The Song of Achilles

This book is my "The Book". It's amazingly written and I've seriously suffered losses from its characters. Achilles and Patroclus' love story was so beautiful and poetic, it definitely enhanced the idea of this book being a retelling of an epic. It was very hard not to get lost in those pages, but at the same time, I had to stop myself from binge-reading it, so I could enjoy this masterpiece for longer. There is literally nothing wrong I can say about it, it is truly the most stunning book I've ever read and my absolute favourite.

And the writing itself! It was so delicious to read! "He is half of my soul, as the poets say." I love Madeline Miller! I cannot thank her enough for this amazing book!

This novel is so vivid; every sentence is propelled by poetic motion more powerful than Shakespearian iambic. Sharp as talons and light as feathers, the prose catches you like a fish out of water. I loved how Miller brushes the Achaeans, who before have been morally anchored towards righteousness, towards what is right. The new seas of love, hope, and change pull the plot out from the Illiad's inexorable ending and point the reader towards a nuanced middle. The Song of Achillies asks what is inescapable: who we are or where we're going?

[must read]