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The Iliad

Homer

Start date: July 1, 2012

Finish date: July 31, 2012

Discussion: Old School Classics, Pre-1915

Why we're reading this: Old School Classic Group Read, July 2012
[close] Old School Classic Group Read, July 2012

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Old School Classics, Pre-1915

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What Members Thought

Jul 26, 2019 Andrea rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-sorted, fiction-poetry, literature-greko-roman, fiction-classics, fiction, 2019-chunkster

Not an easy read, but very fulfilling if you give it proper attention. Do not expect to just casually fly through it on the weekend while sipping sangria on the patio (not that I did that all day today, ahem). I took my time, thoughtfully reading one book at a time and looking up summaries and analyses online after each. I made notes, I looked up classical artwork, and I let myself have all the time in the world to finish The Iliad.

The ancient epic does tend to drag in some spots, especially wh ...more

17 likes · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2020 Debra rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Timeless Heroes

I believe that most modern readers will find this translation easy to read and follow. The story itself rings with epic heroes and epic themes, and I was surprised at how engrossing I found it. The most difficult aspect of the story is the many, many Greek names. Keeping them straight can be a chore, as there are many characters who bear more than one name (like a Dostoevsky novel), and they are often referenced in terms of the name of their fathers. If you’ve never read the stor ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 26, 2012 Deb rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: literature

When I was in fifth grade, my mom was on the school's Book Fair (remember them?) committee. Knowing I loved Greek myths when a prose copy of The Iliad came in, she grabbed it for me. I won't say it blew me away, but I wanted to be either Athena or Atalanta when I grew up. In fact, I was Atalanta for Senior Day in high school, but that's another story altogether (Senior Day in my high school fell on May 8th, 1970, the day of the Kent State massacre, so I spent a large part of that day at school s ...more

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Dec 27, 2018 Sara rated it really liked it

I spent the entire year reading this. Slowly. Re-reading in places, skipping others. I looked up various editions, translations, and commentaries. I am not done with The Iliad. I don't think one ever finishes this work. It weaves itself into your life whether you want it to or not. It sort of becomes a piece of work you spend your life reading. ...more

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Jan 15, 2021 Andreea rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I did not expect to like this one as much as I did. It's a 3.5 stars, but I have way too much fun not to give it 4.

I loved the bickering, the gods, the moody heroes. It was an epic fun. ...more

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