Friday Fun - 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller

I am a bit late with this post, so I'll be scrambling through all the posts over the weekend, hopefully! I was terribly behind with university work this week because I spent last weekend in Germany with my mother for her birthday. But the next two days are going to change everything! I will be so prepared! But for now I'm going to focus on blogging.



Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee and this week's question was submitted by Howling for Books:
Characters, sometimes our favourites, die during books. If you'd get to choose, who'd you bring back?

My mind immediately went to the Harry Potter books and then I got stuck because who, out of all the people who died, would I want to bring back? I first thought of Remus Lupin, then, of course, Fred, then I wanted to bring Lilly back. So I'm stuck and I might just have to move to a different book.

I would really like to bring Boromir from The Fellowship of the Ring back.

He, as a character, just had so much potential and I want to see him be able to redeem himself. He always had a heavy burden on his shoulders, which you don't really find out about in the first book, and he was trying to do what was best. I think he could have been an invaluable ally during the rescue of Merry and Pippin, Helms Deep and the Battle of Pelennor. Also, his death is absolutely horrid although it is also heroic. He just deserves to live, dammit!

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Billy over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. This week is Halloween Edition and I am loving this week's question:
You accidentally unleashed ghouls from a novel and they are now running amok. What fictional hero (book or film) would you like to help you defeat the ghouls?


First of all, releasing ghouls from a novel really does sound like something that would happen to me.I would love to set up a female ghoul-hunting squad a le Ghost Busters, comprising of me, Hermione from the Harry Potter books , Leia from Star Wars and Jessica Lange in whichever character she prefers from American Horror Story. Admittedly in my mind this is taking on the look of a film noir and we spend a lot of time planning and scheming in seedy jazz bars, drinking gin and being elegant while also murderous. I fear those ghouls would be out there for a very long time...

I'm using a book I bought around two weeks ago and still haven't opened although I keep being pestered by people to read it and cry over it. This book is The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. Apparently this is one sad book, but I'm scared to begin because although I love Greek mythology I am very antsy about adaptations. I just love the traditional myths too much! Book Beginnings is hosted by Gilion over at Rose City Reader and Friday 56 is hosted by Freda over at Freda's Voice.

BB:

'My father was a king and the son of kings. He was a short man, as most of us were, and built like a bull, all shoulders. He married my mother when she was fourteen and sworn byt he priestess to be fruitful. It was a good match: she was an only child, and her father's fortune would go to her husband.He did not find out until the wedding that she was simple.' p.1

I decided to include the first couple of sentences, because I liked the revelation that came at the beginning oft he second paragraph. It's a good way of setting the reader up on the wrong foot, but I also quite like Miller's factional tone. So far so good!


F56:

'And I? I was shy and silent with all but Achilles; I could scarcely speak to the other boys, let alone a girl.' p.56

I think we can all see quite clearly where this book is heading. Having translated the original Greek, I do know there are, let's call them undertones, and I have no problem with those. I just hope Miller works them out properly rather than clunking them into the story. But judging by all the tears that are being shed about this book online, I have a feeling she does it very well.


So, those are my answers. I am now actually quite excited about reading The Song of Achilles! What character do you want to bring back from the dead? And who's in your ghoul-busting squad?

Have a good weekend everyone :)