Circe

Couldn’t stop listening. A marvelous tale and nice to hear/see the opposite view of Odysseus.

I needed to sit with this book for a bit before trying to gather my thoughts for a review. Isn't it strange how difficult it is to truly capture your feelings about a new favourite?

Circe by Madeline Miller had been recommended to me by so many people! But especially after reading "The First Witches" by Alexis Prescott, and with renewed appreciation of Circe, it was finally time.

I can safely say I regret not reading this book sooner. This is a book about Circe the Witch. But it's also about Circe the daughter, the lover, the mother and, finally, the woman. While on paper, it's a mythological retelling of Circe's journey from birth to banishment and witchcraft, I'd argue that it's a love letter to girlhood and womanhood.

I can't tell you how many times I had to pause because my heart was aching. Not just for Circe, but because I could see myself or someone I know in her actions. While Circe has divinity coursing through her, the author managed to shine the light on her humanity. She finds success. She attempts to find acceptance and love. She makes mistakes. And it's all so relatable even though I don't think any of us can turn humans into pigs.

The writing is gorgeous. The sense of place and time is phenomenal. The character growth is illuminating. The pacing was so well done, I stayed up to 2 AM at least twice because I just needed one more chapter.

All in all, if you haven't read the book yet, don't be like me and keep postponing it. Do yourself a favour and read it today.

2020. This was a perfect book. The prose was beautiful; the plot fairly mesmerizing. I longed to escape our everyday lives, you can hardly go further than ancient Greek mythology, unless you go to Clan of the Cave Bear, or into space in the future, or into fantasy. I will be reading a lot of these, and historical fiction until times improve again. Sublime. Thank you, Madeleine Miller, take a bow.

What an enjoyable book. I'm not sure I liked it as much as Song for Achilles, but I don't like to compare them, either. They are very different books. I did enjoy that the novel combines all the various Circe stories into one coherent story. Again, the story is told so well as to blur the line between myth and reality. I will definitely read anything else Miller publishes.

Its not often I read a book of fiction that surprises me. Circe is a book that was chosen for my book club - its not something I would pickup normally, because I've read too many retellings of Greek Myths. This one is different, while not 100% true to the myths, it captures the essence of what it means to be powerful AND immortal. It also captures what its like to be a woman in a very male dominated society. This is very much a feminist story, that stays true to the culture it originated from. It even shows how male culture is bad for men - being expected to conform is bad for everyone.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! I read it almost for a lark, not expecting much as my knowledge of Greek mythology seemed scanty, at best.

I learned that prior knowledge of mythology doesn't matter that much, for Madeline Miller weaves the more well-known tales into the story line, mainly to demonstrate how Circe is either involved or affected by certain events.

Circe is a minor character in Homer's The Odyssey, but Miller became intrigued with fleshing her out and offering explanations for her actions. The result is a very approachable, readable, and fun ride in ancient Greece.

One of the rare novels that I finished, flipped to the front and started to read again, simply to extend the fun and also tot make sure to get the story line and the various characters set in my head.

Another re-read. Following Circe's account from beginning to bittersweet end, Miller's reimagining tells the tale that might have, but never would or could have, been told by Homer.

While the prose is pleasing and lush, this retelling of a small part of the Odyssey offers a vastly different perspective than the original. An angle I like a lot as I am an incorrigible pushover for redemptive reframing of historically (or mythologically) maligned women.

I first read this about six years ago, and though I'm unsure whether I enjoyed it quite as much the second time, it was still a lovely read.

One of the best fantasy - mythology writings i read.

I really enjoy retellings from the viewpoint of side characters, so it is no surprise I liked this, the story of Circe's life with her as the central character. So there is lots of Odysseus, but also Glaucos, Scylla, the Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus, Medea and Jason... it is a tour de force of classical mythology.

