findingsolace 's review for:

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

3.75

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The Silence of the Girls narrates the story of a character usually forgotten, the woman who was a queen and then became a slave and the woman who had to surrender to Achilles' will; it was Briseis. This story focuses on what Briseis witnessed and experienced during her time as a slave in Achilles' camp, where she saw great tragedy and where she met other women like her. She was incredibly helpless and didn't have the capabilities to do anything; not even an escape would provide her true freedom. It was disheartening to see Briseis suffer while also taking a glimpse at what happened to Achilles and Patroclus.