From a graphic novel, to a young adult version, to a jigsaw puzzle, Homer's centuries-old epic poem "The Odyssey" comes in many different forms.
"I think it's exciting to see all the different ways that 'The Odyssey' has been portrayed," said Suzy Takacs, owner and manager of the Book Cellar in Lincoln Square.
The shop, which opened in 2004, has several versions of "The Odyssey" in a display that greets customers the second they walk into the store.
"It ended up that we had all these related works together, and the people that work at the Book Cellar always have creative thoughts for displays," she said. "This was kind of a natural fit, given the excitement for the movie and the book."
Carolina Garibay
In what's arguably the most highly-anticipated summer flick, Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of "The Odyssey," which tells the story of the hero Odysseus (Matt Damon) and his 19-year journey home after the Trojan War, has had film buffs and book worms flocking to bookstores to prepare for the film's release.
"The Norton paperback edition has been selling like crazy. We've been reordering cases of the book," Takacs said. "It's always been a steady seller. I would say maybe two or three copies a month, but this has gone from six to 18 to well over 20."
She said it's been exciting to see a reignited interest in the famous Greek literature.
"I think just because it has lasted for so many centuries and that people still read it and are continuing to read it, it's interesting that something written so long ago has relevance today," Takacs said.
And while keeping up with the demand for "The Odyssey" has been quite the feat, Takacs said the crowds are more than welcome.
"It just it reinforces the the love of reading and the love of all types of reading, whether it's a classic or contemporary, fiction or nonfiction," she said. "Everybody has still the love of books."