Despite Circe being a goddess and a witch, many of the themes are the powerless of women and how we respond to this - her roles as an unwanted daughter, a rejected lover, an imprisoned exile, a survivor of sexual violence, a mother of an exhausting baby... Circe's discoveries of her own powers, in the solidarity of women who the world would pit against each other, and her bravery to transform into her true self, shape this book.

There is also critical discussion of heroism, whether the heroes of the sagas are truly good people or ones we should wish to emulate.

Circe is beautifully, sympathetically realised in this book. Objectively, she does many horrific things, and carries her own regrets for them honestly, but in the skillful hands of Madeline Miller we find ourselves cheering for her even when she is marrying her son's father's son by another mother - which is quite an achievement!

Circe, a somewhat lesser-known goddess/nymph, is the daughter of Helios and Perse. She discovers at a younger age that she possesses special knowledge of herbs & potions, enabling her to perform special powers (i.e. witchcraft). When she takes this a bit too far after falling for a mortal & using her powers on a rival, she is banished to the island of Aeaea, where she is destined to stay. Though the island is comfortable enough, it's lonely, and it is here that Circe refines her powers of witchcraft, frequently using it on those who travel near the island on their path to other destinations. Circe encounters both mortals and gods, further refining her talents and coming into her own. She eventually crosses paths with Odysseus, where another chapter of history is written.

I'm not overly knowledgeable in Greek mythology, and most of what I did know previously has long been forgotten. I read Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles a few years ago and mostly enjoyed it. I would have to say that I probably enjoyed this one, Circe, a bit more than that one, though both books are very well written. I was not at all familiar with the goddess Circe before reading this novel, so the entire story was enlightening for me. Circe was a complicated character, at least from Miller's telling, and I often couldn't decide if I liked her or not. But either way, it was a good story. I will note that I read this on audio, and something about Perdita Weeks' voice really pulled me into this one.

This retelling of Circe is dense with descriptions and details. Circe is not like either of her parents. She gets banished by her father to a deserted island where she hones her occult powers as a witch. She incurs the ire of gods and men, and fights many battles. The story has many characters, and a background in Greek mythology or at least a glossary to keep track of the characters would be helpful. For readers who enjoy mythology and a retelling of an established character but with a different slant, this book is enjoyable. For others, it may a bit of a chore to devour.

4.5 stars. Rounding up because there was so much I loved.

This is an epic reweaving of all of Circe's stories, told from her own point of view rather than that of any given male hero, and I loved most of it. I wish we'd seen her weep more and feel her rage and joy more vividly, but OTOH there's a certain memoir-ish tone to the novel that dulls the edges of the horrors -- and also, Circe seems, cover to cover, far more invested in taking care of the people in her life than taking care of herself. It makes me wonder if she ever even realizes her own feelings matter. They certainly didn't matter to her parents or siblings, so maybe not. I do love that the novel doesn't draw conclusions about it. It shows her life and lets the reader decide what to think and feel.

Something I'm less sure about is the treatment of Odysseus. His characterization in the various myths I remember is wildly inconsistent, and there's certainly no rule that a character (created by a collective or otherwise) must be consistent, but I guess I was expecting Miller to boil him down to his essence and go with that. Instead, her Odysseus' characterization is largely situational. I don't mean "he's complicated" because he's not. Savage in war, cruel as an autocrat, respectful to divine beings, flirtatious with the ladies, happy when questing, paranoid as a king without allies...none of that is unbelievable. I guess what's curious about it is how Odysseus begins as a capital-H Hero and gradually dissolves into his disparate parts and dies a foolish -- as opposed to tragic -- death.

I'm also not entirely sure how I feel about the ending. My inner editor wants to demand two more sentences of emotional release from the climax involving Scylla. I wanted to see it, to feel it without the emotional distance of memoir. I think that would have let the ending unfold more easily...maybe.

Gender politics tag for critique of the patriarchy.
Queer interest tag for historically accurate notions of sexuality.

I recommended this for my book club to read because I know little about Greek mythology, thought this well received book would be a good place to start, and wanted others to discuss with others, who might have more knowledge of mythology than I.

