This was the Rieu translation, which apparently initiated the Penguin Classics series. It is in prose rather than attempting to translate into poetry. It was very clear and easy to read.
It was surprisingly gruesome and violent in parts, detailing gore and dismemberment. I’m all for it, though the section about stringing up the maids that were “disloyal” is a very uncomfortable read for what are supposed to be the actions of a hero.
Like the Iliad it can be quite repetitive, but that’s from the nature of it being epic poetry that was recited from memory. I guess likely not told in one go either, so it almost acts like the “previously on…” sections on TV serials.
I like that it is told non-linearly, and from multiple perspectives. I had the impression that the story of Odyssius was essentially an episodic “and then this happened” tale.
I was going to put that it was nice to read an adventure story that doesn’t follow the whole “hero of a thousand faces” Joseph Campbell monomyth. The wikipedia page for that lists it as an example though.