A Non-Mythology Enthusiast’s Review of The Song of Achilles

Review: 5 STARS

Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, this book is too beautiful not to recommend.

Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles is a new take on Homer’s Iliad, told from the point of view of Patroclus, a minor character in Homer’s version. As a general rule, if I am going to read a retelling, I want to read the original story first. I have never been particularly interested in Greek mythology. Apart from the few excerpts I read during my high school literature studies years ago, I had not read much about Greek mythology when I was first drawn into the hype of Miller’s The Song of Achilles.

My (very brief) experience with the Iliad

Before I picked this book up, I borrowed the Iliad from a friend. I even decided to download the audiobook to follow along, knowing that the story was originally told in oratory form in Ancient Greece. I wanted to get the full experience. Unfortunately, that experience was not for me. Little did I know that the Iliad was basically just one battle scene after the other and name after name that all sound very similar. Needless to say, it was just not my cup of tea. I DNF’d it after about 50 pages or so.

My breathtaking experience with The Song of Achilles

Armed with 50 pages worth of plot context and the phrase “Achilles’ heel” in the back of my mind, I set off into the mythological world of the Trojan War. I fell in love from the very first page. I had heard a lot of praise about Miller’s writing style, but I did not expect to be as completely captivated as I was. I was drawn to Patroclus’ story from the very first line, and before I knew it, I was already 100 pages into the book. It reads more like a fiction rather than a history book, which I enjoyed. The characters were woven into the plot in a way that makes them notable and not lost in a battle scene lineup.

My favorite part of the book was the early years of Patroclus and Achilles’ relationship. It was light-hearted and gratifying. Achilles’ charming nobility paired with Patrolcus’ timid benevolence made for a perfect match. As their story developed, the more Miller started eliciting my emotions, and by the end she had me drowning in a puddle of my own feelings. This will definitely be one of those stories that stay with me for a long time.

Although I am not by any means a mythology enthusiast, I appreciated the way Miller stayed true to the historical context of the novel. The themes in The Song of Achilles are very consistent with those that were prevalent in the ancient Greek era. Among the elements of romance and hardships of war, prophecy and the questioning of free will vs. destiny is a big one. The question of free will is one that was taken on by many of the great Greek philosophers of the time and is still debated to this day.

Another theme that arises is that of heroism. This is an interesting one because our definition of a hero is very much dependent on the society, culture and the era we live in. Homer and Miller’s audiences are in two completely different eras and this is evident by the “contemporary” perspective that Miller has chosen to take in her novel.

If you are looking to read beautiful writing, if you are looking for an emotional read, if you are looking for a meaningful plot, or if you are looking for engaging characters, look no further than The Song of Achilles. Whether you’ve read and studied Greek mythology or not, I think there is a great deal to be gained from reading this masterpiece.

Recommendations

If you liked The Song of Achilles then try reading Circe by the same author. This is also a book based on Greek mythology that recounts the story of Circe, the daughter of Helios.

If you like your reads accompanied by music, here is a mini-playlist that I believe pairs well with The Song of Achilles: