Scan barcode
A review by capt_janeway
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-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? Yes
3.0
The way Madeline Miller wrote falling in love, particularly queer love, was very beautiful and moving. And that is why it gets any stars at all.
Abuse and rape of women being written in such an offhand and thoughtless way is at the very least upsetting. The fact that this book is written by a woman is shocking. Firstly, I do not understand the urge of historic fiction writers to include rape because “that’s what happened in history”. GIRL. You are a fiction writer, you choose what to write.
Secondly, to have a story that focuses solely on men, and anytime a women even comes close to entering their orbit it is to be raped and abused, and written with such flippancy?
Yuck. If you insist on making me read that, at least give it the weight it deserves.
It isn’t just once in the book, its again. And again. And again.
If you are going to write about how women suffered in history, at least give it more than a passing thought.
Abuse and rape of women being written in such an offhand and thoughtless way is at the very least upsetting. The fact that this book is written by a woman is shocking. Firstly, I do not understand the urge of historic fiction writers to include rape because “that’s what happened in history”. GIRL. You are a fiction writer, you choose what to write.
Secondly, to have a story that focuses solely on men, and anytime a women even comes close to entering their orbit it is to be raped and abused, and written with such flippancy?
Yuck. If you insist on making me read that, at least give it the weight it deserves.
It isn’t just once in the book, its again. And again. And again.
If you are going to write about how women suffered in history, at least give it more than a passing thought.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse