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The Odyssey
From the prize-winning author of Supper Club comes a wickedly funny and slyly poignant new satire on modern life. For fans of Sally Rooney, Ottessa Moshfegh, and Convenience Store Woman.
Ingrid works on a gargantuan luxury cruise liner where she spends her days reorganizing the gift shop shelves and waiting for long-term guests to drop dead in the aisles. On her days off, she disembarks from the ship, wasting the hours aimlessly following tourists around, drinking the local alcohol, and buying clothes she never intends to wear again. It's not a bad life. At least, it distracts her from thinking about the other life--the other person--she left behind five years ago.
That is, until the day she is selected by the ship's enigmatic captain and (ill-informed) wabi sabi devotee, Keith, for his mentorship program. Encouraging her to reflect on past mistakes and her desperation to remain lost at sea, Keith pushes Ingrid further than she ever thought possible. But as her friendships and professional life onboard steadily fall apart, Ingrid must ask herself: how do you know when you have gone too far?
Utterly original, mischievous, and thought-provoking, The Odyssey is a merciless takedown of consumer capitalism and our anxious, ill-fated quests to find something to believe in. It's a voyage that will lead our heroine all the way home, though she will do almost anything to avoid getting there.
Ingrid works on a gargantuan luxury cruise liner where she spends her days reorganizing the gift shop shelves and waiting for long-term guests to drop dead in the aisles. On her days off, she disembarks from the ship, wasting the hours aimlessly following tourists around, drinking the local alcohol, and buying clothes she never intends to wear again. It's not a bad life. At least, it distracts her from thinking about the other life--the other person--she left behind five years ago.
That is, until the day she is selected by the ship's enigmatic captain and (ill-informed) wabi sabi devotee, Keith, for his mentorship program. Encouraging her to reflect on past mistakes and her desperation to remain lost at sea, Keith pushes Ingrid further than she ever thought possible. But as her friendships and professional life onboard steadily fall apart, Ingrid must ask herself: how do you know when you have gone too far?
Utterly original, mischievous, and thought-provoking, The Odyssey is a merciless takedown of consumer capitalism and our anxious, ill-fated quests to find something to believe in. It's a voyage that will lead our heroine all the way home, though she will do almost anything to avoid getting there.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published April 21, 2022
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16016 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 680 reviews
April 21, 2022
Admittedly I have grown pretty tired of ‘disaffected millennial’ novels, but I went into this book thinking I would make an exception for Lara Williams, whose
Supper Club
I loved. The story follows Ingrid, who (in an attempt to escape her past) has chosen to work in the unique, anonymising environment of a cruise ship, where she’s drawn into a cult-like ‘mentorship scheme’. It’s easy to see why The Odyssey keeps being compared to Ottessa Moshfegh; for one thing, Ingrid easily matches the narrator of My Year of Rest and Relaxation for sheer unpleasantness. But if I’m going to spend 200 pages with an arsehole giving a deadened account of their awful life, I really want something to make it worth it – an interesting backstory, an interesting motive, or strong enough style and imagery to render the above unimportant – none of which appear here, despite the inherent intrigue of the setting. (And yet again I am annoyed with publishers’ copy not reflecting the book: try as I might, I really can’t see how anything in here is a ‘merciless takedown of consumer capitalism’.)
If you haven’t read Williams before, go for Supper Club instead of this; if you think the premise of The Odyssey sounds promising, read Sam Byers’ Come Join Our Disease.
I received an advance review copy of The Odyssey from the publisher through NetGalley.
TinyLetter | Linktree
If you haven’t read Williams before, go for Supper Club instead of this; if you think the premise of The Odyssey sounds promising, read Sam Byers’ Come Join Our Disease.
I received an advance review copy of The Odyssey from the publisher through NetGalley.
TinyLetter | Linktree
January 24, 2022
This makes no sense and I'm so confused. Highly recommend.
January 6, 2022
The Bell Jar meets Ottessa Moshfegh
It's difficult to say much about this book without veering into interpretation that gives away more than I'd have wanted to know before reading this, and I'm actually still unsure about how secure my reading of the book is. So I'll just say that this is weirdly compulsive and enigmatic and yet a bit ploddy at the same time.
