From the Bookshelf of Ranters and Reviewers…

The Song of Achilles

Madeline Miller

Start date: March 1, 2021

Finish date: March 31, 2021

Discussion: BOTM

Why we're reading this: March Standalone BOTM
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November 2021 Series BOTM Suggestions
By Sofia , duckish things · 9 posts · 19 views

last updated Oct 21, 2021 11:56PM

October 2021 Continuation BOTM: The Wicked King
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last updated Oct 21, 2021 11:55PM

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What Members Thought

Mar 20, 2021 ☆Pelumi☆ rated it it was amazing

OUT OF FIVE
ACTUAL RATING: 5 fucking, heart wrenching and so worth it stars
PLOT: 4
CHARACTERS: 14
AWESOMENESS:30000000000
Rep: m/m couple
I am so not okay
I'm not supposed to be crying on my birthday but here we are, in the bathroom crying my eyes out!

“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.”

This was too beautiful even for me gahhhh!!

“He is half of my soul, as ...more

154 likes · Like · see review

May 15, 2020 Devanshi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites

"Ah." A sly smile spread across his face; he had always loved defiance. "Well, why should I kill him? He's done nothing to me"

This line will be the end of me..😭😭😭😭

I am a history geek along with being a literary nerd and when these two magical worlds are presented to me in a single book, that becomes my life.

This is such a magical experience. I knew about Achilles and Patroclus but not in such detail. I knew how Achilles was gonna die but had no idea about Patroclus but I guessed it as the bo ...more

53 likes · Like · see review

Apr 21, 2021 n* rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: hello-darkness-my-old-friend, standalones

...more

32 likes · Like · see review

Mar 26, 2021 Fini (Hozier’s Version) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2021, physical-book, lgbtqia-plus-rep, i-brought-you-myrrh-mur-der, audiobook-playing-in-background, ma-god-they-were-roommates, i-like-pain, still-staring-at-the-ceiling, diverse-rep, mythology

07/25/2021
Update:

Wait, why didn't I rate this 5 stars in the first place?? It's literally all I could ever ask for!
(fixed it).

03/23/2021
1st read:

★★★★★

“He is half of my soul, as the poets say.”

Characters:

I love that we followed Patroclus and Achilles from an early age.
I feel like the portrayal of them was amazing. Achilles is oftentimes portrayed as an unlikeable character, but his motives in this book seemed even more realistic to me, personally. Chiron was one of my favs too!

Plot:

Know ...more

16 likes · Like · see review

May 29, 2021 Cass (all too tired) rated it really liked it

Shelves: tears-were-shed, the-hype-train, lgbtqia-rep, historical-fiction

“And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone.”

This book is like a storm that passes right through you and is gone just as quick. I did cry and used a couple of tissues, but it wasn't gutwrenching. It isn't 'I'm going to cry every time I think about them'. I feel sad, but not broken. Other than the emotions I was told I was going to feel, this is a wonderful book with an amazing writing style, a good plot, and characters that I enjoyed reading abou
“And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone.”

This book is like a storm that passes right through you and is gone just as quick. I did cry and used a couple of tissues, but it wasn't gutwrenching. It isn't 'I'm going to cry every time I think about them'. I feel sad, but not broken. Other than the emotions I was told I was going to feel, this is a wonderful book with an amazing writing style, a good plot, and characters that I enjoyed reading about.

"No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.”

The writing style is on the 'telling' side, but the way it was written and how it was used to describe scenes was beautiful and I loved it. Just look at the quotes, they feel like lovesick poems and wise words disguised in the dialogue and Patroclus's thoughts. (view spoiler)

“I will never leave him. It will be this, always, for as long as he will let me.”

The plot was slow at first, but it picked up very quickly once they went to war. I loved the little moments between Patroclus and Achilles, the moments that strengthened their relationshiop and developed their characters further. I would say that this book is much more character driven than plot driven. There aren't any huge plot twists (view spoiler), but it's still gripping and interesting.

“We reached for each other, and I thought of how many nights I had lain awake loving him in silence.”

The characters are probably the best part of this book. I love Patroclus's fall for Achilles and the way Madeline Miller showed both the bad and the good side of Achilles, the gentler side and not just the harsh edges. (view spoiler) I have a soft spot for Odysseus, I really like the Odyssey and how he was portrayed in this book was nice. (view spoiler)

In conclusion, this is a great book and though it didn't destroy me, it made me feel so many emotions and I would recommend to anyone who loves greek mythology or action filled romance.

“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.”

...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Apr 04, 2021 Merel ★birdsong.books★ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
bookstagram

Between a 3.5 and a 4!

Patroclus deserved better :(

I love mythology and I think Miller did really well with this novel, from what I can tell the book is very close to following the myth! I enjoyed the writing, though the story was a bit boring sometimes. If you enjoy prose and romance, you'll like this book. Miller writes beautifully.

I personally didn't get emotionally attached to the characters, I only started taking a liking to Patroclus later in the book ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 23, 2020 Jess rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: absolute-favourites

‘“Go,’ she says. ‘He waits for you.’”

I have too many words and yet none at all. I went into this book knowing only a little about Greek mythology. I knew the tales of Hercules and other great heroes and the powerful ways of their immortal gods. I did not however, know of Achilles story. So when I say I did not see that coming, I meant it.

I couldn’t put this book down. It was beautifully written and such a fantastic and compelling story. If you have not yet read this book. Please do! And prepare ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 16, 2021 Cyd_the_Sloth rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

So heartbreaking. So beautiful. So remarkable.

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 25, 2023 Rose Lillian rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook, 2023

yeah i get it

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 21, 2021 jasmine ₍⸍⸌̣ʷ̣̫⸍̣⸌₎ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, march-tbr, romance, action, 2021, online-copy, watery-eyes, lgbtq, mythology

SONG OF ACHILLES

Rating: 4.95 (-0.05 for no tears shed)
will be futher refining review later on

Overview:

- Beautiful writing
- Easy to comprehend writing
- Perfectly crafted romance
- Fast-paced
- Very interesting
- Page turner
- ~~Sad ending~~
- Character development
- Loveable main character
* added to favourites list

- Many many names and new words (there is a glossary included I just want to warn anyone who has trouble digesting lots of new words)
- Didn't make me cry
- Would have liked more romance ...more

Like · see review