The Song of Achilles: A Review
A profound and incredibly well-written retelling of Homer’s Iliad, Madeline Miller's The Song Of Achilles is a must read for not only members of the LGBTQIA+ community, but anyone who wishes to read incredible storytelling. Centered around Patroclus, a prince who is deemed to be puny, weak, and worthless by his own father, he is exiled to Phthia where Achilles resides as Prince. The story is told through a first person lens through Patroclus as the main narrator. It follows the youth of both Patroclus and Achilles as well as the struggles they go through as friends, growing an inseparable bond which later on proves to be more than a bond of friendship. With themes of pride, reputation, love, as well as fate and divine power, The Song of Achilles is an entertaining read, as Miller takes the old language of the Iliad and breathes new life into it through the beautiful lives of Patroclus and Achilles.
This book is easily one of my favorite books as it encapsulates the mysticism of Greek Mythology while not being too overly complicated for the average reader. Each place, person, and or ancient activity is explained by Patroclus in great detail without complex diction. By seeing Patroclus and Achilles mature throughout the book, it feels as if you are watching the story unfold right in front of your very face. As the story continues, you gain attached to Patroclus and Achilles’ beautiful relationship as lovers and I personally found myself smiling ear to ear from the simple romantic gestures or words they would exchange with one another. I will say, however, that if you are not okay with potentially sobbing at the end of this book, you may not want to read it. The book totals 369 pages and after page 327, prepare the tissue box as it is an incredibly emotional read from there on out.
The book itself is quite an easy read and after page 150, it is almost impossible to put the book down as the storytelling and pacing of the novel pick up. Not only is Miller great at reviving this story to be an intensely fun read, but she makes you fall in love with both of these men. Their love for each other is something hard to see replicated in any other form of media let alone LGBTQIA+ media. Any queer identifying man should read this book, as it shows how beautiful two men falling in love can be. It isn’t overly sexualized (and the few sex scenes within the book are left up to major interpretation) and makes you elated to experience Patroclus and Achilles’ love alongside of them.
My rating for this book is a 10/10 and I will certainly find myself reading this book again soon after I finish my large stack LGBTQIA+ books. I cannot stress how much I recommend this book to anyone interested in queer literature.
Cover Photo courtesy of Amazon. Edited by Madison Case.