The whole dysfunctional-and-alienated-young-female-narrator thing feels like a sub-genre of its own, though Williams pushes it a bit further into slightly edgier territory here. All the same, it's disappointing to uncover the intimated root cause of Ingrid's troubles , and I wanted a few more decisive pointers to what is happening at the elusive ending:
I didn't see any of the advertised 'wickedly funny' or 'mischievous' quality noted in the blurb - to me this was increasingly dark though with a cutting satirical edge. Rather oddly, I liked the material and approach more than I actually enjoyed reading this book which felt like a novella stretched unnecessarily - but interesting, a little puzzling and increasingly hallucinogenic. Be prepared to read between the lines for this one.
Thanks to Penguin for an ARC via NetGalley
It's difficult to say much about this book without veering into interpretation that gives away more than I'd have wanted to know before reading this, and I'm actually still unsure about how secure my reading of the book is. So I'll just say that this is weirdly compulsive and enigmatic and yet a bit ploddy at the same time.
The whole dysfunctional-and-alienated-young-female-narrator thing feels like a sub-genre of its own, though Williams pushes it a bit further into slightly edgier territory here. All the same, it's disappointing to uncover the intimated root cause of Ingrid's troubles , and I wanted a few more decisive pointers to what is happening at the elusive ending:
I didn't see any of the advertised 'wickedly funny' or 'mischievous' quality noted in the blurb - to me this was increasingly dark though with a cutting satirical edge. Rather oddly, I liked the material and approach more than I actually enjoyed reading this book which felt like a novella stretched unnecessarily - but interesting, a little puzzling and increasingly hallucinogenic. Be prepared to read between the lines for this one.
Thanks to Penguin for an ARC via NetGalley
April 27, 2022
firstly, wtf? secondly, wtf.
January 20, 2023
Maybe a 3.5 rounded up
The first thing that comes to mind when describing this book is quirky. Which is something I appreciate in a read. I have to say I preferred the parts set on the boat rather than off shore but found it very readable.
All of the characters were so unique, interesting and flawed that I would have liked to have known a bit more about them. As it sort of felt like they floated in and out of the novel and could disappear at any time, perhaps onto land without a real explanation of why they were on the boat on the first place, why they left and where they went.
The first thing that comes to mind when describing this book is quirky. Which is something I appreciate in a read. I have to say I preferred the parts set on the boat rather than off shore but found it very readable.
All of the characters were so unique, interesting and flawed that I would have liked to have known a bit more about them. As it sort of felt like they floated in and out of the novel and could disappear at any time, perhaps onto land without a real explanation of why they were on the boat on the first place, why they left and where they went.
May 4, 2022
The actual worst. I want everyone onboard and the author to hit an iceberg and sink to the bottom of the ocean
Popping back in, post dinner to add: somewhere in a fancy downtown New York high rise, the kind that’s more glass than steel, someone read the proposal for this book, approved it, read drafts of this book and approved those, and sent this book to be published. Someone spent months writing and editing this abysmal millennial ennui of a book and then foisted it upon an unsuspecting public. It’s just gobsmackingly smug and if I could slap a book, I’d slap this one.
Popping back in, post dinner to add: somewhere in a fancy downtown New York high rise, the kind that’s more glass than steel, someone read the proposal for this book, approved it, read drafts of this book and approved those, and sent this book to be published. Someone spent months writing and editing this abysmal millennial ennui of a book and then foisted it upon an unsuspecting public. It’s just gobsmackingly smug and if I could slap a book, I’d slap this one.
December 1, 2022
I feel like I just came out of a fever dream
July 28, 2025
[3.5 stars] I'm convinced whoever did the marketing for this book didn't read beyond page 1. The Odyssey is described as "wickedly funny" and a "a merciless takedown of consumer capitalism" which leave me scratching my head. Despite the whimsical cover and some humorous moments, this is a bleak and depressing novel, which I wouldn't call humorous nor focused on capitalism. I quite enjoyed it, but adjust your expectations accordingly.