At first I struggled to get into it: I'm generally not a fan of fantasy. But as Circe developed into her own person, defying the father who didn't value her, I began to become hooked on her story, and had a hard time putting it down.

Circe's devotion to her son really spoke to me, as a mother. She would do anything to keep her son, Telegonus, safe from Athena, even if she risks losing him in the process.

Some reviewers have pegged this as YA; libraries catalog it as Adult. The story of Circe may be fantasy, but it is a story of one woman's growth to adult maturity. As such, I found it to be surprisingly moving.

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I bought this on audiobook through Audible.

Thoughts: This was beautifully written. I always enjoy mythology retellings. It was interesting to see Circe as a flawed character who made many poor decisions throughout her life. The story does get a bit long and repetitive as the book continues, but overall it was enjoyable.

This story follows Circe from her a beginning as a dryad and daughter of the sun god, Helios, to her seclusion to a deserted island by Zeus where she gains a reputation as a fearsome and powerful witch.

Although and I enjoyed the mythology and beautiful writing style, I thought this was weak in a number of areas as well. The story is long for what it is, and there are vast portions of the book where nothing really happens. Circe herself is somewhat boring. She spends literally centuries taking what the gods dealt out and then suddenly decides to do something about it centuries after the initial act? Why, what was the change? Is she really that dense that it took her centuries to figure out she could do something?

I think we are supposed to be sympathetic to Circe, but she is just as selfish as those around her. Are we supposed to be engaged with the fact that she is maybe less evil than the other gods? Or that she feels bad about her actions and that makes a difference?

I did like seeing all of these Greek deities from Circe's viewpoint. I enjoyed the beginning of this book much more than the middle/end. Things just get too boring and drawn out as the book progresses.

I listened to this on audiobook and the narration was absolutely beautiful and very pleasant to listent to. There are a couple times where the narrator mixes up voices, but there is a huge cast of characters here so that wasn't a huge deal. I would definitely recommend listening to this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.

My Summary (4/5): Overall this was beautifully written and I enjoyed the unique mythology retelling. The story did start to feel very drawn out, and I was frustrated by Circe's naivete and inaction for vast portions of time. I thought this was better than Song of Achilles, but it is also a lot of the same. Beautifully written but a bit over-hyped in my opinion. If you are a huge fan of mythology or Circe in particular, this is a good retelling and I would recommend it. Just prepared for it to be slow at parts.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would (I feel like I say that about every YA book I read. I'll have to stop judging YA books so harshly at some point). The Odyssey was one of my favorite stories to read when I was a kid and I always had conflicted feelings about Circe. At first I hated her, then she became more intriguing. Still, it was all speculation until Miller gave the story new life with this rendition.

Circe's character development strikes me as being especially rich in this story (it would have to be, she has a lot of time to kill) which is something Miller excels at. I found myself reflecting on earlier parts of the novel as if they involved different characters, as if it was a different story completely. Which of course, it was. By the end Circe reflects just as much on her previous lives and the lifetimes of men she has lived as an immortal. There are plenty of stories with reflective characters, but none that I've read recently that pull the reader this close. That said, there were particularly ugly parts of the story that were distanced by falling back on the conventions of Homer's myths. The tone was preserved beautifully, but I personally enjoyed not being asked to experience her trauma with her.

I would certainly recommend this book as it's a fun and engrossing read, especially to anyone who grew up with a copy of Homer's work in their hand.

I obviously came across Circe through the Odyssey and it was interesting to have a back-story here that introduced her relationship to other figures of Greek myth and how she ended up banished to her island. Being told it via a work of narrative fiction was a next twist for me and this is primarily written for a female audience. Circe was portrayed well as the witch temptress figure and you could see how adverse attention from men had caused her to reach this point. Meeting Odysseus she met someone of the same mental skill level as her and who had also been an antagonist of the Gods of Olympus hence she willingly shared her bed with him regardless of the prophecy to come. However I found the subsequent relationship between Penelope, Telemachus and Circe as rather implausible. But maybe that was just me.

