Today Chelsey and Sara are chatting about Homer’s The Odyssey. Sara reveals her nerdy middle school obsession, Chelsey has strong opinions on defining “the classics,” and we have a LOT of fun discussing the complicated character of Odysseus. You don’t need to have any knowledge of mythology or The Odyssey in order to enjoy this episode.
Our discussion includes:
- What is a “mythology girl?” [11:38]
- Analyzing Odysseus: a larger-than-life character [18:40]
- More on Odysseus as a complex, flawed and nuanced hero [28:00]
Plus, as always, we’re recommending six contemporary books to pair with our classic, including a business book and a book in translation.
This episode will be mostly spoiler-free, except for a brief discussion of the ending. We’ll warn you in advance before we get into it, and timestamps are listed below.
Edith Hamilton’s Mythology
“Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood
“ Penelope” by Carol Ann Duffy
The World’s Wife by Carol Ann Duffy
Madeline Miller: Circe and The Song of Achilles
Gareth Hinds graphic novel The Odyssey
Bull by David Elliot
Chelsey’s Pairings:
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffeneger [39:05]
The Martian by Andy Weir [44:36]
Dare to Lead by Brene Brown [51:35]
Sara’s Pairings:
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood [35:40]
The Songs of the Kings by Barry Unsworth [41:15]
Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera [47:05]
Pick of the Week:
Chelsey: A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow recommended by Bezi @beingabookwyrmSara: Rick Riordan Presents
Novel Pairings 