352 pages
English language
Published July 28, 2011 by Bloomsbury.
This is the story of the seige of Troy from the perspective of Achilles best-friend Patroclus. Although Patroclus is outcast from his home for disappointing his father he manages to be the only mortal who can keep up with the half-God Archilles. Even though many will know the facts behind the story the telling is fresh and engaging.
Good heavens, can Madeline Miller write.
This book has all the feels. It's so beautifully written, and so very intimate. I've been a big fan of the Iliad and Greek myths in general since 6th grade, but Miller brings an intimacy that livens up every old legend I know.
Read this.
By far, one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. This is a story that deserves to be told and Madeline Miller does it justice.
Having recently read her delightful and empowering Circe, I felt that I should also read Madeline’s Miller first book, The Song of Achilles.
The book was a surprise hit and it won the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction. It is about the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, or rather Madeline’s vision of their relationship. Her interpretation is quite inventive and original. The story has all the characteristic of an epic drama. There is friendship and romance, sacrifices and death, feuds and war, powerful and selfish gods, cunning and heroic mortals.
There are, of course, historical inaccuracies, but, like in Circe, I don’t think Miller’s purpose was to write an academic thesis. Based mainly on Iliad, and by giving voice to a person (Patroclus) who in Homer’s Iliad remains in the shadows, she tells a nice epic story. She explores the conception of homosexuality in the ancient world, and she shows …
Having recently read her delightful and empowering Circe, I felt that I should also read Madeline’s Miller first book, The Song of Achilles.
The book was a surprise hit and it won the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction. It is about the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, or rather Madeline’s vision of their relationship. Her interpretation is quite inventive and original. The story has all the characteristic of an epic drama. There is friendship and romance, sacrifices and death, feuds and war, powerful and selfish gods, cunning and heroic mortals.
There are, of course, historical inaccuracies, but, like in Circe, I don’t think Miller’s purpose was to write an academic thesis. Based mainly on Iliad, and by giving voice to a person (Patroclus) who in Homer’s Iliad remains in the shadows, she tells a nice epic story. She explores the conception of homosexuality in the ancient world, and she shows how reputation and the urge for eternal fame can drive someone to choose death instead of life. So unlikely with today’s celebrity culture which is focused on the immediate benefits of fame, such as attention, glamour and money.
I have mixed feelings about The Song of Achilles. I liked the interpretation of the story but in places it is over the top. I suppose that is true of all epic stories. I think it is a story more suitable for young adult readers.
Although the novel starts slowly, it builds through a captivating series of climaxes to the final tragedy. Having a fairly solid understanding of the Illiad and Odyssey, not too much came as a complete surprise here, but the depth of Miller's knowledge and research means that any but the most jaded student of antiquity will find something of interest tucked away here.
3.5 stars.
This was a beautiful love story.
"There are too many of them," he said. "It's simpler if they just remember me."
This was another novel from Barack Obama's 2018 summer reading list and went in with no expectations and was left pleasantly surprised.
My review of this book is from someone who is decades removed from learning about Greek mythology in school. I have never read the Iliad and I have forgotten the names and lore associated with them. With all that said I knew little of the history and felt like I was reading a story for the first time.
You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.
The relationship between Patroclus and Achilles was wonderfully told. From youthful innocence to the mature companionship it was well executed. Their relationship endured judgement, either openly or secretly from others, and their reputation was was put on the line …
"There are too many of them," he said. "It's simpler if they just remember me."
This was another novel from Barack Obama's 2018 summer reading list and went in with no expectations and was left pleasantly surprised.
My review of this book is from someone who is decades removed from learning about Greek mythology in school. I have never read the Iliad and I have forgotten the names and lore associated with them. With all that said I knew little of the history and felt like I was reading a story for the first time.
You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.
The relationship between Patroclus and Achilles was wonderfully told. From youthful innocence to the mature companionship it was well executed. Their relationship endured judgement, either openly or secretly from others, and their reputation was was put on the line to defend what each other had.
It was not murder that had exiled me, it was my lack of cunning. I understood, now, that disgust in my father's eyes. His moron son, confessing all. I recalled how his jaw had hardened as I spoke.
Even though the story was always destined for tragedy but it didn't feel stale or repetitive.
This was an enjoyable read and would recommend for those that have an intimate knowledge of the characters or for those who have forgotten a lot of details (like myself).
Midway through this novel I happened to listen to the (really good) Slate Decoder Ring podcast episode "The Johnlock Conspiracy," which is about "shippers" of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, placing that phenomenon within the recent history of fanfic and slashfic. And as I listened I thought of "The Song of Achilles, and I'm afraid I must confess to sneering inwardly at the thought of it as mere fanfic. But then in passing the podcast host referred to some ancient Greeks sitting around a fire amusing themselves by making up further stories about the Homeric heroes. And it occurred to me that Euripides and Aeschylus were by any reasonable definition of the term also practicing Homeric fanfic ("Homerfic"?). And if I'm not mistaken, it was Classical-era Greeks who began the tradition of reading Achilles and Patroclus as lovers -- the first slashfic?
