Aparna’s Reviews > The Iliad > Status Update

Achilles is built different man. His apathy at killing Hector is monstrous. I can’t believe I’m reading him giving out prizes after all he’s done.

Good news is Diomedes is still alive! He’s the MVP of this war in my heart <3

Guess who’s back. Back again. Achilles’ back. Tell a friend.

He was even more angry than I was expecting. I could feel it in my heart.

Diomedes has slowly become one of my favourite characters. He does the job and doesn’t complain. What a guy.

Achilles has been mad this whole poem over the most ridiculous of things. It’s not even anger, it’s pure rage. I’d hate to be Antilochus and have not deliver the news of Patroclus’ death…

This is a bit like war and peace where I’m loving the peace/ politics but not enjoying the war. So many people die that I don’t even try to like a character anymore. They will die. It’s like I’m reading jujitsu kaisen again.

Ajax, Phoenix & Odysseus: Please come back to the war! You can have all the gold and riches! You can have seven women!

Achilles: No.

Ajax, Phoenix & Odysseus: 😮

Diomedes is just murdering for the love of the game. I didn’t know him before reading this so I have my theories on his fate…

I’d be surprised if somebody who knows nothing about The Iliad has enjoyed these 4 four books. Wikipedia groups these books under the name ‘Exposition’ and that is exactly what it is.

There are some good things sprinkled in - Agamemnon V Achilles and learning why the war began. But those long paragraphs in Book 2 were not needed at all, still it’s the equivalent of your town getting a shout-out in a song.

Diomedes needs to be nerfed after the kill streak he just had

I’m low key impressed with myself reading 75 pages on my commute to and from work. Still, 75 pages is only three chapter lmao (don’t ask me how its 15%, kindle works in mysterious ways)

Chapter 2 was just an intro to every single character.

Chapter 3 summarised:
Menalaus is the strongest!
Odysseus is a commander!
Paris is… pretty

It was only a matter of time before I picked up the Iliad. I have chosen to read the Emily Wilson translation - perhaps a controversial choice but it felt the most digestible to me.

I’m watching Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey & as this is technically the prequel to it, my aim is to finish this book by Sunday. Wish me luck.

So far, Agamemnon is greedy, Achilles is prideful, & Odysseus is the best