Well, that didn't take long
So I just finished The Song of Achilles. Someone on my flist recced it before, and I meant to read it, but then other things piled up, and I'm very sorry, I don't remember who it was. So I blame shiny4love entirely for the fact that I've spent the last 1.5 hours crying like a baby. The book is finished, though I'm not done crying yet. I rarely get emotional to this extent, so take this as you will. (shiny4love, no really, thank you. I needed that.)
I won't repeat all the stuff everyone and their mother have already said in their glowing reviews, of which the book deserves every word and more. But I have to say this. I am abundantly familiar with myths and legends of the Trojan war, in many versions. I knew precisely what would come and in what order and with what consequences. It DID NOT prepare me for what this book contains in the slightest. (For starters, I thought I would be ready and would not end up in tears, because well, I knew it would happen, right? That went well...)
I can only add that, while I ordered the printed version, I am immensely gratified that I listened to it, not read. This is a book that should be listened to, like Iliad itself. I totally stole that one from someone's review, but it's true, I can attest to it. It should be listened to. Audible as it happens has a superb version narrated by Frazer Douglas, who does a magnificent job. Seriously, I've listened to a lot of audiobooks, and this one is simply perfect.
It is unspeakably, immeasurably beautiful.
I won't repeat all the stuff everyone and their mother have already said in their glowing reviews, of which the book deserves every word and more. But I have to say this. I am abundantly familiar with myths and legends of the Trojan war, in many versions. I knew precisely what would come and in what order and with what consequences. It DID NOT prepare me for what this book contains in the slightest. (For starters, I thought I would be ready and would not end up in tears, because well, I knew it would happen, right? That went well...)
I can only add that, while I ordered the printed version, I am immensely gratified that I listened to it, not read. This is a book that should be listened to, like Iliad itself. I totally stole that one from someone's review, but it's true, I can attest to it. It should be listened to. Audible as it happens has a superb version narrated by Frazer Douglas, who does a magnificent job. Seriously, I've listened to a lot of audiobooks, and this one is simply perfect.
It is unspeakably, immeasurably beautiful.