This is a very unusual premise for a book, but it works extremely well. Many dark events unfold for Circe in a variety of interesting ways interspersed with familiar characters from Greek mythology.

The prose is excellent throughout, making for a rapid and enjoyable read. The denouement is very satisfying.

Circe by Madeline Miller, can be best described as a woman's ordeal and search for identity and power. The plot is so smooth that so many women can connect with Circe's character. A powerless woman searching for the true meaning of life in her own way was something to brace upon. But, the book doesn't have much Greek action, as the story is narrated from the main character's viewpoint.

Although the plot slowed down in the middle, the narrator's voice kept me hooked. It was the latter half of the book that was far more interesting and something to set your mind on. Circe's character development from Helios's daughter to a mother was amazing. It is the first time I am reading a Greek Mythology from a woman's POV. I read the book as a part of the #52booksin52weeks reading challenge. Definitely, the book deserves 4 stars and I am all set to read the next book by the author.

It seems when I engage in anything to do with Greek Gods (university courses, tv shows, movies, video games, books) I think I should like it way more than I actually do. I don't know if it's the storytelling or that I'm sort of over it or if I've just heard the stories so many times yet still can't retain exactly who is God of what, only that they like to fight and fuck everything and are incredibly pompous.

I know this book received a lot of critical praise, but it didn't entirely work for me. It didn't help that we took a major break with about 20% to go or that the final section felt like it dragged on and on, while the first half was quite exciting. Perdita Weeks was a phenomenal audiobook narrator, she did a tremendous job and I don't think the book is poorly written, it just didn't click entirely for me.

I would rate this around 4.5 stars.

Mythological stories are how humans reveal truths about themselves by looking at the lives of Gods. Circe is flipped with a story told from the Goddesses point of view as she finds out about herself through the lives of humans.

This is a wonderful character development story. Plotting is wonderful. Weaves characters from Greek myths into an engaging story that will give new insight into the Greek myths. While the writing is very good, I would say it falls short from the five star rating in that the language didn't wow me.

A very good read, and I will say that many will leave this book thinking this is a 5 star book.

Song of Achilles is next....

I didn't like this as much as I'd hoped. I have three problems with it.
1. Circe. She is irritatingly naive, she constantly wants someone else to solve her problems, she constantly expects people to treat her well, constantly gets her hopes up, and then she is disjointed and she wails, and dies nothing of consequence. I'm sure I could come up with excuses for it, but the truth is, it's just not pleasant to read about. Grow up a little faster.
2. The people around Circe. They are almost all of them shit. The gods, obviously. And most of the people too. So there are very few worthwhile relationships, and if there are any, they don't last long, because everyone leaves.
3. She lives by herself on an island. She leaves it twice. The rest of the time, she hears about the rest of the world from other people. It doesn't feel like your in the story, it feels like walking across a painting with scenes of the Greek myths. The gods don't feel very real, they're all pretty unrealistic. And yes, when you read the Greek stories, maybe it's not easy to make them relatable. But I wanted them to come alive, and they didn't. Circe herself is too inconsequential and feels like a vehicle for myth telling a large part of the time.

So I was a bit bored because of the above and I couldn't relate, but still it was not all bad, or I would not have finished it. The writing was engaging, not always, but often enough. The ending was good. Finally some backbone and finally she is more sensible. I could see the bare bones of why I imagine most people rate it so high, but for me it didn't follow through.

I so enjoyed Miller’s Song if Achilles that I was eager to read Circe. Miller has done it again- turning the ancient stories of myth into an adventure it is impossible to put down. The book follows Circe through her childhood, her banishment to a deserted island, and her triumphant and thoughtful return. Loved it.
If I have one little bug to report it was the constant comparison of things to stones. Things fall like stones, taste like stones, are like stones in her mouth, feel like stones. It’s a lovely word, stones. Smoother than rocks. Friendlier than boulders. But one wishes for a bit of variety...

