I just finished The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. This is the second book by Miller that I have read recently. The previous book was Circe.
The Song of Achilles was not as good as Circe, but it was still and interesting read.
The book covers the life of Achilles from when he was 13 until his death at 27 in Troy. The story is told by Patroclus. The story pulls together references to Achilles, Patroclus, Troy and the various participants at Troy. When the Greeks camped on the beach at Aulis, the story relies on the play Iphigenia at Aulis by Euripides. And that’s how the entire story goes – all through the loving eyes of Patroclus.
The end is obviously not surprising, but is done well, and ultimately narrated by the ghost of Patroclus. The last chapter brings a touching end to the story, and is most likely fanciful. But is all revolves around the love between Achilles and Patroclus, even into the afterlife.
All said, I highly recommend reading this and the previous book Circe.
Having finished this I was wondering what would be next then I remembered I had two books by Christopher Moore on a book shelf.
I am currently about a third of the way through Noir. Nothing like the Madeline Miller books. This fantasy, dare I say science fiction starts in San Francisco in 1947. More on this when I finish the book, and start the sequel.
Reading has been a great way to spend the hot days indoors. I am not a fan of heat. Once it tops 80F I’d rather head north or look for a cool place to read and write.
Recently NPR and web stories have been dwelling on the hottest month and hays in recent history. As we have all experienced the fallout from the recent massive fires in Canada, I think that this is just what will become the norm. We are already finding insects further north than they were years ago. Indeed even birds have been marching north. Prothonotary Warblers and Blue Grosbeaks are now regular in souther Michigan where they were once rare or non-existent. Oh well, at least we still have air conditioning.
More later…
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