Dear readers, Unless you’ve been away at sea for 10 years, fighting with everything you’ve got to return home to your spouse and child, you probably know that a blockbuster movie adaptation of the “Odyssey” is arriving in theaters. The good news: The Times film critic Manohla Dargis loved the film, calling it “a trippy, far-out blast.” And even if you aren’t part of the typical sword-and-sandal-loving crowd, I suspect you will find something about this cultural event to enjoy. Personally, I’m delighted that a 2,800-year-old poem is back in our collective consciousness. As Daniel Mendelsohn, a critic and classicist who has translated the poem, wrote, “The ‘Odyssey’ bequeathed to the West entire genres.” So whether you’re after action or romance or gore, the “Odyssey” will have something for you. Our critic A.O. Scott broke down some of the available translations, as each emphasizes different elements of the story. And here is a guide for what to read after you see the film (or read the poem!). And on last week’s Book Review podcast, Scott and the author Madeline Miller, who drew on the “Odyssey” for her novel “Circe,” discuss the classic. As always, I’d love to hear about what you’re reading. Feel free to send me an email by writing to books@nytimes.com. I’ll see you next time. Like this email? We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.
BEST SELLERS
|
