It took me 4 tries (and having a buddy to read it with) to finally finish this book, but it was worth it. My copy was translated by Ralph Blakely, which was easier to read than my Signet Classic version.

I often read books on Greek myths, but this was my first time actually digesting Homer and it surprised me on so many occasions. I didn't expect it to start (and end) so abruptly, or that it was so funny, or it had talking horses, or I grew to love Hera the best out of the gods and to hate Apollo the most. For so many years, I never liked Hera (thanks to Percy Jackson books) and I've always considered myself a daughter of Apollo but now I find him utterly annoying. Hera was truly a queen throughout this book. 

Surprisingly, this book made me laugh out loud several times, and the grieving scenes made me teary-eyed. It was an emotional rollercoaster, and I really connected with the characters. I loved it a lot, no wonder it's such a treasured classic.

And it makes sense that there was a theory about Homer not being one actual person but his works were a collaborated effort. With the random lores in between, it felt like reading a group project assignment. Some parts were all action, some talked about Greek mythology (gods and mortals), some made jokes, some wrote heartbreaking scenes, and some even wrote recipes. It was a refreshing read. I never expected Iliad to be all of that, and I am happy I can finally tick that off my bucket list.