Ingrid works on a luxury cruise ship, rotating between odd jobs and embracing the listless exile of a life at sea. Williams conveys the mundanity of her days and resulting detachment from reality well, though it does make the book feel denser than the page count suggests. Ingrid battles with alcoholism, and the details of her life before working on the ship slowly come into view.
This contains the quintessential 'women versus the void' tropes many readers are accustomed to - a lack of hygiene, poor coping strategies, strained relationships, and unresolved trauma. Nonetheless, I think The Odyssey offers something new with a unique setting and an interesting lens on how desperation can take form. There is minimal plot other than Ingrid's induction into a mysterious program led by the cruise ship's captain, but it helps bring everything together.
If you're willing to bear with an unlikeable narrator and the bleak reality of addiction, I think this is a great read. Definitely belongs on any 'sad girl summer' reading list!
---
me? reading a book about women versus the void? with a low average rating?
Ingrid works on a luxury cruise ship, rotating between odd jobs and embracing the listless exile of a life at sea. Williams conveys the mundanity of her days and resulting detachment from reality well, though it does make the book feel denser than the page count suggests. Ingrid battles with alcoholism, and the details of her life before working on the ship slowly come into view.
This contains the quintessential 'women versus the void' tropes many readers are accustomed to - a lack of hygiene, poor coping strategies, strained relationships, and unresolved trauma. Nonetheless, I think The Odyssey offers something new with a unique setting and an interesting lens on how desperation can take form. There is minimal plot other than Ingrid's induction into a mysterious program led by the cruise ship's captain, but it helps bring everything together.
If you're willing to bear with an unlikeable narrator and the bleak reality of addiction, I think this is a great read. Definitely belongs on any 'sad girl summer' reading list!
---
me? reading a book about women versus the void? with a low average rating?
November 14, 2021
Oh, the possibilities. A high sea adventure, a cult…this book might have been excellent. Instead, in. decidedly less so fashion, it was hip. Think critical darling instead of something with a much easier (and more commercial) appeal. Mind you, normally I‘d appreciate that sort of thing – there’s plenty of sellouts peddling best-sellers out there, it’s nice to find something different – but, but this book was slightly too enamored with being different and it resulted in a dream-like dense nightmare-like spiral journey of a not especially compelling or likable protagonist that even high seas and cults were unable to save.
Or, to go in more detail, this is a story of a woman of an uncertain age, an alcoholic who left her adoring spouse to go work on a luxury cruise ship. The ship is a grand and self-contained affair featuring every amenity, including your friendly neighborhood cult the woman ends up in. The cult follows a Japanese idea that all things come from and go into nothingness and, to this end, the woman has to submit to a variety of trials, from intense talk therapy to having her finger cut off. Yes, you read that right, her finger. And once she mastered herself, she can advance to becoming a master.
There are some onboard associations she has, friendships, jobs, and every so often she goes to the land and has drunken hazy adventures there, but that’s about it. The protagonist essentially spends her time not so much building a life but avoiding it and, specifically, avoiding going back to the life she had before, on land. There’s nothing quite like traditional three act structure and the untraditional appeal of this novel is somewhat tough to discern. The title presupposes a grand journey of self-discovery. In a way, I suppose, it is, for the character, it just isn’t especially interesting or engaging to read about. But, to its credit, it reads very quickly. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
Or, to go in more detail, this is a story of a woman of an uncertain age, an alcoholic who left her adoring spouse to go work on a luxury cruise ship. The ship is a grand and self-contained affair featuring every amenity, including your friendly neighborhood cult the woman ends up in. The cult follows a Japanese idea that all things come from and go into nothingness and, to this end, the woman has to submit to a variety of trials, from intense talk therapy to having her finger cut off. Yes, you read that right, her finger. And once she mastered herself, she can advance to becoming a master.
There are some onboard associations she has, friendships, jobs, and every so often she goes to the land and has drunken hazy adventures there, but that’s about it. The protagonist essentially spends her time not so much building a life but avoiding it and, specifically, avoiding going back to the life she had before, on land. There’s nothing quite like traditional three act structure and the untraditional appeal of this novel is somewhat tough to discern. The title presupposes a grand journey of self-discovery. In a way, I suppose, it is, for the character, it just isn’t especially interesting or engaging to read about. But, to its credit, it reads very quickly. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
April 2, 2022
This book is absolutely one that I recommend going into knowing a little as possible so this review is going to be cautious, with that in mind. The Odyssey is a story unlike one I have ever read and there were many things I adored. To create an entire setting set no where in particular is a concept that is so fascinating and Lara Williams did such an incredible job creating a vivid atmosphere with some of the most beautiful imagery. I also want to point out that this was my first ever read from Lara Williams and her storytelling is exactly what I had expected/wanted from her and more.
