The Song of Achilles: Madeleine Miller

[Lentilweaver]

Read this years ago but rereading now with care for my book club, and blown away by how good it is, how simply written yet descriptive, the way she makes you feel what it was like to be in the Trojan war.
Also loved Circe by MM. Any other fans here?

Me! It's sad at the end though and I usually prefer more upbeat fiction.

I liked the book about Troy , a thousand ships by Natalie Haynes too!

Yes I loved it and Circe. Really involving in how it was written and an alternative view of a history we've only ever heard from the male view.

I loved this - try also Ariadne by Jennifer Saint, and The Silence of the Girls/The Women of Troy by Pat Barker. They are not happy reads it’s fair to say.

It is beautiful isn't it. No other Achilles has come close to her Achilles.

I too love the Pat Barker books, Jennifer Saint, Natalie Haynes etc.

I'm a little Greek Mythed out at the moment though so I've a couple of books waiting including the latest Pat Barker, a Claire North and Medea for when I've had enough of a break.

Medea was good but not in the same league in my view. And I love Natalie Haynes

Yes - loved it.

Glad I posted because I remember now I have Natalie Haynes on my Kindle and been meaning to read Pat Barker for years.
I want to read more this year for sure. Last year was a bad reading year.

Any more Greek myth reccos welcome! O did read a very good non-fiction book called The Greek Way by Edith someone. It was so fascinating.

It's Edith Hamilton. Apparently she was a renowned classicist.

I loved this, enjoyed Circe too,but this was the better of the two. I loved the way she writes Achilles' terrifying sea-goddess mum!

Yes, Thetis slayed!

I loved both Song of Achilles and Circe. They sent me on a Greek myth-athon for a while. There are good recommendations already but I will add Medusa by Jessie Burton.

Love Song of Achillis and Silence of the Girls, the Women of Troy and The Voyage Home by Pat Barker. Would also recommend Horses of Fire by A D Rhine which is told from the perspective of Andromarche.

Well, Euripides was, of course, a bloke, but this might be of interest:

"The Trojan Women (Ancient Greek: Τρῳάδες, romanized: Trōiades, lit. "The Female Trojans") is a tragedy by the Greek playwright Euripides, produced in 415 BCE. ... The Trojan Women presents commentary on the costs of war through the lens of women and children. "

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trojan_Women