fmthoangan
Written on Nov 10, 2021
- ISBN10 0063459965
- ISBN13 9780063459960
- Publish Date 30 September 2025 (first published 5 September 2011)
- Publish Status Forthcoming
- Publish Country US
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Imprint Collins
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 416
- Language English
- URL https://harpercollins.com/products/the-song-of-achilles-deluxe-edition-madeline-miller?variant=43422969004066
- Special Collector's Edition
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...Read more
DNF @ 10%.
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:] (show spoiler)[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.
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:] (show spoiler)[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...Read more
READ THIS REVIEW IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH A PERSPECTIVE FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW "THE ILLIAD" GOES DOWN.
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.
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...Read more
Amazing book. I loved it very much. It had like the whole package; interesting setting, exciting plot, relatable MC, plenty of action, lots of romance and tension...
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...
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