Circe in What is Life without Books

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Circe

Madeline Miller

Start date: July 1, 2020

Finish date: September 30, 2020

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Aug 02, 2020 A. Wagner rated it liked it

Shelves: march-tbr

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Madeline Miller鈥檚 Circe has sat unread on my bookshelf for over two and a half years. If I鈥檓 being honest my lack of knowledge in Greek mythology intimidated me into thinking I wouldn鈥檛鈥済et鈥� this book. But having read it now I feel silly for doubting myself, and the author. Miller writes in a way that is accessible and appealing.

When I finally read Circe, I was immediately kicking myself for failing to read it sooner. I was flying through the pages due to the beautiful prose and world building Madeline Miller鈥檚 Circe has sat unread on my bookshelf for over two and a half years. If I鈥檓 being honest my lack of knowledge in Greek mythology intimidated me into thinking I wouldn鈥檛鈥済et鈥� this book. But having read it now I feel silly for doubting myself, and the author. Miller writes in a way that is accessible and appealing.

When I finally read Circe, I was immediately kicking myself for failing to read it sooner. I was flying through the pages due to the beautiful prose and world building. In spite of the lyrical language I found myself losing interest as the plot went on. The novel chronicles the life of Circe, daughter of the god Helios. She dabbles in witchcraft and finds herself eternally banished to an isolated island. I sped through the pages, waiting to read more about her witchcraft and all she might do with her power. Instead, the novel treats us to a parade of men coming and going from her island, and the romantic pursuits that follow.

From reading other reviews, I was under the impression readers view Circe as a feminist protagonist. Don鈥檛 get me wrong she鈥檚 a badass witch, shows disdain for the world she was born into, and gets revenge on abusive men. But, in regard to the supposed feminism of the character I found myself disappointed. A lot of the characters we see her interact with are love interests, and we see quite little of her interacting with other women. The most exciting plot point (transforming her would-be-rapists into pigs) doesn鈥檛 receive the treatment it warranted. We鈥檙e given some short chapters stating this was something she did, without enough detail, nuance, or vivid scenes. And alas, the pig plot drops away as soon as another man comes to sleep with her, and we鈥檙e back in another boring cycle. Circe also treats women in a way that I find to be fundamentally anti-feminist. For example, when she transforms Scylla into a man-eating monster because she鈥檚 jealous, or when she sleeps with a man she knows has a wife. None of this is to say Circe isn鈥檛 a strong, badass character. However, I disagree with reviews I鈥檝e seen calling her a feminist protagonist.

The ideal reader for Circe is anyone who enjoys Greek mythology or had a love for The Odyssey. Additionally, it's a great read for anyone used to reading YA who wants to venture into reading books written for adults, as it's accessible and engaging.

Overall, I found the prose beautiful, albeit had a few issues with the plot. I give the novel 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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May 09, 2019 Joann Im rated it really liked it

Shelves: library-books

A Beautifully written book about Circe's journey and her self-discovery. Very quiet and character-driven. The story is very accessible even if you are not too familiar with Greek Mythology. There are every element in this story that makes it epic: monsters, violence, feminism, coming of age, adventures, magic, love, and drama. Following Circe's footsteps from a frightened nymph to a powerful witch was such a fascinating and touching journey to have experienced. ...more

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Jul 28, 2023 Luna Saint Claire rated it it was amazing

I was gifted the new translation of The Odyssey by Emily Wilson to read on holiday. Then I found in our neighborhood Little Library a copy of Circe and decided to read it first. I'd forgotten how cruel and dispassionate the gods are. And Circe recognized this lack of empathy and compassion and was drawn to mortals. She feels joy when she feels love. She sees that mortality's brevity makes life brighter and more worth living. ...more

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