You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
chickenmanman 's review for:
The Odyssey
by Homer
adventurous
challenging
slow-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:
No
This book was a lovely one to read. The translation style felt comprehensive and fluid, and its prose was quite invigorating. However, I realise that some of the decisions made by Homer in terms of his writing were not my favourite. I do not care much for the length of the accounts of past woes of the characters, as I felt that they could serve the same purpose whilst also being more concise, however, this is mere speculation on the part of a novice.
Having recently read ‘The Iliad’ before this, I have read this with many a comparison in mind between the two works of Homer. Between the two, I have certainly come to the conclusion of preference of ‘The Odyssey’ over ‘The Iliad’, as it is far more narratively focused and structured more conventionally than that of the latter. ‘The Iliad’ is, of course, a different variety of story from ‘The Odyssey’. Being a war epic, it is intuitive that it would include more sweeping detail on the combat between Achaean and Trojan, but I also feel as if it does so excessively. In comparison, ‘The Odyssey’ follows the trials and tribulations of a single man and his journey home, as well as his vengeance against those who plundered his estate and courted his wife. I feel as if the latter of the pair is far more narratively focused and, therefore, captivating.
The characters involved were well-developed and complex, benefitting from the increased focus on a smaller cast than ‘The Iliad’. I felt far more empathy towards Odysseus, Telemachus and Penelope than I felt emotion towards the warriors of Achaea, simply based on my preference towards this story’s narrative structure.
Athena’s consistent presence throughout both works of Homer was delightful, and I continue to greatly enjoy the interplay of the Olympian pantheon in these stories, and how they interact with the events of the story and directly manipulate them. Whilst divine intervention was mainly limited to Poseidon and Athena in this piece, it was nonetheless quite interesting to witness.
The inevitable vengeance of Odysseus was a bit, in my opinion, dragged-out in terms of its build-up, but nonetheless a cathartic experience. His eventual reunion with his wife and son were also quite moving.
Overall, an enjoyable piece to read with lovely style.
Having recently read ‘The Iliad’ before this, I have read this with many a comparison in mind between the two works of Homer. Between the two, I have certainly come to the conclusion of preference of ‘The Odyssey’ over ‘The Iliad’, as it is far more narratively focused and structured more conventionally than that of the latter. ‘The Iliad’ is, of course, a different variety of story from ‘The Odyssey’. Being a war epic, it is intuitive that it would include more sweeping detail on the combat between Achaean and Trojan, but I also feel as if it does so excessively. In comparison, ‘The Odyssey’ follows the trials and tribulations of a single man and his journey home, as well as his vengeance against those who plundered his estate and courted his wife. I feel as if the latter of the pair is far more narratively focused and, therefore, captivating.
The characters involved were well-developed and complex, benefitting from the increased focus on a smaller cast than ‘The Iliad’. I felt far more empathy towards Odysseus, Telemachus and Penelope than I felt emotion towards the warriors of Achaea, simply based on my preference towards this story’s narrative structure.
Athena’s consistent presence throughout both works of Homer was delightful, and I continue to greatly enjoy the interplay of the Olympian pantheon in these stories, and how they interact with the events of the story and directly manipulate them. Whilst divine intervention was mainly limited to Poseidon and Athena in this piece, it was nonetheless quite interesting to witness.
The inevitable vengeance of Odysseus was a bit, in my opinion, dragged-out in terms of its build-up, but nonetheless a cathartic experience. His eventual reunion with his wife and son were also quite moving.
Overall, an enjoyable piece to read with lovely style.