Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Iliad by Homer

84 reviews

naomi_k's review against another edition

adventurous challenging sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, and Slavery

Minor: Sexual violence

siobhanward's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

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

3.5

NYT Notable Books 2023: 29/100

I'm glad that this was on the notable books list, since otherwise I don't know if I ever would have found Wilson's translation. I loved the notes at the end that clarified what some things meant and why certain translation decisions were made. I will say that the poem was really long, to the point of being frustrating on occasion. The endless pages in book 2 devoted to who was coming to the war and the very detailed run-downs of what people were wearing (including exactly what Hephaesteus was putting on Achilles' shield) did get a bit tiring, but there were some other really solid parts. This book was also incredibly gory, which kind of surprised me, and I loved in the notes when Wilson pointed out that some of the especially gory portions were just not physically possible, which was pretty funny.

Definitely a cool read. I was surprised by certain things not actually being a part of the story (Achilles' death, the Trojan horse), but there was still so much in there that was solid. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

mothstrand's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, and War

Moderate: Incest and Rape

alyxinthestars's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, and War

jemappellecat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

lauramcc7's review against another edition

adventurous challenging slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War

scoobygirl93's review against another edition

slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

bazer63's review against another edition

adventurous reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Homer goes on a lot of tangents but some of these tangents are surprisingly entertaining.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, and War

Moderate: Sexism and Slavery

goemonxiii's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

a lot of main characters die, sometimes the injuries can be graphic, not really a spoiler but King Agamemnon steals Achilles' girlfriend in the beginning and is annoying to deal with throughout the poem

xandra_lyn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

This was the translation I read in college, and I wanted to reread it before reading Emily Wilson's translation. It's an ok, but rather difficult to understand at times. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, and War

Minor: Rape and Trafficking

Trafficking and rape: although neither of these words are present in the text, slave girls are given and taken as gifts and are explicitly slept with. It isn't glorified or condemned - it is a fact in their world that this will happen to conquered nations.