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A review by kelsyer
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I am fully aware that I am in the minority with my review, but for me, it was lacking in emotional impact, because I couldn't connect to the main characters.
Miller is very good at romanticizing the small moments of everyday life. I wish we had spent more time with them when they were growing up, because this book gave me the same feelings that Romeo and Juliet did, as in 'sit down, that's not love'.
Part of my rating comes from the unfortunate fact that I hyped this book up for myself. As a lover of greek mythology and a member of LGBTQ+ community, I had high expectations for it, but sadly it seems that I am on the other side of viewing romantic relationships. (Even when I originally read Homer and I had a feeling that Achilles and Patroclus had a deeper relationship, I had no name for it yet.)
I know how messed up the gods were, some of them r*ping left and right (looking at you, Zeus) and of course this book is only a retelling, a way for us to fill in the blanks, a how-it-could-have-been; it can't step out of the original greek tragedy (it has all the great stuff: oatbreaking, hubris, vengence, war.
*sigh*
My biggest issue is that I don't understand why they loved each other.
We barely got to know Patroclus. We know all the bad things in regards to the exile and all the good things after they went to war. In between these, to me, he felt like an almost person: he almost said something, almost did something, almost forgot. Everything happened to him. The gods took the reins, others made the choice e.g. with princess Deidameia: "I could not bear to see her face broken open with more sorrow, more disappointment", so I had no choice but to sleep with her, but I too as indifferent towards her, so in the end "did not understand what she had wanted; I only knew I had not given it". If Achilles was made for war, Patroclus's only purpose was to admire and love Achilles.
And Achilles. What I liked about him the most, at the beginning at least, was that he always thought before he spoke. That's it. He was a prince, a demigod, everyone turned into sunflowers when he was around, following him with their eyes, like he is the greatest person ever (or the greatest hero, even when he wasn't proven himself yet).
What do we know about him? That he is beautiful, like marble, his hair is golden or fiery, his feet smell great(at the fist mention of this, I wrote down in my book: if I would not know his story, I would say Patroclus has a foot fetish). Even the trees know he is destined for greatness, so they adjust themselve to be his crown. What else though? What do we love about him? If he were to live to 50, would they tell about how clever and honorable he was?
What we do know is that he was indifferent to everyone except for Patroclus and his destiny; that he "has a tender heart", is stubborn, speedy and the best fighter (they are his demigod powers) and proud.
Are these enough for love?
Sadly, not for me.
Miller is very good at romanticizing the small moments of everyday life. I wish we had spent more time with them when they were growing up, because this book gave me the same feelings that Romeo and Juliet did, as in 'sit down, that's not love'.
Part of my rating comes from the unfortunate fact that I hyped this book up for myself. As a lover of greek mythology and a member of LGBTQ+ community, I had high expectations for it, but sadly it seems that I am on the other side of viewing romantic relationships. (Even when I originally read Homer and I had a feeling that Achilles and Patroclus had a deeper relationship, I had no name for it yet.)
I know how messed up the gods were, some of them r*ping left and right
*sigh*
My biggest issue is that I don't understand why they loved each other.
We barely got to know Patroclus. We know all the bad things in regards to the exile and all the good things after they went to war. In between these, to me, he felt like an almost person: he almost said something, almost did something, almost forgot. Everything happened to him. The gods took the reins, others made the choice e.g. with princess Deidameia: "I could not bear to see her face broken open with more sorrow, more disappointment", so I had no choice but to sleep with her, but I too as indifferent towards her, so in the end "did not understand what she had wanted; I only knew I had not given it". If Achilles was made for war, Patroclus's only purpose was to admire and love Achilles.
And Achilles. What I liked about him the most, at the beginning at least, was that he always thought before he spoke. That's it. He was a prince, a demigod, everyone turned into sunflowers when he was around, following him with their eyes, like he is the greatest person ever (or the greatest hero, even when he wasn't proven himself yet).
What do we know about him? That he is beautiful, like marble, his hair is golden or fiery, his feet smell great
What we do know is that he was indifferent to everyone except for Patroclus and his destiny; that he "has a tender heart", is stubborn, speedy and the best fighter (they are his demigod powers) and proud.
Are these enough for love?
Sadly, not for me.