The Song of Achilles [NOOK Book]

This was a wonderful book.. It was impossible to put down. Homer

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.

16 out of 17 people found this review helpful.

To simply put, it is a great book for a fan of Greek mythology.

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.

9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

Miller’s ‘The Song of Achilles’: A review Huma

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.

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

If I could give this an extra star past "I love it!" I

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.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

I couldn't put it down!

Read this straight through. It's a gripping spin on a classic tale.

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Is this a good book for a young teen?

I hear this is a great book but is it for young teens????????

1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

1 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

Amazing read

Couldn't put this book down.

Great for history buffs

Great book,loved the way the characters developed as well as the story. Even though you know the end it was very well done. Hope she continues to write.

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0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Wow!

Wow. When I finished the book, I kept wanting MORE! It was fantastic.

Awful

Like reading the MTV version of Greek mythology. Very disappointed. Stopped after 50 pages.

0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

How can I tell? I can't read it.

Evidently "enhanced" means that it won't open on a first edition Nook. I will say that B&N was cheerful and prompt about a refund. But what kind of technology strategy are they trying to work here?

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great read!

This was a great book! Highly recommemded to anyone who is a fan of Homers original!!!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Simply put...boring and juvenile. Enough said.

Simply put...boring and juvenile. Enough said.

0 out of 13 people found this review helpful.

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