Most of this book was pretty boring the usual Odysseus insults and Penelope crying about Odysseus. The book just has all the suitors trying to string Odysseus' bow, and all of them failing after Penelope removes it from storage. Odysseus meets up with Eumaeus and Philoetius and tests their faith before revealing his identity. Odysseus tells them to perform some tasks when signaled to. After taunts and debates with the suitors, Odysseus is allowed the chance to string the bow, which of course he does easily. Zeus decides its time to send a sign by having it lightning, and Odysseus shoots an arrow through all twelve axes. The swine and cowherd get all the women to be locked in their rooms and close the gates. Then, the sign is given to Telemachus and the book ends with Telemachus uniting with his father to kick butt.
After reading this book I was relieved that something was actually going to happen. The past 8 books or so have been about the preparation for this point, and finally blood will be shed. There have been enough predictions, enough signs, enough creepy blood dripping. Bird signs in the past books and seers have told the suitors their doom, and another seer who is also a suitor Leodes says that the bow they are trying to string will kill them all. Alcinous of course refuses his prediction, and antagonizes Odysseus, which is not good since he is fated to be killed first of all the suitors.
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