Reviews

The Iliad by Homer

terryma90's review against another edition

3.0

It wasn't that good since I had to read for school. If I didn't have it as an assignment I would probably like it much, much, much better.

klain's review against another edition

I am really trying to read some of the classics that one should have read in their life as a literature student, but I sometimes simply can't 
There is to much going on and I can not follow it 

sonyerin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging slow-paced

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

4.0

leilaxo's review against another edition

3.0

3

georgialilyw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Incredibly surprised as to how much I loved this book and how easy it was to read. I love how Wilson created this how it was intended in the first place - an exciting, compelling story not meant to alienate any reader. I haven't been able to stop myself sharing things I learned in Emily Wilson's introduction as it was all so fascinating - the Greeks lost literacy for 300 years? I have so many questions that weren't addressed in the book and wish I had a classicist on speed dial who might be able to answer them for me. Where is the horse? How does Achilles die? Why, if they have been fighting for 9 years, are they still surprised when they are fighting? 0.25 lost for the lists, didn't mind the repetition but all the names definitely deserve a reread.

justjeanettelee's review against another edition

4.0

So I was actually listening to this book, rather than reading it. I was listening to my favourite podcaster, Liv from Let’s Talk About Myths Baby, as she gave me a new book of the Iliad every Friday, since she went into quarantine. Let me tell you this: Liv Albert has one of the most fucking soothing voices I have ever heard. She makes it so bloody dreamy and honestly, helps me get to sleep like that *clicks fingers*. Although she was reading from the Samuel Butler translation, as it is available in the public domain, and was prose heavy, it was still an absolute pleasure to revisit this book that I kinda/kinda didn’t read properly when I wrote my thesis on Helen and the Trojan women (I was mostly just looking at the presence of females at this point).

The Iliad gets 4 stars from me because while it’s a bad ass story featuring some of my favourite heroes and myths of all time, I still feel like “Homer” is a complete asshat for not including more on the female perspective. Yeah yeah yeah don’t at me, I realise this is an epic poem about male heroics but come on! A woman supposedly started this war, why couldn’t she have a say in the matter? (Which is exactly why I did a paper on the Trojan women - duh!)

jscar82's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny slow-paced

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

5.0

“The Fates give humans an enduring heart.” 

10/10 - I loved this poem and translation! Achilles, I want to yell at him and also give him a hug. His love for Patroclus is moving. 

acrickettofillthesilence's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.0

kae_jackson's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.25

frankanalysis's review against another edition

3.0

This kicked my butt. It was so hard going at some points but so many parts were worth getting through the dull bits!