From the Bookshelf of The Perks Of Being A Book Addict…

The Song of Achilles

Madeline Miller

Start date: July 1, 2018

Finish date: July 31, 2018

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What Members Thought

Oct 23, 2021 Narsku rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is going to be spoilery rant even though I didn’t hate the book. Three stars because this was okay as a book and my problems are only with some of the content. There is a lot to like for a mythology nerd and even the prose grew on me.

(view spoiler) This is going to be spoilery rant even though I didn’t hate the book. Three stars because this was okay as a book and my problems are only with some of the content. There is a lot to like for a mythology nerd and even the prose grew on me.

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Apr 07, 2022 Alison rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mythology, historical-fiction

The Song of Achilles has been espoused as a beautiful, and tear-worthy, romantic story. I have even heard it referred to as a romance novel; which is a declaration that is absolutely incorrect. This is not a romance novel. I love romance novels. It is my main genre of choice nowadays. And there is a specific formula that romance novels follow so as to give the reader hope, assurance, and the guarantee of a happily ever after. The romance is central to the story and it always ends with “an emotio The Song of Achilles has been espoused as a beautiful, and tear-worthy, romantic story. I have even heard it referred to as a romance novel; which is a declaration that is absolutely incorrect. This is not a romance novel. I love romance novels. It is my main genre of choice nowadays. And there is a specific formula that romance novels follow so as to give the reader hope, assurance, and the guarantee of a happily ever after. The romance is central to the story and it always ends with “an emotionally satisfying and optimistic” conclusion (rwa.org). This book has none of the aforementioned qualities. Saying this is a romance actually does a disservice to this novel. So, if you are reading this review and you have not read The Song of Achilles, the fact that love connects the two main characters is important in the novel, but I would consider this Greek mythos a tragedy.

This is a beautifully written story of two people who were swept up by the imminent legend of Achilles. Patroclus acts as the humble, and reliable narrator of his story, and that of Achilles. Patroclus was friend confidante, lover, and partner to Achilles. Patroclus supported and followed Achilles, always keeping the prophecy of Achilles’ eventual ascension to godhood at the forefront of his mind and actions. Patroclus was my favorite character in this story. Briseis was my second favorite. And….SPOILER…I think that they deserved one another because she saw and appreciated Patroclus from the time she met him, unlike Achilles. And drumroll please…my least favorite character was….Achilles! I loathed the guy. He loved Patroclus in his own way, but I would say that he took advantage of Patroclus and didn’t really appreciate him. The only pure love Achilles had was for himself.

Pride goeth before the fall...and that is exactly what causes this legend to crumble; and which seems to be the central theme that Homer was communicating through this story. It is a story in which the honorable are sacrificed on the altar of the “great” men in history; the ones who we erect grand statues of, and are remembered. Why do we not pass down the story of figures like Patroclus? Maybe we don’t necessarily need to be reminded of honor, perhaps us mere mortals need to be prompted by the pitfalls of pride and selfishness. People like Patroclus are diminished in myths and legends because they are not the ones who need to learn the lesson after all.

In looking at the overall plot, this book didn’t seem to have much of one; it was a beautiful rendition of the mythos, but not much happens. I put the book down for days at a time because it did not hold my interest. There wasn’t anything about this book that pulled me back except for the fact that I had to finish it for my book club meeting. I also found a lot of the violence towards women disturbing. I will include content warnings at the bottom of my review as I would have liked them, even though I don’t have many myself-but I was still taken aback.

If you are interested in reading some m/m romance stories that are about healthy relationships with an optimistic ending, I’ve seen these historical romance authors highly recommended by other romance readers: KJ Charles, Cat Sebastian, Joanna Chambers, and Merry Farmer. I know there are many more m/m romance out there on Goodreads lists as well.

CW/TW: Infidelity/Virgin sacrifice/Mention of rape/Animal sacrifice/Depictions of war and death

2.5-3 stars ...more

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