My obsession with mythology continues in full flow. After last year’s blog posts on my trysts with Greek and Norse mythology, I got a lot of recommendations – one of which was Madeline Miller. I decided to start with The Song of Achilles, followed by Circe, depending on my reading experience.
About the Book
Achilles, “the best of all the Greeks,” son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him.
Patroclus is an awkward young prince exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods’ wrath.
They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.
~ Synopsis from GoodReads
Review of The Song of Achilles
I loved this book! For some reason, I thought this would be a reinterpretation of the myths, but Miller stays true to the original story, which I love. But, she also brings a fresh take by telling the story through the eyes of Patroclus, the lover of Achilles. This strategy allows her to provide a sympathetic viewpoint on Achilles – who otherwise seems quite an unpleasant and egoistic character.
The romance between Achilles and Patroclus is sweet – maybe a bit too sweet, considering Achilles spends all his days behaving like a killing machine. But still, it provides the softer moments between all the battles and politics in the battle of Troy.
In addition to their romance, the novel also explores the themes of war, heroism, and destiny. Miller depicts the brutality and horror of war and the toll it takes on those who fight it. She also shows how the idea of heroism can be both inspiring and dangerous and how the pursuit of glory can lead to tragedy.
I loved reading about all these glorious characters – Hector, Paris, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Odysseus, and more. Honestly, most of them were just names to me earlier. Miller brings them to life – each with a personality of their own. Also, I didn’t know much about Achilles apart from his role in the Trojan war, so it was interesting to get a background into his childhood and early life before the war.
All in all, this was a good, solid book. I enjoyed it, and I now look forward to reading Circe – another book by her on another Greek hero – Odysseus.
