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The Song of Achilles

Madeline Miller

Start date: November 3, 2024

Finish date: December 1, 2024

Discussion: BOTM

Discussion leader: Alexia･ﾟﾟ･｡༉‧₊˚. ❧

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What Members Thought

Mar 03, 2025 JR rated it really liked it

I don’t really care for a lot of historical fiction, but this kept me interested for the duration.

The story of Achilles and his lover Patroclus is queer fiction at its best. Tastefully done, with a Battle of Troy as the backdrop of the novel, this was pretty captivating with fighting and war mixed with compassion and love. Overall, pretty good. Would recommend.
4⭐️

10 likes · Like · see review

Aug 23, 2022 caroline ౨ৎ FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sad, love-of-my-life

one of the absolute best books i've ever read. you will cry. but read it. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Jul 23, 2024 Daniz rated it really liked it

3.5 stars but just put 4 cause why not

It was good but it did take quite long to actually get to the battle and some of the convos between the characters just felt … bland ig

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Sep 11, 2022 Meg .☘︎🍁 rated it really liked it · review of another edition

“We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.”

✦⤷

So I have to say this is my first time reading a true story about the Gods aka Achillies. This was by far an amazing book I went into this book completely blind trying to avoid all spoilers.. this book was so very well written not at all complicated apart from the first chapter I found confusing but after continuing it explains everything as to why this and that happened.

ೃ︵➷

The son ...more

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Sep 10, 2023 Ani rated it it was ok

The writing style of Ms. Miller is good. I wanted to love the storytelling and the modern take on Greek mythology and the tale of Achilles and Patroclus.

However, there were some things that just lowered this book from what it could've been.

For one, the story is told from Patroclus's point of view. And it is freaking exhausting. I thought that I would see some character development on his part (trust me, it was very much needed), but there was none whatsoever. He was a coward and even a bit skitt The writing style of Ms. Miller is good. I wanted to love the storytelling and the modern take on Greek mythology and the tale of Achilles and Patroclus.

However, there were some things that just lowered this book from what it could've been.

For one, the story is told from Patroclus's point of view. And it is freaking exhausting. I thought that I would see some character development on his part (trust me, it was very much needed), but there was none whatsoever. He was a coward and even a bit skittish at times. His whole identity revolved around Achilles. I mean, I get his love for Achilles is supposed to be the main theme of the novel but he severely lacked individuality. Except Briseis and Achilles, no one really cared about him.

Let alone cheer for this character, I could not even connect to him. He was clingy and unusually possessive of Achilles. It felt like he couldn't do anything without him. So at his inevitable death, I didn't even feel anything. I just wanted him to have his own identity, you know. Though he did kind of (?) found his place but it was negligible compared to his lover's existence. It just didn't feel as legendary a love story that it could have been.

As for Achilles, I liked him for most of the novel. So that's that. He was majestic and endearing at the same time. But bro f-ed up during the arc of Briseis. I guess, I cannot blame the author for this either as she only maintained the original storyline of Iliad. However, later he became this selfish prick that whatever gaslighting I did to myself into liking this character evaporated into this air. The author could have handled the situation in so many ways but she chose the way that made me hate his character and I was like, please Hector kill Patroclus NOW! I cannot take it anymore!

I only liked some of the female characters and Odysseus in the whole book. I liked Briseis the most. She was the only one that I rooted for. I didn't hate Thetis either. She might've been a homophobic tiger mom but at the end of the day, she loved Achilles so I didn't really like the tug-of-war of possessiveness between Thetis and Patroclus over Achilles.

"I bristled at the thought of her (Thetis) fretting over him; that was mine to do." (This is one of many examples of the inner monologue of Patroclus. Get it now? Why I hate him so much? I read in a review that he is Bella to Achilles's Edward. Yeah, I can see it)

So yeah, taking account of my feelings towards the two main characters of this book, the tragedy did not really strike me as hard as it did seem hit others. Mind you, I am a crybaby to the point that I often avoid tragedies and it did not make me cry. At. All. So I was disappointed when previously I looked forward to this book so much after seeing all the hype it had garnered. That's all. ...more

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