The Odyssey (translated 1996) by Homer, translated by Robert Fagles This was the first book that I completed for my Spring 2004 semester classics class on Greek mythology. I, as well as probably every other high school kid in the world, was exposed to this work (or the Iliad by Homer) before I came to college. For some reason, though, I don't remember enjoying it nearly as much in high school as I did now.
So, as everyone knows, the book centers around Odysseus, one of the mightiest Greek warriors that fought in the Trojan War. During the very end of the war, however, Ajax the lesser, a soldier Odysseus's ranks abused a woman in one of the goddess Athena's temple; Odysseus, as well as the other Greek generals decided not to punish Ajax for his crimes, and so Athena and the rest of the gods punished the Greek army by making sure that on the return home all of them either died or were delayed for years and years. The book starts ten years after the end of the war when Athena decides that it is finally time for Odysseus and his crew to return home.
The book begins 'in media res' (wow, I remember a literary term from high school) at Odysseus's home in Ithaca, the island where he was king. Everyone there has assumed that Odysseus died on the return from Troy and so his wife, Penelope, is being courted by a large group of burdonous suitors who demand that she choose a new husband. She does not seem very eager
Vernon Can Read! (2001) by Vernon Jordan
This book is the first set of memoirs authored by the civil rights figure Vernon Jordan. First and foremost, I really enjoyed this novel because Jordan is one of the few civil rights figures that is not completely full of shit (for more information on some of the leaders that ARE full of shit, look into Scam by Reverand Jesse Lee Patterson). (I got tired of writing about this; I'll finish it later).