My Favourite Book
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is the best book I’ve read so far. In this post, I will tell you what makes it so good (spoiler free!).
What is The Song of Achilles About?
Genre: Romance Fantasy
This book is a Greek Mythology retelling that begins with Patroclus, a young and clumsy boy, who gets exiled from his home to a new kingdom called Phthia. Patroclus meets the strong and confident Achilles there, and they quickly form a bond. They travel to see Chiron, a centaur who is an expert in fighting and medicine. The boys spend years training with Chiron, falling in love with each other along the way. When they must return to fight in the Trojan War, love and pride are put to head-to-head and fate will be tested.
What Makes The Book So Good?
The Song of Achilles is a story of how love and honour don’t always agree. Patroclus and Achilles form a once in a lifetime bond and their opposite personalities compliment each other perfectly. Madeline Miller does an excellent job at portraying the undying love that Achilles and Patroclus have for each other. The story has beautiful and lyrical prose; almost every line could be underlined and quoted. I found myself in awe of the writing the entire time I was reading it.
Additionally, I love how the book takes place in a completely different period. Greek mythology was never something I was interested in before; however, reading about it put me into a new and unfamiliar world. Miller explains the setting and the time in a clear way that allows the reader to feel like they understand what the characters are going through. Moreover, Miller explains everything you need to know about Greek mythology in the book, so no prior knowledge is needed.
Book Hangover
After reading The Song of Achilles, I could not stop thinking about the book. The ending made me feel empty, like I was in a void that could not be filled (but in a good way). I could not open up another book for over a week as I felt that no other book could compare to this one. I was not ready to start a new book with new characters and a new storyline. It took a lot in me to open up a new book and read it, as The Song of Achilles is not a book that you can ever forget about. I read this book for the first time almost a year ago and I still think about it to this day. I have now read this book twice; however, don’t be surprised if I read it for a third time.
Overall, if you’re looking for a book that will make you feel giddy, angry, tense, happy, and empty all at once, The Song of Achilles is the right book for you.
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