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The legend begins...
Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. “The best of all the Greeks”—strong, beautiful, and the child of a goddess—Achilles is everything the shamed Patroclus is not. Yet despite their differences, the boys become steadfast companions. Their bond deepens as they grow into young men and become skilled in the arts of war and medicine—much to the displeasure and the fury of Achilles’ mother, Thetis, a cruel sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.
When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece, bound by blood and oath, must lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.
Built on the groundwork of the Iliad, Madeline Miller’s page-turning, profoundly moving, and blisteringly paced retelling of the epic Trojan War marks the launch of a dazzling career.
Winner of the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction
(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
dearreaderCT
Posted March 14, 2012
This was a wonderful book.. It was impossible to put down.
Homer's epic is vividly retold, full of drama, gods and men, triumph and in the
end pity and tragedy.
For anyone interested in the Classics this is essential reading.
It is one of the finest novels I have ever read.
19 out of 20 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.To simply put, it is a great book for a fan of Greek mythology. A nice retelling of the Iliad.
Rarely do I re-read books or chapters within books, but this novel is an exception.
12 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.If I could give this an extra star past "I love it!" I would, because it accomplished something that I hardly ever find. It made me cry. Sobbed through the last five pages, could barely see to read the words.
It's even more amazing to me that I cried at the ending of a story that I "knew" the ending of before I started it. But even if you know the Iliad, you don't really know this ending, because this book wasn't about the long war, or the heroes who fought in it, or the trials and adventures they faced. This book was about Achilles and Patroclus. Yes, all of the above served as the supporting cast and framework in which their story took place, but this is a love story.
On top of that, it's told by the character we never really knew, Patroclus. His view of the war and how it plays out is nothing like those who fought in it for glory or honor or to serve the gods' ends. You get to see the human side of the story.
And it's amazingly done. I've seen some say it's slow, and as an action-filled story of a great war and the acts of great heroes, sure, it would be. That's not the kind of book it is, though, and as a love story it is paced beautifully. The author's ability to evoke setting and atmosphere and pure, mercilessly intense emotion is the wonder of this book.
I will admit, the seemingly random flipping back and forth from present tense to past tense for no reason I could ever figure out, was a distraction, but aside from making me pause and adjust from time to time, it was nothing compared to the power of the story.
Yes, you know what's going to happen and how it's going to end.
But you have no idea.
9 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.RBJ1
Posted April 15, 2012
Miller’s ‘The Song of Achilles’: A review
Human Emotions
‘The song of Achilles’ is the story of the mythical Greek hero by Margaret Miller. Based on the ancient classic Iliad by Homer, the author has brought to life the myth of Achilles. It is written from the point of view of Patroclus , a minor figure in the epic, and has a very humanistic approach to the story. It explores the relationship between the two men with the background of popular myth. It tells a dramatic tale of emotions from love, sacrifice, jealousy, hatred and anger which are easy for anyone to identify with.
The author depicts the two men as very different people who are drawn to each other. As the narrator, Patroclus describes himself as an awkward lonely young man who is not remarkable in any way. He is not loved by his parents. His father rejects him emotionally for his physical drawbacks and his mother is shown to be mentally unstable. Patroclus grows up unloved and unwanted. When he is nine he accidently kills another boy and is banished from his home to the court of Peleus, King of Phthia. Here he meets Achilles the golden boy. Achilles is everything Patroclus is not. Son of a human and a god he is perfect in every way. Called ‘The best of Greeks’ he is described as a perfect warrior and is destined to be a hero.
Achilles singles out Patroclus and despite the differences they develop a strong friendship. Achilles is shown to be very protective of his friend who in turn worships him. As time goes on this friendship becomes stronger and they fall in love. Achilles mother, Thetis who is a goddess of the sea does not approve of this and tries to separate them. Against all odds the two remain committed to each other and overcome all the obstacles. Their love is strong, pure and withstands the tests of time.
