A review by annaavian
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
2.0
I expected to like this book a whole lot more than I did. I enjoy reading Greek Mythology books and I liked Circe but this one didn't do it for me.
It felt like the plot had no particular direction for quite a while. I skimmed through some passages, hoping to get to something actually exciting.
The whole relationship between Patroclus and Achilles lacked complexity, it lacked emotion and the "forbidden love" kind of intensity. There was never a moment where I felt that some tension was building up, even the whole war was told in such dull, shallow way.
Most of the characters were depicted in a very melodramatic and vain manner so I can't really say I liked any of them. The way Patroclus was portrayed in this book reminded me of Bella Swan from Twilight, another deeply dependant and otherwise faceless character had it not been for their macho Alpha male to define them. Why Miller chose to portray him as this weak, incompetent and awkward person I could not understand. The scene in which Patroclus "kills" Sarpedon is simply ridiculous.
The song of Achilles is very overrated and I can't believe it currently has a higher rating than the Iliad ...
It felt like the plot had no particular direction for quite a while. I skimmed through some passages, hoping to get to something actually exciting.
The whole relationship between Patroclus and Achilles lacked complexity, it lacked emotion and the "forbidden love" kind of intensity. There was never a moment where I felt that some tension was building up, even the whole war was told in such dull, shallow way.
Most of the characters were depicted in a very melodramatic and vain manner so I can't really say I liked any of them. The way Patroclus was portrayed in this book reminded me of Bella Swan from Twilight, another deeply dependant and otherwise faceless character had it not been for their macho Alpha male to define them. Why Miller chose to portray him as this weak, incompetent and awkward person I could not understand. The scene in which Patroclus "kills" Sarpedon is simply ridiculous.
The song of Achilles is very overrated and I can't believe it currently has a higher rating than the Iliad ...