If you were anywhere on a social media platform that has a book subsection, odds are you've heard of The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. Hearing the name on everyone's recommendation lists, prompted me to read it. It was love at first read and I never looked back.
Recently, my friend and I decided to reread The Song of Achilles because something about the cold beauty of winter was a reminder of this book that both of us adore. This reread marks my third time delving into this book, and it remains a masterful piece of writing.
The Song of Achilles Overview
The Song of Achilles is a retelling of the events ofThe Illiad. The novel features Patroclus' narration as he moves through stages of his life: childhood, adolescence with Achilles, and the Trojan War. Doubly, it showcases Patroclus' relationship with Achilles, Achilles' fated rise to fame and glory, and the resultant complex relationship to conflict.
Through relationships, the pursuit of something greater, and the background of war, Miller's stunning prose captures the fragility and beauty of humanity. More so, The Song of Achilles feels timeless in some ways because Miller's writing is transportive to the time, capturing all that there is in antiquity.
A Timeless Classic
What sets a novel like The Song of Achilles in a league of its own, is the ability to learn more every time you pick it up.
My first read of The Song of Achilles, I was blown away by the stunning prose. Miller has a descriptive method of storytelling that places you right in the shoes of Patroclus, our narrator, seeing and feeling all that he is. Furthermore, it captures the innocence and beauty of love as it grows and develops over time.
The second time I read it, I really felt grief. The novel doesn't shy away from the fact that there is an underlying conflict that persists throughout. What it does phenomenally well though, is sweeping you up in the thrilling narrative to hope that something inevitable will not happen. Yet, each time you read the novel, the ending never changes.
The most recent time I read the story, I read in slower chunks, so I was able to ruminate more closely on the specific chapters I was reading. What particularly jumped out to me were the themes of the novel I noticed, but never dwelled on because I was busy crying. The novel dwells deeply on the role of fate and prophecy, the influence of outside forces, glory, honor, sacrifice, the cost of war, family, and love. All of these themes space in the novel to take root, and make you question how each one plays a role in the trajectory of our main characters.
Conclusion
I say that I'm grateful for The Song of Achilles because it was something completely unique: I don't think I've ever read anything like it, and probably won't again. Miller took a famous story, and famous characters, and made it feel grounded in a truly human story. Some of it may be more relatable than others, but the very essence of the novel is rooted in love.
Sitting here, writing this, I'm thinking back on some of my favorite quotes, since this novel has truly stuck with me. I'm already looking forward to next year's inevitable reread!