Recent Reviews
An Odyssey A Father, A Son and an Epic by Daniel Mendelsohn
Non-Fiction
Daniel Mendelsohn’s most recent book explores his experience reading the Odyssey with his father. After hearing him on my favorite podcast, The History of Literature, I quickly bought and loved the book. Offering literary interpretation and reflections on Mendelsohn’s relationship with his father, the work combines memoir, scholarly analysis, and travelogue.
Mendelsohn, a Classics Professor at Bard College, is recognized for his exceptional writing. His comprehensive understanding of the Odyssey (he just published a new translation) is noteworthy. Homer’s ancient story is about Odysseus’ journey back to his home after the Trojan War. Between fighting in the war, being held captive and traveling home, he has not seen his wife and son for twenty years. The book addresses universal themes such as the cycle of life, transitions, journeys, recognition, fidelity, loyalty, familial relationships, and the experiences of childhood and parenthood. Mendelsohn shows how the characters’ emotions in this 3,000-year-old epic remain relevant today.
The narrative is enriched by the presence of Mendelsohn’s 81-year-old father, Jay Mendelsohn. In 2011, Jay decides to participate in his son’s seminar on the Odyssey at Bard College, travelling from his home in Long Island each week. Although he initially promises to observe rather than contribute, he promptly voices his perspective in the first class. He explains why he believes Odysseus is not a hero. This viewpoint leads to lively discussions with his son and other students throughout the semester. I loved the questions Professor Mendelsohn asks his students. For instance, he says, “When the exterior, the face and body have changed beyond recognition, what remains? Is there an inner ‘I’ that survives time?”
After the course concludes, Daniel and his father embark on a personal journey to Greece. Their cruise, which traces Odysseus’s legendary journey from Troy to Ithaca, becomes a metaphor for their journey of understanding and reconciliation. By combining their academic experience, travels, and engagement with the text, they gradually arrive at a deeper understanding of one another, making their story deeply relatable and emotionally resonant.
Knowing little about the Odyssey, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I appreciated Mendelsohn’s example of how literature can facilitate meaningful dialogue and understanding. Both he and his father share their respective experiences as son and father. Ultimately, Mendelsohn’s book highlights that we are all on a journey with ourselves and those we love, a quite simple and extraordinarily complex dynamic. 4/5
The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff
The Bright Years, Sarah Damoff’s debut novel, is my favorite book (thus far) in 2025. The narrative focuses on a multi-generational family navigating the complexities of alcoholism, concealed truths, and personal tragedy. While challenging subjects, the book avoids becoming overly somber, instead presenting a narrative infused with dignity and hope. Damoff’s beautiful prose and insightful observations contribute to the novel’s poignancy and tenderness.
The story follows Lillian and Ryan Bright, who meet in a Fort Worth public library in 1979, fall in love, and eventually marry. Significant aspects of their histories remain undisclosed: Ryan conceals his father’s alcoholism, while Lillian does not reveal that she gave up a child for adoption. Their lives are initially marked by happiness and the birth of their daughter, Georgette. Yet, the convergence of hidden pasts gradually complicates their relationship. As Ryan succumbs to alcohol dependence, the family’s once-bright years begin to darken. Damoff offers nuanced insight into the origins of Ryan’s addiction and skillfully examines its psychological impact on his family.
Despite these adversities, the motif of healing and connection permeates the novel. Lillian Bright’s reflection that “time can wash dirt off a memory until it is revealed as something else entirely” encapsulates the book’s exploration of forgiveness and hope. Through her vivid depiction of complex characters, Damoff emphasizes optimism and compassion amid hardship. The Bright Years shows that healing is possible. 5/5
