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jk525 's review for:
The Odyssey
by Homer
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was such a mixed bag for me. Slight spoilers.
Books 1-13 varied from fun to brilliant (namely 4, 6, 9 and to an extent 11; the section of Achaean wives was pretty dull but the section with the heroes was great).
Books 14-19 were a complete slog. Nothing occuring within the narrative or characters interested me at all aside from Odysseus having to quell his bloodlust at night.
Odysseus himself was not as I expected at all. He is often lorded as the most virtuous of mythological heroes, but this seemed slightly off the mark to me. Fagles naming him "the man of twists and turns" was awfully apt in identifying not just the cunning of Odysseus, but also his nature and desires.
Ironically, the virtuous reputation that seems to have fallen upon Odysseus feels like the last, and most brilliant, of his many schemes. He has duped those who live over 2000 years after his journey concluded into believing he was a simple man who wished only for home. A really cool idea, I think.
It did get very boring in parts but it's like 2000 years old so I'm not going to judge it too harshly.
A cool story, high peaks and low troughs.
Also, Menelaus. Just wanted a brief note for him because he seemed cool as fuck.
Books 1-13 varied from fun to brilliant (namely 4, 6, 9 and to an extent 11; the section of Achaean wives was pretty dull but the section with the heroes was great).
Books 14-19 were a complete slog. Nothing occuring within the narrative or characters interested me at all aside from Odysseus having to quell his bloodlust at night.
Odysseus himself was not as I expected at all. He is often lorded as the most virtuous of mythological heroes, but this seemed slightly off the mark to me. Fagles naming him "the man of twists and turns" was awfully apt in identifying not just the cunning of Odysseus, but also his nature and desires.
Ironically, the virtuous reputation that seems to have fallen upon Odysseus feels like the last, and most brilliant, of his many schemes. He has duped those who live over 2000 years after his journey concluded into believing he was a simple man who wished only for home. A really cool idea, I think.
It did get very boring in parts but it's like 2000 years old so I'm not going to judge it too harshly.
A cool story, high peaks and low troughs.
Also, Menelaus. Just wanted a brief note for him because he seemed cool as fuck.