Discussing ones self and the extents in which we can go to to not only feel accepted, wanted and seen but to also mend and forgive our past tribulations. What I particularly loved about this theme was how as a reader it was blatantly obvious and appalling when Ingrid would do certain acts just to feel accepted and part of a group, though she never saw how horrific these requests were. It really made me contemplate in our everyday life, what we may do as individuals to feel accepted and seen even when we inherently know they're wrong; a conversation I had never read about before, but one that was done in such a unique and somber way.
The only elements that I unfortunately didn't like were at times, I felt completely out of the story due to the repetitiveness of Ingrid's everyday activities. Though I am very aware that this was another commentary within the book - how we can enjoy yet equally tire from the tediousness of an average, everyday routine. People could argue then, that Lara Williams perfectly executed that within her writing, and I whole heartedly agree though at times I didn't particularly enjoy it. As well as this, the blurb mentions that the book is 'hilariously funny' but I personally thought it was everything but. There were moments throughout the story that undoubtedly made me laugh but the tone of the novel was so melancholic and so satirically ironic that no moment for me seemed hilarious.
The Odyssey is a book like no other and I absolutely cannot wait to read more from Lara Williams!
Discussing ones self and the extents in which we can go to to not only feel accepted, wanted and seen but to also mend and forgive our past tribulations. What I particularly loved about this theme was how as a reader it was blatantly obvious and appalling when Ingrid would do certain acts just to feel accepted and part of a group, though she never saw how horrific these requests were. It really made me contemplate in our everyday life, what we may do as individuals to feel accepted and seen even when we inherently know they're wrong; a conversation I had never read about before, but one that was done in such a unique and somber way.
The only elements that I unfortunately didn't like were at times, I felt completely out of the story due to the repetitiveness of Ingrid's everyday activities. Though I am very aware that this was another commentary within the book - how we can enjoy yet equally tire from the tediousness of an average, everyday routine. People could argue then, that Lara Williams perfectly executed that within her writing, and I whole heartedly agree though at times I didn't particularly enjoy it. As well as this, the blurb mentions that the book is 'hilariously funny' but I personally thought it was everything but. There were moments throughout the story that undoubtedly made me laugh but the tone of the novel was so melancholic and so satirically ironic that no moment for me seemed hilarious.
The Odyssey is a book like no other and I absolutely cannot wait to read more from Lara Williams!
April 20, 2022
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the audiobook arc
This was fantastic! The Odyssey is darkly funny and thought-provoking. Although I enjoyed the premise of Supper Club, I felt like Lara Williams linged on the surface. With The Odyssey, Lara Williams commits completely, this novel feels more direct and purposeful.
The Odyssey follows an unhinged, depressed, alcoholic Ingrid who works at the gift shop on a luxury cruise line. She’s got that classic dry british humor and is fumbling aimlessly through life until she gets tapped for a special mentorship program run by the ships ecentric captain. The program pushes Ingrid to reflect on her past mistakes while indoctrinating her into a cult like wabi-sabi way of life.
Things start getting weird, Ingrid’s personal and professional life falls apart and the days she gets to disembark from the ship become less exciting to her. Much like Odysseus from Homer’s The Odyssey, Ingrid is wandering at sea trying to find her way home, or more specifically, trying to find her way to herself.
Highly recommend to those who like unhinged/unlikable female protagonists, especially if you liked My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. I loved this so much, I am definitely going to pick up a physical copy when it is released so that I can reread and annotate.
This was fantastic! The Odyssey is darkly funny and thought-provoking. Although I enjoyed the premise of Supper Club, I felt like Lara Williams linged on the surface. With The Odyssey, Lara Williams commits completely, this novel feels more direct and purposeful.
