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Summer is peak blockbuster movie season, and several highly anticipated titles have already started hitting theaters for summer 2026, including Minions & Monsters and Toy Story 5. Still, The Odyssey is arguably the most buzz-worthy release of the season, if not the year. With many moviegoers eagerly awaiting the film, Parade enlisted the help of a few librarians to put together a list of 11 epic and captivating books like The Odyssey.
The movie hit theaters on July 17 and features a star-studded cast of actors, ranging from Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway to Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o and many more. In a recent interview with Parade, Damon called the film the "hardest thing" he's ever done as an actor.
“And that’s what made it so, so great to work on, was—you were working as hard as you ever had, but you realized that every single person around you was, too. And so it was really fun to be a part of that group,” he said.
The Odyssey is an epic onscreen adaptation of Homer's Greek epic poem, which has been considered a classic for nearly 3,000 years. Whether you've been a fan of the iconic piece of literature for years or you read it for the first time recently, the list of books below will help fuel your love for adventurous literature.
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What Is ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer?
Whether The Odyssey was required reading in your school or not, you've likely heard of the iconic Greek epic poem.
Alyssa Ebaugh, a children’s services librarian at Worcester Public Library, says the poem follows Odysseus, a warrior in the Trojan War and the King of Ithaca. In the story, he makes his way home after fighting in said war.
"The Odyssey is often discussed in conjunction with The Iliad, the epic poem recounting the Trojan War," she tells Parade. "Both of these works were originally recounted orally and played significant roles in the culture and education of ancient Greece."
Alicia Rogers, a tween services librarian at Worcester Public Library, says The Odyssey "serves as the ultimate example of the hero's journey."
"This literary framework follows a protagonist leaving their ordinary world, facing tests and trials and returning home with new wisdom," she states.
Adam Vorobok, a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library, says Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey is his favorite version.
"Its language is direct and concise, but still carries the rhythmical meter of the original Greek version," he explains. "Also, it is refreshing to have eliminated some of the biases toward the female characters that often arise in the male translation."
Ebaugh also appreciates this particular translation and says Daniel Mendelsohn’s translation is great if you're looking for a version that "maintains the musical and metaphorical qualities of the original."
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What Should I Read After ‘The Odyssey’?
Once you're done reading The Odyssey, you may feel inclined to dive into some other stories with a similar vibe. The librarians we polled said several other classic titles go hand-in-hand with the iconic title.
Emily McCarthy, a One City, One Library Branch library assistant with the Worcester Public Library, recommends reading Oedipus Tyrannusby Sophocles.
"Similar to The Odyssey, this play is shaped by the gods and fate. But there are no monsters to defeat, and there are no physical feats. Instead, there are only the psychological trials of knowledge itself," she says. "Oedipus has spent his entire life trying to outrun a prophecy he cannot escape. And the lesson of who you truly are comes at a devastating cost."
Keith Good, a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library, suggests reading Ulyssesby James Joyce.
"Though I fully admit James Joyce is not for everyone, Ulysses is a masterwork of modernist literature, built around one endlessly fascinating day in Dublin, with each chapter relating directly to one of Odysseus' travails," he says.
Ebaugh says The Iliadby Homer is "an essential read when trying to fully understand The Odyssey."
"Virgil’s The Aeneid is another epic that is an interesting read after reading The Iliad and The Odyssey," she says. "Virgil positions himself as Rome’s equivalent to Homer and tells the story of the foundation of Rome beginning with the fall of Troy."
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1. 'The Penelopiad' by Margaret Atwood
Beth Schreiber, an adult services librarian at Worcester Public Library, suggests reading this book that shares stories about Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, "through the eyes of the 12 maids hanged for disloyalty to Odysseus in his absence."
Vorobok shares that The Penelopiad is full of "sentences that are so impactful," much like Atwood's other books.
"Giving the 12 hanged maids a voice is chilling, infuriating and yet necessary," he says.
2. 'Wrath Goddess Sing' by Maya Deane
"This book begins with the moment in The Iliad when Achilles is dressed as a woman, but then veers into the idea of 'What if Achilles was a trans woman?' It's boldly important in today's world and utterly fascinating," Vorobok states.
In the book, Achilles has left home to live as a woman with the transgender priestesses of Great Mother Aphrodite.
"When Odysseus comes to recruit the 'prince' Achilles for a war against the Hittites, she prepares to die rather than fight as a man. However, her divine mother, Athena, intervenes, transforming her body into the woman’s body she always longed for, and promises her everything: glory, power, fame, victory in war and, most importantly, a child born of her own body," the book description reads.
3. 'A Touch of Darkness' by Scarlett St. Clair
McCarthy says this book is great for readers who love a good romance.
"If you are looking for a darker, more mature mythology retelling, then A Touch of Darkness might be for you. Much like The Odyssey, Scarlett St. Clair’s novel explores how love endures. This reimagining of the classic Hades and Persephone myth looks at familiar gods through a contemporary lens," she states.
