fmthoangan
Written on Nov 10, 2021
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORANGE PRIZE FOR FICTION 2012
Greece in the age of Heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia. Here he is nobody, just another unwanted boy living in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles.
Achilles, 'best of all the Greeks', is everything Patroclus is not - strong, beautiful, the child of a goddess - and by all rights their paths should never cross. Yet one day, Achilles takes the shamed prince under his wing and soon their tentative companionship gives way to a steadfast friendship. As they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something far deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel and deathly pale sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.
Fate is never far from the heels of Achilles. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows Achilles into war, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they have learned, everything they hold dear. And that, before he is ready, he will be forced to surrender his friend to the hands of Fate.
Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.
- ISBN10 0062060627
- ISBN13 9780062060624
- Publish Date 28 August 2012 (first published 5 September 2011)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Imprint Collins
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 416
- Language English
Reviews
nannah
Written on Aug 19, 2021
Content warnings (that I encountered in the few pages I read):
- rape and taking the side & pov of the rapist
- misogyny
- fatphobia
Warning:
Discussions of rape in this review.
I was so excited for this book. It seems to be everywhere, and everyone loves it. My disappointment is … massive.
My first impression was that the writing was, in fact, very good. I have seen quotes from The Song of Achilles around my socials, so I know Madeline Miller can write, but her prose really is gorgeous. Unfortunately it all became flowery and empty when her lovely writing was reserved for describing Achilles, and that only. It left a sweetly sick taste in my mouth.
But I could live with that, of course.
What made me stop reading was the overwhelming presence of misogyny and the rape. I understand this takes place in ancient Greece, and that women didn’t have the best lives, I do, but this is also supposed to be a YA book, and I think the author maybe forgot who she was writing for when trying to make her book … I don’t know, historically accurate or something. I’m well aware Zeus, for example, “ravished” many mortal women, and the book does mention his “conquests”, too, but at one point early on in the backstory, a human man rapes a goddess, and we see the man’s side. [Spoiler used for disturbing content:] We hear about the men advising him how to do it … how to catch her and hold her down. We hear about how for a year she had to stay with him and be raped over and over again. And after all that, the narration has the audacity to say, “An ordinary wife would have counted herself lucky to find a husband with Peleus’ mildness …”
I’m a survivor, and I just can’t handle this. I don’t really care how great the love story of Patroclus and Achilles is. I’m going to read something else.
katjah
Written on Apr 8, 2021
lessthelonely
Written on Feb 18, 2021
Allow me to keep this review short: if you're into Greek mythology and Gods, prophecies and amazing romance, this is a book you'll definitely love. You want to know how I ended up finding this book? By playing Hades on my Nintendo Switch - so, if you're a gamer and enjoyed this book play that or, if you're a gamer and enjoyed Hades, read this book.
I think, however, there are some things that I found disheartening FOR ME. In any case, this, for me, is a work of fiction, so I'm sorry if you find what I'm going to say unfair, but it's my feelings:
I didn't like the way the romance was handled sometimes: namely the use of sex and, for example, "romantic" interactions between Patroclus and Briseis. I knew from the beginning how this story would end, and I did not object to Briseis, I liked her even! But some scenes felt ultimately oh so unnecessary, as did, for example, Thetis' interference in between Achilles and Patroclus, namely those that involved Achillles and Deidameia... I just asked... Why? I assume it's part of the original story... it just felt like it was treated as a plot point, something that left me feeling uncomfortable not in sympathy for Patroclus but towards the book.
The other thing was... I thank the way this book was written, but at some point I felt like not much thought was put into Achilles and Patroclus' relationship, more into the main event of the story and the characters' individual spiralling down to either madness or recklessness. Also... It was sometimes too descriptive without the usual feelings it provoked within me as a reader. If you've read the book, you'll find that a passage with the quote "...and this, and this, and this..." is what I'm referring to.
Finally... This book surprised me with its handling of the thing I knew was going to happen from the very beginning. I don't want to spoil it, but though it tug at my heartstrings to see the inevitable happen, the aftermath literally destroyed me. By the time the final intervention in the story came, I sobbed when I realized their ultimate regret. Absolutely DESTROYED ME, and I'm hereby thanking it for it.
It's still, however, a 5 star rating out of me.
brokentune
Written on Aug 23, 2020
chetofuor
Written on Feb 26, 2020
moraa
Written on Dec 1, 2019
I'm speechless, this book is as beautiful as I remember it being last year.
The ending was so sweet I wanted to cry cried several times.
31 December 2018:
Both gripping and memorable.
Deserving of every single star!
mercurial
Written on Nov 25, 2019
liz089
Written on Aug 12, 2019
The only downside it that you know that it is not going to end good, they will not have a happily ever after (if you know your history). That made it more difficult to continue, because you want better for them and you know that it won't happen, you see it spiraling down and down and that made me very sad. I might have cried a little at the end...
jamiereadthis
Written on Jun 10, 2019