Circe

It doesn’t hurt to be a goddess—even a minor goddess—that is, unless you are condemned to live alone on an enchanted island for eternity. I love the magic and herbology woven into Circe's character. (I love anything that has to do with harnessing nature’s powerful, innate wisdom.)

Circe’s suffering at the hands of gods and men is as intense as if she were a human woman. Yet she is immortal. Is there no end to it? Thankfully, even a goddess can grow. 

I absolutely love strong female leads in books, and Circe has a variety of complex heroines. I also love how various myths are woven into the story in a very natural way. To top it off, I really enjoy Miller’s writing. She is such a gifted storyteller. I could not put this book down!

The contemporary gold standard for retelling the stories of vilified figures and asking what it would be like to actually live those lives. Circe is much more than a goddess who didn’t fit on Olympus or a figure in a couple of books of The Odyssey.

Here, Miller shows meaningful connections with sundry mythological figures who drifted through her life in the stories, but rather than glossing over their connections, she digs into how they changed who she was. By the time Odysseus arrives on her island, she feels like a much more robust figure than he does.

I loved this book as much for the writing itself as the story. Miller creates a lush world of numinous magic.

I could not stop listening to this retelling of the life of Circe. She was the daughter of the sun god and the most feared sorceress of her time. She was given a bad rap by history, but I felt like I understood her and could see into her heart and mind.

In addition, the worldbuilding is wonderful. I felt like I was taken to ancient Greece. 

I read this book when I was in hospital having surgery a few years ago, and it utterly transported me away from pain and anxiety to another world.

I’ve always loved Greek myth, and I love a book that makes you question things you thought you knew, bringing another side of the story to the fore. For thousands of years, we’ve taken Odysseus’s side on his long journey home from Troy. But who was the witch Circe, and how did she come to be alone on her island in the first place?

Questions of power and justice, love and betrayal,… show more.

While Madeline Miller’s Song of Achilles is just a beautiful, lyrical tale about one of the greatest heroes across ages, Circe was revolutionary in the way it reclaimed a ‘villain’.

I am sure I wasn’t the only one who thought Circe would be mostly about Odysseus but from a woman’s POV. So you can imagine my pleasant surprise when I realized Circe was less a retelling more an origin story of the griefs and triumphs of this immortal goddess/nymph.

It humanized her trials on her exile to the isle of Aiaia. Her character arc from a spurned woman to… show more.

The book is told from the goddess Circe’s point of view, beginning with her childhood among the Titans until she is banished to her island, where she becomes a powerful oracle, enchantress, herbalist, and feminist with magic powers to seduce men.

Her narrative is at once enthralling because Circe, being a goddess who lives for over a thousand years, experiences the heroes from the Trojan War, the demi-gods of Greece, and the adventures of her lovers and her own self-discoveries that mark her journey through the ages.

On a personal note, Circe’s journey hits home with anyone, like myself, who… show more.

This was a very entertaining read that brought the characters together in the most satisfying way. And who wouldn’t want the perspective of a captive, empathetic octopus?

It was unique and moving. I felt an emotional connection to the characters and even the setting. Dude living in a van on the west coast?... I did that! It’s funny how life gives you more than you’d ever expected.

I have not encountered a novel as close to perfect as Madeline Miller's Circe.

Both epic and intimate, brutal and gentle, Miller crafts a spellbinding tale of a god who wishes to be mortal. Her illusions to the myths and use of the classic characters are purposeful and enrich this story so much. The prose is beautiful and precisely poetic. Every sentence is purposeful, meaningful, and contributes to the story.
Miller's epic is ultimately about naivety, foolishness, and wisdom. None can exist in isolation.

At every turn and with every choice, Circe's naivety leads to heartbreak and occasionally destruction.… show more.

I was utterly captivated by Circe. The narrative of Circe evolving from an overlooked deity to a revered witch was riveting. I believe her journey of self-discovery amidst the celestial chaos mirrored our human essence.

The eloquent prose whisked me into a mythological realm, offering both an escape and a reflective lens into life's intricacies. Each page was a dance between the mortal and divine, resonating profoundly with my own earthly experiences. It impacted me deeply, leaving a lasting imprint long after the last page was turned.