The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk.
Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of
the sun.
-The Song Of Achilles
••••
Madeline Miller is a stone-cold genius. I didn’t know who she was until this summer but now she’s definitely in my top 10 favourite authors. I discovered her for myself this summer when I was browsing through Instagram and seen all the amazing photos featuring Circe. It seemed as if the entire bookstagram community was reading Circe at the time and it has such a beautiful cover how could you not feature it in a post? Admittedly, with my staggeringly long TBR list, I didn’t actually get around to these novels until this month but I’m so disappointed I didn’t start earlier. I didn’t want to miss out on anything so I read The Song of Achilles first and I don’t know how Circe will top it but I have high hopes.
—————— This post contains SPOILERS ——————
I’ve always had a love for mythology. Greek, Roman, Norse, they’re all so enchanting. Not only that, but each has a lesson within. Whether it is a warning of vanity (Narcissus, I’m looking at you buddy), the grief of a Mother’s loss (Demeter will always be one of my favourites), or warning of the end of days (Ragnarok). The stories are timeless and it’s no wonder they were such an inspiration for Madeline Miller's novels. The Song of Achilles is a retelling of the Trojan War from the point of view of Patroclus, companion of the hero Achilles. It captured my interest and then promptly broke my heart.
When I first started this book, I will admit I was a little disappointed. I think I built it up in my head so much that the slow start gave me pause. And it was a slow start. So, so, slow. If I read it again I’d enjoy the beginning more, the building relationship between Patroclus and Achilles and Patroclus’ character development. But I was expecting a book full of epic battles. So, it took me a few days to get into it, but once it got going it was un-put-down-able. The details of the war were written so accurately. Not the glamorized version of heroes but the truth of weariness, loss, and gory death, although, Patroclus’ view of Achilles striking down anything in his path was pretty heroic. Even as a re-write of a well-known legend, the story sounded as genuine as if it were written along with the Iliad, just with a more modern language.
The relationships formed in this book were genuine and lasting. They weren’t perfect friendships or glossed over acquaintances but real relationships. With trust and doubt, love and hate, jealousy and admiration. Every contradictory feeling that comes with a real relationship. I also really admired how simple Achilles’ feelings were. Unlike Patroclus, he didn’t seem to think twice about anything. He just trusted that Patroclus would be by his side until the end and nothing else mattered.
There were a few things that bugged me however. The slow start was crucial to the development of Achilles and Patroclus’ character development and setting the stage for the Trojan War but I feel like it also could have gone a little quicker to keep my interest going. Achilles’ vanity also irritated me. I understand that heroes in Greek lore were vain, no matter how “down to earth” and “kind” they could be. But it was especially annoying when Achilles transformed from a youth who did not want to kill to a hardened warrior that revelled in how many people he could cut down in a day. No matter what kind of “bloodlust” one gets, to me it didn’t fit with the image that was built of Achilles character. It seemed a bit out of place.
There was also one moment that drove me insane. Deidameia and Patroclus. Deidameia and Achilles were manageable, he was forced by his mother to be with her, thinking he was protecting Patroclus. After all that Patroclus hated her and pitied her and acted jealous and angry, he went and did the exact same thing to Achilles….with the same woman. How is that not being unfaithful? That also didn’t fit with Patroclus’ character. Yes, Patroclus had a bit of a bleeding heart, especially for sad women, but that was a bit of a stretch for me.
It was eye-opening to read the realities of the time period. Yeah, we all know that back then women were objects, had zero rights, and slaves were a legitimate thing. But to have it written in a modern book with such flippancy on the subject, was like reading it from someone who came from a time where that was normal. I applaud Madeline Miller for getting herself into that mindset. It was sickening how normalized rape and slavery were and she did a good job writing it as it would have been. Even the most heroic or humble man didn’t see much problem in keeping slave girls for their beds. Peleus, for example, was such a sweet and wise man in the book yet the reason Achilles even existed was because Peleus raped a nymph and she gave birth to a hero. As awful as it was, I really was impressed with how historically accurate the attitudes and morals of the time were written.
The things that stuck with me are the things that would make me read this book again and again. My favourite moment of the entire book was Achilles’ reaction to Patroclus’ fate. It was heart-wrenching in a way that I haven’t felt from a book in a long time. I felt his grief and I cried along with him. To twist the knife further, Patroclus getting stuck behind because of Phyrrus’ decision (seriously screw that guy) still haunts me. I felt the emptiness and fear and loneliness he felt.
10/10 would read again and I recommend it to everyone to read as well. It lived up to my expectations. Honestly, I had to wait a few days to write the review because I thought maybe I was biased because of “book hangover” but even a week later I still feel the same.
-Taylor