Buddy Read/Re-Read for Song of Achilles

[dammit, liz]

Welcome to the buddy read of The Song of Achilles, Well, I hope it becomes a buddy read. All welcome. Please use spoiler tags when necessary and loc's when possible. Gratuitous virtual hand-holding is appreciated! Just let me know if and when you'd like to start.

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Hi! Trying to find my copy or procure one if it turns out I dont actually have it yet.

[dammit, liz]

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Hi! Trying to find my copy or procure one if it turns out I dont actually have it yet."

Hiiii, long time no talk ;) I bought my copy on Amazon last night. Unfortunately it isn't lending enabled or I'd send it to you.

[Jenn]

I'm in. It was on my reading challenge shelf for a category anyways, so perfect. I can start tomorrow!

[dammit, liz]

Sounds great! Tomorrow works for me. I'm in US Central time zone, by the way, and will probably pick it up early evening.

[Jenn]

I'm same time zone and will probably start same time. :)

[dammit, liz]

Sounds perfect :)

[dammit, liz]

Don't know when y'all will be free, but I should be around 8-ish central.

[Jenn]

Oh that's perfect. I just downloaded the book to kindle, but was kinda wanting a nap first lol.

[Jenn]

OK, ive read the first 2 chapters. Love it so far. I used to love greek mythology when i was younger, so this has me all kinds of excited. Patroclus has this humor that i dig, even when remembering him as an awkward child and his disappointed father.

Im having a bit of a problem remembering all the names and relations, but hopefully it gets easier. I loved the image of littld boy Achilles.

[dammit, liz]

I'm just now getting started...got the comfy pants and favorite couch corner ready ;) Greek mythology isn't something I've really read since I was in high school which has been (gasp) nearly 20 years. I might have to take some notes to remember who's who!

[dammit, liz]

End of chapter one and I'm already teary-eyed.

[Jenn]

Right? How he sees his mother and Achilles is so haunting. And that his father would never want them together.

Don't worry, it's been nearly 20 years for me too. My brain feels 80 sometimes though. :)

[dammit, liz]

I keep getting sidetracked by googling mythology stuff. Maybe it's better to just go in blind and let this adaptation of the story tell itself.

[Jenn]

Yeah, I thought about googling things, but I figured that would take forever. Hopefully, blind is OK.

[dammit, liz]

I'm just highlighting when new characters are introduced in case I forget who's who. An appendix with the characters, countries, and positions like in Captive Prince would've been though.

[Jenn]

Just finished chapter 3. That was dark. (view spoiler)[ I can't believe they have a ten year old killing another child (even by accident) and then exiled. My heart. And when he said being ignored and dismissed in Phthia was no different than being at home? Sob.

I I liked this bit: "Here is where I tasted the full truth of Peleus’ kindness: well trained and indebted, we would one day make him a fine army."

(hide spoiler)]

[dammit, liz]

Right? Even sadder is that Patroclus doesn't even bother explaining what happened. He knows his father had little use for him and was probably happy to see him go. A better life awaits though :) It's sad to see his efforts to just kind of disappear in the mix though.

[dammit, liz]

I'm in the middle of chapter six where their friendship is really blossoming, and getting lost in the fanart rabbit hole;) What a beautiful Achilles:

[Jenn]

I just finished chapter 4. Loved this bit: After that, I was craftier with my observation, kept my head down and my eyes ready to leap away. But he was craftier still. At least once a dinner he would turn and catch me before I could feign indifference. Those seconds, half seconds, that the line of our gaze connected, were the only moment in my day that I felt anything at all. The sudden swoop of my stomach, the coursing anger. I was like a fish eyeing the hook.

She has such a way with description, and when Patroclus is told he might still be a great man despite what caused him to get exiled, it took my breath.

This is so good, but ugh I'm old lady and am tired. Plus, I might be doing Mardi Gras parade tomorrow. I'll probably read Chapter 5 & then pick it up again tomorrow morning.

And Achilles is STUNNING.

[dammit, liz]

Her description is brilliant! The visuals.. wait until he gets to meet Achilles' mother at loc 709. That gets.. interesting. The imagery though... you can almost feel it. Anyway, good night and enjoy your stuff tomorrow! Think I'm going to keep going a little further.

