A few years ago I read an entire book before realizing I had already read it. I looked back at my Goodreads read list and realized I had no memory of about half of the books on there. So I built a new habit – (almost) every time I finish a book, I word-vomit my thoughts and emotions into a note on my phone. Sometimes they’re brief, sometimes they’re long-longwinded, sometimes they just ramble…and now I’m putting them here. Please enjoy the madness.
SPOILERS AHEAD…
I hope Madeline Miller continues to rewrite the history of the gods. I’ve always been interested in greek mythology and I really enjoy the way she brings the myths to life. This story of Achilles and Patroclus was so raw and full of love. She manages to make them into real people who love and fight and suffer and also just live – spitting olive pits at each other and laughing in the tent their first night on Troy’s beaches when they know death is coming. When reading history and mythology, it is easy for every character to feel adult and wise but they were young and it was refreshing to read them that way. The questions of what it means to be mortal vs immortal and the burden that godliness puts onto someone was interesting to explore. Glory comes at a cost.