MN Readalong : Homer’s The Odyssey in 2026

Hi what book will you be up to by the 25th April. I have finally caved and bought a copy on audible. Have listened to the introduction and am about to start the text! I hope to join you at the end of the month.

I'm really enjoying the Wilson translation and everyone's comments here. If you haven't read it already, I highly recommend reading Wilson's introductions; it's fascinating and it's helped me get more out of the text itself.

These are two of my favourite books in the Odyssey and I really enjoyed the Wilson translation of them. I loved the descriptions of Calypso's island in book 5 and the part where Odysseus takes the chair Hermes has just vacated. And the description of Hermes flying like a seabird in his gold winged sandals.
In book 6 it's lovely to meet Nausicaa and get yet another version of xenia (guest- friendship). As @dupainduvindufromage pointed out Nausicaa is young - in ancient Greece girls got married around 12 or 13 so she could be around that age. It's kind of bizarre that the premise of her trip out is to wash clothes for her marriage, when a husband hasn't yet been found. And I think the passage towards the end - where Nausicaa thinks that she can't take Odysseus into town herself as people would shame her - is probably meant to show how virtuous she is. I've always found it funny how Odysseus ' hair is described as like a hyacinth! And finally, it is odd how Nausicaa tells him to go to Queen Arete instead of the King.

Hope you're feeling better@EineReiseDurchDieZeit

Sorry you’re not well @EineReiseDurchDieZeit , hope you feel better soon.

These two books were more interesting than the earlier ones - this is where it starts to get fun! I always get Calypso and Circe mixed up so I was surprised at how nice Calypso was - she not only lets Odysseus go but helps him on his way. She gets a raw deal and Odysseus gets to have his cake and eat it when it comes to his wife and his mistress - irritating!

I liked Book 6, with its focus on the teenage princess and her friends, and then the amusing interaction with the branch-holding Odysseus. I picture Nausicaa as a bit like Cher from Clueless - a bit of a rich-girl airhead (chilling out in her messy room, and then going on a trip to the ancient equivalent of the spa 😄), but with more to her than that, especially her willingness to help a stranger in need.

I read it today. Agree that is was a great couple of chapters and good to finally meet Odysseus. it was interesting to meet Ino, a minor sea nymph. I liked the notes of Emily Wilson's translation where she points it that a couple of the Greek words used in the text are cognates if Calypso, so even when he leaves her, her presence continues. And I did raise an eyebrow that while Odysseus is missing Penelope and wanting to get back to her, it's not quite enough to stop him enjoying a final night of pleasure with Calypso. And yes @RomanMum I liked Calypso pointing out the double standards.

We get a bit more courtly life in book 6 and Odysseus grabbing a branch to cover himswlf made me chuckle. It seemed a bit of a convoluted way to meet the king but I guess he's now well dressed.

I noticed in the Wilson translation, she uses the word deathless to describe the gods rather than immortal but maybe they're different words. We also had Homer's "wine-dark sea" apoearing again. This always interests me, I believe ancient Greek didn't resist have a word for blue.

Sorry to hear you’re poorly @EineReiseDurchDieZeit.

That was an action packed couple of chapters, good to meet Odysseus - finally - and what a way to start his return home. The storm was really atmospheric. I’m on the old Rieu translation so would be interested to see how more modern versions look.

An interesting speech of Calypso too regarding the double standards in gods having relationships with humans, and how female deity/human men pairings tend to be punished while male gods get away with much more.

I haven’t either @EineReiseDurchDieZeitif that’s any consolation. Too many plates in the air. I may have to let this one crash to the floor.

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Saturday's not a great day for me, tend to be out and about but I did read ahead and will pop back in later or tomorrow with some thoughts.
Rest and take care of yourself.

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit is there a date for discussing books 5&6?

@ShackletonSailingSouth I also noticed the poet and wondered what the heck that was about! I'd love to know more.
I need to reread to think about Helen's portrayal. At one point I thought she was trying to dodge responsibility but I can't remember the line now.

