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The Song Of Achilles (2011)

by Madeline Miller(Favorite Author)

3.55 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1408816032 (ISBN13: 9781408816035)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Bloomsbury Publishing

review 1: The novel retells the story of the Trojan War with Patroclus as the narrator. In it, he is the homosexual lover of Achilles. I think some modern sensibilities may be a bit imposed on the story. If you are an educated, well read adult familiar with the Iliad, why bother reading it? Nothing really new here. But for teenagers, it would be a nice read. You know how in some movies, they show a man and woman lying on the ground embracing each other and then the camera goes up into the trees and shows the wind blowing through the leaves to imply sex? Well, if you think that's a hot sex scene, you may enjoy this book.
review 2: Update: It is now mandatory that after you finish this books you listen to Bastille - Remains)Well, this book unfolded in a lot of things i did... moren't expect. First of all, a lyric, smart, ellegant-yet-simple language that captured me right away. The autor built the characters very well, creating an evironment for achilles and patroclus to finally converge; the shoking discrepancy between the two is so funny in its tragic way. And as they grow up to become closer and closer to each other and to face challenges that could separate them forever, it seems like nothing's ever gonna put them apart. I think everyone knows at least a little of the story, but even so i let myself forget of achille's brutal fate already set up (and patroclus' too). I let myself think it would be all chilling in the mountain, swimming in the river and secretly looking at each other. But it wouldn't, as achilles heartless mother always liked to remind. He was born to money, power and glory; and even his mother can't hold him off forever. That's the end of the fun and games and the start of a 10 year long war that would deepen patroclus and achilles in such a way... It's a shame though that we didn't get to see a wider frame of the events. Everything is in patroclu's POV and i missed some of my mythological faves like Cassandra, the foreseer. However, that provided a more realistic, intimate experience of the events. That is one fine point about this book; the author cut almost nothing out of the original story (except for the parts with multiple versions, which are open for interpretation) and yet made everything seem so real and possible. Achilles, a 16 year old boy, hiding as a woman?? Totally! Odysseus deservers some praise too for being such an admirable filthy bitch that stole some of the spotlight even though it's the aftermath of the war that threw him into eternal fame. My only complaint would probably be the lack of achilles and patroclus together during the war. It wasn't rushed, but i would like to see more of the two developing together, spending some time together like the old days. They didn't grow apart, but it would be good to see more of their relationship, considering it covers mostly their individual roles in the war.I think that's pretty much everything. The best thing is achilles and patroclus trying to delay fate even after all those years. They couldn't possibly know better. One who watched the film Troy might have some surprises about the ending still... The last chapters were so enfuriating to me but the final part redeemed everything. I think it has an epic message - after all, they were just children played by the eternal and unloving gods.Honestly i wouldn't give two shits about achilles or patroclus before i read this; the author managed to pick a specific dynamic (patroclus and achilles' relationship) and show the war of Troy through it. It wasn't all the clash between two mighty armies with mighty warriors tho; it turned out way better. This book was one of the finest tales ever carved from greek mytholgy - i love it, i read this book and it was very much worth it. less

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Reviews (see all)

abigail

The novel retells the story of the Trojan War with Patroclus as the narrator. In it, he is the homosexual lover of Achilles. I think some modern sensibilities may be a bit imposed on the story. If you are an educated, well read adult familiar with the Iliad, why bother reading it? Nothing really new here. But for teenagers, it would be a nice read. You know how in some movies, they show a man and woman lying on the ground embracing each other and then the camera goes up into the trees and shows the wind blowing through the leaves to imply sex? Well, if you think that's a hot sex scene, you may enjoy this book.

jamesmits

This book is awesome. It made me lose precious homework time and bedtime. I never expect the way it was going to end because I cried my eye out that Pratroclus is going to be left behind and wonder without Achilles, and I never want Achilles to wonder the dark underworld without Pratroclus, but the end truly surprise me because Miller was able to answer the question "How is it going to end with Pratroclus first person point of view and early death?"

dmiller116549

i cried a lot

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