The Song of Achilles | Speedy Book Thoughts

P.S. My audio recording of this post is included at the bottom

 Hey There, 

I am back at it again, reviewing an incredibly heart breaking queer romance novel which shattered my soul, leaving me, like usual, in a million tiny pieces. Each of these pieces being another unrealistic expectation, little shard of grief and lethargy or just a little tear that came out of my eye. Madeline Miller’s ‘The Song of Achilles’ is historical fiction from the perspective of Patroclus, the lover of Achilles and generally just the soft most sweet boy ever.

I felt unsure going into this book and found it difficult to trudge through the first couple chapters. That is, until they kissed for the first time and I literally melted into my mattress and stayed there for about 20 minutes before resurfacing to continue on. Having studied the Trojian war at school, watched hollywood movies about it and unfortunately already knowing how the book would end I was very glad with Miller's characterisation of Achilles. He was sweet and introverted and only became vicious as a result of becoming accustomed to death. This was incredible when juxtaposed to Patroclus’ character development. It was like they were two little dots on a straight line with bad on the left and good on the right. Patroclus starts pretty far to the left and Achilles to the right and as events unfold they slowly make their way to the other side. By the end of the book we view Patroclus not as an awkward castaway boy but a powerful man who can love and fight and who wants to help people and save them, whether they deserve it or not. As Achilles becomes seasoned we see him harden and grow in fierceness but never once does his love for Patroclus quiver. 

I also commend Miller on her portrayal of Bresis. Washing out the hideous narrative that likely occurred and instead presenting her as a strong female with autonomy and strength. Her last scene was especially powerful and it broke my heart. Her relationship with Patroclus was incredibly heartwarming and special. I like to think that two characters continue to live on beyond us and what we read of them. That they continue to giggle and throw olives at each other in the afterlife.

I would highly recommend this book to people who enjoy queer romance, historical fiction or just want a good old cry. I rate this book 5/5 stars because if I cry for more than 5 minutes after I’ve finished the last page, I know that I will carry it with me for the rest of my life. And oh BOY is the last page a tear jerker. I chose not to include any quotes from the end in this review because you deserve to experience them in real time.

Here are some of my highlights: 

• "said what he meant; he was puzzled if you did not. Some people might have mistaken this for simplicity. But is it not a sort of genius to cut always to the heart?"
• "And as we swam, or played, or talked, a feeling would come. It was almost like fear, in the way it filled me, rising in my chest. It was almost like tears, in how swiftly it came. But it was neither of those, buoyant where they were heavy, bright where they were dull."
• "‘And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth, when another is gone. Do you think?"
• "I would know it in dark, or disguise, I told myself. I would know it even in madness"
• "I will never leave him. It will be this, always, for as long as he will let me"
• "We were like gods, at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other"
• "I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell, I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world"
• "When he died, all things swift and beautiful and bright would be buried with him"
• "You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature."
• "No hands had ever been so gentle, nor so deadly"
• "He is half of my soul, as the poets say"
• "‘We cannot say who will survive the holocaust of memory"

Talk Soon. 

All the Love, 

Scar.

Why the stigma against romance/ YA books is rooted in misogyny.

Hey There!

I have a bone to pick. Why is it that when I'm reading twilight on the bus I feel the need to cover the front  so that people think I'm more ~sophisticated~  or ~intelligent~ ? Why do I, an adult, feel ashamed telling someone that I am reading a YA (young adult) book at the moment? And why on earth do I get nervous paying for it at the bookstore because I think the person at the register will view less of me? I will often even justify myself saying "I know its embarrassing, but its just nostalgic and fun"

I will tell you why. Young women are never seen as valid enough. Thus the interests and opinions of young women are never seen as valid enough through the male gaze. Us Gen Z girls will recall that One Direction was only 'shit' in 2011 because it was widely appreciated by a demographic of young women. Your grandmother will recall that the same was said about The Beatles who are now considered the greatest musical artist's of all time according to the Rolling Stones.  The things that we value are not considered valuable until men dictate that they are and make it widespread. 

 

This has been said about women's magazines which discuss issues pertaining solely to women such as Cosmopolitan. Don't forget Louisa May Alcott, Karen Blixen and the Bronte Sisters who were only able to publish under a male pseudonym.  Society views women, especially young women, as not being mature or respectable enough to enjoy their own niche interests or to produce anything of value compared to their male counterparts. 

How does this relate to YA books when boys surely read them too? Sure they do. Harry Potter for example is vastly appreciated by young and old people of all genders. But don't ignore that it was written from the perspective of a white, cis, straight male and published by J.K Rowling and not Joanne Rowling, another guise in place to conceal the authors gender (Note: I will no longer be supporting Joanne due to the recent unveiling of her disgusting transphobia). 

50 Shades, Twilight, Sarah J. Maas have a largely young female reading audience and are also 'sexy' books. The patriarchy states that these books are not particularly valuable. I think that this is because as women, we may have to seek 'smutty' books and fanfiction. Porn is not made for women because porn objectifies women's bodies and focus' solely on the man's pleasure. Even lesbian porn is glorified in a way that exists primarily to 'turn on' a man. Some women have turned to erotic books or fanfiction written by other women to fulfil their sexual fantasies because their needs are simply not catered for elsewhere. Once again, if it caters to women it is simply not enough to be valued by men and is therefore simply not valuable . 

I can't even begin to indulge in my distain for the lack of representation of queer people and especially queer women in popular fiction. And no, Ms Rowling stating that Dumbledore is gay, 10 years after the release of the final book, with no actual canon representation doesn't count. Go ahead, think of the last time you read a piece of fiction (that was not primarily written as a queer novel) and enjoyed a lesbian or bisexual character who had a personality and any characterised substance that wasn't directly rooted to her sexuality or presented by grotesque generalisations and stereotypes. I sure can't think of one. 

Regardless of reading romantic fiction as being primarily seen as a women's hobby the patriarchal standards that are deeply ingrained into the way we view women's bodies and women in romantic relationships, for all gender often causes this erotica to be fundamentally misogynistic anyways. Classic tropes such as the rich man supporting the poor women, male dominance, incredibly co-dependant females and the concept of a women not being 'whole' without a man are constantly being jammed into our heads. Even when the author is female. Often we don't even recognise how misogynistic our romantic fantasies are because they have been instilled into us for our entire lives. How are us women meant to enjoy or imagine any experience that isn't in one way or another, shaped for a man. Truthfully, I don't think we ever can. 

Finally, we need to stop thinking that 'adults' books or 'men's' books are better. They are not better they are just different. YA plots and characters can be even more intricate and complicated than those found in non-YA books. The only difference is that they are more fucking digestible. 

In conclusion, men need to stop.

All the love, 

Scar.