i read The Song of Achilles

my fav book 😍💘🌊

I finished tsoa yesterday and just to put it out there, Can't catch me now by Olivia Rodrigo is literally Patroclus

ngl i kinda hated the book😭. i just didn’t enjoy it, please don’t hate me

Also Odysseus being the #1 patrochilles shipper tho.

I knew the minute she got to the cave scene

Her innocence at the beginning

This is the love that you long for! Makes you sad, to not have it.

This book was more than good. I am 51 years old and I literally felt just like you. I was so excited, and held my breath so many times!

Spoiler.



-the part that absolutely broke me was after achilles died, patroclus was wondering if his ashes being mixed with his would be the same feeling as the first snow fall they both experienced. That brought me flashbacks from their time with chiron.

They were together since children the same as Alexander the Great and Heohaistion you decadent barbarians. They went thru everything together, they were philophers and real men bound by the institution of friendship which was sacred in Ancient Greece. Meaningful and very powerful friendship of souls. No disgusting lie propagated on purpose by a sick barbarian author who seeks personal and financial gain, can ruin their image. Keep believing lies so you feel good about your abnormality. Keep living in your fantasy proof-less world. It’s called brotherhood, lies propagated on purpose by the system and the abnormals in order to give a fake historic depth of homosexuality in order for us to accept it today. Sick parasites. Your abnormality is your own, no amount of lies can change the truth and it hurts you and it forever will. Also gays can’t fight, gays can’t be the best warriors of all time, only men can, illogical non thinking schizophrenic clowns. Keep the holy Greeks out of your disgusting barbaric mouths. Mentally ill parasites.

I‘ve cried so many tears over the end… never felt so much heartache 🥲🥲

Spoiler ahead: I agree the whole plan was silly, obviously set up for failure. But you’re right Achilles got all in his head, I think what people need to understand is that in those times to die with honour was far more important then to die a stranger. It was a part of traditions and religion and even today we can see how religion has an impact on the way people lead their lives. I think that’s also why Patroclus understood this, and why he was willingly to go out to battle for Achilles’s honour. Another important factor to take into account is the manipulation of the gods over this whole situation. In order for Achilles to die and Troy to go on to fall, Achilles needed to kill hector. “What has hector ever done to me.” It came down to pushing fate in the right direction and creating a reason for Achilles to kill hector. The minute they stepped foot at Troy, they were both destined to die. And yes they could of chosen not to go but as I explained in Greek times that was worse then death. That’s why I won’t find it in myself to hate Achilles, I think the spiral of his character honours the Iliad and is quite realistic to what a war ridden environment full of greed and power hungry people would breed in a person. He is well written and flawed, not horrible.

mild spoilers
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Achilles is a demigod so that might explain his quest to prove himself. His fate is known, so one might say he is very brave.

The scene where he touches Patroclus hair asking had he told him how he loves that it sticks up, and then continues touching more points along down with the same questions, did I tell you how much I like this aspect of you, and finally Patroclus replies "tell me again."

Steph, I bet that you would enjoy The Last of the Wine, by Mary Renault. It is a classic. Renault probably inspired books like The Song of Achilles.

My fav part is when Achilles suddenly introduced Patroclus as his Husband in front of Deidameia🤣😭

if i could like every single comment i would

istg i would sell my soul to read this again. Patroclus has become my number one comfort character. AKJSJKKJSJHSJKkj - sorry i needed to type random letters it shows the amount of emotions the book gave me

“He is half my soul, as the poets say.”
This book shattered my heart and had my sobbing and crying for days.

Wow, I love this book so much. Wow, Steph your video is so cool.

I had never cried reading a book before. So so good.

not me crying again

HER ROOM IS SO CUTE OMG

i had no idea that this was romance when i read it and honestly knew nothing when i started it. honesto so much better that way i was shook but sort of wanted to anticipate it

I loved that book so much omg 😢

You know I really think if Agamemnon wanted Achilles to fight that bad, he should have threatened Patroclus. Like it’s not that hard

ive never read this and i still dont wanna read it. its sounds weird and confusing asf

I just finished the book and truly don’t know what to do with myself

"I hope that hector kills you"!
Do you think I do not hope the same..?!

I CANT MOVE ON FROM THIS I NEED PART TWO TAKING PLACE INTHE UNDERWORLD

I just finished this last night and I’m still crying reading the comments and reading quotes I don’t think I’ll ever be able to think about or read this book without bawling my eyes out. The Song of Achilles is my favorite book and it always will be.

Wait just a question why did Patroclus sleep with Deidamia? Like what was the reason for that and did he ever tell that to Achilles. I've read the book 2 times now but still can't figure out.

is this book gay?

I finished reading “It Ends With Us” and I learnt my lesson never to skip chapters. It was really good.

