“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.”
The Song of Achilles is told from the perspective of patroclus, Achilles' childhood best friend and eventual lover. Their love story is intertwined with the story of Achilles' rise as the most powerful Greek warrior. Achilles is half man half mortal and his spear lands true every time. He is unstoppable, larger than life. When Achilles learns that his death has been prohpesied by the gods, he goes to war anyway hoping that the tale of his might, power and bravery will out live his mortal death.
I don't even know how to a write a review for this blessed book. I finished it weeks ago and I don't know what to say. This book blew me out of the water and took my breath away. I felt similarly about Circe, but this felt different in magnificence somehow?
The most obvious thing Miller could have done when writing this book was to tell the story through Achilles perspective; it is after all titled The Song of Achilles. By writing this novel through the eyes of such an intimate partner, we see Achilles in the greatest of all his immortal glory, flawless in his image of fearlessness. We feel the awe of his fellow soldiers at his might and unparalleled skill. If this would have been told from Achilles' perspective, we would have only gotten this side of the story but we were gifted with Patroclus' narration. He reveals Achilles at his most vulnerable. We see his fear of being forgotten despite his sacrifice, and watch as his very fear becomes a possibility in the throes of his childish ego. Achilles is painted as a hero sometimes and a villain other times. We only hold him dear despite his flaws because Patroclus sees something in him. We as the reader cling and holdfast to Achilles hoping despite the prophesy that everything will be okay, if only we believe in him enough!
Madeline Miller can have all of my money from here on out. She has won my heart with Song of Achilles and Circe and she has wormed her way-- deservedly so-- as a "ride or die author" I will pre-order all her future novels because I trust her to tell true, honest, stories with the intoxicating intimacy of a loved one. Everyone go read this right now.
ALL OF THE STARS ALL OF THEM! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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