Meanwhile Helen the queen of Sparta is kidnapped by Trojan prince Paris setting into motion the famous Trojan war. This war is tied to Achilles’s destiny to become a hero. Reluctant at first he finally gives support to Menelus, Helen’s husband, and Agememnon . Patroclus follows him to the battlefield. Not having the disposition of a soldier he uses his knowledge of healing and medicine to tend to the wounded. As the war wears on Achilles becomes disillusioned and refuses to fight. Patroclus is worried as this may reflect badly on Achilles and might tarnish his legacy. Pretending to be Achilles he wears his armor he goes into the battlefield. He gives the ultimate sacrifice, his life, for his love. On hearing this news Achilles flies into a rage and kills Hector fulfilling his destiny. In the end the ashes of the two are intermingled giving them an eternity of togetherness.
This story is ultimately of unconditional love and sacrifice. It is simply told but affects the reader in a very deep way. With its mythical background it shows that human emotions have not changed since time immemorial and that love is a very powerful force. It can change destinies.
8 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.pixiedoodle
Posted June 23, 2012
Although I enjoy Greek mythology I was surprised by the homosexual content and would have been better without some of those details. I would not recommend this for children under the age of 16.
4 out of 19 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 10, 2012
Like reading the MTV version of Greek mythology. Very disappointed. Stopped after 50 pages.
3 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 26, 2012
Read this straight through. It's a gripping spin on a classic tale.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 26, 2012
Great book, then he goes gay. XD it really caught me off gaurd.
2 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 13, 2012
Great version of story from Patroclus' view.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.It's said that Alexander the Great took the story of Achilles and Patroclus as the model for his lifelong love affair with Heraklion. Reading of the combination of intense friendship and erotic love as detailed in this book, it is easy to understand why. Ms. Miller's skill in introducing supernatural characters (a centaur, a sea goddess) and making them seem perfectly acceptable is testimony to her ability to recreate a world that easily accomodates both fantasy and reality. I absolutely could not put this book down, the story was so well told. Filled with action, suspense, and great tenderness, it draws the reader into an ancient world in which close friendship is a treasure not to be taken lightly. The fact that there is a sexual element only adds to the intimacy and loving sense of the relationship between the two young men. And as in so much of mythology, there is the lesson to be learned of the tragic consequences pride can bring, and the futility of human ambition. Highly recommended.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.A touching love story with adventure
On the outside, this book is a retelling of Achilles' actions in Troy; however, Miller has incorporated deeper elements to the well-known story. The Song of Achilles is a celebration of Achilles' humanity, rather than of his God-like martial skills. It is a touching love story between Achilles and his companion Patroclus. It is a story of forgiveness for human flaws. And it shows the reader that sometimes the best part of the story is forgotten in legends. Above all, it's one of those books that sucks you right in...and then leaves you breathless when it's over. Although Song of Achilles is technically fantasy, it is also a book that can be enjoyed by literary snobs and by people who don't know much about Greek mythology. I loved it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 5, 2012
By far my favorite.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 1, 2012
Interesting take on a classic tale. Vivid detail, character development, and realustic emotions make thids novel a must-read!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 24, 2012
Couldn't put this book down.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 25, 2013
Fantastically researched, beautifully written, and hauntingly emotional.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 1, 2013
The Song of Achilles is one of the most beautiful books that I have ever read. Narrated by Patroclus, a side character in the traditional Iliad, The Song of Achilles is the heart-wrenching story of two young men trying to live their lives as they want, despite the fact that both are destined to play a major role in the upcoming Trojan War. As their lives, and the story, evolves, Madeline Miller takes each moment and inortalizes it in words, perfectly capturing the feelings of that moment.
The story starts when the boys are eleven, just approaching man-hood. Patroclus is a former prince, extiled to Pythia because he killed the eldest son of a noble family, never to see his home or father again. Achilles is the prince of Pythia, son of the sea goddess Thetis, and he is destined to be the greatest warrior of his age. Soon after they meet, Achilles chooses Patroclus as his companion, man at arms, and friend. The two forge an irevocable bond, becoming so close that only death can keep them apart.
