Beyond wonderful. Please read this book. 5/5.
The blurb: Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. Despite their difference, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper – despite the displeasure of Achilles’ mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess.
But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfill his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.
My take:
In case you don’t know anything about Achilles’ story, I will keep the following deliberately vague.
This is a beautiful book. I lack the vocabulary to do it justice.
The Song of Achilles is one of those rare wonders: a narrative which weaves a world around you which is so rich and compelling you don’t want to leave it. It doesn’t matter if you know everything or nothing about Achilles because this imagining is original. We are given an intensely personal, insider’s view of events which are usually the distant stuff of legends: Achilles’ boyhood and the Greek siege of Troy.
Almost the entire story is told by Patroclus, Achilles’ companion. We watch him and Achilles as they grow from young boys to men, and their relationship forms the core of a story around which orbit gods and goddesses, dryads and centaurs, kings and warriors.
It took Miller 10 years to write this book and I can see why: the result of her hard work is practically perfect.
Overall: you know you’ve read a 5* book when you finish and would dearly love to go back to the beginning and read it again straight away. One warning though: while this is beautiful, it’s also heart-rending stuff. Probably best to wait until you’re in a happy place to read it.
Claire Huston / Art and Soul
Ah wow, I love how much you loved this book….it makes me wonder if I should go back and read it again! Maybe I wasn’t in a happy place when I read it, good advice. Ooo a rare 5 stars and a lovely review X
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Thank you!
I think if you go in when you’re already a bit low, this definitely won’t cheer you up! Plus, I could understand how some people might find Patroclus’ repeated near-worship of Achilles to be annoying … but I just found the whole thing moving and beautiful 🙂
And it made me nostalgic for Latin classes, which isn’t something I ever thought I find myself saying – haha! xx
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I’m intrigued by your review, Claire.
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Thank you 🙂
It’s such a beautiful book. A real achievement for the author. The sort of thing that, as a writer, you read and despair that you’ll never write anything half as good in your whole life!
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You’ve convinced me 🙂
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Awesome! So glad you rated this so highly- I’ve wanted to read this for ages!!
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Yay! You won’t regret it. Such a beautiful book (although it will probably make you cry… but in a good, cathartic way).
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Ahh awesome- cathartic crying is always good!!
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Great review. A Must read on my TBR list.
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Thank you 🙂 You won’t be sorry. It’s a wonderful book.
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Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog.
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Thank you! 🙂
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You’re welcome.
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Great review.. sounds like something i’ll definitely enjoy. I’ll add it to my list 🙂
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Thank you. I really hope you enjoy it. I won’t stop recommending this book. It’s sublime.
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A stupendous review, Claire! I’ve mentioned already that this is a novel I’ve been wanting to read for a while, but now you’ve completely caught my heart with this terrific review and I wish I could read it right now!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts ❤
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Thank you. Please do read it. You won’t be sorry. It’s beautiful 🙂
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It must be special for you to give it 5/5! You’ve convinced me, I’ve added it to my tbr list 🙂
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Hooray! You won’t be sorry. It’s wonderful 🙂
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OMG I want to read this so so so much!! It’s been on my tbr forever but I haven’t actually bought it yet! Your review makes me need it now !!!!
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Thank you!
You won’t be sorry. I got it from the library, but I think I’m going to buy myself a copy. And another for my sister. It’s so good! 🙂
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I had no idea it had taken Miller 10 years to write this book. I’m not surprised because it really shows. Her writing is brilliant and this book will live on as one of my favorites, same as The Iliad. I’m so glad you liked it as much as me. This book was really fantastic and lived up to the original.
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Absolutely. I just have to persuade some more people to read it now so I can rave about it some more with them!
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Ha! I’ve been doing that for years with The Iliad, and people always say the old classic book with a strange look on their face like I’m crazy. I think a lot of people are intimidated by the story, but it’s really fantastic once you get into it.
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