I really enjoyed these two books. We're hearing lots about how Xenia (guest-friendship ) should be done , as a big contrast to the situation in Ithaca. And being left on a cliff hanger about whether the suitors will kill Telemachus .
Menelaus' story about how he has to capture Proteus the sea god in order to get home is lovely. And the little bizarre references to Agamemnon ordering a poet to protect her but Aegisthus took him to an island and left him there. Why a poet? Seems very odd! (3:265). Makes me wonder where this snippet comes from, it must be some earlier story. Alice Oswald uses this and the sea god in her poem Nobody which is based on the Odyssey.

I didn't remember how much there was in these two books. Really enjoying the Wilson translation too.

@Frannyisreading I also fancy the drugs!
And whoever mentioned about Helen's character, it depends on the translation as in the Fagles she calls herself a "shameless whore"!

Ooh, we finish on a cliff hanger this month! I'm enjoying the pace of 2 books per month, it seems very manageable.

I am finding the hardest thing is all of the names. Not so much the main characters but every few lines seem to reference a new place or several new people. I'm trying to let it flow over me and just focus on the main plot.

Poor Penelope does seem to have had a rough time for no reason. I'm glad I know there's a happier ending for her!

I thought Menelaus was surprisingly likeable here, and I wouldn't mind a small supply of some of the drug Helen uses to cheer everyone up.

Yes, enjoying the descriptions of the feasting! I have the paperback Emily Wilson and when it first arrived I thought that there was something wrong with it as the page edges were all rough - I returned it, and then realised that they were the
”tactile deckle edges” that are a special feature of this edition!😕

I think that Meneleus' reticence in not immediately leaping in to the identity of Telemachus is partly the etiquette of guest friendship and partly drawing out of dramatic tension.

As a retired archaeologist (though not in the ancient Mediterranean alas!) I also love all the detail about buildings and objects. A couple of years ago we visited the Royal Macedonian tombs (the family of Alexander the Great) which at around 300BC are rather later than the period written about in the Odyssey, but there were objects from high status women's graves which included actual golden sandal soles, Athena style - amazing. Possibly even a nod to that, as Alexander was known to have read the Iliad and known it well, so people at that time knew the texts.

The story is moving on here, I’m enjoying Telemachus’s travels.

It’s odd that Menelaus, who spent ten years fighting with his father, didn’t recognise him, yet Helen then rocks up and spots the resemblance straight away. Helen seemed to take the blame for the Trojan war which felt a bit wrong as events were out of her control. I did like the preparation for the sacrifice and details of the feast.

I’m a bit behind. Plan to reach the chapters this weekend.

Morning. I really enjoyed these two chapters where the story moves on and we meet a couple of the main characters from the Iliad, Helen and Menelaus.
It was interesting how sympathetically Helen was portrayed now that she's back with Menelaus. Lots of references to her being the daughter of Zeus, and no-one seemed particularly annoyed that her running off with Paris had caused a major war and hundreds of deaths! It was also interesting to hear the Clytemnestra/Agamemnon tale, again sympathetic to Agamemnon but I guess it was being told by his brother. I think this story is a bit more nuanced in some of the plays. I mean Agamemnon did sacrifice his daughter so I think he deserves whatever is coming to him.
Narratively, the action is still very much reported to us by other people. I liked a lot of the scene setting and daily details here though, like dipping the cow's horns and the different preparations for their feasts.
That was quite a lot! Interested in what others thought.

Thanks @EineReiseDurchDieZeit and @tumbletoast I think I might try the audio book then. If I love it I can always buy a copy later, in fact once its a bit older it might come down in price and I do have a few audible credits.

I look forward to listening and joining you all for some discussion soon.

I originally listened to the audiobook version of the Wilson translation for a similar rationale to you. I also wasn't confident about reading poetry (I end up getting pauses in the wrong places and turning it into a disjointed jumble) so it helped to listen and just focus on hearing it told as a story.

I have the book too now - I find it easier to read having first heard the story. With the book you can then cross reference to her translator's notes more easily, but I wasn't interested in that initially.

Only thing with the audiobook is I find I have to do something else at the same time otherwise my mind drifts and I stop listening. I know someone who knitted while she listened to it for the same reason.