Ria Walls
TikTok’s algorithm has the power to transform novels into bestsellers overnight. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is no exception to this. But with so many books trending weekly, does this mythology-inspired novel actually deserve the hype?
Bookstores across the nation set out displays of ‘trending on TikTok’ in order to sell these viral novels. One such story is The Song of Achilles, one of the most popular paperbacks on BookTok.
Madeline Miller’s 2011 novel The Song of Achilles took the platform by storm a few years ago when it was first trending on BookTok in 2021. Since then over two million copies have sold worldwide.
There are even hundreds of images on Pinterest based on the heart-wrenching love story of Patroclus and Achilles, as well as fanfiction to add to the tale.
TO READ OR NOT TO READ?
Reviews, reactions, and opinions about the book are readily available on TikTok. But is this classically-inspired novel worth the hype it received on social media? In my opinion, it is.
If you are interested in the ancient world and want to know more without having to read the Illiad or the Odyssey, Miller’s novel is the perfect place to start.
Readers are transported to Ancient Greece in its age of heroes where they join warrior Achilles and his ‘friend’ Patroclus on their journey towards self-discovery, love, war, and loss.
“With the original myth circulating thousands of years ago, it is interesting to see a new take on the story”
While Miller does explore the brutality of the battlefield, she also tells of the love between these two fighters delicately.
Such an approach humanises the otherwise glorified Achilles, showing that love is present even in the midst of conflict. She spreads the message that in the end love will prevail – even in ways that we may not expect.
With the original myth circulating thousands of years ago, it is interesting to see a new take on the story. Miller offers a fresh and more accessible perspective compared to the work of Homer in the Illiad.
For optimum reading experience, I recommend reading this novel whilst listening to Achilles Come Down by Gang of Youths on repeat. Prepare to feel elevated.
READ IT AND WEEP
Regardless of your knowledge of this classical era and the mythology surrounding it, The Song of Achilles is an easy, fast-paced read. But if you take anything from BookTok, it should be the warning that this book will leave you heartbroken. Read at your own risk.
A viral trend saw TikTokers upload videos of themselves reacting to the ending of the book, which resulted in many tears being shed on the internet.
But surely there’s nothing a bookworm loves more than a novel that pulls on the heartstrings?
TikToker Chris Olsen posted a teary-eyed clip, saying: “I have never felt so much emotional pain in my life”.
@chris
Another user shared a reading-vlog-style video, which shows her bawling and covering her mouth in shock when reading the ending.
https://www.tiktok.com/@undrcvrbookahlc/video/7197106409287290158?q=the%20song%20of%20achilles%20reaction&t=1690364946068
Off the back of Miller’s success, a surge of modern retellings of classical mythology occurred. Authors infusing love stories with classical history and mythology is a breath of fresh air. Nowadays, you can’t walk into a bookstore without seeing a new-release novel retelling the story of a god, monster, war, or emperor, and I’m not complaining.
CLASSICAL SURGE
Regardless of whether or not The Song of Achilles is worth the hype (which I personally think it is), Miller’s work has proven to be foundational in reviving the classics and introducing a 21st-century audience to the wonders of the ancient world.
A wider demographic than just Classics students is now acquainted with the foundational myths that shaped today’s society and every society before us.
And while everyone is entitled to their own opinion about this book, there is no denying that BookTok helped it to circulate so widely.
READ MORE:
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HOW BOOKTOK IS INFLUENCING THE NEXT GENERATION OF READERS
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HAPPY PLACE BY EMILY HENRY IS MY BOOK OF THE SUMMER
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WHAT’S ON MY SUMMER READING LIST
Featured image courtesy of Prateek Katyal on Unsplash. Image licence can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
