Comment

May 13, 2020librarianjessica rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
So, this is a tough one. Not just for me personally, but subject-wise, tone-wise, and heartache-wise. I see now why everyone said to have tissues ready and to be ready to part with my heart when I finally picked it up. It's been on my list for so long, and though I didn't absolutely adore it, I did really like it. The Song of Achilles is a retelling of the Iliad focused on Achilles, told through the perspective of Patroclus, his childhood companion and eventual lover. The boys grow up together, learning about the world from famous figures like Achilles' father Peleus and the centaur Chiron before finding themselves battling in the Trojan War. There are prophecies, violence, and a ton of angst in this novel. Like, excessive amounts of angst, but sprinkled in with moments of pure bliss that left me clutching at the book wishing for happiness for these two boys with every ounce of my being. Some of the scenes of them figuring each other out when they're younger and innocent are just so bittersweet; Madeline Miller really nailed the emotions involved in their relationship, and that is ultimately what kept me reading. Character-wise, though, I did struggle with Patroclus at first. He feels weak for a large part of the novel, and it left me wondering why Achilles would want him as badly as he does. It's his development over the course of the events that saved it for me. Because truly, he does develop as a character, and it made the ending even more heart-wrenching. Achilles is wonderful, and as they aged, I really grew to love their relationship. The one word that comes to mind when I think of this book is beautiful. The writing is lyrical and so carefully constructed that I cannot fault any part of it. The atmosphere is wonderful and makes it really feel like an ancient story, simply being retold for us by someone who witnessed it all. The relationship between Patroclus and Achilles is just...beautiful. I really just don't have any other words for it. I think I ultimately feel somewhat lukewarm towards it because I never felt truly invested. I wanted to read, I was happy when I was reading (slash also just always melancholic and sad because I knew where it was going), but I didn't have that insatiable urge to read read read. The language slowed me down, as gorgeous and lush as it is, because I felt I had to savour it in order to get the full effect, and I think that contributed as well. All said and done, though, I am very glad I finally picked this one up. It is a beautiful story about two boys battling for their hearts, for their families, and for their city, and it is a retelling I won't soon forget.