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Would I recommend "The Song of Achilles"?

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Would I recommend "The Song of Achilles"?

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I chose this song because it relates to some of Achilles’ characteristics as a prince. If taken literally, the song speaks about having high expectations and being treated like royalty and being expected to act like such. Achilles’ struggled with meeting certain expectations as a prince, and although it was his fate he did not want to hurt people who had not done anything to him.

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Author: Madeline Miller

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This cover of The Song of Achilles is the most relevant cover of the ones I know. On it, we see a bronze helmet used in battle, which is symbolic to the theme of war, which is one of the major themes present in this book. While there are many other themes tied into the settings and plot, war is one of the most significant of them as it often results in the other themes.

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I would highly recommend this book to almost anyone. It displays the plot and settings and the feelings of the characters beautifully. It uses much detail, but not so much that it is boring. Each character has a purpose, and each character develops easily. The evolution of Patroclus’ and Achilles’ relationship flows with ease and is written out elegantly and smoothly. There are no gaps that I can see.

Anyone who looking for a simple but page turning fiction novel would love this book, especially if you are looking for something related to history or some mythology. I believe this book is great for young adults and old adults alike. I would also very much recommend this book to someone who is looking for a story of people who are LGBT, but a story which is not centered around their being LGBT. The Song of Achilles does not have focus on their struggles, rather on the relationship itself and the role it plays in battle, as well as their own lives. This book is great for almost anyone, I believe.

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Patroclus had feared for Achilles’ life as although he was destined to be a great warrior and legend, he was also seen to die very early and during battle. Achilles, realizing how quickly his romantic partner was to his death, was stricken by heartbreak and grief, and did not know how to handle his loss. He had planned to die after Achilles’ died, so as not to live with himself if he failed to prevent his death.

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“As for the goddess’s answer, I did not care. I would have no need of her. I did not plan to live after he was gone.” (188)

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“As for the goddess’s answer, I did not care. I would have no need of her. I did not plan to live after he was gone.” (188)

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Achilles’ and Patroclus’ relationship was strong, unbreakable. They grew up with each other and lived together, they knew the other person like the back of their hands. This shows that despite Achilles having been disguised as a woman, Patroclus assures us that this had not affected his ability to recognize the boy he knew so well.

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“What had Deidamia thought would happen, I wondered, when she had her women dance for me? Had she really thought I would not know him? I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death at the end of the world.” (134)

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“What had Deidamia thought would happen, I wondered, when she had her women dance for me? Had she really thought I would not know him? I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death at the end of the world.” (134)

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Achilles was destined to become the greatest fighter and warrior ever known, but this stressed him as he could not think of any hero, like him, who was also happy. He worried he would not be able to have Patroclus or anything else that made him happy while also fulfilling what he was destined to be.

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“ ‘Name one hero who was happy.’ I considered. Heracles went mad and killed his family; Theseus lost his bride and father; Jason’s children and new wife were murdered by his old; Bellerophon killed the Chimera but was crippled by the fall from Pegasus’ back. ‘You can’t.’ ” (104-105)

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“ ‘Name one hero who was happy.’ I considered. Heracles went mad and killed his family; Theseus lost his bride and father; Jason’s children and new wife were murdered by his old; Bellerophon killed the Chimera but was crippled by the fall from Pegasus’ back. ‘You can’t.’ ” (104-105)

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This book will definitely have you interested in every page that comes with it. The language and writing alone are fantastic. Each word feels like it is in place; almost nothing is random. The character development and flow is paced very well, despite the need to skip ahead several years, but even this was carried out excellently. Additionally, the author does not leave any major plot holes, from what I can remember.

Each character in the book has a purpose and a reason for being in there, and the plot is clear and concise. The setting fits very well and accurately with the plot and characters. I especially found the beginning of the book where Chiron was mentoring Achilles and Patroclus very interesting, as it showed the development of their friendship and eventually their romantic relationship perfectly, and it was executed beautifully and steadily. The emotions of each character were portrayed very clearly without giving away too much at a time.

Personally, this book connected with me almost instantly the first time I read it. Not only was I attracted to the major plot points and the genre in general, but I am also always looking for books which represent LGBT characters accurately and with the full complexity of their humanity without focusing so much on their identity. It helped me remember that people we view so highly, like Achilles, and people we may not even notice, like Patroclus, can be who I am, and that it is so prevalent in today’s society and just as normally.

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“The Song of Achilles” is about a young exiled prince who meets the son of a sea goddess and powerful king who is destined to be the greatest warrior of all time.

Patroclus, thought by his father to be a burden and disappointment, was exiled from his kingdom after accidentally killing another prince in defense. Arriving in Pthia, ruled by the great king Peleus, Patroclus is put among a large number of boys also taken in by Peleus, including his own son Achilles.

After some time of exchanging glances and turning away when the other looked, Achilles has Patroclus attend the former’s battle training sessions. A friendship blossoms and Achilles is sent to train with the centaur Chiron in fighting and medicine. Overwhelmed by his absence, Patroclus follows him. But when news of the kidnapping of Helen of Sparta reaches the other kingdoms, all of them join together to attack Troy in her name. Attracted by the idea of eternal glory, Achilles joins the cause despite his beliefs. In fear and amorous connections to Achilles, Patroclus follows him.