Page 10 | MN Readalong : Homer’s The Odyssey in 2026

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 2025-12-31T14:16:49+00:00

Proposing 2 chapters a month so for January 1. Athene Visits Telemachus 1. The Debate In Ithaca Convening at the end of each month Everyone welcome!

Dolamroth · 02/01/2026 10:06

destiEos · 02/01/2026 09:32

Just saw your later post, mine has 24 "books" too, I think we'll be fine 🙂 Not sure how I'll hoist the big heavy tome up to read in bed, but at least I have pictures 😆

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That is very pretty

destiEos · 02/01/2026 09:32

dudsville · 01/01/2026 19:18

Hi, it sounded like the first two chapters initially touted have similar names to this version, so I was going to aim to read the two by the end of the month... But no way will that work will it? There will be too much book left over at the end of the year! I don't know, I'm still going to try! What do you think?

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Just saw your later post, mine has 24 "books" too, I think we'll be fine 🙂 Not sure how I'll hoist the big heavy tome up to read in bed, but at least I have pictures 😆

MN Readalong : Homer’s The Odyssey in 2026

MamaNewtNewt · 01/01/2026 22:27

I’ve made a start. Enjoying it so far but think I’m going to struggle to keep track of who is who.

SheilaFentiman · 01/01/2026 22:11

Screenshots might help..?

dudsville · 01/01/2026 20:52

My copy has 3 maps, places in the 1st chapter. Is that similar to yours @SheilaFentiman ? I just saw I also have a pronunciation guide also imbeded in the 1st chapter. I won't be able to start reading for a few days as I need to finish something else first, but it will be fun to read along. I never enjoyed book groups because of having to read things I wasn't interested in or enjoying, this is a much better way, really looking forward ard to it.

Original poster

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 01/01/2026 20:46

Perfect @dudsvilleI can’t see the maps @SheilaFentiman

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dudsville · 01/01/2026 20:44

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 01/01/2026 19:40

@destiEosand @dudsville just do the first two chapters to start and if there’s an issue come Jan 31st, we’ll sort it then, maybe add some more chapters in. My copy has 24 chapters, hence 2 a month

I just checked, mine also has 24 chapters, so they must be aligned.

SheilaFentiman · 01/01/2026 20:40

Rejoined Audible to get the Claire Danes narration for 99p. This comes with some PDF maps which may well be helpful!

Original poster

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 01/01/2026 19:41

Yes that’s what I mean @SheilaFentiman

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Original poster

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 01/01/2026 19:40

@destiEosand @dudsville just do the first two chapters to start and if there’s an issue come Jan 31st, we’ll sort it then, maybe add some more chapters in. My copy has 24 chapters, hence 2 a month

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SheilaFentiman · 01/01/2026 19:38

@dudsville Aren't there 24 'books' in the epic? I thought we were doing 2 'books' a month.

The Emily Wilson version calls the first two books 'The Boy and the Goddess' and 'The Dangerous Journey'

dudsville · 01/01/2026 19:18

destiEos · 01/01/2026 19:06

I have the Robert Fagles Folio Society version, not sure where it is though! I'm going to dig it out and join if I may. Where are you going up to for the first month's reading?

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Hi, it sounded like the first two chapters initially touted have similar names to this version, so I was going to aim to read the two by the end of the month... But no way will that work will it? There will be too much book left over at the end of the year! I don't know, I'm still going to try! What do you think?

destiEos · 01/01/2026 19:06

dudsville · 31/12/2025 16:16

I can just aim to keep up with the chapter numbers. I can see by the titles of yours how they relate to mine, my translator is just a little more chitchatty! If I recall it correctly, mine is quite repetitive, maybe in the style of old verbal tellings, so I may be able to speed read some sections!

I have the Robert Fagles Folio Society version, not sure where it is though! I'm going to dig it out and join if I may. Where are you going up to for the first month's reading?

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 01/01/2026 18:51

Made my way here via the film thread. I'm in, but I have big reading ambitions this year so I'm a bit nervous I'll fail miserably.
Just started W.G. Sebald's Austerlitz yesterday, which has been on my TBR list for a looooooooong time. 😂
Thanks for the thread @EineReiseDurchDieZeit !

Original poster

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 01/01/2026 18:00

Welcome @PurpleLass1234

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PurpleLass1234 · 01/01/2026 17:49

I’m in, please! Had the Penguin Classics edition on my kindle for ages but never started it!

Original poster

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 01/01/2026 17:40

@BuffysBigSisteryou're good we aren’t discussing the chapters until the end of the month

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BuffysBigSister · 01/01/2026 17:07

Hope I'm not too late to join in - also helps with the "read what you already own" challenge

Dolamroth · 01/01/2026 13:18

Ok, why not I'm in
Doing the audiobook though as I'm more likely to take it in that way.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 01/01/2026 12:25

Just ordered the Emily Wilson translation, I do have it somewhere but think DD has it

LuckyMauveReader · 01/01/2026 11:34

@UlldemoShul I had seen that mentioned, but I may use this as my opportunity to get through both. I'll follow along on the thread in the hopes that I'll finish it in good time, not to miss too much of the discussion.

ÚlldemoShúl · 01/01/2026 11:19

@LuckyMauveReader The Odyssey comes after The Iliad but there’s no need to read both to read one (unless you want to). The Iliad tells some of the story of the battle at Troy in which Odysseus plays a part. The Odyssey is the story of his journey home so a completely separate tale.

LuckyMauveReader · 01/01/2026 11:09

Happy New Year, everyone!

I'm not sure whether this is wise, but I'm marking my place for this read-along too. Having signed up for Les Mis, reading both may become a challenge.

Whilst looking through Audible last night, I came across The Iliad/The Odyssey book combined. Using a credit for a book of this size, I consider it a bargain.

As I have wanted to read both, I may get through The Iliad and play catch with the Odyssey and join everyone once I have done so. Is there a benefit to reading both?

SheilaFentiman · 31/12/2025 23:20

Fitzcarraldo353 · 31/12/2025 16:34

Ooh I love Homer's Odyssey. I studied it for both my Leaving Certificate (I'm Irish) and my degree. Can't WAIT for the Christopher Nolan film to come out!

I probably won't join the read along as I'm just starting something else but commenting to place mark in case I change my mind.

Enjoy it! And listen to Natalie Haynes Stands up for The Odyssey podcast for a 30 mins speed-retelling

Thank you - just listened to the episode!

dudsville · 31/12/2025 22:23

I did try reading the Illiad, don't think I completed it, it just didn't grab me the way The Odessy did. Really looking forward to this. And yes, @JustPlainStanfreyPock ,i loved Circe!

Happy New Year!