It's not just the fact Patroclus dies, it's the was Achilles finds out and reacts (also Briseis)

So like, Ik this was a coincidence but..... the first word is in the book is "my " and the last one is"sun".... Achilles was like Patroclus' Sun

SPOILERS MAYBE???






my personal theory is tht this book is The memorys Patroclus tells Thetis at the grave. I just finished the book and it was such a journey watching you react the same as i did the first time:) Agamemnon and Pyrha can shut the hell up💀

SPOILER but The way Patroclus reminded Thetis how Achilles should be remembered literally killed me. Like no words, all of their memories with music and figs and love. Then the last few lines… He waits for you 🥹

I loved this video!! Very cathartic since I just finished and im still healing too lol I felt all the same feels :(( Honestly what I would give to read it for the first time again so I loved seeing it though your eyes!! I love that you appreciated their boyish friendship and how sweet it was. To me this story felt larger than life, so so beautifully written. by half way you already feel so much nostalgia of their happy times together, you really feel the years that have passed and the beautiful way their love was written. This book ripped me to shreds and is my absolute favvvv.

spoiler(?):
i read somewhere that the entire book is patroclus explaining all his memories to thetis and i haven’t been the same since

Even though I can understand why so many people dislike Achilles, I cannot bring myself to hate him. Yes, his behaviour by the end of the book is horrible. However, I can understand his motivation. From the very beginning, his parents do nothing more than to remind him that he's born to be the best of the Greeks, that his honour and reputation are the most important things, that he cannot fail.
Also, his fate is already written, and if he chooses not to follow it, he will lose everything. Every single thing that he believes that defines him. Every single thing that makes him "special", "valuable" and "likeable". When actually, he is so much more than his fighting abilities. I also think that Achilles is scared that if he loses his gift, Patroclus won't love him anymore, the only person that really loves him and makes him happy.
On top of that, even when he is willing to follow his fate, he learns that he will die extremely young. So he loses no matter what he chooses. And all for what? For a stupid war?
Don't forget that the story is told through Patroclus eyes, and he tends to idealise Achilles. I think we forget that Achilles is still a kid, just as Patroclus. And he shouldn't have such burden on his shoulders. And people put too many expectations on him, even Patroclus.
I think that Achilles is mostly scared. Scared of the prophecy, scared of losing Patroclus, and scared of not being good enough. That is why he avoids Hector. That's why, at the end, the only thing that seems to matter to him is his honour. He's given these men 10 years of his short life, he's fought like no one else, and yet it is not enough. Yet after all of this, he could be hated and dishonoured. I believe he thinks: "If I can't have anything. If I can't grow old with the love of my life. The only thing is left for me and I can't surrender is my honour nor my dignity. And much less to someone as deplorable as Agamemnon."
What he doesn't realise is that, he is making Patroclus suffer. That Patroclus is loyal to a fault and will do everything for him.
At least, even though is extremely heartbreaking and unfair that it happens after Patroclus' death, he realises how poorly he has behaved. How little his honour means. That due to his pride, Patroclus is gone. At least now, he is aware and demonstrates regret. I think Achilles greatest doom was to be born a demi-god. He is not a bad person, he's not the best either, that title belongs only to Patroclus, but he's neither a monster.

Sorry for the long comment, and sorry if there's any mistake. English is not my first language.

this book destroyed my soul.

YOUR REVIEW REMINDS ME EXACTLY HOW I FELT READING THIS 😭😭😭

When I first started it, it took me a bit to realize Patroclus was nine

I was so angry at Achilles but I could never hate him. He's spent his whole life with a prophecy hung over his head about being the greatest of Greeks with a controlling mother and a great warrior of a father who have both encouraged him to lead a life full of glory and victory. ((spoilers!!)) And when he received the prophecy of his death but with glory, I think he really had no other choice as he was not taught to live quietly. Ahhhh I just feel so sad and btw (spoilers, kind of), in The Odyssey, which was kind of like a follow-up of the Iliad (the ancient Greek poem TSOA is based on), Achilles did regret his choice to go to war and that he wished to be no one. Ugh typing this out is already making me tear up T_T

Spoiler: my interpretation of the ending is that the whole book is him talking Achilles mom

this book has had me in a chokehold since I finished it (like 6 months ago) and it continues to be the best book I've ever read. there's absolutely nothing on earth that brings me as much joy as the song of Achilles...
whenever I find someone on booktube who doesn't like it, I GET SO OFFENDED LMFAO

GIRLLL GREAT REVIEW BUT A THOUSAND BOY KISSES WAS SO BADDD U DID NOT JUST COMPARE THE TWO

For the four days i read this book, coming home to read again was the highlight of my day. Even though i knew how it was gonna end from the beginning i couldn’t stop reading. This is hands down the most beautiful book i’ve ever read and now a whole week later i’m still not over the plot and cry at least once a day over them.

I actually cried the most at patroclus's death instead of the last chapter . Only me ?

Because I like to torture myself, and because it’s my favourite book, I’m rereading this and highlighting my favourite quotes and lines.

but thetis carved patroclus’ name into the monument, such a sweet gesture at the end, i think it saved me from falling apart completely