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Is the Song of Achilles Worth the Hype?
People seem to love this book but is it worth the hype?
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is, of course, the story of Achilles. It’s a retelling of the Trojan War from the perspective of Patroclus, Achilles’ long-time friend and lover who grew up alongside him.
Achilles, son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him.
Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence.
Brought together by chance, they quickly became friends and that friendship quickly blooms into something a lot deeper. And it’s their relationship that drives this story forward. It is the main focus of the story.
It is said in the book that heroes cannot be heroes and be happy. But Achilles wants to be the exception.
The war not only tests Achilles’ skills, but it also tests his and Patroclus’ relationship and who they are as people.
I first heard of this book back in 2015, when a friend recommended it to me. To be honest, it never interested me before but after studying Greek mythology in college and reading books such as The Iliad and The Odyssey, I decided that 2022 would be the year…
