Last Night at the Telegraph Club

A bookbug Read

Song of Achilles

Golden Boy, Gentle Boy

I really loved Song of Achilles. What stood out to me most was the contrast between Patroclus and Achilles. Patroclus felt soft and sensitive, while Achilles was brave, brilliant, and blessed by the gods. Watching their relationship grow from their first meeting, through the peaceful years with Chiron, and then into the long war was incredibly beautiful. All the small, quiet moments between them added up into something that felt like a truly powerful love story.

I also really liked how the other characters were written. Odysseus has always been one of my favorite Greek heroes, and I loved how he came across as sharp, funny, and way too smart for everyone around him. Thetis felt like the ultimate helicopter parent, overprotective and only wanting the best for her son, even if she scares absolutely everyone else in the process. I had never read the full story of Achilles before, so I honestly didn't know Patroclus would die first, and it absolutely broke me. Patroclus constantly worrying that Achilles is too perfect for him made their relationship feel even more real, which made that moment hurt even more. In the end, the whole story left me with a mix of love and sadness that stayed with me long after I finished the book.

quote from here

This is How You Lose the Time War

Lovers in space

This is How You Lose the Time War really surprised me with how beautiful the writing was. The prose was so poetic, I stopped multiple times to re-read and write down quotes because they were that pretty. A lovely, very dear friend recommended this book to me, and I'm so glad he did. The pacing confused me in places throughout the book, but it all made sense at the end, and I appreciate how the story unfolded. The letters between Blue and Red were my favorite part, they felt intimate and smart, really bringing the story to life.

I also really loved the dynamic between Red and Blue themselves. They start as complete adversaries, but watching them become friends, then even more over time, was very satisfying. Even though the book says they're genderless, I read their relationship as sapphic. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys flowery, poetic prose, readers who want a space story without too much heavy worldbuilding, and anyone who's in the mood for a really good queer love story.

images from here