The Song of Achilles is told from the perspective of Patroclus, Achilles’ most faithful of companions. It is the story of their lives, a deeply personal retelling of The Iliad.
Circe gives us the life story of the witch and goddess Circe of Greek myth and of The Odyssey infamy.
Both books are written by Madeline Miller. Both tell brilliantly personal stories that reintroduce the reader to characters they think they already know. I honestly don’t know where to begin with reviewing these books as I adored them both. Circe has received a great deal of promotion and hype in 2018 — well deserved and earned. My Greek mythology knowledge has gotten quite rusty, but Miller clearly has done her researched. The Song of Achilles and Circe are steeped in rich details that easily draw you into their world. I finished Circe in the end of 2018, unfortunately I didn’t leave myself detailed notes regarding the book. So no spoiler-y reviews there!
Circe
The life of a lone woman in mythological Greece is as difficult as you would expect, even for a witch. Circe is the least loved of her family, a daughter of Helios. Her strength is her witchcraft, a talent that both brings her standing and causes fear. She is the ugly goddess, the easily ostracized. When Zeus fears her magic, Circe is banished to her island. It is here where she learns the greater nuances of both her witchcraft, but also of mortals and the fleeting nature of life. Even in banishment, Circe learns to become more part of the world than any of the gods; to be present and grounded. Unfortunately, she also learns of the suffering caused by vile men.
Circe showcases beautiful character development and the value of a gentle heart. The value in the simple things and protecting what one loves. It is a character driven story that I wholeheartedly recommend. Madeline Miller’s writing style is engrossing. Normally I dislike first-person perspective in storytelling, but she uses it to the best possible effect.
The Song of Achilles
The debut novel of Madeline Miller, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I have limited recall of the details of The Iliad, mostly concerning a love of Hector (the greatest horseman of his time, according to myth) and a hatred of arrogant Achilles. The rather terrible movie Troy didn’t help that impression at all, but I read The Song of Achilles trying to keep an open mind since Circe was a work of art and it came well recommended.
The Song of Achilles is everything I never knew I wanted or needed in a retelling of The Iliad. Miller does a beautiful job growing the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles. Even though you know they’re doomed, their deaths have painful impact on the reader. Miller shows both of them grow from young boys into men. Achilles from a naive and gentle soul into an arrogant, proud warrior. Patroclus from fearful to bold, into an almost cunning yet strongly moral healer. Without spoiling the ending, the growth between Patroclus and Thetis is my favourite part of the book. The end hits hard, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
The relationship and love between Patroclus and Achilles is beautifully written. The way difficult situations are tackled showcases a sometimes healthy, sometimes less so LGBT relationship that feels incredibly real. Character driven plots are clearly Miller’s strength. I’m excited to see what she does next. She seems to enjoy following Odysseus tangentially, so perhaps a story about Penelope?
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