[dammit, liz]

"I will never leave him. It will be this, always, for as long as he will let me."
-loc 1309

I really need to stop and get to sleep! Can't stop reading. This is making me cry.

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Got my copy, just been too busy to read. I worked a long day yesterday and then went out with a friend all night. Today I work another long shift and I have a board game night to attend. Maybe I'll start this tomorrow, if not tonight when I get home if I'm not too tired.

I'm avoiding Google and fan art, lol! Avoiding I said, not getting tempted. If I repeat that, it might stick!

[Alisa]

I think you guys should just read it and not stop and google things. There's a rhythm and melody to the storytelling which I think is important. I didn't go back and look up anything until after I was done. She changes a few minor things but the core of the plot is the same.

When you're reading this pay attention to when they say "this and this and this". It's important and I missed it in places the first time I read this.

[Alisa]

Jenn wrote: "Just finished chapter 3. That was dark. I can't believe they have a ten year old killing another child (even by accident) and then exiled. My heart. And when he said being ignored and dismissed in..."

Patroclus is very insightful, even as a little boy. I LOVE that this story is told from his pov.

[dammit, liz]

Yeah, I managed to stop with the googling after the first couple chapters. It really is easy to get lost in the cadence of the writing. And yay Teresa! I'm going to come back to it this evening.

[Jenn]

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[" And as we swam, or played, or talked, a feeling would come. It was almost like fear, in the way it filled me, rising in my chest. It was almost like tears, in how swiftly it came. But it was neither of those, buoyant where they were heavy, bright where they were dull."

And then this at the end:
"We were only twelve, too young to brood.
"I bet I can eat more than you.” “Race you!” I laughed. We ran."

Oh heart (hide spoiler)]

[dammit, liz]

That whole passage made my heart explode. Especially the end "...it was enough." I kept reading it and crying because I'm emotional like that ;) I'm about to pick up again now that I have dinner in the slow cooker that I can ignore for awhile. (At 29%)

[dammit, liz]

I'm at about 42% and things are going a bit slow for me :/

[dammit, liz]

Luckily, it picked up for me once the battle stuff started. I knew the general plot of the myth, but oh my god I am wrecked.

[Alisa]

damnit, liz wrote: "Luckily, it picked up for me once the battle stuff started. I knew the general plot of the myth, but oh my god I am wrecked."

Right? I mean you know going in how it's going to end but I wasn't prepared for the level of emotion that I would feel. I loved Patroclus as narrator.

[dammit, liz]

Yes! I referenced in my brief and shitty review that I loved his perspective of watching Achilles change. The way he was disappointed and heartbroken but still steadfast in his love gutted me.

[Alisa]

damnit, liz wrote: "Yes! I referenced in my brief and shitty review that I loved his perspective of watching Achilles change. The way he was disappointed and heartbroken but still steadfast in his love gutted me."

Exactly. (view spoiler)[ "Patroclus, best of the men. It is the truth. Let it stand, for once." (hide spoiler)]

also, one of my favorite scenes (view spoiler)[
Will you come with me?" he asked. The never-ending ache of love and sorrow. Perhaps in some other life I could have refused, could have torn my hair and screamed, and made him face his choice alone. But not in this one. He would sail to Troy and I would follow, even into death. "Yes", I whispered. "Yes." Relief broke over his face, and he reached for me. I let him hold me, let him press us length to length so close that nothing might fit between us. Tears came, and fell. Above us the constellations spun and the moon paced her weary course. We lay stricken and sleepless as the hours passed." (hide spoiler)]

[dammit, liz]

Aaaaand I'm crying again lol

[Alisa]

damnit, liz wrote: "Aaaaand I'm crying again lol"

Me. Every. Time. I. Talk. About. This. Book!! :D

[Alisa]

On another note, I read that the author is working on a re-telling of the Odyssey now.

[dammit, liz]

On a less related note, I'm also really excited to read Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology! Just bought it today.

[Jenn]

I had to pause this weekend b/c of Mardi Gras celebrations, but I plan on picking it back up tonight!

Also, can you believe I've never read a Neil Gaiman? I own several: American Gods, Coraline, The Graveyard Book, Good Omens, Stardust, Anansi Boys, Neverwhere, and The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I own ALL of them and haven't read a one. I should change that soon lol.