What an amazing book! Circe was made real and human. She made mistakes but used them as lessons to improve herself, something I always try to do and fail

This is another 4.5 which, though an excellent book, doesn't quite make it to be utterly brilliant for me.

I've seen a few reviews treat Circe either as a 'retelling' or a 'reimagining', but I think it is more accurately a 'reinterpretation'. Miller has taken various elements of Classical Greek myth (which in themselves are often inconsistent and non-linear) and woven them together into an account of the heroic age told from an unexpected focal point.

Aside from the wonderful prose that she has carried over from The Song of Achilles, I think the thing that Miller does best is deal with the anthropomorphism of the Greek gods, and just how much (or little) they have in common with humans. While the account is already ‘unconventional’ in the sense of taking the perspective of a minor female goddess, it is also rare to have a story of this period where we get to see what it may have been like to be a deity. This exploration of the line between mortal and immortal, and how the strengths and weaknesses of each can manifest in the other, was immensely interesting for me.

The thing that kept it from a perfect score for me was the absence of a substantial plot. I was a decent portion through the book before I realised that this was going to essentially be a character study for Circe rather than a complete narrative, and while it works extremely well as such, the result is that the pacing is very jumpy, and some of the climactic moments felt less impactful than they should have been.

However, while this book won't be for those looking for an action driven and fast paced romp through Greek mythology, it is certainly a well written and thoughtfully considered portrayal of Circe, and engagingly sheds light on elements of that world that are generally passed over.

Circe, a goddess and sorceress. Daughter of the titan Helios, the god of the sun, and the naiad Perse or the river nymph.

Circe was the first daughter, born without the gifts of the titans and the naiads. Lacking her mother’s beauty and her father’s imposing personality, no one expected anything from her. But she and her siblings were born with a gift, witchcraft or sorcery. Due to fate, she ends up exiled on an island, spending eternity alone, where she can finally be at ease.

The story is narrated by the goddess, and although most of it is set on the island, it does not become boring. One of the things I liked most was the closeness with the Greek gods, the monsters, and the stories told in those times, and how Circe was part of them. I knew nothing about Circe, and in this book, I not only learned about her but also about many other heroes, like Jason and Medea, their macabre and unfortunate story. Also, Daedalus, a great craftsman of his time who was captured by Pasiphaë along with his son. Monsters like the Minotaur or Scylla. In short... I could continue with more, but what I mean is that these stories are exquisite to me; I love them. I always wanted to read about Odysseus, his clever and intelligent wife Penelope. And about Prometheus, of whom I admit I would have liked more to be said.

I liked the book and loved it; I would read it again. It is well documented and told. And still, with all of that, I prefer "The Song of Achilles," which remains my favorite book by the author and, in my opinion, the best so far. I will always enjoy reading Madeline Miller. (Translated from Spanish)

LOGBOOK: 21/04/2024
“War has always seemed to me an absurd option for humans. No matter what they gain from it, they will only have a handful of years to enjoy it before dying. And it is most likely that they will perish in the attempt.”

The book tells the story of the "witch" goddess Circe, daughter of the Titan Helios, attempting to provide a slightly alternative perspective. For this reason, I believe that to fully enjoy it, it is better to have some prior knowledge. If, like in my case, mythology is not your strong suit, you will still be able to enjoy it as a simple fantasy book.

And I wonder, which degenerate came up with the story of the Greek Gods? And not just the Gods, but so many characters, Titans, giants, nymphs, sirens... I can imagine the poor theology students of the time. And most importantly, how a society like the Greek one, the cradle of Western civilization, venerated this gang of degenerates, selfish and vengeful. What degree of fascination do these stories hold for humans that when the Romans arrive, they think, “I like this. We'll copy this too,” and even today, there is still writing about them. (Translated from Spanish)

Looking for something with literary chops but just a little bit quirky? Enjoy this "ripped from the headlines of mythology" tale of Circe, the minor Greek deity with the bad reputation and the worse family life!

