Reviews with content warning for Self harm - The Song of Achilles

Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

215 reviews

fernandalaram's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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z24's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

This book has me very separated. I always liked the story of Achilles and perhaps that is the problem. The author changed the story in some key factors, and imo took away a lot from what makes this story great. The writing on the other hand is quite enchanting and beautiful.
Leaving out some parts (like rape

Patroclus saving Brisis instead of raping her, made a cute story-line

) is an understandable decision and makes the novel a lot easier to read. But to change the main character to a weak guy, when the fact that Patroclus and Achilles very equally talented, makes it.. quite homophobic. It even is mentioned in the book that the Greeks weren't accepting of homosexual relationships. Only in specific instances, but to have a couple that defies those rules, that is what made the whole story so iconic. Pushing them back into this heteronomative characteristics, takes that away.
There is the option of looking at Patroclus story-line and trying to interpret it in a way, that says "there's other ways to be great than physical strength" but to be honest it still feels like a slap in the face to one of the veeery few storys that portray a different, not-so-stereotypical gay relationship.
Additionally, looking at the way the book is talked about on social media, lets it seem a lot like a fetishisation fan fiction of a gay couple.
Edit: While some parts were left out, other rather unnecessary and misoginistic parts were added (example:

Deidameira raping both main characters

). Also I forgot to mention the Bi-erasure, considering both main characters were considered bisexual in the original text and are almost repulsed by woman in this version.

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eliya's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

✅ sobbing
✅ sobbing many times
✅ yearning
✅ i will be thinking about this book for a long time
✅ i am a love and my love is my love we are two beams of light connected to eachother
✅ love is beautiful
❌ the war bit was hard for me to get through, felt really slow from that 50-70% mark but i’m so glad i persisted

this book is so beautifully written
i’ve discussed the similes and metaphors painted in this with friends, and we all craved figs after this
i want to experience live with the same absolute mindfulness as patroclus does

i could re read the first 50% and the last 10% of this book over and over and over again

edit: this book = unreal unearth hozier album
specifically francesca

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mitta_girl452's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I really liked this book. It was a good read. I really enjoyed Achilles and Patroclus's love for each other, and that it wasn't afraid to talk about how war, honour and pride can really negatively affect people, especially those like Achilles, who were in charge, had much at stake and had too much pride.

I especially love Briseis, and how she is described and talked about. Patroclus tries to save her from being raped, and succeeds, and saves other girls from the same fate. He looks after those girls, with help from Breseis, who was the first, and they all become part of the camp, and can decide to have relationships if they want, and most do. But Briseis doesn't and becomes an aunt to the camp and a close friend of Patroclus. she supports him, and respects him when he doesn't return her love. She is a gorgeous, powerful, female character, who tries her best to write her own destiny, and I love her.

I have heard some amazing things about this book, and personally for me, it didn't live up to the hype, which was VERY high. It was still a very good book! I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to others. The writing style was lovely and engaging, and I really enjoyed that it was obviously written by a woman and it wasn't over-sexualised or sexist, as books written about Ancient Greece often can be.
Overall, I really like this book and it was a fun read!

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niamphoone's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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honeyteags's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I have never cried over a book before. Such an enthralling and devastating love story. I am not usually one for history, but the pacing of the story and the historical details blend perfectly. Definitely recommended to everyone.

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