The Odyssey follows an unhinged, depressed, alcoholic Ingrid who works at the gift shop on a luxury cruise line. She’s got that classic dry british humor and is fumbling aimlessly through life until she gets tapped for a special mentorship program run by the ships ecentric captain. The program pushes Ingrid to reflect on her past mistakes while indoctrinating her into a cult like wabi-sabi way of life.
Things start getting weird, Ingrid’s personal and professional life falls apart and the days she gets to disembark from the ship become less exciting to her. Much like Odysseus from Homer’s The Odyssey, Ingrid is wandering at sea trying to find her way home, or more specifically, trying to find her way to herself.
Highly recommend to those who like unhinged/unlikable female protagonists, especially if you liked My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. I loved this so much, I am definitely going to pick up a physical copy when it is released so that I can reread and annotate.
January 14, 2023
“What is this place? I wondered, taking in the red and white signage, the way its people moved, hunched over and haunted. The realization was slow, the piano build in a horror film, the babysitter creeping up the stairs instead of running out the front door. The call is coming from inside the house. Oh yes, I thought, dagger-sharp. I'm home.”
//
A cult. A sinking cruise ship. A crumbled marriage and the strange games people play.
A story of a woman clinging.
A brutal reminder of how far we can fall when hungrily searching for community and comfort. When the need to be a part of something outweighs reason, trumps our instincts for safety. Mind bending and uneasy feeling.
For fans of Milk Fed and Pizza Girl. AKA for lonely people who like reading about addicted, self destructive women caught in a brutal cycle of their own wanting.
//
A cult. A sinking cruise ship. A crumbled marriage and the strange games people play.
A story of a woman clinging.
A brutal reminder of how far we can fall when hungrily searching for community and comfort. When the need to be a part of something outweighs reason, trumps our instincts for safety. Mind bending and uneasy feeling.
For fans of Milk Fed and Pizza Girl. AKA for lonely people who like reading about addicted, self destructive women caught in a brutal cycle of their own wanting.
May 4, 2022
bleak but entertaining. missing the “takedown of capitalism” that was in the blurb
February 11, 2022
This was super strange and disturbing and oddly enough I didn't want to put it down. Reading through the perspective of a character like Ingrid felt very perverse, I felt like I was witnessing things that I shouldn't and I think that is why I enjoyed it so much. Lara Williams was unflinching and unapologetic, much like her main character, with her depiction of life and the human experience. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this!
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC!
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC!
April 18, 2022
So, there is this brand of fiction: "I'm disenfranchised and miserable and self-destructive; and join me for awhile and then I'll reveal my inciting incident and you can empathize with me." And, I'm not not here for that. I'm not an entirely unsympathetic human and I have the occasional millennial (Though let's not pretend for a second that this gen invented the trope, okay???) self-pitying instinct, so you know, I get the brand.
But here's the thing
We all have that fiction trope that isn't for us. That fills us with rage. That, just, ruins everything. This is mine; this book was not for me. I didn't not enjoy the reading of most of it, but then that happened and now, if I'm honest, I'm going with: I really freaking hated this book.
In a very paltry attempt to be fairer to the work.... The book features an imaginative hook and the writing is intentional and intelligent.
I could argue that the blurb doesn't match the style, that the book's style is inaccessible, that the ending is the only good part. But, honestly, this wasn't fun enough to be worth working harder to organize a thesis around, so I'm out.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
But here's the thing
We all have that fiction trope that isn't for us. That fills us with rage. That, just, ruins everything. This is mine; this book was not for me. I didn't not enjoy the reading of most of it, but then that happened and now, if I'm honest, I'm going with: I really freaking hated this book.
In a very paltry attempt to be fairer to the work.... The book features an imaginative hook and the writing is intentional and intelligent.
