Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - The Iliad: A New Translation by Peter Green

I know it's slow, and I know it's a war epic, but it's great nonetheless. There's a reason why we read The Iliad despite it being thousands of years old, and it's because it's a good book. Homer is very talented when it comes to the words he chooses to use, the characters are memorable and interesting, and Achilles in particular shines throughout. If you liked The Song of Achilles, please follow it up with The Iliad. If you like Achillean romance or stories, please read this.

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adventurous challenging dark informative sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I did not enjoy reading this book. It was such a slog.

I am not a big fan of war focused narratives, so that part is on me. But the descriptions are simply too in-depth. I also would have an existential crisis if I lived in this book, as the Gods seem to always do what they want, except when they don't, so it doens't even make anything feel important.

If you like lists, then boy do I have a story for you. The lists in this book are endless, and include: the name of every ship being sailed including a description and how many men are on board - the name of every person who dies ever in this war, how they die, and who they are related to - the names of everyone that participates in any sort of game, wager, race, etc. A list lovers dream, truely.

Content Warnings