The chapters where Odysseus accounts his adventures are among the most pleasing in all of literature and definitely something I would recommend every book enthusiast to try out at least once.

The rest is... appropriately skipped in adaptation. As I understand it, these poems had guesthood and home as major themes (or some of its themes), so... there's a lot of that here. Telemachus visiting characters from the war in Troy, seeking news of his land. The relationship between the Phaeacians and Odysseus, and how these finally lead him to Ithaca. Odysseus also visiting the Underworld, the guests of Ithaca at the home of Penelope... and so on.

Does this mean the Odyssey is not worth reading past chapter 12? Well, that depends on what you seek in the the reading. The complete package, because you're a big boy/girl? Sure, give it a try. I doubt you could grow to regret such a decision. Classics should be read, after all.

But if you're not feeling like reading 8 chapters of Telemachus journeys through the whatevers of Ancient Greece... just read the major dish. It's okay. You can come back for the rest later.