I could argue that the blurb doesn't match the style, that the book's style is inaccessible, that the ending is the only good part. But, honestly, this wasn't fun enough to be worth working harder to organize a thesis around, so I'm out.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2022
This is a strange book, and I like strange books. This is one of those books that keeps you wondering what you are really reading about, because it's quite obvious it's not only about Ingrid, her strange friends, her troubled relationships and her absurd work. There's much more to it, but what? I don't want to give away too much, because this is a compulsive, enignmatic read and it is better enjoyed the less you know in advance. Have an open mind and enjoy your own interpretation of it. I would definitely read other books by Lara Williams, I find her to be an extremely interesting and talented author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2022
I liked this strange novel about a woman working on a cruise ship. It is original, fresh, funny and pretty weird - although towards the end I thought it was perhaps not as weird as I was thinking; some of the stranger things actually starting making sense.
I think not too much of the plot should be revealed before reading, it is about a woman who has been working for 5 years on a cruise ship doing different jobs and about to embark on more managerial roles. We know she used to be married when she lived on land.
This book has been compared to Convenience Store Woman and I can see why. It makes you ask similar questions about work and life, and does so in a very original way.
3,5 rounded up and many thanks to Penguin for the ARC via Netgalley.
I think not too much of the plot should be revealed before reading, it is about a woman who has been working for 5 years on a cruise ship doing different jobs and about to embark on more managerial roles. We know she used to be married when she lived on land.
This book has been compared to Convenience Store Woman and I can see why. It makes you ask similar questions about work and life, and does so in a very original way.
3,5 rounded up and many thanks to Penguin for the ARC via Netgalley.
May 12, 2022
…what did I just read
May 24, 2022
I read this because it was described as "Ottessa Moshfegh meets Convenience Store Woman." I don't usually take comps too seriously, but this book is, miraculously, EXACTLY halfway between Ottessa Moshfegh and Convenience Store Woman.
December 5, 2021
The Odyssey is a novel about a woman working on a cruise ship whose avoidance of life and the world on dry land is tested by an employee improvement programme. Ingrid works in rotating roles on a huge cruise ship, where all training comes through her tablet and she might be called up to do almost anything. On her days of shore leave, she gets very drunk wherever they've docked. When the ship's strange captain Keith, who thinks himself some kind of guru, picks her for an employee mentorship, suddenly Ingrid faces up to some memories. At the same time, the ship seems to be falling into disrepair.
I was intrigued by this book as it was pitched as similar to Ballard's High Rise, which it is in some respects, with the closed off cruise ship gradually decaying, though The Odyssey is much more focused on one person's mental state than the cruise ship itself. It explores Ingrid's regimented life on the ship, and her memories of the past, including her husband and her alcoholism, and you watch as she makes various decisions (including having her finger cut off) as she tries to reconcile these. The first person narration feels similar to other books focused on a narrator with a strict regimen who is trying to avoid the past or their lack of a future, though the setting does make this one feel different.
One thing I was disappointed by was the fact that the cruise ship setting isn't really explored as much as you might expect, especially not as things start to turn weird and twisted. I would've liked more of it, whether the Japanese obsession of the captain or what was going on with some of the other employees Ingrid knows, as it is a distinctive and unusual setting for literary fiction.
The Odyssey explores an alcoholic character whose avoidance of their past and future has led them to live a permanent present on a strange cruise ship. The protagonist is interesting and the narrative voice is readable, though as it's quite short, I felt there could've been a bit more of the weirdness.
I was intrigued by this book as it was pitched as similar to Ballard's High Rise, which it is in some respects, with the closed off cruise ship gradually decaying, though The Odyssey is much more focused on one person's mental state than the cruise ship itself. It explores Ingrid's regimented life on the ship, and her memories of the past, including her husband and her alcoholism, and you watch as she makes various decisions (including having her finger cut off) as she tries to reconcile these. The first person narration feels similar to other books focused on a narrator with a strict regimen who is trying to avoid the past or their lack of a future, though the setting does make this one feel different.
One thing I was disappointed by was the fact that the cruise ship setting isn't really explored as much as you might expect, especially not as things start to turn weird and twisted. I would've liked more of it, whether the Japanese obsession of the captain or what was going on with some of the other employees Ingrid knows, as it is a distinctive and unusual setting for literary fiction.
The Odyssey explores an alcoholic character whose avoidance of their past and future has led them to live a permanent present on a strange cruise ship. The protagonist is interesting and the narrative voice is readable, though as it's quite short, I felt there could've been a bit more of the weirdness.
