Odyssey

Very good reding for weekend

Odyssey, written by Homer, is possibly one of the greatest stories of a hero's return home. It combines storytelling and poetry in a marvelous way. This book, translated by Stanley Lombardo, is written to make Homer's Odyssey both detailed and simple, yet also poetic by keeping figurative elements and verse. The book starts off with a quite descriptive introduction by Sheila Murnaghan which details almost everything about the Odyssey, including history, translation challenges, and controversy. Odysseus' 20 years of brave survival and Telemachus' journey to find his father bring upon the reader a number of emotions. Penelope's grief for Odysseus and her longing are described to let the reader know how she feels amongst the arrogant suitors, wishing to marry her and take all of Odysseus' wealth. I cannot write everything about the book here, and there is so much more to it then these words of review. The book is truly an epic and deserves to be read by all.

This is a very readable and understandable translation of Homer’s epic. I studied The Odyssey using a different translation and thought my granddaughter ought to read the same one. However, her teacher assigned her class this one. Her teacher was spot on. This translation is a big more straightforward without losing The Odyssey’s wonderful story. I highly recommend it... and, for more mature readers, I highly recommend the other as well. I will add that my husband read this one to encourage discussion with our granddaughter and he got so caught up in it that he had trouble putting it down, so the translator hasn’t watered it down intellectually at all!

The Odyssey is a 3000-year-old epic poem set in ancient Greece. It follows the adventures of a general named Odysseus (thus the title) as he tries to get home after the Trojan War and encounters angry gods, sea monsters, conniving sorcerors, monsters on land, fell magic, the raging sea, and other obstacles along the way. Odysseus would be rather swiftly crushed by these problems, except that he has the goddess Athena on his side; she gives him her aid and helps him get back home, where he finds his wife under seige by "suitors" who are out to grab her, his monies, his servants and his lands. This is considered one of the great works of Western civilization, and this edition seriously kicks butt. The story roars along, with Odysseus getting into oodles of troubles so deep that only a goddess can get him out again, and he relies on his wits, his imagination, his strength, his fighting skills and Athena to keep him moving toward home and then to take care of the thieves he finds when he gets there.As I said at the opening of my review, this is a POEM which was originally written in dactylic hexameter, the classical epic form of poetry. Here it is free verse, which is disappointing for poetry fans like myself who enjoy dactylic hexameter but probably won't be missed by most readers. If you're afraid to read it because it's a poem, don't sweat it. First and foremost this is a rockin' story of one man surviving long odds and getting his just reward, in the end. If you're curious about this classic, I really recommend you try it. After 5 pages you'll get past the poetry into the story, and from there it's a wild ride in an ancient culture with some fierce values and a savage outlook.I gave this version 4 stars because I've also read the Fagles edition, which I like better. I can't tell you which YOU will like better, because that's up to individual tastes. Fagles' language soars better for me than Lombardo's, but you might like Lombardo better. If you're really wondering which to get, go to the library and read a bit of both, and then buy the one you like better.

First, it's the Odyssey. But more specific to this purchase, I love this particular translation by Lombardo. I prefer it to the other versions I've read. I can't rate this any higher, so it gets five stars.

Over time, this has become my favorite translation, so much so that I bought a hardcover version in addition to the softcover version -- hardcover books stand up much better to frequent reading.

At 65 I finally read Homer. I’ve enjoyed it much. On to the Iliad and then who knows where. I love retirement.

A reading for our time without tortured syntax that stultify academic versions. Moves with swiftness of the original.

Lombardo's translation of Homers Odyssey is an excellent way to experience this classic through a modern wording.I especially enjoyed the translation of the adventure and battle scenes in this edition. Having studied a more traditional English translation of The Odyssey in high school, I felt this version was much easier to follow and the story was overall much more engrossing because the language used is more everyday and familiar.

Great book if you are a Mythology / History buff like I am :)

Excellent translation. Good introduction, too.

Best translation I've found of the Odyssey, really beautifully written and easy to read. Also recommend the version of the Iliad in the same series.

Sucks when you stuck on a island for 7 years.