{"id":16338,"date":"2026-04-16T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/?p=16338"},"modified":"2026-04-12T12:20:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T16:20:58","slug":"review-odyssey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/review-odyssey\/","title":{"rendered":"Story Review – The Odyssey"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

This “book review” is rather different, since The Odyssey<\/em> has been published in so many different forms \u2014 and wasn’t, originally, a book. Rather than reviewing this as a book, with where to buy it, genres, about the author, etc., I’m reviewing my experience of reading it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a review, though, it needs a star rating. I’m giving it \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606. It was perfectly adequate, but it wasn’t for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those interested, I read the version translated by Emily Wilson<\/a>, the first English translation of The Odyssey<\/em> by a woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

While I don’t personally believe that spoilers are a thing for a story that is thousands of years old, there are, technically, spoilers in this review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Review<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a child \u2014 in the pre-teen, early teen age range \u2014 I went through my Greco-Roman mythology stage, and read the age-appropriate, storified version of The Odyssey<\/em>. When I got a little older, I read a more complete, but still storified, version. I appreciated both more than I did reading the “original,” poetry version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue wasn’t the style of writing, I found it was a rather easy read \u2014 other than the Greek names I occasionally had to sound out. Rather, what I found lacking was how the focus wasn’t on Odysseus or his story. I know, that probably seems odd in a review about The Odyssey<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although certainly edited throughout the millennia and with likely liberties taken in the translation, this version of The Odyssey<\/em> is, at its core, the version meant to be told or sung in ancient times. It hasn’t been modernized and storified to suit today’s audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I got the notification on Libby that The Odyssey<\/em> was available for me to borrow, I expected a longer, perhaps slower or more drawn-out, version of what I read as a child. A beginning-to-end story that starts with Odysseus at war or leaving Troy and ends with his happily ever after once back home. This version of The Odyssey isn’t that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, you start in the middle, with the suitors all at Odysseus’ palace, hounding Penelope, and Odysseus held captive by Calypso.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could accept starting in the middle, though, if what followed was a good story with flashbacks. But we never really get the story. There’s a brief period when Odysseus is feasting among the Phaeacians that he tells a short version of what has happened to him since leaving Troy. That’s the closest we get to hearing his story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, The Odyssey<\/em> was more a look at what the ancient Greeks held to be important. Attractive men and women are said to be godlike. Beautiful women are often described as “white armed.” Sacrifices to the gods are described in detail \u2014 I assume that those listening would have been happy to know that sacrifices were performed correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customs are repeatedly explained, especially those involved in welcoming strangers and sending them off with gifts. People are often introduced with their lineage. And the ancient Greeks must have LOVED similes and metaphors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the one hand, it’s fascinating to have such a different culture than I’m used to living or reading about laid forth in such a way. You can’t miss what the ancient Greeks felt was important. On the other hand, though, it makes for repetitive, and somewhat boring, reading. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m pleased to have finally read the “original” form of The Odyssey<\/em>, but I don’t see myself reading it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Notable Quotes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Book 4: There is no harm in mourning when a person dies; it is the only honor we can pay the dead \u2014 to cut our hair and drench our cheeks with tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book 7: The belly is just like a whining dog: it begs and forces one to notice it, despite exhaustion or the depths of sorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Have you read The Odyssey<\/em>? If so, what did you think of it? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks for reading to the end, I hope you enjoyed my post. Make sure to subscribe to my blog<\/a> or follow me on Instagram<\/a> so you don\u2019t miss any posts. I generally post at least once a week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have a different type of review for the ancient story of Odysseus. Check out my review of my experience of reading The Odyssey, translated by Emily Wilson.<\/p>\n

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