In book one, we learn that Poseiden is holding Odysseus from getting home, because of an little grudge. The reason Poseiden hold the grudge is because Odysseus ha blinded his son the cyclops. In book 2 Telemochus calls an meeting (which as not been done since Odysseus has been gone for almost twenty years)but none of the suiters dared Telemochus except Antinoos.
In book 7 Odysseus is walking around the city with an mist cloud around him giving to him by Athene ,so he is not seen walking around the city.
The closer to the end you get is the more entertaining ,like in book 11 when Odysseus visits the underworld to make offers according to Circe's instructions from book 10. The story was very emotional for Odysseus because of the things and people he met. Like when he met his mom he was sad and he couldn't give her blood talk. He also met his fellow friend he lost on his trip and his friend explain how he died.