Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller

18 reviews

addienoah's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

This book was a slow start but once it got Achilles introduced I was captivated. And it just kept getting better and playing out every scene in my head while reading brought them to life. This was very well written and the characters were so interesting. Even after Protroclus died, he still narrated and the ending with Thetis brought me to tears. 
I finished this in a short period of time because I am a fast reader that frequently reads. But I considered this a slow read because of how long it felt. Each page you had to pay attention and digest. The language was something you also had to adjust to. In all this was a medium read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Cultural appropriation, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Outing, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gore, Pregnancy, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Classism, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Slavery, War, Confinement, Death, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Self harm, Torture, Hate crime, and Physical abuse

triangular_pascal's review

relaxing tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

Moderate: Slavery, Violence, Confinement, Sexual assault, Animal death, Blood, Death, Injury/injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Pregnancy, War, Rape, Child death, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

aliciamarvinetz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Misogyny, Murder, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Grief, Violence, and Sexism

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Slavery

captainoliimar's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Rape, Abandonment, Death, Incest, Outing, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

Minor: Self harm, Biphobia, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, and Suicide

nikexistiertnik's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

i am broken.
i knew what was coming and i still balled my eyes out.
this book made so happy, furious, got my hopes up, then ripped my guts out and stomped on them.

i was very confused by some of the changes from past to present and then past tense again though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Child death, Violence, Child abuse, War, Death, and Injury/injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Slavery, Sexual content, and Confinement

Minor: Alcohol

camoo3032's review

emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

It really immerses you into Greek mythology and the story of Troy and Achilles. I still really enjoyed reading it even though I knew the story of Achilles. I'm not used to reading books written in a first-person perspective so it felt disjointed to me and as if the narrator was distant, but it was still very well done!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Homophobia, Injury/injury detail, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content, Animal death, Classism, Misogyny, and War

Minor: Domestic abuse, Vomit, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy

a_pocketful_of_literature'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

4.5

I'd like to start with stating that i do adore this book a lot. Madeline Miller did a splendid job retelling one of the most known Greek myths, exploring the nature of Achilles' and Patroclus' relationship, grasping it in her own unique way while staying true to the original story. You can definitely tell that the book has been built upon thorough research. While taking her own spin on the centuries old myth and modernizing certain aspects, the core of the story still managed to stand true to the ancient version.
The described emotions could truly be felt, which, in my opinion, belongs between the signs of great writing.
Madeline Miller also made the book accessible to all, even to people who know nothing about the greek mythology at all, which is a commandable aspect of the book as well.
The writing is certainly more lyrical and the pace might seem slower to some people, although i felt like it was pleasantly compensated by composing the narrative into nicely melted snippets of memories and events, which was also quite fitting since we follow our duo through their entire life and it could get rather lenghty if done otherwise.
Now, even though i love the book overall and i absolutely devoured the story, there have been a few points which personally didn't quite suit me, which i believe could have been handled better or differently, and which are the reason i've decided not to give it whole 5 stars in the end.

Spoiler

1. The sexual scene both Achilles and Patroclus had with Deidameia: While i feel quite satisfied with the way Achilles' part has been handled, i did not feel comfortable with the part where similar experience befell Patroclus. Achilles was given room to express his feelings, give explanation and take his stand on the matter, so that the reader could grasp why it happened, what it had to do with the rest of the story and how it might affect the relationship between the duo, providing a certain type of closure i viewed as appropriate given the sensitive topic at hand and Patroclus' heartbroken first reaction when it came to Achilles' part. With Patroclus, while provided with a detailed portrayal of the disturbing scene itself, we get none of the afterthought. We do not get to know how Patroclus handled the matter mentally and whether or not he discussed what had happened to him with Achilles in return for Achilles' own prior openness. Achilles doesn't get the chance to express his opinion and emotions about the situation, he likely doesn't even get to be counscious of the matter itself happening. After the intercourse, where the reader is fully immersed in the confusion, uncertainty and nonstandard mental state of both Patroclus and Deidameia, with Deidameia manipulating Patroclus in the process, the scene is simply forgotten and never mentioned again. The scene is left just like that, and reader with it.
I would have appreciated either some space for thoughts, feelings and discussion afterwards, just like the first situation received, or, instead of modernization of the usual ancient greek relationship, letting this aspect be more historically accurate and not making it a big deal at all. For men in ancient Greece, it was fairly common to have multiple sexual partners even after being married, as it was not viewed as cheating; also love, marriage and sexual closeness were considered completely seperated matters. Also, women were not considered equals in that era, and therefore it would be unlikely that sex with a woman would pose a threat to the relationship of two men.
I can imagine them being open about having multiple sexual partners for pleasure purposes, having healthy discussion about it and reaching mutual agreement on the matter, without it taking any toll on the nature, deepness, stability and strenght on their romantic relationship, given the historical setting and their good communication skills.
2. Patroclus and fighting competence: Even though i believe him to be an amazing character, i would't be opposed to him being more independent and competent when it came to defending himself, as it was in the Iliad, since i feel like it would make the finale of a book even more believable and Patroclus' decision of impersonating Achilles more reasonable.
3. Thetis and Achilles: Even considering all the Thetis' flaws that were given to her in this particular retelling, i think she wouldn't push Achilles into an unconsensual intercourse, being the rape victim herself and loving her son very much.
4. Briseis: Briseis herself was just great and i very much enjoyed her character. However, i don't think her being treated "better" than the rest of the women was very realistic, espesially since other women were treated to ancient standards. The position of women in ancient Greece was, very nicely put, not great. We can very clearly see it in this story for example via multiple mentioned rapes, arranged marriages, or the treatment of Patroclus' mother. I've found this historical accuracy she decided to keep fitting, but it made Briseis' "better" treatment stand out a little bit.
It is also important to mention that the tragedy that befell Patroclus happened only because Achilles decided to be stubborn and not fight, which was caused by his "sex-slave war price", Briseis, being stolen by Agamemnon, who therefore handicaped Achilles' pride in the eyes of his soldiers.
However, Briseis as a character is awesome and i kinda like the relationship she has with Patroclus and Achilles, so i'm glad she had it better in that regard, and i can see why Madeline Miller thought it would fit better into her retelling, as her position served other opportunities and purposes.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Slavery, Violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Sexism, and War

Minor: Pregnancy, Confinement, Classism, and Adult/minor relationship

gailsage_thomps's review

adventurous emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Abandonment, Blood, Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and War

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Medical content, and Infidelity

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Rape

smkelly1997's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I just left the book feeling wow

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Grief, and War

rekilluv's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

The book was so incredibly written omg, the romance between patroclus and achillies was so beautiful and had me sobbing. The way patroclus described achillies gave me chills in the best way possible. The side characters also served great purpose in building up the story even without having much depth about them, they all felt very human, even the gods. A lot of people did not like the book but I know a lot did and I am one of them !! Please read it at least once, it's an unforgettable experience .

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, War, Body horror, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Gore, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Death, Grief, Murder, and Rape

Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Confinement, Classism, Slavery, and Self harm

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Pregnancy, Vomit, Misogyny, Abandonment, and Kidnapping