The Song of Achilles

I have loved Greek Mythology since I was first introduced to it in middle school English. As my favorite contemporary work was The Iliad, this was a book that I absolutely had to read.

Firstly, the writing is beautiful. Miller's prose - which in the last few chapters flirts with the poetic - incited a great deal of emotion in me. The book is easy to read yet poignant, limited in its viewpoint, and yet somehow also wide in scope. Secondly, the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles is treated tenderly and gently. Neither vulgar nor ashamed, it stands as real love should between the two characters. As an asexual who does not really like reading drawn out sex scenes, I think that this book handled things very well. Thirdly, its treatment of the original story is respectful - everything that is supposed to happen happens, instead of running off on some completely different story, as I have seen done before. This is a retelling of the Iliad - nothing more, nothing less.

There are only a very few things that bothered me about this book. Firstly, I would have liked to know exactly what it was that kept Achilles so obsessed with his sulking. Yes, we know he's concerned about his honor after death, but it goes so far that at certain points Patroclus claims not to recognize him. It seems that something bigger must have taken place here that the reader is not privy to, and I would have liked to see that explained. Also, I would have liked to see more of his training with Chiron, to really build out the sort of person Achilles was before we are thrust into the Trojan war with him.

All in all, this was an excellent book, and I would recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed the Iliad, or who has enjoyed other retellings of ancient history. ( )

Holy cow... I don't have words for this book. I was not expecting how lyrical and beautiful it was. Madeline Miller is amazingly talented and I tank her for bringing this story to us and giving it new life. I am utterly amazed by the way this book was crafted. Just the way that simple words were made to sound as if they were the best words you could ever hear was incredible. I liked how it was basically only told from Patroclus's perspective, even though I thought I wouldn't like that, it made the whole thing even more beautiful. I love Greek mythology and this is now one on my favorite stories. I have always known about Achilles and the Achilles Heal phenomenon, but I never knew how complicated an intricate his story and Patroclus's story was. The only reason this isn't five stars is because of how long the battle-like sequences were and how Achilles and Patroclus sort of became lost to each other in a way. Besides that this book was absolutely worth my full attention and love, and you should give it the same treatment. Anyway, I simply cannot fit all the things that I found beautiful about this book into this review, so you'll just have to take my word for it and read this amazing piece of fiction. I will deffinately be reading more from Madeline Miller in the future! ( )

Despite all of the high praises this book received, I was worried that it wouldn't live up to my expectations. I worried in vain. This novel is beautifully written and compelling. It maintains the integrity of Homer's original work while simultaneously crafting a unique point of view and narrative. It's poetic, emotional, and made me cry a total of three times within the last 50 pages. ( )

Achilles, "the best of all the Greeks," son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath.

They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.

In Madeline Miller’s debut, she retells the story of Achilles from Greek mythology, focused on the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. The author explores why Achilles may have acted as he did in Homer’s Iliad. He portrays Achilles and Patroclus’ boyhood friendship as it blossoms into a romantic partnership. The story is narrated by Patroclus (an interesting choice if one is familiar with the original tale), who is exiled as a child and sheltered by Achilles’ father. It follows their coming of age, mentoring by the centaur Chiron, and eventual involvement in the Trojan War. Themes include the nature of heroism, the value of integrity in a violent world, the dangers of hubris, and many facets of love.

The writing is easy to follow and contains beautiful descriptions of nature. The book is filled with colorful characters, such as Achilles’ goddess-mother Thetis, Odysseus, Agamemnon, and Hector. Those looking for Achilles’ infamous “heel” and the Trojan Horse will be disappointed as neither makes an appearance for reasons explained in the author’s notes after the conclusion. There is also a helpful list of Greek gods and mortals. Familiarity with The Iliad is beneficial, but not absolutely required to enjoy this story.

I found this book entertaining and enlightening. The author’s style conveys the ancient Greek legends in a way a contemporary audience can appreciate. Recommended to those interested in fables, myths, and retellings of classics. ( )