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percy_hanawalt 's review for:
The Odyssey of Homer
by Homer
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An accessible translation of a timeless classic. I’ve loved the stories from the Odyssey since I was a little kid, so this was a fun read. Odysseus’ lengthy journey home and his outwitting of the scheming suitors is consistently entertaining and full of action. The pace isn’t especially fast, but the meter flows nicely — Lattimore strove to follow the original Greek hexameter, which I appreciate.
It’s also interesting to consider the values of the time in contrast to our own. There are a lot more rules and norms surrounding host-guest relationships that drive the plot once Odysseus gets back to Ithaca (and during his visits to various places on his way home).
My only quibble with the translation is using “wine-blue sea” instead of “wine-dark sea.” This translation has long been a source of controversy, so I don’t know that there’s a “right” answer per se, but I find “wine-blue” less logical as a descriptor.
It’s also interesting to consider the values of the time in contrast to our own. There are a lot more rules and norms surrounding host-guest relationships that drive the plot once Odysseus gets back to Ithaca (and during his visits to various places on his way home).
My only quibble with the translation is using “wine-blue sea” instead of “wine-dark sea.” This translation has long been a source of controversy, so I don’t know that there’s a “right” answer per se, but I find “wine-blue” less logical as a descriptor.