A review by emselders
The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
fast-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
Beautifully written, expertly paced, and emotionally provoking. The spoiler section of the review is only spoiling it if you aren't familiar with the Illiad.
I've never actually read the Illiad besides short excerpts for English classes, but through cultural osmosis I had a rudimentary understanding of what it was about enough that I knew this book would not have a happy ending. In spite of my forewarning, this book wrecked me. I often cry about books, but very rarely to the extent that I cried over this one.
Due to my not having read the Illiad, I cannot comment on this book's effectiveness as an adaptation of that work. What I can say is that one of the reasons I haven't previously read it is that my knowledge of it made me believe I would dislike it, but this reworking of the story made me instantly and completely fall in love with this world and these characters. The ideas of what it meant to be honorable in the times of Homer are so foreign and backward to me. It was not about being a good person or living by your values in the face of social opposition; it was about how you were treated and viewed in relation to a strict social hierarchy. Instead of being about morals, it was about pride and vanity. This book made it easier for me to sympathize a lot more with the dilemmas this cultural lens brought on. It also I think humanized Achilles in a way that makes him a more readable character for modern audiences.
Spoiler
Due to my not having read the Illiad, I cannot comment on this book's effectiveness as an adaptation of that work. What I can say is that one of the reasons I haven't previously read it is that my knowledge of it made me believe I would dislike it, but this reworking of the story made me instantly and completely fall in love with this world and these characters. The ideas of what it meant to be honorable in the times of Homer are so foreign and backward to me. It was not about being a good person or living by your values in the face of social opposition; it was about how you were treated and viewed in relation to a strict social hierarchy. Instead of being about morals, it was about pride and vanity. This book made it easier for me to sympathize a lot more with the dilemmas this cultural lens brought on. It also I think humanized Achilles in a way that makes him a more readable character for modern audiences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Sexual violence, and Trafficking