Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

54 reviews

bethanwx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A romantic, morally complicated adaption of the myth of Patroclus and Achilles. Miller’s version of the world of the Ancient Greeks is misogynistic and violent, with Patroclus constantly trying to make the moral choice in a brutal world. Meanwhile, his relationship with Achilles is his constant rock, a love which holds them to each other.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Homophobia, Rape, Suicide, Death of parent, and Colonisation

Minor: Cursing and Outing

oplu's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Kidnapping, Outing, and War

Minor: Pregnancy

wildflower_magic's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What a beautiful retelling of the story of Achilles. I swooned over the portrayal of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus and I think Patroclus was the perfect narrator for the story. Madeline Miller did a fantastic job of holding true to the original stories while also creating something unique and special within that story. The writing style was gorgeous: perfectly flowery and song-like just like the myths would have been told. The character development was so interesting. A month later and I still think about how this book ended! This book gives a lot of opportunities to reflect on the age-old debate: do we have control, or is it up to fate? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Biphobia, Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Homophobia, Infidelity, Transphobia, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Outing, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

barbarianmissy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow, talk about a Greek tragedy!

I really loved this book. Summing up Patroclus’ entire life into 369 pages was a worthy feat. I felt like I lived it alongside him.

The love story in this book between Patroclus and Achilles was so beautiful and tragic and unapologetic. It was so good. I also found it super interesting how they truly shaped one another’s character. Patroclus started off his exile cynic and prideful, whereas Achilles was introduced as a breath of life and beauty. They really swapped those traits during the war. 

I got SUPER FRUSTRATED near the end with Achilles and Agamemnon in how both THEIR own prides cost so many men their lives. Gah, frickin MEN! Also Achilles’ stupid idiot son can EAT A CAR TIRE AND DIE. What a lil shit and a half. Glad he didn’t last long. 

Anywho, I really loved the ending. Reading about the immense grief had me in TEARS but it was so beautifully written. It was a nice switch up that Achilles’ crazy nymph mama really just was a protective mummy who loved her kid in the end. Happy she gave her son what he truly loved and wished for in the end. They found their peace and it was just a gorgeous finale. 

I JUST LOVED THIS STORY OK!?! Felt like I was back in elementary school obsessing over Ancient Greek Mythology again. Also, Madeline Miller is such an amazing author, I may read Circe next. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail

chilivlokken's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

gabby_lee's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A very enjoyable retelling of the story of Achilles. The beautiful writing and developed characters made this story a very smooth read. Its been a while since I've loved the way a story was presented this much. Added points for making me cry.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Outing, and War

echolliot's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Classism

eliya's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

✅ sobbing 
✅ sobbing many times 
✅ yearning 
✅ i will be thinking about this book for a long time 
✅ i am a love and my love is my love we are two beams of light connected to eachother 
✅ love is beautiful 
❌ the war bit was hard for me to get through, felt really slow from that 50-70% mark but i’m so glad i persisted 

this book is so beautifully written 
i’ve discussed the similes and metaphors painted in this with friends, and we all craved figs after this 
i want to experience live with the same absolute mindfulness as patroclus does

i could re read the first 50% and the last 10% of this book over and over and over again


edit: this book = unreal unearth hozier album
specifically francesca 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and War

Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt

muffycantread's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

There is a portion of this book that undeniably reads like Greek erotic fanfiction. Patroclus made me want to rip my hair out for most of the book...But the last few chapters are really interestingly written and I am ultimately glad I endured the unbearable beginning and middle to make it to an interesting and kinda beautiful ending. 

Why do I feel like this a book for Lana Del Rey fans? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War

lokioste's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is a slower burn with a rapid climax and finish. I think as a first book from Miller, it is solid.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail