Rating: 10/10
I came into reading this book fresh off the heels of listening to Circe (also by Madeline Miller). This was the book that Instagram voted for me to read this month. I was worried that it wouldn't hold up, because anyone who read my review of Circe knows that I loved it. This book was equally phenomenal, it was an amazing read. I read the whole thing in only two sittings, Miller really knows how to get your attention and keep hold of it. Just, the way she writes characters and the language that she uses is just amazing.
I would venture to say, that the majority of people know the plot of The Song of Achilles. For those who don't, the book gives background for the characters Patroclus and Achilles, originally from the Iliad by: Homer. There is background for them both, however, Patroclus is the main protagonist. Achilles's "companion" who is forced into exile by his father for murder (even though it was self-defense). He is sent to live in Phthia, in the halls of King Peleus. It is there that he meets and is befriended by Aristos Achaion (best of the Greeks), Achilles. Befriended is a weak word. Of course they were initially friends, then they were lovers (which is also a weak word). Achilles described him as philtatos, or most beloved. Because he came to be the other half of him, which makes the ending of the story that much more intense. The book tells of them growing up together, becoming one. Miller did what she does best and interwove different works of Greek Literature and Greek Mythology throughout. Though, not as much as she would later do in Circe.
As I said before, the way that Miller writes characters is spellbinding. Seeing Achilles through the eyes of Patroclus is to see him as his very best self, regardless of the circumstances. The characters are all described with such mastery, yet it also feels realistic. Miller did not seem to make the characters more than what they were. Of course Achilles is the Aristos Achaion, but his description isn't that of some beefy, war-machine. His description is almost misleading in a way. He has a sort of feminine beauty. Beauty that translates into his face and body, one wouldn't know that he was a born killer just from looking at him. In fact, he's disguised as a woman for some time and nobody knows the difference. One would think that his "companion", Patroclus, would also be of extreme beauty and grace; however, that's not the case. Patroclus is nothing if not plain, scrawny even. He's every bit the opposite of Achilles who was imbued with the grace and beauty of a God. Patroclus is described negatively throughout the book by others and even himself. Miller is realistic, not all book characters are beautiful Gods. Patroclus was fully mortal, and he has been in pretty unfortunate circumstances throughout his life. The one thing that remains constant though, is his love and loyalty to Achilles.
Now, I NEED to talk about the end of the book (no spoilers though). It was so incredibly sad. Miller doesn't half-ass anything. This book hurts deep and there isn't anything you can do about it. Let me clarify, I had to read the Iliad for class, so I'm aware of the ending of the book. That did not make it hurt any less. So, if you think that you will be okay, knowing what happens at the end? You won't. The way that the events are described is just heart-wrenching, knowing the ending already just means that there is an ever-growing feeling of impending doom. Miller describes his grief so eloquently, so much so that it sticks with you and you feel for him. Even now I'm getting upset again. I'll talk about it more after the conclusion of this review WITH SPOILERS.
All in all, I have to give this book 10/10, because I don't have any faults with it. It is beautifully written, and it conveys such deep emotion throughout (especially the end). The story is exciting enough to keep you enrapt, which is wild because the Trojan war doesn't even really begin until the second half of the book. Getting the background on the characters and the love story was just absorbing. I've yet to be disappointed by Miller and I hope to never be. She has very quickly become one of my favorite authors. If you want to know more about my feelings towards Miller's writing style, I go into it more in my Circe review. The Song of Achilles is not a book to miss. This is the book that everybody needs to make sure they read at least once in their life. Even if you've read the Iliad and you think this book would just be redundant. Trust me, it really isn't. This is the kind of book that only comes around ever so often. You'd be remiss to avoid reading it. It is completely worth all of the hype.
Now, I'm going to talk about the ending with SPOILERS
Of course I knew that Patroclus was going to be killed by Hector and it was going to be the thing that put Achilles back into action. Reading about it again, through the beautiful writing, made it so much more hurtful. I was so upset, I was crying for like the last forty pages. His death was bad enough, but it was Achilles's reaction that made it even worse. His grief was so desperate that it made it hard to read without feeling something. The man slept next to his dead body because he couldn't stand to give him up. He fought and wounded a river god just so he could get to the man that killed his philtatos. He even had their ashes intermingled so that they would be together forever. Achilles own death was only brought about by his grief. There is no doubt in my mind that he could have dodged Paris's arrow. The only reason that he didn't, was because he wished to join his beloved in the afterlife. Then when that little prick Pyrrhus wouldn't put Patroclus on Achilles's monument, THAT hurt. It was so incredibly sad. Since Patroclus wasn't being remembered, his ghost was having to just wonder around. He begged people in their dreams to put his name on the site where his body was, so that his spirit could rest in the Underworld. Pyrrhus wouldn't let it happen. It was Thetis who finally came in clutch and put his name next to Achilles's on the memorial, so that Patroclus finally got to rest next to his lover for eternity. THAT was intense. I'm emotional all over again. It was so touching, but also heart-wrenching when they wouldn't let him lay at peace. This book is so incredibly well-done, it is a definite must-read.
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