antvanram 's review for:

The Iliad by Homer

3.0

adventurous challenging 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: Yes

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Compared to modern literature, an ancient written adaptation of an even older oral legend makes for a somewhat repetitive and shallow narrative. I understand why ancient orature is necessarily formulaic—it was a handy recap for listeners as well as a tool to give the orators time to plan what to say next without stopping—but that doesn't justify how tiring it is to read. 

Be ready to read how many men were "stabbed below the nipple" for each of the two dozen battles described in detail, who their fathers were, and how those fathers acquired their estates. You can also see how many times the great heroic kings and leaders sob hysterically over stolen enslaved girls and their really, really good "friends" they loved and lost in battle.

This was interesting to analyz  as a historical document, but not so much as a story for entertainment.