Scan barcode
A review by woahshereads
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
5.0
Madeline Miller writes a classic story for the modern reader.
This book has long been on my list to read and I finally picked it up this summer while my husband and I were on our honeymoon in London (shout-out to the cutest book shop, Word on the Water). As I was checking out, the owner had said this was one of his favorite books he has read in a long time. I knew the hype had to be worth it, if I have been hearing nothing but great things from Europe and the US. For me, it lived up to the hype. After reading the first two chapters, I had already thought “yep, this is probably going to be a 5-star read”.
The writing & story telling felt so poetic yet so easy to understand and follow. I found myself devouring the pages but at a slow and steady pace because I did not want this story to end. I fell in and out of love with Achilles but I admired how in those moments of my doubt, Patroclus would find his way back to him. These characters had such a deep understanding and love for one another that nothing could come between them. In life and in their death. This story was so beautiful, it’s hard to put it into words.
When I had told friends I was reading this book, their first response was “get the tissues ready”. I am not immune to crying, in fact I probably cry more than most people while readying. But I was surprised that I found myself near the end of the book wondering “what are people talking about?!”.
“In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood, like a hundred golden urns pouring out the sun”
^^ this last passage of the book is what got me. In the end, not even Thetis, Achilles goddess mother, who despise Patroclus throughout this entire story, was the one to grant them their peace together in the underworld. I could not have imagined a better ending.
I am so excited to pick up Circe as that was the second reaction people have had when telling them I was reading “The Song of Achilles”… “okay but have you read Circe?!”
I am expecting nothing less than a similar experience reading this.
This book has long been on my list to read and I finally picked it up this summer while my husband and I were on our honeymoon in London (shout-out to the cutest book shop, Word on the Water). As I was checking out, the owner had said this was one of his favorite books he has read in a long time. I knew the hype had to be worth it, if I have been hearing nothing but great things from Europe and the US. For me, it lived up to the hype. After reading the first two chapters, I had already thought “yep, this is probably going to be a 5-star read”.
The writing & story telling felt so poetic yet so easy to understand and follow. I found myself devouring the pages but at a slow and steady pace because I did not want this story to end. I fell in and out of love with Achilles but I admired how in those moments of my doubt, Patroclus would find his way back to him. These characters had such a deep understanding and love for one another that nothing could come between them. In life and in their death. This story was so beautiful, it’s hard to put it into words.
When I had told friends I was reading this book, their first response was “get the tissues ready”. I am not immune to crying, in fact I probably cry more than most people while readying. But I was surprised that I found myself near the end of the book wondering “what are people talking about?!”.
“In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood, like a hundred golden urns pouring out the sun”
^^ this last passage of the book is what got me. In the end, not even Thetis, Achilles goddess mother, who despise Patroclus throughout this entire story, was the one to grant them their peace together in the underworld. I could not have imagined a better ending.
I am so excited to pick up Circe as that was the second reaction people have had when telling them I was reading “The Song of Achilles”… “okay but have you read Circe?!”
I am expecting nothing less than a similar experience reading this.