Circe

Greek mythology is not really my thing and ordinarily I would not have bought this book. However, in April 2019 I had been browsing in the bookshop, took my haul up to the till to pay and noticed a pile of this book on the counter. I picked it up to read the back and was about to put it down when the lady serving me said how good it was. Quite honestly that’s usually all it takes for me to buy a book, so I did and there it sat on my shelf until just over a week ago when I thought I’d give it a go.

Circe is a Greek goddess, daughter of the sun god Helios, a Titan who was instrumental in forging an uneasy truce with Zeus, leader of the Olympians. When Circe’s power at transforming people into whatever she sees them as, her father show more banishes her to a remote island to live her life in exile. Alone, she learns to hone her witchcraft, tame the wild creatures who live on the island and encounters visitors to her new home, both gods and humans. Eventually however, circumstances force her to consider her future and decide what she really wants.

This book is a retelling of a famous myth in which Circe was previously a side character but here she takes centre stage and tells her own story in her own words. She is a strong and intelligent, sometimes belligerent character and both likable and surprisingly in parts, relatable.

I loved hearing about the other Greek gods and goddesses and felt that I learned more about the mythology from this book than I ever would have done at school. The prose is just lovely and really drew me in, so that I found I was invested in what happened to Circe. I found the theme interesting – a strong woman is seen as a threat so is banished. She continues to be abused because she is female, but shows her power (at one point literally turning sailors who violated her into pigs) and her intelligence and vulnerability shine through. She is capable of extreme love and extreme hate, and despite being a goddess, is very human.

This is not my kind of book at all. But it turns out that Madeline Miller is definitely type of author and really succeeded in hooking me from the first page until the last. Definitely an author for me to look out for in future.

I would certainly recommend this book, even if you think it isn’t for you. Sometimes taking a change on something different pays off. show less

There is so much to enjoy about this book.

It is a truly living, breathing tale as opposed to an ancient story covered in dust. It is full to the brim of infamous characters that have sparked endless reinvention in plays, poems and books. Here, you feel you’re meeting them in the flesh.

The plot never tarries; and yet there is time given generously to add poetry to the everyday.

I appreciated how Miller went about humanising the gods, goddesses, nymphs and monsters we meet. While they exist on a plane that only mortals can dream of, it’s their flawed characters that really make them one of us. This is most present in Circe’s discovery of her magic and motherhood; failing, persevering and willing her way forwards. She discovers the show more double-edged sword of independence — that its satisfaction is often accompanied with a sort of loneliness that comes with straying beyond the pack.

Miller’s fascination with the wants and whims that propel us through life — particularly noting the weakness of the male, both mythic and mortal — are clear and present throughout. By shining a light on how the world views strong women, by creating a fullness in Circe’s complexities and her treatment by others, she brings this ancient tale crashing into present day and what a delight that is.

Echoes of the original epic unfold in the narrative, but it’s clear that Miller’s imagination has found plenty of scope for this passionate and delicious character to roam.

Utterly divine. show less

Since I’m a huge Greek mythology nerd and The Song of Achilles is one of my favorite books of all time (seriously, OF ALL TIME), to say I was pretty hyped to get my hands on Circe is to say nothing.

And my god, Miller doesn’t disappoint. Reading “Circe” I felt like a 5 year old again, listening to my mom reading The Iliad to me for the first time, and falling in love with all these classic stories of gods, heroes, and monsters.

Majority of people know Circe as the witch of Aiaia, most famous for transforming Odysseus’ men into pigs, then falling in love with the man himself, because he was just that awesome, cunning, and wily. And here Odysseus definitely plays a major part in Circe’s life, but her story is so much more than show more being just one of Odysseus’ conquests.

This book for me is, ultimately, about womanhood. Circe is an immortal goddess, daughter of Helios, blood of Titans, but she is first and foremost a woman. I love this observation she makes, remembering the song that was supposed to depict her first meeting with Odysseus:

I was not surprised by the portrait of myself: the proud witch undone before the hero’s sword, kneeling and begging for mercy. Humbling women seems to me a chief pastime of poets. As if there can be no story unless we crawl and weep.

I completely fell in love with Circe – she’s fascinating and so amazingly complex. Same as with her Patroclus in “The Song of Achilles”, Miller once again takes a character who was only adjacent to the great hero in all the stories, and makes them shine as bright as Helios himself. show less

One of the best books I've read in a good while. Circe is surprisingly human in her vulnerabilities and concern for others. We grow up with her, suffering the pains of her Titan family's cruelties, which are also remarkably human. Her island feels like a wonderful exile. I never cared much about Greek mythology, but Miller's depiction and twists on the classics bring it home in a new way. I might actually re-read this, which is rare praise. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy this, except perhaps younger teens.

I read this during the beginning of the Covid-19 era. What a joy to read something of pure escapism. Miller magically combines all of the recorded tales of Circe into one breathtaking so-called autobiography. Circe is the teller of her own tale, and she is a force to be reckoned with. What struck me most, though, was the loneliness that embodied her character and the enduring love she had for humans (most anyway--she did turn some into swine!). I hope Miller keeps writing stories like these; mythology truly comes to life in her capable hands.

Circe is the oldest child of the Greek god Helios and the sea nymph Perse. Everyone, including Circe herself, believes that she and her siblings lack divine power. She spends her childhood creeping around the edges of godly feasts and trying to avoid the torments that her younger brother and sister devise for her. When her mother gives birth to another son, Circe bonds with him. Aeëtes eventually leads her to believe that maybe they aren’t quite as helpless as they appear. When Circe accomplishes a couple of dramatic transformations via magic, the other gods realize she and her siblings are witches. Circe bears the brunt of the gods’ punishment and they exile her to the island of Aiaia for all eternity.

I’ve read so many glowing show more reviews of this book but copies are never available at my library. I finally bought my own book to see what all the fuss is about and I’m so glad I did.

Circe is every woman who has been treated as “less than” because of her gender. As a child, she accepts that everyone overlooks her. She’s not as beautiful as the other nymphs, so why would anyone pay attention to her? She’s starved for attention though, and makes some terrible decisions. But those decisions lead her to discover that she has magic. Her exile gives her room to discover more about her powers and hone them. Watching her grow into her divinity and carve her own space in the world felt empowering to me.

But Circe also has more heart than other gods. Mortals fascinate her, even as a child. When some try to worship her, she rejects their adoration. While other gods view mortals as play things or simply don’t really notice them at all, she’s eager to learn more about their world and how their minds work. In addition, other gods never even realize that they’re capable of making mistakes. Circe not only acknowledges her errors but tries to make amends. A static life seems boring, but growing and changing and trying to improve? That’s the life Circe lives.

I also enjoyed reading about Greek heroes as regular people. Sure, they’re wilier and and stronger than most but at the end of the day, they’re just humans. Daedalus’s suffering began long before he tried to fly. Odysseus is impatient and quick-tempered and regrets some of his decisions in the war, although he would repeat them if he had to. I liked seeing them on a mortal scale.

I highly recommend this. In some ways, it’s a fairly quiet book; but I found Circe’s transformation from an unassuming girl to a powerful force both engrossing and satisfying. show less

Circe is a beautifully written reimagining of Greek mythology, giving the witch from The Odyssey her own powerful story. It follows Circe’s journey from a lonely daughter of Helios to an independent woman, exploring themes of love, identity, and resilience.

Miller’s vivid descriptions bring Circe’s island to life, and appearances by figures like Odysseus add fresh twists to familiar myths. The book’s feminist perspective makes Circe’s growth into her strength and independence deeply inspiring.

This is a stunning, unforgettable novel for fans of mythology and compelling storytelling.