Review of In Search of Achilles

[Jubilee Egonmwan]

[Following is a volunteer review of "In Search of Achilles" by Marco van den Berg Scholten.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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In Search of Achilles by Marco van den Berg Scholten is a quest of the mind in which Johan van Geesteren, a young aristocrat, has to come to terms with both his literary aspirations and hedonistic temptations of his peers following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The story is highly philosophical in nature, with themes of identity, purpose, and searching out the truth being sought after. In such a narrative, his relationship with his best friend Achilles is brought to the fore because it is supportive yet places friction on Johan to find his way in life. The book was exceptionally well edited and error-free.

This book definitely does well in having a reader ponder deeply. Scholten's writing is really filled with philosophical insights; one thinks and ponders right along with Johan. The beauty of such an introspective nature within the narrative is only matched by beautifully constructed prose, which reads both intellectually and aesthetically. The fact that the author had a journalistic and historical background gave a sense of realism to the settings and added to the overall immersion.

While the depth of philosophical exploration carried out through the book is its strength, it is also a double-edged sword. The heavy philosophizing would more than likely daunt a number of readers and thus detract from the emotional depth of the narrative. Perhaps balancing intellectual explorations with more personal and emotional moments would work more effectively toward a well-rounded read. Achilles, for his part, should be more minutely developed in order to understand fully his motives and actions.

I gave this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars because it is a great book, owing to its involved philosophy and beauteous writing, but it did best when the cerebral and the sentimental were in balance. For readers who love reading deep, thoughtful novels, Johan's journey of reasoning and introspection makes this book the perfect trip ideal for those fond of a little intellectual gung-ho and philosophy books.

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In Search of Achilles
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