I’ve finally read The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. This book was hugely popular last year—everyone was talking about it. I get the hype for the most part, but I also found some part disappointing. I’ll explain why in a bit, but first, let me tell you what I liked about it.
I really like the writing style. It feels poetic, close to the spirit of mythology, and it captures the right vibe. I don’t know how to explain it better, so here’s a sample line:
“Achilles’ eyes were bright in the firelight, his face drawn sharply by the flickering shadows. I would know it in dark or disguise, I told myself. I would know it even in madness.”
-Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles
I also really liked how the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus was handled. There are these small hints at first, a gradual build-up, and then it just happens. Their body language and actions give me butterflies and I love that!
But one thing that bothered me: why does everyone in the book act like Achilles and Patroclus’ relationship is some kind of secret? It’s weird. From my understanding, in Greek mythology, gender and sexuality were more fluid, so there wasn’t really any shame in same-sex relationships. But in the book, it makes it look shameful. Even Patroclus himself seems hesitant to show their relationship openly, which felt like a very modern take that didn’t really fit. Instead of their relationship feeling natural, it comes across as something constantly under threat and judgment.
The biggest thing that didn’t work for me, though, was how predictable the plot felt. I could see everything coming. Well, maybe it’s because most of us already know Achilles’ story—his Achilles’ heel, the inevitable tragedy. The foreshadowing was so obvious that I wasn’t exactly surprised by how things played out. And because of that, the ending didn’t hit me as hard as I wanted it to. I wanted to be emotionally wrecked, to sob my eyes out, but I just expected it too much.
Another issue for me was the lack of character development. Patroclus starts off as this timid, kind of weak character—and he stays that way. Even when he finally does something brave at the end, he still feels like an ornament to the story, like his only role is to show how great Achilles is. If that’s what the author intended, fine, but I wish he had more depth beyond just being with Achilles.
And then there’s Achilles himself. He’s just this annoyingly prideful guy. I know that this is based from a Greek mythology, but I was hoping this retelling would give us more nuances and layers in it, but this feels like Achilles story with addition of queerness in between then just copy paste whatever happened in the mythology.
Achilles often claims that he doesn’t want to become a god, yet he is arrogant and obsessed with honor and legacy, making it feel contradictory.
I liked the book, but I feel like it could have been more. A more radical take. Stronger character development. Something that made me feel more, even if the ending stayed the same.
Have you read this book? If you have, share your thoughts in the comments! If not, let me know if it’s on your list! ❤️
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