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The Song of Achilles
Streaming Audiobook - 2012
The legend begins... Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. "The best of all the Greeks"-strong, beautiful, and the child of a goddess-Achilles is everything the shamed Patroclus is not. Yet despite their differences, the boys become steadfast companions. Their bond deepens as they grow into young men and become skilled in the arts of war and medicine-much to the displeasure and the fury of Achilles' mother, Thetis, a cruel sea goddess with a hatred of mortals. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece, bound by blood and oath, must lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice. Built on the groundwork of the Iliad, Madeline Miller's page-turning, profoundly moving, and blisteringly paced retelling of the epic Trojan War marks the launch of a dazzling career.
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Publisher:
[United States] : Harper Collins Publishers : Made available through hoopla, 2012.
Edition:
Unabridged.
ISBN:
9780062115577
006211557X
006211557X
Branch Call Number:
eAudiobook hoopla
Characteristics:
1 online resource (1 audio file (11hr., 15 min.)) : digital.
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Add a CommentMany stories of Achilles only show him in the light of being a hot-headed boy with godlike abilities and strengths. Its not like Miller didn’t write that in, she also made him more human through Patroclus’ eyes. Showed him as an honourable, intelligent, innocent, and honest golden boy forced to serve in a war he never wanted to be in that changed him into a greedy, overly confident, stubborn and war-stained young man. Patroclus stayed by Achilles’ side even when he went down a dark and bloody path making sure he had a legacy. Patroclus was more than a companion to Achilles. He was a friend, teacher, conscience, lover, a confidant and a home. Without each other Achilles was a quarter of a man. I thought that knowing the outcome of the story would diminish the hurt at the end, but it didn’t do anything. The end still hurt, and I still sobbed. Maybe it was Millers writing, the way it was read by Frazer Douglas and the utter emotion in his voice, or a combination of both that had me in tears. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh take on an old story. 5/5 stars
@GreenUnoReverseCard of the Hamilton Public Library Teen Review Board
Really sucked me in, the audiobook is read beautifully.
Excellent tale. Highly recommend the audiobook and book.
There are wonderful moments here. Two of those come up in a Youtube video featuring the author reading passages and commenting on her choices writing the book. She is young and fresh and generous. Some might find, as I did, interest in her treatment of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. I kept thinking how informed it was by what I took to be a feminine response to the masculine. The link to the video: https://youtu.be/SWgw82a2OY8
Finally, one of the most famous same-sex love stories of antiquity is fleshed out in beautiful, and at times, poetic language by a gifted author careful to describe the love story of Patroclus and Achilles in all its sensuous details from boyhood, to teenage years and up into young adulthood. The British voice actor who narrates this novel is superb and expressive.