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A review by lilcookie
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
5.0
A review in two words: Yes ma'am!
It's been too long since I stayed up late to finish a book so being captivated by this novel makes yawning through my day so, so worth it. Miller made me care more about Greek mythology than I thought possible, inspiring many pauses to flip to the back pages to learn the fates of all characters, not just the major players.
Her depiction of the intimacy between Patroclus and Achilles is the novel's core. Their love story was beautiful and refreshing to read, mostly because Miller has written text men loving men that is outlined in softness and subtlety rather than solely roughness. Even the most simple interactions in context of their growth made my heart flutter, like it did in this quote:
It's clear Madeline Miller took her time with this novel. Her research shines through, as does her critical reverence for the well-known figures like Odyessus and those whose stories may be obscured like Thetis, Bresis, and others. Highly recommend.
It's been too long since I stayed up late to finish a book so being captivated by this novel makes yawning through my day so, so worth it. Miller made me care more about Greek mythology than I thought possible, inspiring many pauses to flip to the back pages to learn the fates of all characters, not just the major players.
Her depiction of the intimacy between Patroclus and Achilles is the novel's core. Their love story was beautiful and refreshing to read, mostly because Miller has written text men loving men that is outlined in softness and subtlety rather than solely roughness. Even the most simple interactions in context of their growth made my heart flutter, like it did in this quote:
Spoiler
Weakness sluiced through me. Chiron had made us memorize their homes and colors. Brown-gray, by water. Quick to anger. Deadly bite.
'I did not even see it," I managed. He threw the thing aside, to lie blunt-nosed and brown among the weeds. He had broken its neck.
"You did not have to," he said. "I saw it."
It's clear Madeline Miller took her time with this novel. Her research shines through, as does her critical reverence for the well-known figures like Odyessus and those whose stories may be obscured like Thetis, Bresis, and others. Highly recommend.