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Original poster

MN Readalong : Homer’s The Odyssey in 2026

292 replies

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 31/12/2025 14:16

Proposing 2 chapters a month so for January

  1. Athene Visits Telemachus
  2. The Debate In Ithaca

Convening at the end of each month

Everyone welcome!

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8
SheilaFentiman · 12/01/2026 16:59

@Frannyisreading I have skipped most of the intro

Frannyisreading · 12/01/2026 16:48

I'd probably choose 2 a month personally to give time to discuss and digest but if people prefer 4 that's ok.
I'm mostly daunted by the 100 or so pages of intro in my edition!

dudsville · 12/01/2026 16:35

I would also be really happy to do 4 books a month, might be able to do more. I didn't know a film was coming out, off to Google!

Original poster
EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 12/01/2026 16:29

Yeah I started it because I wanted to reread before the film

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FiveGoMadInDorset · 12/01/2026 16:28

Also happy to read 4, don’t realise there was a film coming out but good to finish it before July then

ÚlldemoShúl · 12/01/2026 16:25

I’m happy to do 2 or 4- whatever suits the majority.

CrystalSingerFan · 12/01/2026 16:15

@Onceuponasunflower

Ooh, translation theory. Bet that's interesting. I'm a Rilke fan and cannot believe how much difference the translations make to the poems.

Are peeps allowed to join in the readalong if they use one or more ancient Project Gutenberg translations? So far I've found William Cowper, 1791, (English blank verse) and Samuel Butler, 1900, (English prose). I might get my local library to order in a more up-to-date translation if necessary.

Original poster
EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 12/01/2026 16:09

I’ll wait for a consensus and see what people say

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SheilaFentiman · 12/01/2026 15:48

I'm happy to read 4 a month

Original poster
EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 12/01/2026 15:28

Stowickthevast · 12/01/2026 15:15

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit I wonder if we should move at a slightly faster pace as the chapters are quite short?

do we know when the film is out?

Yes perhaps?

what does everyone think ?

4 a month?

Film is July

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ÚlldemoShúl · 12/01/2026 15:17

I think the movie comes out in July.

Stowickthevast · 12/01/2026 15:15

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit I wonder if we should move at a slightly faster pace as the chapters are quite short?

do we know when the film is out?

Dolamroth · 12/01/2026 12:24

I've listened to my two chapters (books) now. I'll be honest, it didn't sound particularly poetic to me. I was expecting it to be Shakespearean somehow. Anyway, enjoyed the story so far.

Look forward to discussing it.

tumbletoast · 09/01/2026 19:13

Emily Wilson has used a different rhythm to the original (because the rhythm that works in Greek doesn't work very well in English) but with the intention of being true to the experience of the original.

I do love the care and detail she puts into her translations.

SerendipityJane · 09/01/2026 15:15

Finally broke the seal on the audiobook (Claire Danes). Halfway through Chapter one ...

Not having looked at the actual print, am I correct in that it's a very "tight" translation ? There seems to be a very subtle rhythm ...

But very much enjoying it. 😀

SerendipityJane · 08/01/2026 14:39

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 08/01/2026 14:37

@SheilaFentimanI think she means the audiobook??

Well as a result of listening to "Troy" I discovered i had "Odyssey" in my queue (a long way down).

I think I'll start the CD version so as not to confuse anyone. Especially myself. 😄

Original poster
EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 08/01/2026 14:37

@SheilaFentimanI think she means the audiobook??

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SheilaFentiman · 08/01/2026 14:33

SerendipityJane · 08/01/2026 14:23

Argh - behind already (have too many podcasts to catch up on).

Can anyone ahead of me comment on whether the Stephen Fry version is suitable ? I enjoyed Troy. However I also nabbed the Claire Danes version ... which to start ?

Stephen Fry hasn't done a translation AFAIK - he has written about the events/myths

Original poster
EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 08/01/2026 14:27

@SerendipityJane I have listened to the first two books of the Clare Danes / Emily Wilson it’s very accessible

@Hoolahoophop Everyone welcome convening at the end of the month!

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SerendipityJane · 08/01/2026 14:23

Argh - behind already (have too many podcasts to catch up on).

Can anyone ahead of me comment on whether the Stephen Fry version is suitable ? I enjoyed Troy. However I also nabbed the Claire Danes version ... which to start ?

Hoolahoophop · 08/01/2026 13:26

May I join, I have just reserved the Emily Wilson version from my local library. Hopefully it will come in soon.

dudsville · 08/01/2026 12:32

tumbletoast · 07/01/2026 22:12

Out of curiosity, which translation of The Iliad did you try? Emily Wilson has published her translation too now, which made me try it as I loved her translation of The Odyssey (and her introduction explaining the context and meanings).

Her introduction and translator's notes really helped me to understand and appreciate what I was reading. It is worth giving them the time.

The Iliad is really a poem about grief. If you're in the right headspace and know the context it can be both beautiful and cathartic.

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Hi, I saw you message last night but I was already in bed, and that book is at the bottom of a dusty stack! I just checked and it's the same as my Odyssey, both are by Fagles. I'll have a think about a different edition, thanks!

tumbletoast · 07/01/2026 22:12

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!

Out of curiosity, which translation of The Iliad did you try? Emily Wilson has published her translation too now, which made me try it as I loved her translation of The Odyssey (and her introduction explaining the context and meanings).

Her introduction and translator's notes really helped me to understand and appreciate what I was reading. It is worth giving them the time.

The Iliad is really a poem about grief. If you're in the right headspace and know the context it can be both beautiful and cathartic.

Original poster
EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 07/01/2026 21:58

I’ve listened to the Wilson first two books on audio but stopped there. I haven’t read the Rieu yet

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dudsville · 07/01/2026 21:50

I'd be curious to know what pace others are reading to, or if you're sticking to the 2 books a month. I've never done a readalong before.

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