The Song of Achilles

A Novel

De: Madeline Miller

Narrado por: Frazer Douglas

The legend begins...

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. “The best of all the Greeks”—strong, beautiful, and the child of a goddess—Achilles is everything the shamed Patroclus is not. Yet despite their differences, the boys become steadfast companions. Their bond deepens as they grow into young men and become skilled in the arts of war and medicine—much to the displeasure and the fury of Achilles’ mother, Thetis, a cruel sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.

When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece, bound by blood and oath, must lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.

Built on the groundwork of the Iliad, Madeline Miller’s page-turning, profoundly moving, and blisteringly paced retelling of the epic Trojan War marks the launch of a dazzling career.

©2012 Madeline Miller (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Reseñas de la Crítica

“[Miller] makes a persuasive argument for the timeliness of her subject. …Miller’s winning debut focuses on Patroclus, a young prince living in Achilles’ golden shadow. Miller also gives voice to many of the women who were also consigned to the shadows.” ( Publishers Weekly, Spring 2012 Preview, Top 10 Literary Fiction)

“You don’t need to be familiar with Homer’s The Iliad (or Brad Pitt’s Troy, for that matter) to find Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles spellbinding....her explorations of ego, grief, and love’s many permutations are both familiar and new....[A] timeless love story.” ( O magazine)

“A psychologically astute Iliad prelude featuring the heady, star-crossed adolescence of future heroes Patroclus and Achilles.” ( Vogue)

Wasn't Expecting to Like It- BOY! was I wrong!!

What did you love best about The Song of Achilles?

I was familiar with Greek myths- have been fascinated with them since my fifth grade teacher had lived in Greece and fueled my interest and imagination. The author does a magical job of bringing these ancient characters to life and making them human (even if they are gods or half-god).

What other book might you compare The Song of Achilles to and why?

Any Greek tragedy, this book has all the same elements-nosey gods interfering in human lives, conflict, hubris, a tragic hero....

Which scene was your favorite?

So many! I especially liked the scenes describing characters within the myths; Achilles and. Patroclus (of course), Odysseus, Agamemnon, King Menelaus, Achilles' mother-I really enjoyed her characterizations and the narrator's interpretation of their voices. The voice of Achilles' mother was deliciously villainous and hard to forget.

Who was the most memorable character of The Song of Achilles and why?

Patroclus because he wasn't as weak as people thought he was and Achilles because he becomes more that a one dimensional hero.

Any additional comments?

I have seen a few comments that describe this book as "homo porn" and "explicit". I would like to respectfully disagree. This book is set in a different culture and time-the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles has been discussed for HUNDREDS of years. This author isn't presenting some new fangled twist or a new interpretation of the story. If that makes you uncomfortable, then perhaps this story isn't for you. Any explicit sex scenes- hetero or homo- make me uncomfortable. I'd like to add that I am a middle aged, married, goes-to-church- three-times-a-week Christian. I am also someone who enjoys well written literature. The two main characters are in a committed relationship and the intimate scenes are more like the old movies where the camera pans up to an open window and the wind gently blows the curtains- things implied but not expressed. The plot is not based on these scenes nor are they gratuitous. They are important because they show the depth of their love and respect and this is really relevant towards the second half of the book and explains their actions and choices. I put off buying this book for some time because of these comments and am so thankful that I overcame my doubts and purchased this book. If you enjoy a beautifully written story (and a well narrated one as well) I encourage you to give this one a try. I'm glad I did.

Touching New View of the Great Epic

Any additional comments?

This book (and the pitch perfect audio) embodies the magic of The Iliad, with its larger than life, complicated characters. Here is a short quote that could sum up The Song of Achilles:“There is no law that gods must be fair, Achilles,” Chiron said. “And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone. Do you think?”Miller is absolutely believable in her mythology writing. The only downside is that I don't think the sex scenes match up to the rest of the writing, and they jerk you out of the story rather than become a part of it. But that is not a big criticism, I just hope she grows in that area next time; overall, it didn't take away from the overriding power of the book.

I'd Give This 1,000 Stars If I could

To be fair, I am not a Greek scholar and know very little about Greek mythology so I'm sure those who are familiar with the topic might find my review too naive. But, based on the story, the plot, and the writing, I was completely and totally gobsmacked by the wonder and beauty of this novel -- both in the subject and the way it was conveyed.

I was engaged from the first page until the very end, eager to get back to the book as soon as possible. Miller theorizes that Achilles is a homosexual who is deeply in love with Petroclus. (This theory is supported by some Greek scholars.) Some may not like this theory and some may find Miller's story a bit too homoerotic. But, if you buy into her supposition, you will find yourself engrossed in a beautiful story of love and war and the commitment it takes to engage in both.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration by Frazer Douglas is superb, absolutely one of the best-narrated books I've heard in the 8 years I've been an Audible subscriber.

This novel (and the audiobook version) instantly flew to the top of my list of favorites. In a word: SUPERB.

Literally could not stop hearing this! Amazing!

Wonderfully narrated, beautifully written-- this is by far my favorite love story. It is both romantic and action packed, showing loyalty, love and compassion Achilles and Patroeclus grow together not only in age but as people.

So happily surprised!

I was skeptical as to whether or not I would like this book . Too many memories of 5 period Latin class! However, I loved this book. Ms. Miller’s writing style is perfect, accompanied by compelling narration by Mr. Douglas. Though the events of the tale of Achilles are familiar, the fresh approach of the author breathes new life into the story with her skill. This book goes on my list of “books that live in my heart”, my highest designation on my book list. Highly recommend it!

Superb

Well written and re-imagined biography of Achilles and his relationship with Patroclus. Great narration. Absolutely superb all the way and highly recommended.

Close to as good as Circe

I really liked this book. Not quite as good as Circe, but quite original and enjoyable. This is a novel about an odd homosexual relationship between a demigod and a human. It had drama and war and action, but it is primarily about the relationship. If you are at all bothered by such things this book might not be for you or it may be a great book to broaden your outlook. The characters are well written and change naturally. The story is old, but the telling is fresh and interesting. This is a book I would recommend to almost anyone, and I am likely to listen to it again.

Wasn’t what I expected

Loving Greek mythology I wanted to see where this book would take me. It wandered far off the course and I enjoyed almost ever but if it. The shift in both characters made me pause but I couldn’t stop listening. Completed in two days. The writing was great as was the narration. May not be some folk’s cup of tea but this was a pleasant escape.

Decent, homoerotic

if you want to read a homoerotic version of the story of Achillies, this is the book for you!

Not my typical listen...

But I loved it. It was such a great interpretation of the legend of Achilles, and once I started to listen, I couldn't stop. The flow of the story, was perfect, and despite knowing the story and knowing the tragic ending, the author managed to make it hopeful and uplifting. The only thing I didn't love was the voice of Achilles... it just seemed to lack any depth or emotion. Otherwise, 5 stars all the way>