And I eagerly resumed reading, swept up by …
Midway through this novel I happened to listen to the (really good) Slate Decoder Ring podcast episode "The Johnlock Conspiracy," which is about "shippers" of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, placing that phenomenon within the recent history of fanfic and slashfic. And as I listened I thought of "The Song of Achilles, and I'm afraid I must confess to sneering inwardly at the thought of it as mere fanfic. But then in passing the podcast host referred to some ancient Greeks sitting around a fire amusing themselves by making up further stories about the Homeric heroes. And it occurred to me that Euripides and Aeschylus were by any reasonable definition of the term also practicing Homeric fanfic ("Homerfic"?). And if I'm not mistaken, it was Classical-era Greeks who began the tradition of reading Achilles and Patroclus as lovers -- the first slashfic?
And I eagerly resumed reading, swept up by Miller's irresistible storytelling. Loved it.
Fantastic! I loved this book. Even (especially?) knowing where it was going, I couldn't put it down. Having to watch the development of Achilles from Patroclus's perspective was rough, but understanding.
I definitely understand why so many people like this book. The interactions between the two for most of the book are sweet and touching.
Towards the end, Achilles becomes less and less likeable of a character, and the main tragedy to me was that Patroclus was hung up on his mediocre demigod boyfriend.
Despite expecting the way women were written in this book, the fate of Briseis put a bad taste in my mouth especially since she was stressed to be a great and close friend to the couple - until she dies and is conveniently forgotten entirely
I think it was ultimately a good read, especially if you like mythology, but perhaps shouldn't be as heavily held up as a book for young LGBT people as it is.
Un récit passionnant et émouvant où nous suivons un jeune prince grec exilé par son père et qui suit la trace d'Achille, le fameux héros presque invincible. Une version romancée et très réussie de la guerre de Troie.
Para ser una autora novel, Madeline ha escrito una historia increíble en la que ha dado una nueva vida a figuras que todo amante de la mitología conoce.
Recomiendo que todo el mundo lea este libro pero si eres un amante de la mitología como yo, vas a guardar esta historia en tu corazón.
Estoy destrozado y maravillado al mismo tiempo
My review of The Song of Achilles will appear on my web site soon.
My wife reads a lot of romance novels and I, never having read one, had been casting about for a prime example of the genre. And then this hit the list for the 2013 Tournament of Books - a pre-bodice bodice ripper! A tunic ripper?
I did a couple of things I try never to do. I read a review or two in the middle of the book and I also did just a touch of research in halfway through to see how much foundation there was to Miller's version of the romantic elements of the book. (I hadn't encountered the Iliad since high school.) I think it validated why I try not to do either of these things. The reviews that complain about deviations from the Iliad were silly. (One even called it 'derivative' which is precisely and exactly true but not valid as a criticism. Hope they took …
My wife reads a lot of romance novels and I, never having read one, had been casting about for a prime example of the genre. And then this hit the list for the 2013 Tournament of Books - a pre-bodice bodice ripper! A tunic ripper?
I did a couple of things I try never to do. I read a review or two in the middle of the book and I also did just a touch of research in halfway through to see how much foundation there was to Miller's version of the romantic elements of the book. (I hadn't encountered the Iliad since high school.) I think it validated why I try not to do either of these things. The reviews that complain about deviations from the Iliad were silly. (One even called it 'derivative' which is precisely and exactly true but not valid as a criticism. Hope they took those hacks Shakespeare and James Joyce to task for the same!) And while there is a heck of a lot of invention on Miller's part, I believe this is both a good thing and not in conflict with the mythology she drew upon.
But, none of that really matters. I believed in the characters and their romantic attachment. It's a great story with a classic tragic hook that is pretty timeless. I'd have given a full complement of stars if it had hit my heart a little harder than it did. Most of my connection to the story was more intellectual than emotional.
Patroclus is exiled from his home as a young prince in punishment for killing another boy. He is weak and awkward but somehow befriends the son of King Peleus, Achilles. When Achilles chooses Patroclus as his companion, their friendship grows into something more, yet the sea-nymph Thetis, mother of the future hero, disapproves. She does not want shame brought upon her son, yet she does not want the prophecy hanging over him to come true. The Song of Achilles, follows the two boys throw their childhood, their training with Chiron, the days before the Trojan War and into battle.
I’m so glad fellow bloggers have praised this book otherwise I wouldn’t have picked it up. Whilst I love Greek mythology, I’ve always found Iliad related stories quite hard going, yet The Song of Achilles is surprisingly tender. Maybe it helps that I’ve now come to remember many of the sprawling …
Patroclus is exiled from his home as a young prince in punishment for killing another boy. He is weak and awkward but somehow befriends the son of King Peleus, Achilles. When Achilles chooses Patroclus as his companion, their friendship grows into something more, yet the sea-nymph Thetis, mother of the future hero, disapproves. She does not want shame brought upon her son, yet she does not want the prophecy hanging over him to come true. The Song of Achilles, follows the two boys throw their childhood, their training with Chiron, the days before the Trojan War and into battle.
I’m so glad fellow bloggers have praised this book otherwise I wouldn’t have picked it up. Whilst I love Greek mythology, I’ve always found Iliad related stories quite hard going, yet The Song of Achilles is surprisingly tender. Maybe it helps that I’ve now come to remember many of the sprawling cast of characters but Madeline Miller’s writing is an accessible way to learn the story. She manages to put incredibly human motives behind the events of the Iliad,that had previously seemed a bit bewildering.
Yet knowing what ultimately happens, doesn’t take anything away from Patroclus’ personal telling. It is a much more intimate look at Achilles than any other writer has attempted. Yes, he may turn into a great warrior, but underneath is still the boy that fell in love with Patroclus. It’s one of the most expected yet touching love stories I’ve ever read.
And how do centaurs sleep?
