“He is half of my soul, as the poets say.”― Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles

The Song of Achilles is a book that readers will continue to return to. This novel seems to come out of nowhere, yet it is frequently listed among readers' favorite books, especially by those who are particularly interested in Greek mythology. It is difficult to understand what takes some readers so long to pick it up, but it is a story that is not easily forgotten.

To fully appreciate this novel, it is worth noting that reading The Iliad beforehand can add another layer of depth to the experience. Is it necessary to read The Iliad to fully grasp and appreciate Madeline Miller's novel? Definitely not. Does it add an unexpected level of meaning to the story? Absolutely.

The novel is titled The Song of Achilles, but it is actually told from the point of view of Patroclus. In Greek mythology, the nature of their relationship is not clearly defined. Some sources portray them as best friends, while others depict them as lovers or something even deeper, romantic soulmates. Whatever the "true" nature of their relationship may have been, Miller's novel presents Achilles and Patroclus as soulmates in the truest and deepest sense of the word.

What makes this interpretation so convincing is the story of how the two grow up together, train together, and eventually travel to the Battle of Troy together. The latter half of the novel focuses on the events of The Iliad and is, in many ways, the same story, but shifted slightly to place Patroclus at the center. If anything, this change in perspective adds even more depth to the epic. There are times when a classic carries such a powerful aura that it feels impossible to add anything meaningful to the original work. Perspective-shift retellings often struggle with this challenge. Yet Miller succeeds. The novel inspires a return to The Iliad, particularly Emily Wilson's translation, to revisit the epic with Miller's added perspective in mind. In many ways, Miller's version feels like canon.

The entire story is told through Patroclus's reflections on Achilles. As the narrative unfolds, an interesting question emerges: why is this not The Song of Patroclus? The answer does not become clear until the novel's heartbreaking conclusion. Only then does it become fully apparent what Patroclus meant to Achilles. Throughout much of the story, Patroclus' love for Achilles is never in doubt. The greater question is whether Achilles feels the same depth of love in return. By the final scenes, and with the significance of the grave marker revealed, it becomes clear that Achilles did everything for Patroclus. Patroclus was his true song.

This is a story that lingers long after the final page. It encourages readers to think about the stories they have been told and the perspectives that may be missing from them. What if there is another side to the story? What if there is more depth to a character's motivations than originally understood? The novel also explores the many layers of love: love between a person and duty, love between generations, unrequited love, and love between two people regardless of gender or sex.

Love is love is love.