The Song of Achilles: A Novel

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ When I was a teenage boy, grappling with the complexities of my own identity, I felt isolated and misunderstood. The world around me seemed to echo only one message—that being different was something to hide. But then I stumbled upon the story of Patroclus and Achilles, two legendary figures from ancient Greece whose bond transcended friendship. Their courage, loyalty, and deep affection for each other painted a picture of love that was both fierce and unapologetic. Learning about them was like finding a beacon in the dark. Their story didn’t just speak of heroics on the battlefield but of the profound connection they shared, a love that defied the expectations of their time. This realization planted a seed of hope within me. It showed me that love, in all its forms, has always existed and has been honored in history’s most epic tales. Patroclus and Achilles’ story saved me because it made me feel seen. It whispered that I wasn’t alone, that my feelings were not new or wrong—they were part of the same human tapestry that wove through time. Because of them, I found the strength to embrace who I was, to believe that my identity was not a burden but a part of my own story worth telling. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is an exquisite retelling of a timeless tale, breathing new life into the epic story from The Iliad. Miller's lyrical prose and deep character development transform the mythological narrative into an intimate, heartfelt journey. The love story…

Originally posted on my blog at https://rantandraveaboutbooks.com/2016/07/29/the-song-of-achilles-fate-fury-and-friendship-make-for-a-rave-review/ First, I think it’s important to mention that The Iliad is my favorite book, so my connection to the characters and this story is much deeper than most. I read The Iliad in 2001 and have since been obsessed with all things Greek mythology as well as anything related to the Trojan War. I’ve read The Iliad a total of six times in its entirety, so when I read The Song of Achilles, a work of historical fiction based on the book, I was completely blow away. I can’t remember the last time I stared at the last page of a novel and felt that satisfied. I recently wrote a post about The Iliad if you want to learn more about the original and the modern-day spin I added to it. We read The Song of Achilles as our Book of the Month for Hype or Like Friday, a Goodreads group I co-created with Britt and Larkin, and I’m looking forward to reading the reviews. If you’re a member of the group or have reviewed this book in the past, feel free to share the link to your review in the comments. I often switch up my review style, and I’ve decided to break the novel into 5 categories: Writing, Characters, Plot, Historical Accuracy, and Themes. Note: If you haven’t read The Iliad or are unaware of the history/mythology surrounding the Trojan War, then consider this your warning that there are major spoilers below that explain both The Iliad and The…

The love between Achilles and Patroclus is one of the great classics of Greek literature. For gay men, it's a story we can look to as proof that there have always been men who loved other men, and they weren't always as reviled as we sometimes feel in modern society. It's no wonder that contemporary authors keep returning to the story to try and reinterpret it. "The Song of Achilles" gives us the story from Patroclus' point of view. We follow him from early childhood, when his aggressive father puts him forth as one of Helen's suitors at the age of nine, through the accidental killing of a noble boy which sends him into exile, where he meets Achilles. As the two boys grow into young men, love blooms, and Achilles remains devoted to Patroclus, despite the objections of his mother, the sea-nymph Thetis. Although Thetis is determined that Achilles fulfill his destiny as the greatest of all Greeks, when news of the war with Troy comes, she spirits her son away into hiding to keep him from going. Patroclus tracks him down, to find Achilles in drag and secretly married to a princess. Soon Odysseus also discovers where Achilles is hiding and the young man is finally convinced that he must join the battle to fulfill his destiny. While Patroclus has no desire to fight, he knows that his place is by Achilles' side, even though he knows that the hero is destined not to survive the war. The events of the battle of Troy unfold much as they are related in the Illiad, only now we see…

When I was in high school (mid 80’s) Greek mythology (Iliad/Odyssey) was required reading. I tortured myself for hours attempting to understand the heavily worded passages filled with war and death. So, when my book club member picked “The Song of Achilles”, I read the summary and feared that it would be difficult to start, never-mind finish. And while I love to read, this didn’t seem like a book I would have selected or enjoyed. Yes, I like movies like “300” and “Gladiator”, and TV shows like “Spartacus”, but was I really ready to voluntarily enter the world of the Trojan war? Guess what? I did and I really, really liked it. The language was not difficult to understand, and the novel was not so heavily worded that I had to reread the passages over and over. The writing was simple (of course I stumbled over some of the names) and filled with new and inventive plot possibilities. But the most interesting thing about this story is how the story is told. We see the rise and fall of Achilles, through the eyes of his companion/lover, Patroclus. Exiled Prince, Patroclus, meets Achilles when he is sent to live with King Peleus. Achilles is the son of Peleus and the Sea Nymph, Thetis. Achilles is confident, handsome, fearless, not to mention destined for great things. Clumsy, awkward and shy, Patroclus is everything that Achilles is not. So, when Achilles picks Patroclus as his companion, everyone is shocked and dismayed. Soon we are allowed to follow their growing relationship…

Madeline Miller resurrects Greece's Age of Heroes with this compelling tale about Achilles, half-man/half-god and his best friend Patroclus. A young prince who has been exiled from his kingdom of Phthia, Patroclus is to be raised under the patronage of Achilles' father King Peleus. Achilles is the son of Thetis, a sea goddess who hates mortals, and he possesses all the things that ordinary men do not: He is stronger, beautiful, intelligent, faster, and impossible to beat. Achilles is everything that Patroclus isn't, but they end up becoming the most unlikely of friends and grow up together learning battle skills and the art of medicine by studying with the wisest and justest of all the centaurs, Chiron. When Achilles is called to war to help recover Helen of Sparta who has been kidnapped, at first he refuses and hides away from his fate. But eventually he is seduced by the promise of his glorious and fated future - the best of the best - a man that no mortal can kill. Patroclus follows Achilles and watches as war changes Achilles into someone else. Everyone knows the story of the Trojan War and what happens to these great heroes of this age, but I couldn't help but hope that something would change and we'd get a happier ending. The Song of Achilles is one of the best retelling tales of the Trojan War I've read in a long time. It is beautifully written. Miller will keep you turning pages until you've soaked up every last word. This was a fantastic read for summer and I…