Goodreads Synopsis
Achilles, “the best of all the Greeks,” 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 forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods’ wrath.
They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.
My Review
Oh boy! Madeline Miller’s ‘The Song of Achilles’ is a book that I devoured in just a day or two after a long time. I must say, not even for a second did the book fail to captivate me; its gripping narrative left me unable to put it down, always eager to uncover what would happen next.
The Song of Achilles is Miller’s debut work and winner of the Orange Prize for fiction in 2012. The epic tale vividly captures the profound companionship shared by Achilles, the legendary Greek warrior, and Patroclus, a fellow Greek hero.
Despite my disinterest in mythologies, this particular one truly shifted my perspective. The novel takes readers on a journey, chronicling the lives of these two characters from their early years into adulthood. Miller skilfully weaved mythology into the story, captivating even those new to the genre.
She portrayed their love in a way that resonated with us, causing an overwhelming surge of emotions. With its subtle writing, the story effortlessly held the reader’s interest, never allowing a moment of boredom to creep in.
I am not using any fancy acronyms to describe their relationship. Instead, this is a story of two souls who love each other unconditionally, defying all obstacles set against the backdrop of the Trojan War. That one doesn’t entice you to read the book. What might?
I saw many Bookstagrammers recommending the book two or three years ago. But it didn’t make an urge in me to read it until now. The reason I didn’t choose the book is mainly because it focuses on Greek Mythology, a subject I know nothing about. I was skeptical about whether I would enjoy it or not.
And as always, I picked the book without reading the synopsis either. I just thought, let’s hear only the first chapter. Now you know what happened. It’s one such unputdownable book. I highly recommend it whether you are a mythology fan or not.
A beautiful piece of literary work.
