booksFriday, July 17, 2026

The Odyssey dominates literary conversation

Homer's epic is everywhere today, not just in Christopher Nolan's film adaptation, but in deep dives into Odysseus's post-epic fate and even perfume bottles. The conversation around the poem has expanded beyond the page into film, fragrance, and leadership lessons.

Sources

The Odyssey

The ancient epic is having a modern moment, with multiple articles examining its afterlife and cultural reach.

#01www.polygon.comJul 17

The Odyssey ending explained: What happens to Odysseus after The Odyssey?

Polygon traces Odysseus's fate after The Odyssey through ancient and modern sources, from the lost epic Telegony to Dante and Tennyson, giving readers a richer sense of the myth's long tail.

9 min readRead original

#02www.harpersbazaar.comJul 17

The Epic Perfumes Inspired by The Odyssey

Harper's Bazaar rounds up perfumes inspired by The Odyssey, from ancient plant-based scents to modern fragrances, showing how the epic's themes of journey and home have drifted into unexpected corners of culture.

9 min readRead original

#03www.vulture.comJul 17

‘The Odyssey’: Let’s All Learn From Odysseus’ Mistakes

Vulture's review of Nolan's The Odyssey film frames Odysseus as a flawed leader whose mistakes erode his soldiers' trust, a reading that turns the epic into a cautionary tale about hubris.

Adaptations and casting

Two book-to-screen projects moved forward today, one with a fresh Sleepy Hollow retelling and another with new cast additions.

#04deadline.comJul 17

Sony Lands ‘Sleepy Hollow’ Package ‘Hollow’ With Sydney Sweeney Starring, Lindsey Anderson Beer Writing & Directing And LuckyChap Producing

Sony has acquired 'Hollow,' a Sleepy Hollow retelling based on Lindsey Anderson Beer's debut novel, with Sydney Sweeney attached to star. The novel won't hit shelves until fall 2027, but the package is already moving fast.

#05deadline.comJul 17

Roby Attal & Francesca Reale Join Netflix’s ‘This Summer Will Be Different’ As Felix And Bridget

Netflix's adaptation of Carley Fortune's 'This Summer Will Be Different' adds Francesca Reale and Roby Attal as siblings in the sun-soaked romance series set on Prince Edward Island.

Also today15

The Odyssey ending explained: What happens to Odysseus after The Odyssey?www.polygon.com
This article analyzes the ending of Homer's The Odyssey and explores what happens to Odysseus after the events of the epic poem. It discusses how the poem's ending feels inevitable yet predictable, and examines various post-Odyssey stories from different authors and poets over th
'Heartstopper Forever' Ending: Do Nick and Charlie Break Up?decider.com
A review and analysis of the Heartstopper Forever movie, the series finale of the Netflix original Heartstopper, which was cancelled after three seasons. The article discusses the film's direction by Wash Westmoreland, writing by Alice Oseman, and confirms that Nick and Charlie's
Netflix’s 'One Hundred Years of Solitude’ Part 2 Aug. 5;Finale Aug. 26variety.com
Netflix's adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" will release its second and final season in August 2025. The first seven episodes drop on August 5, covering the last 50 years of the novel's century-spanning story, followed by a nearly two-hour cin
First Look Inside Corinna Bechko & Kano's Sabrina The Teenage Witch #1bleedingcool.com
Bleeding Cool exclusively previews Oni Press's October 2026 solicits, including a first look inside Sabrina The Teenage Witch #1. The issue is written by Corinna Bechko with art by Kano and Nick Cagnetti, featuring multiple variant covers. The article shares the solicitation deta
Disability Pride Month: Recommended Readingwww.lib.ncsu.edu
This article promotes Disability Pride Month (July) by highlighting a recommended reading display at Hill Library's Learning Commons. It features the book "Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir Of A Disability Rights Activist" by Judith Heumann, which chronicles her activism and f
‘Heartstopper Forever’ Review: A Mature Swan Songvariety.com
A review of "Heartstopper Forever," the series finale film of Netflix's "Heartstopper" based on Alice Oseman's work. The review highlights how the show has captured the magic and terror of teenage years, and how the finale ushers characters and audience toward the unknown future.
The Lever | Celia Langfordthebaffler.com
A deeply personal narrative about living with a rare and medically disputed birth defect — a stub-like growth on the chest that some doctors call a vestigial third arm, others a rib misdirection. The author uses this bodily anomaly as a lens to explore identity, medical uncertain
Stream It Or Skip It: 'The Map Of Longing' On Netflix, Where A Woman Is Guided To A More Joyous Life By A Game Devised By Her Recently-Deceased Sisterdecider.com
A review of the Netflix Spanish series "The Map Of Longing," which follows Greta Álvarez (Alícia Falcó), a woman mourning her recently-deceased older sister. The sister devised a series of challenges before her death to guide Greta toward a more joyous life, aided by a mysterious
Rachel Cusk’s New Novel May Be Dark Portrait of Natalie Portmanwww.hollywoodreporter.com
An Unherd columnist suggests that Rachel Cusk's upcoming novel 'Life of M' is a thinly-veiled portrait of actress Natalie Portman, based on chatter in New York literary circles. The article explores the potential awkwardness of this situation given that Portman is reportedly frie