Book of the Week

My book of the week this week is THE SONG OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller.

I found this book to be not only a great emotional story but also just really really clever. The way Miller uses well known myths and Gods from Ancient Greek legends and brings them to life in an original and convincing setting makes this book a must-read for anyone whose niche is fantasy writing.

The novel is set leading up to and during the Trojan war. It tells the story of young Patroclus, a banished and disgraced prince with little self-confidence and little to be confident about, who is sent to live in a far off kingdom in which a young, strong and beautiful prince rules under his father. This prince is Achilles. Achilles, the son of a king and a goddess, gives Patroclus an insight into his luxurious world and the two soon form a strong friendship, which develops into something more. And the rest is ancient history.

This is a tragic, heart-wrenching story. It's educational not only in its academic prowess, but also in its depiction of pure undiluted passion. The barriers these two lovers face has the reader crying for tolerance. The final scene in particular is such a fantastic and poetic depiction of grief and love, and how much the two bleed together in times of sorrow.

A fantastic read which stays with you long after the final page has been turned.