Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Le Chant d'Achille by Madeline Miller

1709 reviews

kwthor's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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bethanwx's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A romantic, morally complicated adaption of the myth of Patroclus and Achilles. Miller’s version of the world of the Ancient Greeks is misogynistic and violent, with Patroclus constantly trying to make the moral choice in a brutal world. Meanwhile, his relationship with Achilles is his constant rock, a love which holds them to each other.
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oplu's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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k_fry's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Such a tender retelling of Achilles and Patroclus from Patroclus perspective. It’s literature that feels accessible - a relatively easy read as far as the language used but I found myself thinking about symbolism, foreshadowing, etc. constantly while reading. I kicked my feet giddily and cried a LOT - it was perfect. 
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clara_rache's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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chimera_moth's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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gbrolsma16's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

A beautiful retelling of a famous myth. The character development was well done and for a story that I assumed would be focused on the ins and outs of a complicated hero, it was even more raw and human and emotionally invoking than I could have imagined. My heart has gone through its own journey meeting these mythological figures through Madeline Miller’s eyes. 
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tokiberry's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The Song of Achilles
⤷ ⭑⭑⭑⭑.𝟱

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Those seconds, half seconds, that the line of our gaze connected, were the only moment in my day that I felt anything at all. The sudden swoop of my stomach, the coursing anger. I was like a fish eyeing the hook.



Rounded it off to a 5-star because this is the only book that actually made me break down and cry uncontrollably during the last three chapters because of the pain and despair I felt despite knowing the end was inevitable. The number of highlights and notes in my Kindle is crazy, and not everything is uploaded because, man, I felt some heavy emotions.

Miller’s retelling was fantastic, although certain areas had some criticisms (I'm talking about how they did my girl, Briseis, dirty). But this didn’t take away the stunning storytelling, with it being both beautiful and devastating. I doubt I’ll ever be able to express my thoughts fully, but I plan to reread this book soon, even though it means going through the heartache again.

“He is half of my soul, as the poets say.”


If only our star-crossed lovers never left Pelion... My Roman Empire.

“I do not mean—” I twisted my fingers. “I would still be with you. But I could sleep outside, so it would not be so obvious. I do not need to attend your councils. I—”

“No. The Phthians will not care. And the others can talk all they like. I will still be Aristos Achaion.” Best of the Greeks.

“Your honor could be darkened by it.”

“Then it is darkened.” His jaw shot forward, stubborn. “They are fools if they let my glory rise or fall on this.”

“But Odysseus—”

His eyes, green as spring leaves, met mine. “Patroclus. I have given enough to them. I will not give them this.”


GASPING FOR AIR. YES FIGHT FOR YOUR MAN!

“Have you no more memories?”
I am made of memories.
“Speak, then.”


This scene between Patroclus and Thetis...

⊹ ࣪ In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out the sun. ˖

. ݁˖ . ݁

✦ post-read: this story was both beautiful and heart-wrenching 🥹

. ݁₊ ⊹

⟡ pre-read: okay i see this all over tiktok so let's get into it

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sam_reading_now's review against another edition

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sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The book is great; the characters are interesting and the plot keeps you hooked. 

The main negatives are the huge gaps in time (jumping from months to years, sometimes in the same chapter), which is obviously to get to the fast-paced drama quicker. I think the establishment of Achilles and Patroclus’ relationship is good, but it takes up a lot of the book and is sometimes boring when you know what is coming. 

When Patroclus is killed the narration change is strange and feels out of place, especially as the book goes into the present tense. I found it a little hard to follow.
The writing is solid otherwise.

I think the way Patroclus describes Achilles is heart warming, but somewhat one dimensional. It is frustrating as he has little self-respect, and the fact he
threw himself into battle just to end up dead was, indeed, shocking.
I actually really enjoyed it overall, you can feel their love grow for one another despite the dire circumstances.

Perhaps, the book is slightly overhyped, but it is still a good read and I would recommend it overall. 
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jjjusttice's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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