Casting your memory back to high school, you may remember Circe as the enchantress who delayed Odysseus's return to Ithica (and the ever-patient Penelope) by transforming his sailors into swine. In this outing, she's the daughter of a narcissistic nymph mother and Helios, a fearsome titan but imperious and uncaring dad. Unloved, belittled, and bullied but resilient for all that, Circe gradually comes to terms with her special powers (turns out she's got a way with herbs), her character flaws (she has a thing for the bad boys - as nymphs are wont to do), and her bad choices (tip: never cast spells when you're angry) on her way to discovering the difference between the things that should make her happy - golden halls, nectar, being worshipped - and the things that actually make her happy: motherhood, compassion, love.

Miller's prose is lyrical and lovely, without getting overly bogged down in imagery. The tale moves fairly briskly through guest appearances by such Ancient Greek celebs as Prometheus, Daedalus, Icarus, Minos, Jason, Medea, and Odysseus. And while many of the themes she explores here are, despite the novelty of the setting, familiar - abandonment, jealousy, self-knowledge, etc. - Miller's treatment of these themes is graceful and intelligent, including an unusually thoughtful exploration of the disconnect between the Greek ideal of heroism vs. the brutal realities and atrocities of actual warfare.

Nothing too deep or profound here - just an diverting story, ably told, with refreshing notes of novelty and some unusually elegant prose.

Circe is a 2018 novel by Madeline Miller that retells the story of the Greek goddess Circe from her own perspective. The novel is set during the Greek Heroic Age and follows Circe's journey from a young woman exiled to a remote island to a powerful witch who must learn to control her own destiny. Circe is a feminist retelling of a classic myth that has won numerous awards, including the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy, and explores important themes such as gender, power, and identity.

Circe is a fascinating protagonist who is both flawed and sympathetic. The supporting characters are also well-drawn and memorable. There are many twists and turns along the way.

If you are a fan of Greek mythology, complex female characters, or beautifully written novels, then I highly recommend Circe.

[Disclaimer: I am not very good at writing reviews so I asked Bard, the Google AI, for help]

Distinct plot, well written, well researched, surprisingly easy to read, not usually my first choice

This was attempt number two at reading. Not the book’s fault, it was me. At the time, I wasn’t in the headspace to read something heavy and steeped in the Classics. But now, Greek mythology is having a renaissance (or did it ever disappear?) with God of War, Hades, Lore Olympus. That, combined with my own ambition to write a book about Medusa, I felt I had to give this one a second try for research.

Madeline Miller is obviously versed in classics and Greek mythology so the text is not easy. I mean, it’s not Proust or anything, but you will feel like an adult reading this. Don’t come into this with a mindset that this is Disney’s Hercules. Or even Sam Raimi’s Hercules. This is more like a royal princess in her kingdom with her distant father, political marriages, and treading a balance beam of rebellion vs. obedience.

This is the story of Circe, who, if you recall, is a minor character in the Odyssey. She’s basically an obstacle for Odysseus. And them ding dang women always be tempting men, so evil they are. But this is the “real story” from her birth as a demigod, interacting with various gods and goddesses, and it really starts when she creates Scylla and is exiled to a mortal island for witchcraft. At its core, it’s not dissimilar to a “witches vs. patriarchy” story. It basically follows what the other characters in Odyssey were doing behind the scenes.

But for it trying to be a feminist retelling (which is how I interpreted it) the main character does develop a dependency on men, even though she has nothing but bad relationships with them. Circe’s inclinations are only slightly better than the usual greedy, selfish, scornful kind. In other words, Miller tried to elevate her above her relationships with men, but failed. Although, maybe that’s the point.

But the question is will you enjoy this book? Well, if you enjoy classics and myths, maybe. If you enjoy literature that makes you feel smart, maybe. If you enjoy feminist literature, maybe. If you can check all three of those boxes, I recommend it. But if you crave less character-based, more action-based, less characters-holding-the-idiot-ball, more drama, less relationshippy, then probably you can skip it.