Book Club Madeleine Miller: The Song of Achilles

[Jason L.]

This is a thread for Madeline Miller's "The Song of Achilles" on February 19th. Does this date work for us?

Please no spoilers.

 

[Bloo]

19 February works for me. With my commute, I'll be done by Friday.

EDIT: Relax friends...it's an audiobook. I don't read while I drive

 

[Hannah F]

19th Feb is grand. Yes. No spoilers, please.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

Good for me too.

 

[AnnieSummerlee]

I think I'll manage to join this time (if that's alright with you!). I read Song of Achilles a while ago, so I'll reread it

 

[LJ Beck]

I may not be done by then, but I will try!

 

[LJ Beck]

I am 30% in (so my Kindle tells me) and NO SPOILERS but does a story appear anytime soon? I'm dragging my feet with it, but if I know something will actually happen soon, I'll keep going.

 

[Hannah F]

Something will happen

 

[Bloo]

More podophilia.

(please read that carefully)

 

[Peyton Stafford]

@Jason L. What time will we meet? At noon Pacific or more like 11 after the Pop-ups?

 

[Jason L.]

What time would you like to meet? I was angling for 3 PM EST/noon PST

 

[LJ Beck]

11 or noon both work for me. Not later tho... worky schmerky on a Monday for me.

 

[Hannah F]

Any time after pop ups works fine for me. I might not make it to the start of pop ups this weekend due to work, but I'll be home before the end of it, and my dog will be tired already so no need for another walk.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

Either is fine with me. Sorry Hannah has to work on Sunday. Or maybe she loves it.

 

[Hannah F]

Either is fine with me. Sorry Hannah has to work on Sunday. Or maybe she loves it.

It's puppy training - in this case helping it be at ease around horses - so I love it.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

Maybe we could move this to Saturdays. That would work better for me and definitely for anyone in Australia, where they are so far ahead of the rest of us in time zones that the book club meeting goes into Monday morning work.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

It's puppy training - in this case helping it be at ease around horses - so I love it.

I can only imagine, happy puppies, and happy horses, and all their happy owners.

 

[Jason L.]

@Hannah F and Lyse--I am happy moving this to Saturday.

 

[Jason L.]

11 or noon both work for me. Not later tho... worky schmerky on a Monday for me.

Perhaps, moving forward, it would be less hardship to do this on Saturday at 3?

 

[Jason L.]

11 or noon both work for me. Not later tho... worky schmerky on a Monday for me.

Perhaps, moving forward, it would be less hardship to do this on Saturday at 3?

 

[Hannah F]

Are we meeting this evening or next Saturday?

I'm normally free at 3est on a Saturday (though occasionally a bit zonked from the Huddle).

 

[LJ Beck]

Hi! I am good to do this on a Saturday at 3. That's Sunday at 9am for me. But I am also fine to keep it as it is. My first meeting on a Monday isn't until 10:30 usually. So whatever works for all.

Echo'ing Hannah's question, are we meeting today? I did finish the book, and I'm very keen to hear what you all thought of it!

Ah, I just saw Jason's link for today with the questions. See you all soon.

 

[Bloo]

I'll be there with bells on.

(left my Grinch bathrobe at home)

 

[LJ Beck]

Just watched this 3:30 mins youtube of Madeline Miller talking about the book. Was very interesting!

 

[Hannah F]

I'll zoom in at 3est which I think is 8pm my time. I hoe I've got it right.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

One more thought about the ending--since Achilles was a hero, would he not have gone to the Elysian Fields, rather than Hades, after death?

 

[LJ Beck]

One more thought about the ending--since Achilles was a hero, would he not have gone to the Elysian Fields, rather than Hades, after death?

I'm not sure Achilles was a hero?

 

[Peyton Stafford]

Maybe not a hero to us, but to the Ancient Greeks, and I woke up with this idea as a way for him and Patroclus to live happily ever after. Maybe sneak Briseus in there too.

 

[LJ Beck]

I like your ending better!!

 

[Bloo]

I learned a bit at the bookclub meeting yesterday. However, I felt like a pygmy in a land of giants.

I imagined joining a bookclub would address my lack of reading. There's always time to catch up, right? Yet the more I read, the farther behind I get. You guys were referencing authors and works I've never heard of.

I came into reading Song of Achilles with a highschool knowledge of the Iliad. It wasn't enough. I feel a broader context is required to analyze and appreciate works like this, and I don't have it.