A review by embreads98
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I read this book directly on the heels of Song of Achilles, so I could not help but compare and contrast. While SoA reimagines the story of Patroclus and Achilles as a coming of age love story, steering mostly clear of the gore and horrors of war, Silence of the Girls spares no gruesome detail. Hearing the story from Briseis’ perspective forces the reader to consider the reality of those who are neither victors or losers in the clash of Trojans and Greeks, but merely collateral damage. Throughout the book, Briseis grapples with her powerlessness as a woman and a slave, and ultimately concludes that the story isn’t about her and that she will be remembered as a footnote in Achilles’ legend. I took a half point off of my rating because I felt like the story dragged a bit after Patroclus’ death, but otherwise I would highly recommend Silence of the Girls for anyone craving a different perspective on one of the most well-known stories of the western world. 
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