BOOK REVIEW: Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles
Book Review: The Song of Achilles
Set in a world filled with gods and heroes, The Song of Achilles is about the friendship turned romance between Achilles and his lifelong companion, Patroclus. With Madeline Miller's lyrical but simple writing, the book follows them from their shared childhood together to their lessons with great centaur Chiron until their final journey to Troy. This book is exciting, inventive, and intense but still beautifully done. While staying true to the Homer and the Greek Myths, Miller also creatively fills in the gaps as she casts a new light on the Trojan War.
This book is by far one of the best adaptation of Homer's Illiad in recent years, and that's saying a lot since the Illiad is one of the greatest pieces of literature known to man. I just adore Achilles and Patroclus's relationship. The chemistry between these two is unlike anything I have read or seen.The way Miller writes their story and characterized these two boys is just seamless. In Homer's epic, Achilles has always seemed like a spoiled kid who throws a tantrum when something doesn't go his way. However, here, Miller shows not only his unattractive side but also the purpose of why he acts the way he is. He is a very conflicted character as he struggles to maintain his personal feelings for best friend/lover and the expectations of him also being the son of goddess and Aristos Achaion. The Best of the Greeks. Achilles is destined to die young and his fame/honor is all that is going to be left of him when he does meet his doom. It's a bit egotistic, I know, but wanting to leave a mark on this earth is very human and more than just understandable: it's also relatable. In this book, Achilles not only lives up to our expectation of the impeccable and immortalized warrior we have made him out to be over the centuries but also a human being we can all sympathize with.
Then there's Patroclus, who also happens to be my favorite part of this entire book. Patroclus is an amazing narrator and character. In this world of war and violence, Patroclus is kind and caring to a fault. He's the kind of character who puts other people's safety and happiness ahead of his own, and yet this is exactly what not only makes him sort of an outcast in his world but also what causes his downfall. It is awful how Patroclus who truly deserves a happy ending still dies. (I was weeping in the end by the way) Reading this book is like watching the Titanic, you know from the very beginning that these two were not going to end happily and yet you still can't help but root for these two. Achilles's and Patroclus's relationship is beyond beautiful. It's not exactly an equal relationship (if that makes any sense). There are defiantly moments where Achilles somewhat becomes the focal point of the relationship but it isn't hard to tell that Achilles still loves Patroclus beyond all words.
In other words, Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles is an absolute gem and has earned a well-deserved spot on my favorites list. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.
This book is by far one of the best adaptation of Homer's Illiad in recent years, and that's saying a lot since the Illiad is one of the greatest pieces of literature known to man. I just adore Achilles and Patroclus's relationship. The chemistry between these two is unlike anything I have read or seen.The way Miller writes their story and characterized these two boys is just seamless. In Homer's epic, Achilles has always seemed like a spoiled kid who throws a tantrum when something doesn't go his way. However, here, Miller shows not only his unattractive side but also the purpose of why he acts the way he is. He is a very conflicted character as he struggles to maintain his personal feelings for best friend/lover and the expectations of him also being the son of goddess and Aristos Achaion. The Best of the Greeks. Achilles is destined to die young and his fame/honor is all that is going to be left of him when he does meet his doom. It's a bit egotistic, I know, but wanting to leave a mark on this earth is very human and more than just understandable: it's also relatable. In this book, Achilles not only lives up to our expectation of the impeccable and immortalized warrior we have made him out to be over the centuries but also a human being we can all sympathize with.
Then there's Patroclus, who also happens to be my favorite part of this entire book. Patroclus is an amazing narrator and character. In this world of war and violence, Patroclus is kind and caring to a fault. He's the kind of character who puts other people's safety and happiness ahead of his own, and yet this is exactly what not only makes him sort of an outcast in his world but also what causes his downfall. It is awful how Patroclus who truly deserves a happy ending still dies. (I was weeping in the end by the way) Reading this book is like watching the Titanic, you know from the very beginning that these two were not going to end happily and yet you still can't help but root for these two. Achilles's and Patroclus's relationship is beyond beautiful. It's not exactly an equal relationship (if that makes any sense). There are defiantly moments where Achilles somewhat becomes the focal point of the relationship but it isn't hard to tell that Achilles still loves Patroclus beyond all words.
In other words, Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles is an absolute gem and has earned a well-deserved spot on my favorites list. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.
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