The Song of Achilles: A Novel

I found this book to be profoundly entertaining and enlightening. I was very reluctant to purchase it as I figured I knew how Achilles would meet his end and assumed that the book would be mostly Patroclus dreading and then mourning his lover's death. I was partially correct. Achilles impending doom did stay in my mind for a little while, but I was transfixed watching the romance between Patroclus and Achilles unfold. But as I grew fond of the two characters, my fear of 'the end' started to surface as well, which is about the time that the prophecy of his death in battle is revealed. This really helped me connect with Patroclus as now both of us were somehow hoping for a way to postpone the fate. Here is where the story begins to move in very unexpected ways - while I'm dreading Achilles' demise, it recounts his life, the time he got to enjoy his God-given skills and bask in the arms of his lover. For the first time in reading a book I began to prize the journey more than the ending which is a good lesson to learn since to die is the human condition, but to live is a privilege and a choice.

Quite Dull. The story arch and narrative were so soft and "rounded" that reading it literally put me to sleep. I gave up half way through. Definitely not my cup of tea.

This book was a roller-coaster of emotions. I felt a lot for this book and I'm really glad I read it. It's very good overall I just wish it was easier to get through.