A theme noted while doing broader research for this project led me down an interesting path. One where the negative criticism of The Song of Achilles tended to infantilize the work. The novel is not considered a part of the Young Adult genre (intended for audiences twelve to seventeen, older depending on who you ask), nor was it marketed as such, but it has not stopped people from categorizing it as a part of that genre.
As mentioned before, this is often done when reviewers have largely criticized the book. These critiques are by no means invalid, either in their subjective distaste for the prose, or for other comments on scenes and characters contained within. However, there seems to be a strange overlap between asserting a book as poorly written and conflating it with an intended audience made up of juveniles. Daniel Mendelsohn, who reviewed the book for the New York times in 2012, writes that it’s “a book that has the head of a young adult novel, the body of the “Iliad” and the hindquarters of Barbara Cartland.” (Not to be mentioned here, the parallel habit of comparing the quality of the book to romance novels.) A couple reviews found on Goodreads mirrors this sentiment. One with an overall positive perception of the book notes that “At times the writing seems a bit YA” (Ann). Another who reviewed it one star out of five, largely takes issue with the romantic dynamic between Patroclus and Achilles, writing that “Miller diminishes Achilles into a swooning character more suited to the Twilight saga,” a notably famous (or more appropriately infamous) Young Adult series (Rebecca).
Why this seems to be a common theme in the critique observed I cannot say for certain, though I would note the practice of devaluing Young Adult as a genre because it’s meant for younger people is strange, and the attempt to cheapen the quality of adult books by recasting them as such equally as so. I do suspect it may have to do with the book revolving around characters who are themselves within this younger age rage for a significant portion of the story, and perhaps because of the reception it has found amongst young readers despite them not being its intended audience. I’d argue these things don’t inherently make The Song of Achilles a Young Adult novel, and to try and preach it as such because someone doesn’t take to its style is both odd and untruthful.
Works Cited
Ann. Comment on "The Song of Achilles." Goodreads, 19 Nov. 2012, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/455151734.
Mendelsohn, Daniel. "Mythic Passions." The New York Times, 27 Apr. 2012, https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/books/review/the-song-of-achilles-by-madeline-miller.html.
Rebecca. Comment on "The Song of Achilles." Goodreads, 12 Oct. 2011, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/206705549.