How does one review the western classical story? I recall having owned a cheap Chapters sale copy a decade ago. I was really into classics then, and this seemed like a bit of a beast. Turns out the middle of an engineering diploma is not the best time to pick up this book. But I'm so glad I didn't because this copy is *chef's kiss*.

Ultimately it was reading Miller's Circe that inspired me to take a go at the Odyssey, as the eponymous hero Odysseus makes an appearance in her novel. Since I'm aiming to keep my shelves as diverse as possible, I thought I'd track down the copy translated by Emily Wilson, the FIRST woman to translate this ancient poem. When I saw that the audiobook was narrated by Claire Danes, I swooned and used my one free audible credit to purchase this Audible exclusive *sigh & eye roll*.

It was so good, and I'm so happy that I engaged with this translation, and also engaged with the poem the way it was originally created, through audio. The first few hours of the audiobook was the introduction, which was really interesting as Wilson covers many of the questions people have about the Odyssey: how old is it? Who wrote it? What is it about? What I appreciatedmost was the translator's notes, which discussed her method and style, while also raising my awareness of the structure and style of the poem itself.

When the story itself started, I was fascinated and immediately hooked. I did not at all expect it to feel like a real, modern story. I basically expected to feel like I was giving the story my time out of obligation, not enjoyment. But was so wrong, and this is probably why the story has lasted so long, and why you should always make sure you are reading good translations. While I did feel there were a few times the story dragged, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience of the book.

If you can, I'd strongly encourage listening to the Odyssey if it is on your list, whether it was this Audible exclusive or not. It is a great story, and a really great listen.