Book Review: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
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| Title: The Song of Achilles Author: Madeline Miller Published By: Harper Collins Release Date: August 28, 2012 |
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.
REVIEW:
“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.”
I am overwhelming in emotions. It took a couple of days for me to finish this book because I want to savour its beauty. I love this new refreshing take on the Illiad. The Song of Achilles is narrated by Patroclus and this gives the reader a new view of Achilles as a character. Achilles has always depicted by this war freak brat who has a big ego but Madeline Miller shows that despite his flaws he is also a human who is capable of love and has a gentle side, especially towards Patroclus. In addition, Patroclus is such an admirable character. He is loyal and compassionate. I also love the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus in this book. They really understand one another and they have this strong bond. You cannot help but feel attached to the characters. They are so realistic in a way that like us they have hopes, sorrows, and dreams.
“In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun.”
The ending was utterly devastating yet beautiful. The author's writing is so poetic. The writing really brought the character into life with so much details. I recommend this book so much. It is more than a story about love. It also about the effects of war and equality. Plus, there are no dull-moments, faced-pace, and great character growth.
Madeline Miller was born in Boston and grew up in New York City and Philadelphia. She attended Brown University, where she earned her BA and MA in Classics. For the last ten years she has been teaching and tutoring Latin, Greek and Shakespeare to high school students. She has also studied at the University of Chicago’s Committee on Social Thought, and in the Dramaturgy department at Yale School of Drama, where she focused on the adaptation of classical texts to modern forms. She currently lives in Cambridge, MA, where she teaches and writes. The Song of Achilles is her first novel.
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XOXO,
Isabel
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