In the book, Persephone (aka the goddess of spring) meets Hades (the god of the dead and the King of the underworld). When Persephone presents Hades with a tempting bargain, she enters a contract with some tricky terms.
"Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever. The bet does more than expose Persephone's failure as a goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows—a love that is both captivating and forbidden," the book description reads.
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4. 'Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief' by Rick Riordan
McCarthy says this book is great for introducing young readers to the world of Greek mythology.
"While targeted toward a younger audience, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief captures the sense of adventure, wit and resilience that The Odyssey establishes. Readers will recognize many of the same monsters and gods, but with a modern twist," she shares.
In the book, Percy Jackson and his friends have 10 days to "find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus," per the book description.
"But to succeed in his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves," the description reads.
5. 'Sweetbitter Song' by Rosie Hewlett
Steph Cooper, a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library, enjoys this mythological tale that's set thousands of years ago.
"It's told with a modern voice that explores war, survival and forbidden love. It presents a sapphic reinterpretation of the legendary events in The Odyssey," she says.
The book follows Melantho and Penelope, a slave and a Spartan princess who form a strong friendship. When the Spartan royals express their disapproval of the bond, the two women are "torn apart," per the book description.
"Years later, their paths cross once again upon the rocky shores of Ithaca, where Melantho is sent to serve Princess Penelope and her new husband, Prince Odysseus. Embittered by life as a slave, Melantho is determined to keep her distance. But, once again, the two women find themselves drawn to one other, pulled by the echo of their friendship, and something far stronger they are too afraid to name," the description reads.
6. 'Ariadne' by Jennifer Saint
"I've always been fascinated by the Minotaur, so this daring novel about Ariadne and Phaedra sheds new insights into the tale I had grown up with," Vorobok shares.
In the book, princess Ariadne is the sister of the Minotaur, a monster who craves blood sacrifice. Athens' prince, Theseus, intends to conquer the Minotaur, and Ariadne goes along with the plan.
"Defying the gods, betraying her family and country, and risking everything for love, Ariadne helps Theseus kill the Minotaur. But will Ariadne’s decision ensure her happy ending? And what of Phaedra, the beloved younger sister she leaves behind?" the book description reads.
7. 'Circe' by Madeline Miller
Good calls this book "a gorgeous and moving reimagination of the life of Circe, the witch famous for turning Odysseus' men into swine."
In the book, Circe seeks friendship with mortals, then discovers she has the power to "transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves," per the book description.
When Zeus banishes Circe to a deserted island, her power grows, and she meets some famous mythological figures, including the Minotaur, Daedalus, Icarus and Odysseus.
"But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love," the book description reads.
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8. 'A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation' by Pablo Cartaya
Rogers calls this a "realistic novel that includes aspects of fantasy." It's best for readers ages 8 to 12.
"Mourning the loss of his father, 13-year-old Gonzalo reluctantly joins his distant grandfather, Alberto—a famous fantasy author—on a 10-day book tour road trip from California to Florida," she explains. "As they visit Alberto’s old friends and uncover stories from his past, Gonzalo gains the courage to face his grief before returning home."
Throughout the book, Gonzalo and Alberto "slay demons, real and imagined; confront old stories to write new ones; and learn what it truly means to show up for your family," the book description reads.
9. 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien
McCarthy calls this iconic book series an "epic of fellowship and sacrifice"
"Frodo’s adventure across Middle-earth to Mt. Doom makes Lord of the Rings a contemporary epic," she explains. "What makes Lord of the Rings a contemporary to The Odyssey is that it is not about simply reaching your destination, but what is endured in the journey, and who you are when you finally return home."
If you fall for the book series, it was also adapted into a blockbuster movie series.
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10. 'African Trilogy' series by Chinua Achebe
Victoria Thompson, a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library, highly recommends this book trilogy that follows several generations of leaders of a fictional Nigerian village "as it buckles and contorts beneath the pressure of Western imperialism."
"The first book, Things Fall Apart, was an assigned book in one of my high school classes, and when I returned to it a few years ago I was really surprised to discover how much of the story and visuals had stuck with me all that time," she says.
11. 'I Am a Cat' by Natsume Soseki
Vorobok calls this "witty" book a "masterpiece" and says it's "full of insight and charm."
"It comments on everything from marriage, suicide, philosophy, baseball and the influence of Western culture on Japanese society," he shares.
Per the description, the novel "satirizes the foolishness of upper-middle-class Japanese society during the Meiji era."
"With acerbic wit and sardonic perspective, it follows the whimsical adventures of a world-weary stray kitten who comments on the follies and foibles of the people around him," it reads.
Up Next:
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Sources:
- Steph Cooper is a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library.
- Alyssa Ebaugh is a children’s services librarian at Worcester Public Library.
- Keith Good is a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library.
- Emily McCarthy is a One City, One Library Branch library assistant at Worcester Public Library.
- Alicia Rogers is a tween services librarian at Worcester Public Library.
- Beth Schreiber is an adult services librarian at Worcester Public Library.
- Victoria Thompson is a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library.
- Adam Vorobok is a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library.
