By the grace of the movie gods (and my fiancé), I was somehow able to see The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm. How? I don’t know. I have learned not to question things. After watching the movie of the summer (so far), all of the news and hype about the film makes so much sense.
We have seen box office records broken, and there are companion books coming to show how fantastic this movie truly is. If you, too, are more curious about the world of The Odyssey and want a little more of it, or want to read other retellings of it, there are plenty of books out there.
I shared a list of five fantasy books worth reading if you fell in love with The Odyssey this summer.
Circe by Madeline Miller
One of the standouts of The Odyssey was Samantha Morton’s portrayal of Circe, the witch in The Odyssey who turned all of Odysseus’ men into pigs, showing their “true form” underneath their disguises.
If you wanted a deeper understanding of her character and a complete retelling of who she is, then I would fully suggest Circe by Madeline Miller. The book, which is critically acclaimed, digs deeper into Circe's life, how she was banished to her island, and different tellings of what would have happened if things had been different for her. It’s one of the few Greek retellings that I was fully locked in on the whole time. Plus, if you also loved the monsters in The Odyssey, there are plenty in this one.
Ithaca by Claire North
If you loved Anne Hathaway’s portrayal of Penelope, then Ithaca by Claire North is for you. This Greek retelling centers on Penelope and how she somehow kept the throne, kept suitors at bay, and used her own wit while Odysseus was gone.
Honestly, I wanted more of Hathaway’s portrayal because I felt she did such a fantastic job, but this book is the next best thing, especially for those who loved her character.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Another personal favorite Greek retelling I love is The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, who we've already mentioned as the author of Circe. It’s a retelling of the Trojan War through the eyes of exiled prince Patroclus and his long friendship and later love affair with the demigod Achilles.
The events that took place during the Odyssey are spoken about throughout The Song of Achilles, but what makes it worth the time to check out is that we didn’t really get Achilles at all during the movie, so you might as well give it a shot here.
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Parker
If you want a retelling of The Iliad from the queen's perspective, The Silence of the Girls by Pat Parker is a great read.
The book follows the late events of the Trojan War through the eyes of Queen Briseis and how she was held captive among the other female captives of the war camps. It’s a really harrowing look into life during that time, as well as what enslaved people would endure, showing a poignant take on the price of war.
The Odyssey by Homer
I mean, I think I have to suggest The Odyssey because it’s the adaptation. As you already know, The Odyssey is an epic poem by Homer that details the journey of the warrior Odysseus as he tries to return home to his family in Ithaca.
Keep in mind that the original epic poems move at a much slower pace, allowing the reader to really think about what is happening. It’s not action after action like it is in the film. But it is an important piece of media that, if you have not read it after watching the movie, you should.
Writing this makes me want to check out all these books again and again or check out some other Christopher Nolan movies. But maybe I still read for now to fill that Odyssey-sized hole in my heart.
Add us as a preferred source on Google