Books: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Myth -greek and roman- has always be in my list of interest. But I never really seek for a book that directly told about the myth itself, I've just read the modern adaptation or else.

The Song of Achilles is beyond my expectation. Trojan War is a bloodbath. Men sailed to Troy with the promise of glory in the packaging of bring back the most beautiful woman in the world. If I've ever hate a person in greek mythology, that person would be Helen, and thank God that this book is not about her. Told from the point of view of Patroclus, a close companion and most beloved of Achilles, the greatest warrior of them all. Madellne Miller beautifully interpret the relationship of Achilles and Patroclus: they are friends, comrades, and lovers. The story stretch from the self introduction of Patroclus, to his exile to the kingdom of Phtia where he meet Achilles, they are just 9 then. And then the goes to the span of 18 years their time together, the time in Phtia, to mount Pelion, Scyros and of course the sail and battle of Troy. Madeline miller build a love story around one of the most well-known war in the world. She mold the story of Iliad creatively to support her interpretation and I love it. I finished reading this book in 3 days. Eagerly trying to reach the end, cut short my beauty sleep to just 4 hours in those days and it all worth it.

I highly recommend this book, especially to all myth-geek out there. I hope Miller will write other interpretation of Greek/Roman mythology, Odyssey can be next, but I really hope it would be Heracles. So many people told the story of Heracles but I never found one interesting, too much embellishment. Maybe if miller write the story it will be refreshing to the character. I'll wait for it.