March 2, 2022
What a completely bizarre little novel! I found it better than 'Supper Club', less repetitive and predictible. We follow Ingrid, who works on the WA, a cruise ship, and has just been selected to participate in its bizarre mentoring programme, where she learns from Keith, obsessed by wabi sabi and who subjects her and other workers to strange (and sadistic) rituals. Ingrid navigates her friendships, her time on and off the ship, thinks about her husband, drinks. It is a very disturbing and strange novel and I loved it, it reminded me of several other novels I liked recently - notably 'My Year of Rest and Relaxation' and 'Convenience Store Woman'.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
January 10, 2023
I think I’m ready too many young-woman-avoiding-her-problems-in-an-unhealthy-way books. This whole story felt rushed and I didn’t understand anyone’s motives?? Not to mention all the characters were insufferable (and not in an entertaining way). The cruise ship setting was interesting so a couple points for that I guess.
February 2, 2023
2.5
there was not a single sane person in this book and i mean this as an insult
(but fr on paper this had so many things i like and i genuinely cannot explain why it wasn't my fave. there were moments i even hated this, but then i'd notice i gobbled 50 pages in an instant, so i thought a neutral three star was fair)
there was not a single sane person in this book and i mean this as an insult
(but fr on paper this had so many things i like and i genuinely cannot explain why it wasn't my fave. there were moments i even hated this, but then i'd notice i gobbled 50 pages in an instant, so i thought a neutral three star was fair)
October 27, 2023
This book makes no sense
April 21, 2022
firstly, a huge thank you to the folks at H&H for sending me a review copy of this bizarre yet somehow brilliant book. supper club is one of those books i've been meaning to get to for too long now, so i was exceptionally excited to delve into lara williams' latest literary creation. from the reviews of supper club, it seems to cater to more of my reading tastes in ways that the odyssey did not fully meet.
if someone were to ask me what i thought of the odyssey, i really don't know if i could put it into words. i didn't love it, but i didn't actively dislike it either. the protagonist, ingrid, follows a similar pattern to many disaffected millennial women in contemporary fiction. she self-sabotages any semblance of purity or light in her life, spiralling into alcoholism and fleeing her husband by taking a job on a cruise ship. there, her nihilistic tendencies blur the line between dangerous and malicious. every action and word is deliberate, consequences be damned. she engages in a peculiar familial dynamic with her crewmates, before becoming entangled with a cult-like program designed to help her become her best self. yet with each layer williams peels back from ingrid's personality, we can't help but wonder if there is any goodness in her whatsoever.
much can be interpreted from each facet of the novel, which ultimately i think is where i struggled. in places, it reads as a classic case of too many ideas and not enough development. certainly, we can decipher ingrid's appetite for destruction as reminiscent of the implications and expectations placed on women in contemporary capitalist society. she chooses to shun a stable marriage for the unconventional, where the possibilities are endless. the chapters flit between her life on sea and on land, the latter making for some of the most compelling reading in the novel. as a character, ingrid is both predictable and out of reach - we are never really sure where we stand with her, nor are we able to fully understand how much of her narrative voice is reliable.
i'm really not entirely sure what to make of the odyssey. i appreciated the concept of a cult on a cruise ship, but i don't feel as though it was entirely followed through. the novel is so short and i wish there was more substance to the individual plot points and stories. the last chapter came completely out of nowhere and although i'm not opposed to a novel that leaves us with more questions than answers, i am genuinely confused as to what happened. the odyssey is a novel that will both baffle and delight readers, from its compelling prose and reckless protagonist, to the somewhat perverse rituals and commentary on economic capitalism, workplace culture and the finality of nature. i'll definitely be interested to read supper club and hopefully find what was missing for me with this novel.
if someone were to ask me what i thought of the odyssey, i really don't know if i could put it into words. i didn't love it, but i didn't actively dislike it either. the protagonist, ingrid, follows a similar pattern to many disaffected millennial women in contemporary fiction. she self-sabotages any semblance of purity or light in her life, spiralling into alcoholism and fleeing her husband by taking a job on a cruise ship. there, her nihilistic tendencies blur the line between dangerous and malicious. every action and word is deliberate, consequences be damned. she engages in a peculiar familial dynamic with her crewmates, before becoming entangled with a cult-like program designed to help her become her best self. yet with each layer williams peels back from ingrid's personality, we can't help but wonder if there is any goodness in her whatsoever.
