Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

The Iliad by Homer

28 reviews

meg_ser's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and War

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

---

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

---

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

izpiz64's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense medium-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

---

Content Warnings

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

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

---

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

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: 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.

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Slavery and Sexual content

alingtori's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

The first time I read this book was when I was in college, so I don't really remember much about it. I previously gave it a 4-star rating so I must've loved it too.

And I still do. Granted, this will not be everyone's cup of tea. There are parts—like the listing of the ships LOL—that I just glossed over, but the emotional scenes really had me. Hector and Patroclos' deaths were very painful to read, especially seeing how they are both so well loved by their own people. There are many times where I ask myself why are they even waging this war? Obviously, it's not really about Helen anymore, but with everyone's pride and honor. Which makes all the deaths even more painful to me. 

Speaking of deaths, I did not remember The Iliad to be so gory so I was very amused every time I read someone getting their brains pierced and scattered. This is definitely not for the fainthearted and I wonder how the ancient greeks reacted when Homer spoke of it. 

I really did not expect to enjoy this book but here we are. I've grown fond of the characters—and yes, even the meddling gods. I do see myself reading this again in the future!

---

Content Warnings

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