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A review by writervid
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
4.0
I greatly enjoyed The Song of Achilles, but all the same, I found myself disappointed by it. Perhaps that's because my expectations were so high? Or maybe it's because I haven't seen Troy (2004), or read the Illiad.
I think the strength of this book lies in Miller's ability to paint a picture of the times and of the people that make them. It's not an entirely thematic story, which is where I felt it lacked. Instead, it's an epic that, as far as I know, sticks closely to The Illiad. It depicts Greece as a sexist, violent place, and sheds light on the toxic masculinity and reputation building that are still issues today. I felt like I was in all of the places she brought us, and the ways she characterized the heroes and gods felt more honest than other interpretations. As much as I hated questioning Achilles' humanity, it made a richer adaptation.
The weakness of this novel, for me, lies in Patroclus. I didn't find him terribly interesting, and while he had to make some interesting choices that defined his character (which were wonderful to read), I think he suffers from the Nick Carroway curse of being just interesting enough to tell the story, but doesn't have much interest throughout a lot of it (until, of course, he has to make those wonderful choices). I just couldn't entirely understand why Achilles loved him.
Fantastically written, beautifully done. Just not a fan of Patroclus as much as I liked their romance.
I think the strength of this book lies in Miller's ability to paint a picture of the times and of the people that make them. It's not an entirely thematic story, which is where I felt it lacked. Instead, it's an epic that, as far as I know, sticks closely to The Illiad. It depicts Greece as a sexist, violent place, and sheds light on the toxic masculinity and reputation building that are still issues today. I felt like I was in all of the places she brought us, and the ways she characterized the heroes and gods felt more honest than other interpretations. As much as I hated questioning Achilles' humanity, it made a richer adaptation.
The weakness of this novel, for me, lies in Patroclus. I didn't find him terribly interesting, and while he had to make some interesting choices that defined his character (which were wonderful to read), I think he suffers from the Nick Carroway curse of being just interesting enough to tell the story, but doesn't have much interest throughout a lot of it (until, of course, he has to make those wonderful choices). I just couldn't entirely understand why Achilles loved him.
Fantastically written, beautifully done. Just not a fan of Patroclus as much as I liked their romance.