The Song of Achilles in DMPL Book Chat

Aug 11, 2020 Andy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbtq

[3.5 stars] Prior to reading “Circe” in the spring of 2019, it had been decades since I last dipped into Greek mythology. After reading Miller's compulsively entertaining novel – published after “The Song of Achilles” – I realized what a mistake that had been. But, about halfway through “Achilles,” I learned my mythology limit – two books in 20 years.

That is not a knock-on Miller’s writing, which is layered and beautiful, but more my personal tastes for how much interest I really have in the pl [3.5 stars] Prior to reading “Circe” in the spring of 2019, it had been decades since I last dipped into Greek mythology. After reading Miller's compulsively entertaining novel – published after “The Song of Achilles” – I realized what a mistake that had been. But, about halfway through “Achilles,” I learned my mythology limit – two books in 20 years.

That is not a knock-on Miller’s writing, which is layered and beautiful, but more my personal tastes for how much interest I really have in the plight of gods, demigods and mortals.

Achilles (and his heel) are arguably among the most well-known characters in Greek mythology that still have widespread name recognition. While there is a rich tapestry to work from (seriously, Google Achilles and see all the variations on his narrative), you can’t tell his story without bringing in the Trojan War, which means there is a been-there-done-that aspect to almost half of the story.

Given the focus on the Trojan War, there are also a lot of secondary characters and plots that were difficult to keep tabs on in an audiobook. While some of the names and situations piqued interest (Hector, Paris, Helen, Odysseus, plague) it slowed the story. To put it plainly, I was invested in the love story, not the military story.

What propelled me to the end was the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles, which brought forward a level of fidelity – especially in the face of conflict – that you often don’t see in mainstream gay romance. It reminded me a lot of Joe and Nicky from Netflix’s “The Old Guard,” whose love story was better than the core plot, in my opinion.

The way the relationship unfolds, the struggle that each of them have in acknowledging and embracing their desires and the pain that Achilles feels once (spoiler alert) Patroclus dies in battle while trying to protect him from his fate is truly heartbreaking. The love they had for each other was palpable, and it is the reason to read this story.

Even though “Achilles” didn’t quite move me in the same way as “Circe,” I think the two novels make a nice pair, and I’d recommend fans of one try to read the other. If nothing else, it allows you to be awestruck by Miller, who is as much an expert researcher as she is a writer.
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Jul 08, 2020 Courtney rated it really liked it

Later, we lay on the riverbank, learning the lines of each other's bodies anew. This, and this and this. We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.

Ok, I think I love these retellings of Greek myths. I read Circe a few weeks ago and loved it, and this was a charming--no, that's not quite the word I want--delightful retelling of Achilles and his lover Patroclus. Quite honestly, I had no idea they were lovers. I don't even remem ...more

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May 09, 2018 Merri Monks rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I enjoyed Madeline Miller’s retelling of the Iliad and felt that she wrote convincingly of romantic love between Achilles and Patroclus. Homer’s ancient story rings true in our time through Miller’s novel: the horror of war, misogyny, Achilles’ mother’s rejection of Patroclus and her son’s love of another man, the waste of the young men’s talents for music and healing on the battlefield. Miller doesn’t shy away from the extreme violence of the original and writes of the slaughter and suffering o ...more

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Jul 23, 2018 Tegan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: male-lead, all-the-feels, diverse-books, own, fantasy, grad-school, queens-and-kings, romance, historical, historical-fantasy

Oof. My heart. This was so much more than I thought & I liked it so much more than I expected. This might be a 5 after I sleep on it. Full review to come. (It's a 5 now.) ...more

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