Author Wayne Turmel has some tips for average folks who want to read "The Iliad" when they've finished drooling over Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) May 4, 2004--Brad Pitt is Achilles, and Orlando Bloom is Paris. Whats not to like? At least one author thinks the new movie Troy" will spark renewed interest in The Iliad", The Odyssey" and other Greek legends. But are modern American audiences ready to tackle the original action adventure story?
"Maybe, but there are some things they should know going in- ", says Wayne Turmel, author of A Philistines Journal-an Average Guy Tackles the Classics" (2003, New Leaf Books, ISBN # 1-930076-13-4). Like Achilles dressed as a girl til he was 15 for starters. Does Jennifer Anniston know about this?"
Turmel, a writer from Chicago decided to read the Iliad as part of his research for the book, and was surprised by what he discovered. The story is such a part of our culture," he says, but there were lots of things I didnt expect. For one thing, its so violent it makes ‘Kill Bill look like an Olsen Twins movie."
Besides the body count and cross-dressing action heroes, here are some other things newcomers to the Greeks should be ready for:
• Find a copy in modern prose, with good footnotes and annotations so you dont lose your way
• Dont try to read it out loud, you can hurt yourself on those names…
• Zeus could have stopped the war, but was too afraid of his wife, Hera, who was still mad about his affair with Achilles mother. And you thought Clinton bombed Kosovo as a distraction over Monica…
• Trojans is the worst possible name for a condom. Think about it," says Turmel, there was this thing outside the city, soon as it got inside, people came pouring out of it…isnt that what these things are supposed to prevent?"
The Iliad is only one of the classics that appear in the book. A Philistines Journal-an Average Guy Tackles the classics" tells the story of what happens when an average 40-year old schmo from the suburbs decides to read all the classics he should have read in college and didnt. The result is a funny, insightful book that has been widely praised:
A truly funny book by a very funny man"- The Grand Rapids Press
One of the best non-fiction books of 2003"- Rebeccas Reads
Since publication of the book, Turmel has become a frequent guest on radio talk shows and an in-demand speaker, including his business-oriented program; Togas, Tights and Ties- 2500 Years of Business Advice" and his book has been one of the best-reviewed small press releases of the last year.
For more information on Wayne Turmel, the Iliad or A Philistines Journal-an Average Guy Tackles the Classics," visit www.achismarketing.com or contact Wayne Turmel at (630) 347-8369. Full press kit available upon request.
A Philistines Journal- an Average Guy Tackles the Classics" is available at www.Amazon.com, www.Barnesandnoble.com and www.newleafbooks.net.
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