You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

A review by ester_ku
The Odyssey by Homer

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Reading Robert Fagles’ translation of The Odyssey was both easy and enjoyable. I especially loved experiencing it with my book club—we explored the culture, the characters, and learned so much more about the people and the hero at the heart of the story. There’s a lot of foreshadowing, which made the story even more engaging as events slowly unfolded.

Odysseus is such a complex character. You kind of hate him at times, yet still find yourself rooting for him. It’s incredibly frustrating how often he withholds information from his crew, especially when the gods have clearly gave him warnings of things not to do for him and his crew. It leads to so much unnecessary tragedy.

The ending was satisfying—there’s justice, closure, and he’s finally reunited with his wife. But the moment with his dog, Argos... that scene broke my heart. I actually cried. This story made me feel so many things—anger, grief, and hope. Overall, The Odyssey was a powerful and emotional journey.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings