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A review by saylaurmoon
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
5.0
↠ 5 stars ⭐︎
Disclaimer: Contains spoilers.
Okay, I have never read The Iliad. Or The Odyssey. Or any Greek literature at all, really. Of course, I have general knowledge of The Trojan War. I’ve heard of Odysseus and Achilles. But I basically went into this novel a virgin to much of what it was based upon.
That being said, I absolutely loved this book, and I will be reading more novels based on Greek mythology because of it. Madeline Miller retells the story of The Iliad whilst weaving in the romance between Patroclus and Achilles. Her prose is elegant and poetic in such a simplistic way. It draws you in and allows you to clearly visualize the scene or deeply feel the emotion she is describing.
A few of my favorites, without spoiling too much:
“... her lovely dark eyes spilling water warm as summer rain.”
“The keen edge of my envy was like flint, a spark away from fire”
“Our bodies cupped each other like hands.”
I adored the bond that Patroclus and Achilles shared. They were always fiercely loyal to one another and never wavered from their affection and concern for one another. Achilles was so sweet to Patroclus, always protecting him. Patroclus, my precious baby, was so wholesome. I wanted to grab him and keep him in my pocket. He had a heart of gold, and I felt that he was oftentimes Achilles's conscience—his moral compass when he lost his way.
Miller also shows us how love can not only bring us peace and happiness but also destroy us. Patroclus’s care for Bresis leads him to betray his true love, Achilles. His love for Achilles drove him to fight in the war when he promised he would not. And Achilles’s love for Patroclus drove him to kill the exact man whose death would bring his own demise.
Oh, and the ending?
Absolutely shattered me.
“Go… he waits for you.”
STOP. I lost it.
The Song of Achilles is undeniably beautiful and tragic. It will fill your heart with love and then take a hammer to it and break it into a million pieces. And it's so, so worth it.
Disclaimer: Contains spoilers.
“He is half of my soul, as the poets say.”
Okay, I have never read The Iliad. Or The Odyssey. Or any Greek literature at all, really. Of course, I have general knowledge of The Trojan War. I’ve heard of Odysseus and Achilles. But I basically went into this novel a virgin to much of what it was based upon.
That being said, I absolutely loved this book, and I will be reading more novels based on Greek mythology because of it. Madeline Miller retells the story of The Iliad whilst weaving in the romance between Patroclus and Achilles. Her prose is elegant and poetic in such a simplistic way. It draws you in and allows you to clearly visualize the scene or deeply feel the emotion she is describing.
A few of my favorites, without spoiling too much:
“... her lovely dark eyes spilling water warm as summer rain.”
“The keen edge of my envy was like flint, a spark away from fire”
“Our bodies cupped each other like hands.”
I adored the bond that Patroclus and Achilles shared. They were always fiercely loyal to one another and never wavered from their affection and concern for one another. Achilles was so sweet to Patroclus, always protecting him. Patroclus, my precious baby, was so wholesome. I wanted to grab him and keep him in my pocket. He had a heart of gold, and I felt that he was oftentimes Achilles's conscience—his moral compass when he lost his way.
Miller also shows us how love can not only bring us peace and happiness but also destroy us. Patroclus’s care for Bresis leads him to betray his true love, Achilles. His love for Achilles drove him to fight in the war when he promised he would not. And Achilles’s love for Patroclus drove him to kill the exact man whose death would bring his own demise.
Oh, and the ending?
Absolutely shattered me.
“Go… he waits for you.”
STOP. I lost it.
The Song of Achilles is undeniably beautiful and tragic. It will fill your heart with love and then take a hammer to it and break it into a million pieces. And it's so, so worth it.