The Hibernation Book Club: Long Reads for Short Days

VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON MEETING

If you have always wanted to read some great big classic books but have been daunted by their length and supposed complexity, we have a book club just for you! In the Hibernation Book Club, we will read one long classic novel every winter, dividing it up into shorter sections and meeting six times over the course of three months to work our way through it. Our title for the winter of 2024 is Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, translated by Emily Wilson.

The epic poem The Odyssey is told in 24 books and tells the story of Odysseys, king of Ithaca, who spends a long ten years trying to get home after the end of the Trojan War. Odysseus' journey takes him via Africa and southern Europe as he battles mystical creatures and faces the wrath of the gods. Meanwhile, his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus stave off the suitors who are vying for Penelope's hand and Ithaca's throne and continue to hope for Odysseus' return. Emily Wilson's 2017 translation of the oldest great adventure story in the Western canon is the first by a woman. In this six-part program, we will read The Odyssey in installments of four books each and meet every other week to talk about the poem and the story.

Moderated by Readers Advisory Librarian Cindy Haiken. To participate and for details about meeting virtually or in-person, contact Cindy at chaiken@wallingfordlibrary.org.