much can be interpreted from each facet of the novel, which ultimately i think is where i struggled. in places, it reads as a classic case of too many ideas and not enough development. certainly, we can decipher ingrid's appetite for destruction as reminiscent of the implications and expectations placed on women in contemporary capitalist society. she chooses to shun a stable marriage for the unconventional, where the possibilities are endless. the chapters flit between her life on sea and on land, the latter making for some of the most compelling reading in the novel. as a character, ingrid is both predictable and out of reach - we are never really sure where we stand with her, nor are we able to fully understand how much of her narrative voice is reliable.
i'm really not entirely sure what to make of the odyssey. i appreciated the concept of a cult on a cruise ship, but i don't feel as though it was entirely followed through. the novel is so short and i wish there was more substance to the individual plot points and stories. the last chapter came completely out of nowhere and although i'm not opposed to a novel that leaves us with more questions than answers, i am genuinely confused as to what happened. the odyssey is a novel that will both baffle and delight readers, from its compelling prose and reckless protagonist, to the somewhat perverse rituals and commentary on economic capitalism, workplace culture and the finality of nature. i'll definitely be interested to read supper club and hopefully find what was missing for me with this novel.
May 1, 2022
Bro I’m gonna be honest I have no idea what I just read. Was this an allude to self discovery? Cults? Growth? Idek. I was expecting more of a Greta James find, maybe more serious than that, but all I got were some really weird friendships who pretended to be babies and parents (like imagine genuinely playing house with your adult friends and they straight up act like real babies).
It was short enough to stay entertaining and there were trickles of a plot line forming throughout, but nothing consistent enough to like be the “main” plot line.
I say this a lot, but maybe if I was smarter I’d understand the symbolism behind some things in this book? Idk. Don’t read this unless you’re going to spend the time to THINK. I am not and therefore did not have a good time.
It was short enough to stay entertaining and there were trickles of a plot line forming throughout, but nothing consistent enough to like be the “main” plot line.
I say this a lot, but maybe if I was smarter I’d understand the symbolism behind some things in this book? Idk. Don’t read this unless you’re going to spend the time to THINK. I am not and therefore did not have a good time.
May 2, 2022
The Odyssey follows Ingrid, who lives and works on a cruise ship.
The book had me unsettled early on, between the claustrophobic setting of the cruise and the unshakable feeling that something was off. Throughout the book Ingrid blossoms into a Moshfegh-level unlikable character. It’s certainly a trend in literature to have “unlikeable erratic female characters”, and while I’m not the biggest fan, if you enjoy them, you’ll probably enjoy this book.
The story overall made me think of the demands of the workspace, how much you’re expected to sacrifice of yourself to fit into the model of an employee. The story did lose me a bit, especially in the end. It was certainly dark and interesting; I think everyone will have a different outtake on this one. (check TW)
The book had me unsettled early on, between the claustrophobic setting of the cruise and the unshakable feeling that something was off. Throughout the book Ingrid blossoms into a Moshfegh-level unlikable character. It’s certainly a trend in literature to have “unlikeable erratic female characters”, and while I’m not the biggest fan, if you enjoy them, you’ll probably enjoy this book.
The story overall made me think of the demands of the workspace, how much you’re expected to sacrifice of yourself to fit into the model of an employee. The story did lose me a bit, especially in the end. It was certainly dark and interesting; I think everyone will have a different outtake on this one. (check TW)
August 21, 2022
This is one of the weirdest books I’ve ever read and it is the only book I will give 5 stars to and not openly recommend strangers to read. I can’t explain it but I’m traumatized but also entertained and enlightened. I can see why it’s so polarizing but… maybe I’m just a god damn weirdo who is fascinated by cruises and how self contained and liminal this book was to the cruise tableau. I don’t know, I can’t explain…
July 23, 2022
I'm obsessed
November 4, 2023
Quite literally the type of fever dreams I have on sleeping meds, so much so it felt like deja vu at some points.
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