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gainsboro 's review for:
The Song of Achilles
by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
The thing with mythology is that it’s all retelling of stories through time with some spice as to what the storyteller favours to bring out. Some truth might still be in there, or not. And just so, this is another reimagining told with Patroclus’ voice.
Homer did not specify more than a deep bond between our main protagonists, yet Miller chose to make it clear in her reimagining. Knowledge of pederasty or putting more humanity into the telling?The death of Achilles was disappointing, a deviation. Again, was it to put humanity into the telling - who was the Achilles’ heel?
The book though was beautifully written and paced. Jumps through time were handled well. Some characters were as expected and some not at all. The audiobook was a top-notch production. Plus, it’s creative to write from a minor but very important character’s perspective.
Despite feeling a slight ambivalence about this particular version of events before and during the Trojan War and the characterisation of the heroes, this book comes recommended. Especially if not familiar with the Odyssey and the Iliad.
Homer did not specify more than a deep bond between our main protagonists, yet Miller chose to make it clear in her reimagining. Knowledge of pederasty or putting more humanity into the telling?
The book though was beautifully written and paced. Jumps through time were handled well. Some characters were as expected and some not at all. The audiobook was a top-notch production. Plus, it’s creative to write from a minor but very important character’s perspective.
Despite feeling a slight ambivalence about this particular version of events before and during the Trojan War and the characterisation of the heroes, this book comes recommended. Especially if not familiar with the Odyssey and the Iliad.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail