Book in Review: “The Song of Achilles”
February 2, 2022
The popular social networking app Tik Tok is usually a cesspool of cringe-worthy content, anti-intellectual ramblings, and shameless self-advertising, but there is one side of Tik Tok that is actually worth keeping up with, in my opinion: Book Tok. It’s full of recommendations, insightful reviews, entertaining discourse, and it led me to discover “The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller, a book that got me back into reading during my free time.
As you might have guessed from the title, “The Song of Achilles” takes place in ancient Greece. However, it isn’t centered on the famous demigod Achilles as you might expect. The story focuses on the lesser-known companion of Achilles, Patroclus. The story begins in Patroclus’ childhood, and from the very beginning, Patroclus struggles to fit into the cutthroat, warlike society of Greece. He brings shame to his father, a king who is disgusted by Patroclus’ scrawny physique and soft heart. After a brief lonely childhood, Patroclus is forced into exile after accidentally killing a bully. He has to renounce his father’s name and is taken in by Achilles’ father, King Peleus. He lives in the castle with other orphaned, nameless boys and soon finds the reason for King Peleus’ kindness: the boys are trained to fight, becoming hardened warriors to bring in more victory and wealth.
It is here that he meets Achilles, who seems to be his foil, or his direct opposite: Achilles is strong, gifted, beautiful, and the pride and joy of his father and kingdom. Patroclus is at first blinded by envy and bitterness, but despite being showered in praise, Achilles proves himself to be a kind, thoughtful and earnest boy, and they become friends when Achilles declares Patroclus his companion, which excuses him from training with the other boys.
They become inseparable despite their perceived differences, and when Achilles is called away by his mother, the mortal-hating goddess Thetis, to begin his journey into godhood and greatness, Patroclus follows him. This kickstarts a tale that has a little something for every- one: coming-of-age, self-discovery, ancient history and culture, battle and adventure, homoerotic subtext that blossoms into tender, well-developed romance, and discussions of life’s meaning and purpose.
I find that in books, movies, shows, and other forms of media, LGBTQ+ representation is lacking, inaccurate and leaves much to be desired. Gay romance is either overly-sexualized or underdeveloped, which is why “The Song of Achilles” is such an important story to me. The relationship between Patroclus and Achilles develops in a genuine slow-burn built on trust, respect, and of course, love. So although this story is set in ancient Greece, it is still very relevant to readers today with its gay representation, themes of gender and learning how to value oneself.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially to my fellow readers who have lost their passion for reading either due to the stress of school, mental health, or general boredom. “The Song of Achilles” is the perfect book to get back into reading be- cause of its accessibility, relatable characters and quick, entertaining pace. Also, if you ever find yourself in need of a good, long, cathartic crying session, look no further! I’m not an overly emotional person by any stretch of the imagination, but this book made me sob, twice: once when I read the ending and then again the next night when I thought about the ending.
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