THE BASICS
- Title: Circe
- Author: Madeline Miller
- Genre: Mythology Retellings
- Structure: Linear first-person narrative
- First Line: “When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist.”
Synopsis: In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus. But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.
THE GOOD
I’ve never been the type of bibliophile to get into The Odyssey. I know, betrayal. So, I was a little skeptical at first about getting into this book. It’s starts off strong in the Greek mythology realm. I often found myself asking Josh (who’s obsessed with Greek mythology) or Google who someone is and what they’re background is. Needless to say, this story is steeped in history, which makes it even more wonderfully complex. Here are some notes on what I liked in particular:
- I always have to comment on the writing because I think it can make or break a novel. The writing in this book is exceptional. Miller knows her way around words. The writing creates a weight to the characters. There were many moments where I had to pause because what the character said revealed such a profound truth that I had to take a minute to reflect on it.
- I like that a classic tale is being told from a character that could have (and often is) easily been skipped over. Circe does make an appearance in the original Odyssey when she turns Odysseus’ men to pigs. Over the long-haul of the epic tale, it’s easy to forget what her role was. So, I loved this perspective and creative retelling.
- The story is captivating and moves at a pace that keeps you turning pages. It’s a gripping tale of what it means to be a powerful woman, particularly in a world ruled by men. I think it’s strong nod to where women still are today. If you’re a woman, this book is empowering, honest, and relatable on a level that only you understand.
- This book is extremely quotable. I know that’s kind of a strange anecdote to add, but I love books where I can highlight lines or right them down. I definitely could do that consistently with this book.
THE UNFAVORABLE BITS
There were points where I felt like Circe’s main purpose was to tell other character’s stories. There were also points where the deep flaws of Circe made me want to put the book down. The former is disappointing because, for a novel so much about female power, it felt contradictory to turn Circe into a guide/muse/glorified narrator instead of living her own story. The latter was disappointing because the idea of having a female heroine that can so easily be disliked is disheartening. However, I’m not going to penalize for that because I understand the reason: women always being painted as the “witch” regardless of their triumphs.
As always, I give you a heads up about strong language or graphics in case you’re sensitive, or if the person you’re recommending the book to is sensitive. This book has a rape scene and graphic violence.
CONCLUSION
I rate this book 4/5 stars. I love that this is retold from the perspective of an often forgotten character. I also love that this book speaks many truths that are still relevant today, perhaps even more so. I did feel like, for such a strong female character, our main protagonist was diminished at points when the story was centered on her telling other character’s stories. Despite those minor incidences, I would easily recommend this book to anyone looking for a great fiction novel to escape to.
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I received Circe from the Book of the Month Club. It was so great to receive personalized book recommendations at my doorstep! Honestly, I’m not sure if I would’ve picked up and experienced Circe if it wasn’t for BOTM. You can join the club here for under $15 a month!
