The Odyssey by Homer

Rishabh | Manalapan High School, Grade 9

Rating: ****

The Odyssey by Homer is an epic poem, and the sequel to the Iliad, so I recommend reading that first. The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus, one of the Greek heroes in the Trojan War, and how he is returning home after the war. What should seemingly be a simple task is instead met with many challenges and foes throughout the journey. It takes Odysseus years to get home, being blown off course by the gods, getting attacked by monsters, and various other challenges that constantly postpone his arrival.

I recommend this epic poem to anyone who likes Greek Mythology, however I do not think it is as good as its predecessor, the Iliad. However, it is still relevant to this day. It shows how human flaws are present everywhere, whether in Odysseus' crew, in Odysseus himself, or even in the non-human characters, such as the gods and the monsters they have to confront. Additionally, it is full of action and kept me on the edge of my seat, and it is a great read.