried quite a lot at the end lol.
it did feel a bit repetitive towards the middle but because it’s narrated so differently than what i’m used to i can’t really complain.
i mean can i even rate this?😅 it’s a privilege among itself to be able to read this story which was written so long ago, i’m glad i read it :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Death and Slavery

luquinhasxxba's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery, Misogyny, and Violence

overdramaticsoprano's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and War

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Slavery

tinnuben's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual violence and Slavery

Minor: Animal death, Cannibalism, and Child death

ambdocksey22's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and War

Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Biphobia, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

lucy12345's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Genocide, Grief, Misogyny, Violence, and Sexism

Moderate: Slavery

mendthecat's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Animal death, Gore, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Slavery

_goldenbooks's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Slavery

ohlhauc's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

I've read The Iliad a few times but this was the first time I read the translation by Caroline Alexander. For modern readers, it was clear yet still retained a light rhythm and poetic sensibility. Very well done; if the translation by Robert Fagles is not austere for you, but are intimidated by more flowery translations, this might be the edition for you. The audiobook narrated by Dominic Keating was also well done.

I love The Iliad. Listening or reading the prose just puts me into a good mood; it flows so well. I like that there isn't too much "adventure" and that this part of the bigger story (of which there are many poems - The Iliad and The Odyssey are but two of a larger group of poems) is focused more on the psychology of the characters and the realities of war. It talks about the glory and tragedy of war, the objectification of people during battle, the importance of self-awareness and staying rooted in reality, the harm of rage and the power of forgiveness, and sacrifice. And more. This is definitely a book about ideas and the slow development of character.

This is definitely a story to read over and over again as each time you'll get something new out of it. Highly, highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Blood, Misogyny, Animal death, Death, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Slavery and Sexual content

larareis's review against another edition

adventurous challenging informative 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

This book is a timeless classic. The characters are still relatable and have motivations, needs, thoughts, and feelings that held up despite the centuries. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Sexism and Slavery