The Song of Achilles is the moving retelling of the life of one of the most famed heroes of all time. Unlike in the Iliad, Achilles and Patroclus take center stage, with the Trojan War as the background. Many of the characters are familiar, but the author portrays them with a sense of who they were, enhansing their personalitys, and balancing them against each other. The book is rich in emotion but tastfully done. Nothing is overdone, and the book has a sense of truth, it almost appears like the book is not a book at all, instead it is a window into the lives of two famous heroes for whom war, although it was their life, and the reason for their fame, was never something that they truly desired. Madeline Miller has truly created a masterpiece.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The first thing I noticed about this book is how rich in emotion it is. More than a story about two warriors who fall in the Trojan War, it is about two boys finding their identity in a time of conflict, heroes, and legends in the making. It is the story about the young man who understood and loved Achilles more than any other mortal of his time. His memories of his childhood days growing up with Achilles reminds us that there is more to the hero than the one who was the greatest warrior of his generation.
Patroclus does not have a warrior's built, but he knows how to treasure life. Within lies a tender soul that yearns for recognition and love. Despite any qualms he may have, he follows Achilles unconditionally because Achilles is the first to truly acknowledge and accept him for who he is and without judgment. The two of them are soul mates. And each moment of happiness that they find together is all the more precious because we know from Greek mythology that there is going to be a tragedy at Troy, and Achilles and Patroclus's time on Earth is short-lived.
Though narrated by Patroclus, The Song of Achilles is the poignant story of two Greek warriors, as narrated from their childhood days to their fall in the Trojan War. It is about how the events of their era shaped their lives and resulted in the legends that we remember today; it is about the people behind the legends. I recommend this story to those looking for a story with deep roots in Greek Mythology, emotion-rich books, and a tale of friendship and love.
This book is going on my Keeper shelf.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 17, 2012
This is one of my favorite books. If you liked the character Patroclus or Achilles while reading the Iliad, this definitely a book for you. It's beautifully written. I usually take at least a week to finish any book, but this one took me three days- I just couldn't put it down for the life of me. I always say if a book doesn't make you cry, it isn't worth it. This one was definitely worth it.
It's enjoyable, quick paced, and an interesting interpretations o the events of the Iliad
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 9, 2012
Let's start off with the simple fact that I really enjoyed this book, and to be frank I'm not big on reading. Sure there are flaws, some have criticized that Patroclus narrates with the same language when hes 10 as he does when he's 28 (but seriously guys, what did you expect? For her to write half a dozen chapters the way a 10-12 year old really talks?). It's definitely an easy read (I read it in a day) but it has many different angles and events that keeps the reader on its toes and has great balance. Having Patroclus narrate their lives and relationship from childhood till their deaths definitely made me form an emotional attachment to this couple that I never thought I would for a story based on The Iliad. I found myself rooting for them, in vain of course, even though I knew how the story would end. Sad as the ending is, Miller completes the story leaving the reader somewhat happy, knowing the couple gets to spend eternity together. It has beautiful descriptions of their love, but don't worry, it's not overly sappy. In fact, I can only think of two parts of the book that are, uhhh, descriptive (but not graphic and it she keeps it rather short). Other than that, Miller leaves it to simple implications of them laying in bed together, touching each others faces, or just a kiss, etc. This book gives us a view of their physical/emotional love that is surprising and pleasing, without ever losing site of the setting and its violence and politics. I've already recommended this book to friends and feel that I definitely got my time and money's worth out of it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 13, 2012
This story of Achilles from Patroclus's view is precious, heartwrenching, and beautiful. It is a return to the epic, The Iliad, but as Odysseus cleverly tells the great Achilles' son, that which we call heroic in one age may not be valued in another. Thus is Patroclus the real hero--for his devotion, his kindness, his sense of right.
It was a fabulous read, and even at the very end where so many writers fall short, here it is complete and satisfies the reader's sense of story.
Knowing the Iliad creates a nice foreshadowing effect, but it is not necessary. It is a love story in its purist form developed even amid the ravages of a ten-year war. This is the best read I've had this summer.
(The enhanced version is worth it, having background on the characters, the gods, and interviews with the author. The audo clips did not add to the story, though, because they were excerpts from the coming chapter but placed at the very beginning. Don't bother with them.)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
The legend begins...
Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. “The best of all the Greeks”—strong, beautiful, and the child of a goddess—Achilles is everything the shamed Patroclus is not. Yet despite their differences, the boys become steadfast companions. Their bond deepens as they grow into young men and become skilled in the arts of war and...