Bound To Stay Bound

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Bulletin for the Center... - 04/01/2016 In this odd but compelling story, the tale of the Odyssey is told by Argos, the faithful dog Odysseus left behind, who describes what he sees on Ithaka and what he hears from other animals over the years. Staying with Odysseus’ wife, Penelope and her son Telemachos, Argos longs for twenty years for the return of his master, hoping to stay alive long enough to welcome him home. As he waits, he keeps his charges safe, tries to keep Penelope’s legendary suitors at bay, and gathers news of his master from the animal grapevine. Argos does find enough free time to build a family of his own, paving the way for a son to take over the narrative in the final section of the book. Argos is fiercely loyal, loving, and protective—all authentic for a dog protagonist. Unfortunately, the fact that Odysseus’ mishaps and struggles are conveyed at a considerable remove via various animals means much of the urgency, passion, strife, and drama of the original story is muted or lost altogether. It’s just not the same to hear about the misdeeds of the gods from a dog who is filtering what an owl has perceived to have happened. Even so, Argos is a memorable character, and the drama that plays out around the suitors who all want to force Penelope into an unwanted marriage could have carried the book even without the long passages about what Odysseus was doing elsewhere. Canine fans are the likeliest audience, as they’ll hone right in on the best parts. AS - Copyright 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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