Hey all!
For a bit of context, [this](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13623848) is a book that’s been sitting on my shelves for YEARS. Legit, when I picked it up there was a receipt in there from 2021. Oops! To be honest, I think I’ve been intimidated by this book. It’s been renowned as a modern classic by basically everyone that’s read it, and I think the weight of statements like that made me feel like I had to be in the right mindset or the right mood, or the right place in life to read it. I had read Circe a while before this, and thought it was good but I can’t remember enough about it to properly give my thoughts. Let me just say, it’s about time I finally picked this one up.
The greatest strength that comes from this book is Miller’s voice and ability to convey emotion in an accessible way. Mythology is something I stay away from (or have for a long time) mostly due to it being such a vast place for intertwined stories — so many characters, relationships and motives that taking something like this on would be daunting (edit to add that this view is changing and if anyone has some mythology recommendations for someone that hasn’t even scratched the surface of knowledge there drop them below). This doesn’t stop Miller from allowing emotions to fuel the story primarily, only focussing on details that would add to this emotion. Her choice of word and pacing of the emotional ebbs and flows of both Patroclus and Achilles made this a very entrancing read, full of dramatic moments and moments of tranquility as well. Patroclus is probably one of my favourite literary characters that I’ve (EDIT: wording) followed since Piranesi last year — his devotion to Achilles and the POV chosen by Miller really makes the read an intimate experience. She also does an excellent job at portraying the downfall of Achilles, despite me never truly finding him unlikable. Maybe that’s because the story is told by Patroclus, or maybe that’s because Miller describes his motivations so vividly. Maybe it’s a bit of both.
The theming of legacy, love and pride are also carried very well throughout the entire story. Every action, every word spoken, every moment with every character can be traced back to these central themes, and nothing feels out of place or superfluous. There isn’t a ton of fat to trim here, folks.
Let it be known that I’m someone that prefers character driven stories over plot driven stories, and if you wanted a story about the Trojan war primarily this won’t give you a ton to work off of. It’s not really about that, anyways, but there’s much to love here.
My nitpicks for this novel are so small, honestly. They really center around pacing — (small plot specific spoilers for references)
>! the first third of the book feels a bit redundant, with a lot of Patroclus and Achilles being separated and reunited over and over. The transition from the tranquil scene of Pelion with the savage view of Troy seemed a little bit choppy, especially with the introduction of Odysseus. And, the POV shifting from Patroclus to his spirit after his death was a little bit rushed, and I feel like giving that POV a bit more time to sit with the audience would’ve made Achilles’s reaction more emotionally impactful. !<
These are honestly so small, and shouldn’t stop you from picking this book up, especially if you’re like me and are too intimidated to pick this one up and give it a chance. Everyone and their dog raves about this novel for good reason, and the fact that it’s her debut novel is astonishing. She clearly has a knack for writing stream-of-consciousness, emotionally driven stories and I look forward to the next piece I get to read from her. I can see this novel being right up there with Lincoln in the Bardo as one of my all-time favourite novels. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
(Also, if you’ve already read this book and you’re looking for something similar, Circe’s the way to go. If you’re looking for the same level of yearning, check out the TV show Good Omens. And, if you want a great story about legacy and pride I’d suggest Timothy Findley’s The Wars.)
by penguin-47284