I'm always a sucker for Greek stories, especially which were played around the Trojan War (Since I read "The Illiad" I loved Hector.).

"The Song Of Achilles" (Double-meaning; a song sung by Achilles or a song sung about Achilles.) is the retelling of the Trojan War but with another focus. The spot is on Achilles' childhood, his youth - how he become friends with Patroclus and more. How he tried not to sail to war. How he lived during the years at the Trojan beach. How he grieved. How he died. And how he loved. Patroclus and and music (the lyre). Everything is told by Patroclus which makes the entire story very emotional.

The part of the Trojan War (although the entire war lasted more than 10 years) is rather short (less than a third of the book) because the spot is on Achilles and Patroclus in their younger years. But I don't mind it much because everyone knows about the war itself. And how it was won.

Since the story is told by Patroclus I wondered: "How Miller will continue the story when he's dead and Achilles still very alive?" but the author did a very good job here. It's believeable how Patroclus told the rest of the story because it plays the card about Greek mythology and their believe of the afterlife.


I really love the last paragraph.
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 of the sun.