The Odyssey, Book 10

Book ten is full of selfish men, and fear. Ulysses heads to the Aeoli island where Aeolus, son of Hippotas, lives. Aeolus and his family are very kind to their guests. They take care of the needs of Ulysses crew, and further them on their way back to Ithica. I think that Aeolus's family is just a bit out of the ordanairy. (Just to put it lightly.) His children marry each other, keeping his family on the same island as to keep the wealth and good living in the family.
Sending Ulysses on his way, Aeolus 'saddles' the winds, this keeping them from puting the men off course. When almost to the harbour of Ithica, the jealous men aboard Ulysses ship open the bag containing the captured winds. These winds blow the greiving crew, along with the angry Ulysses back to the Aeoli Island. Aeolus denies further help, practically baning the men from his presence/island.
The next stop on the journey of Ulysses is to another island inhabited by Circe, sister to magician Aeetes. Trickery fouls the men, turning those who venture inside of her abode into pigs. Ulysses receives help from Mercury, and manages to save them. He becomes a 'friend' to Circe and he and his crew of men spend the next year at her house.
Before leaving, Ulysses is given instructions to follow before he can return to his native country. He is sent off to the land of Proserphine and Hades to talk with ghosts. Mainly, the Theban prophet Teiresias, seeking knowledge of his forward journey.

The Odyssey, Book 9

In this book, Ulysses finally gets to tell his whole tale in extreme detail. He starts off with an explanation to his sorrow, and tears. He answers the questions of King Alcinous, and praises the bard Demodocus. He tells of his namesake, his home country, and his family. Ulysses starts his fateful journey in Ismarus, city of the Cicons. He and his crew sack the city, and take much 'booty and their wives'. They continue on to the land of the 'lawless and inhuman Cyclopes'. Here Ulysses is very rude, almost demanding gifts. The Cyclops, Polyphemus - son of Neptune - is enraged and starts eating his men.
After lossing sereral men, Ulysses and Co. plan revenge and an escape. They blind the Cyclops and leave the cave hidden under sheep. I think the whole scene was quite full of unneccesary detail. There was much gore and blood.
In the end, the men take their leave of the island, leaving behind a cursing Polyphemus. This is the start to their troubles heading home.

The Odyssey, Book 5-8

Book five switches over to Ulysses. Minerva goes to Olympus to persuade Jove to make Calypso let Ulysses off her island, so he can finally return home. Jove agrees, and sends Mercury to Calypso's island. Calypso doesn't want to let Ulysses go. She complains to Mercury, but gives in to his reasoning.She sends Ulysses away to go make his own raft with sturdy trees, Calypso packs his raft with plenty of wine, water, and food. Neptune sees Ulysses from far off and he sends this huge storm to send Ulysses adrift by smashing his little raft. But Ino, an immortal sea goddess, sees him and decides to help. She grants him this magical scarf to wear so that he doesn't drown and instructs him to throw it back into the water when he gets ashore. So Ulysses swims to this island with Minerva's help and meets Nausicaa, a spoiled daughter of the king. Nausicaa takes him to her father, Alcinous. The king agrees to send him back to Ithaca.
Before Ulysses leaves the company of the king, he tells his whole story, about Ithica, Troy, and all his travels. I think it's pretty cool that he gets to tell his story, even if it is a little repetative.

The Odyssey, Book 4

Book four was almost like book three. There was a lot of talking and information, but there was also some things to pay attention to. In this book Telemachus lets out who he is. Menelaus and his wife can see the likeness of father and son and soon put two and two together. Telemachus gains much insight into how his father was lived, or you could say what he did in Troy. Talking about Ulysses leads into the next book.

The Odyssey, Book 3

Book three is about Nestor. Telemachus meets with Nestor in Pylos to ask him about his father. The whole book is Nestor telling Telemachus about Ulysses and everything he knows. There are also tales of others who fought in the battle of Troy.
I thought it was a very boring book. It was also very long and wordy. There were not many things to catch your attention, or to interest you in the slightest. It seemed like one huge block of information after another, put in your way to reading the Odyssey. Not my favorite book, that I can say.
You did meet alot of people along the way, in many of Nestor's words he includes other warriors, and some of those who had fallen in battle. Some of it was very hard to focus on.
At the end of the book, Telemachus and Pisistratus set off to talk to another man recomended by Nestor. Here they seek more news of Telemachus's father. (Pisistratus is one of Nestor's sons)

The Odyssey, Book 2

At the begining of book two,  Telemachus was getting ready to face the suitors that have taken over his fine estate. With the courage given to him by Minerva, he was ready to take a stand against their awful behavior and habits. He talks of his father, Ulysses, and how, without a father, this has effected him. The suitors hold their own. Telemachus tells them theat he will find a way, even if it is by some "heaven-sent message" that may direct him.
Later, Minerva gets him a boat and a crew of twenty men. She tells him what to prepare for the journey, and says that she will go with him herself. Telemachus takes "twelve jars of their very best wine, - with lids - leathern bags with barley meal - about twenty measures in all."
With all ready to go, they set off. Minerva takes the voice and form of Mentor, and Telemachus orders the crew, and they did as they were told.
The boat sails away into the night.
I thought it was a fairly short chapter with not much to inquire about. You can obviously tell that in the next chapter they will stop at Pylos, to visit someone about Ulysses. I don't think they will have any trouble.

Frustration!

I am very depressed right now. After the weekend, I have just logged on to my blog to check and see if there was more to add, and there was. A lot.
My whole blog has been deleted except book one, which was up first. Now I will have to write reviews for all the books, again. Six more reviews, plus the new books from the upcoming week. They were even deleted from my drafts!
Great...  :(

The Odyssey, Book 1

This week I read Book I in the Odyssey. All summer I had been wanting to read it, so I started reading right away.
In the begining there was alot of talking from various gods. It wasn't very interesting. Until I got to the part with Telemachus, almost nothing but talking was happening. During the first page I thought the book was boring. After that it was very good.
There was a lot of things in the house of Ulysses that would not be in a normal house today. Apparently he was a very rich man. I'm wondering if Telemachus will get the suitors to leave peacefuly. Will the suitors obey, or fight his wishes? I'm thinking there will be more of a fight between the men. It may just be with words.
It was also interesting that Telemachus found out that it was actualy Minerva who came to see him than some old man. I can't wait to start Book 2!