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A review by imme_van_gorp
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
5.0
|| 5.0 stars ||
When I read Circe I completely fell in love with this author’s gorgeous writing, and I just knew I had to read this book as well. And wow, am I glad that I did, because this was yet another piece of art. The prose enchants to the bone and the story feels so deeply visceral that nothing quite compares to it. The words flow so naturally and the descriptions are so beautiful; it can do nothing but make your heart feel completely full, and then, at the end, leave it behind aching and broken.
If you’re familiar with [b:The Iliad|77265004|The Iliad|Homer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1681797700l/77265004._SY75_.jpg|3293141], you will know the heartbreak and tragedy that awaits Patroclus and Achilles. You might think this would take the suspense out of it, but it does not. Instead it makes the entire story feel incredibly important somehow. Like every moment of life we get to see from them feels precious because we know it will all end so soon. It gives the story intense weight and deep emotion from the very beginning.
The love story we get to see between these star-crossed lovers is intense and magical; they are intwined in a way that is almost impossible to understand, but somehow the author makes us understand. We see the dedication these men have towards each other, the complete adoration, and the utter devotion.
Of course, we also see the troubles... How Patroclus is always expected to be in the shadow, and how Achilles will eventually let his pride eclipse all else. It is not all rainbows and sunshine, and in the end there can be no love, no matter how strong, that will stop things from falling to pieces.
The characterization in this story is also truly incredible: Achilles as the fated hero, and Patroclus as the fated nobody. Still, we see that even though Achilles is the man who has it all, who could do anything, he is not necessarily the person who will use those gifts for good. Instead, Patroclus, with no particularly special talent at all, will be more of a hero at heart than Achilles ever was.
However, the fates did not give Patroclus the power or destiny to be a hero, so no matter how strong his will may be, he cannot do what Achilles could have done, if only Achilles had been willing to set aside his pride... A pride that turns out to be so indestructible that it will doom them both.
When I read Circe I completely fell in love with this author’s gorgeous writing, and I just knew I had to read this book as well. And wow, am I glad that I did, because this was yet another piece of art. The prose enchants to the bone and the story feels so deeply visceral that nothing quite compares to it. The words flow so naturally and the descriptions are so beautiful; it can do nothing but make your heart feel completely full, and then, at the end, leave it behind aching and broken.
If you’re familiar with [b:The Iliad|77265004|The Iliad|Homer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1681797700l/77265004._SY75_.jpg|3293141], you will know the heartbreak and tragedy that awaits Patroclus and Achilles. You might think this would take the suspense out of it, but it does not. Instead it makes the entire story feel incredibly important somehow. Like every moment of life we get to see from them feels precious because we know it will all end so soon. It gives the story intense weight and deep emotion from the very beginning.
The love story we get to see between these star-crossed lovers is intense and magical; they are intwined in a way that is almost impossible to understand, but somehow the author makes us understand. We see the dedication these men have towards each other, the complete adoration, and the utter devotion.
Of course, we also see the troubles... How Patroclus is always expected to be in the shadow, and how Achilles will eventually let his pride eclipse all else. It is not all rainbows and sunshine, and in the end there can be no love, no matter how strong, that will stop things from falling to pieces.
The characterization in this story is also truly incredible: Achilles as the fated hero, and Patroclus as the fated nobody. Still, we see that even though Achilles is the man who has it all, who could do anything, he is not necessarily the person who will use those gifts for good. Instead, Patroclus, with no particularly special talent at all, will be more of a hero at heart than Achilles ever was.
However, the fates did not give Patroclus the power or destiny to be a hero, so no matter how strong his will may be, he cannot do what Achilles could have done, if only Achilles had been willing to set aside his pride... A pride that turns out to be so indestructible that it will doom them both.