The Odyssey and the Idiot

by: Keith J. Price

Published by: Dog Ear Publishing

Reviewed by Claire Vath

I’ll preface my review of The Odyssey and the Idiot with this: I wanted to like this book, I really did. The description—a family trip full of hilarity and self-realization—had all the promise of a successful novel. But, the book left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth even before I’d left the intro. Price acknowledges that the reason he’s able to take this trip is because of time off from work due to the accusations of sexual innuendo from a coworker. There’s no judgment to be passed on Price, but it makes the book sound self-indulgent from the get-go.

In the wake of the accusations, Price takes his “babies” on a road trip from their home in Dallas to New Jersey to visit Price’s aging father (though that’s not really clear at all).

The story has all the things that’d make a good novel, but it failed to deliver. It reads more like a stream-of-consciousness blog, rife with long digressions, confusing chapter titles and such zigging and zagging that I had to flip back several times to figure out a frame of reference.

The overuse of literary devices proved overwhelming, and the self-deprecating humor often fell flat. But what bothered me the most was how far Price goes to tell of his travels around the world, but then undermines himself by furthering ridiculous stereotypes of quite a few cultures. When encountering a snobby waiter at a French restaurant with his children, Price calls him: “little Brie Eater,” “DeGaulle,” “Bordeaux Boy,” “Croissant Boy,” “Rillette Boy” and “Beaujolais Boy.”

However, the book does have its tender moments. Price’s “babies”—Alex and Emma—really shine throughout the book, as does Price’s affection for his wife and children. Unfortunately, the reader doesn’t get as many glimpses of the children as we’d like.

The chapter on dealing with Emma’s deafness left me yearning for more on those gems. Had Price delved more into the actual journey rather than clumsily weaving the journey around other experiences, the book would have been a winner.

Armchair Interviews says: A good idea that went astray and missed the mark as a decent read.

Author’s Web site: http://www.TheOdysseyandtheIdiot.com