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Circe

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In "Circe" by Madeline Miller, readers are taken on a journey through Greek mythology from the perspective of the enchantress Circe. The book beautifully weaves together mythological cameos, showcasing a transformational arc for Circe as she evolves from a naive nymph to a powerful witch and reluctant mother. Through vivid storytelling, the author reimagines Circe's story, offering a fresh take on a character previously known for turning men into pigs in Homer's Odyssey.

Characters:

Characters are richly developed and multifaceted, with Circe serving as a relatable protagonist navigating a patriarchal world.

Writing/Prose:

The narrative is beautifully crafted, with poetic language that enhances the emotional connection to Circe's character and experiences.

Plot/Storyline:

The story revolves around Circe's journey as a nymph turned powerful witch, exploring her struggles, relationships with gods and mortals, and her quest for identity.

Setting:

The rich and detailed setting transports readers into a fantastical ancient world of gods, magic, and nature.

Pacing:

The narrative flow varies, with initial slower development giving way to engaging action later on.
When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist. They called me nymph, assuming I would be like my mother and aunts and thousand cousins. Least of the lesser goddesses, our powers were so modes...

Notes:

Circe is a retelling of Greek mythology from the perspective of the goddess Circe, daughter of Helios, the sun god.
The book explores themes of female empowerment, identity, and the struggles of living in a patriarchal society.
Circe is banished to the island of Aiaia after using witchcraft, where she hones her magical skills.
Miller weaves various myths into Circe's story, including her encounters with Odysseus, Daedalus, and the Minotaur.
Miller's writing style is characterized by lyrical prose and vivid imagery, making the book immersive and engaging.
The novel delves into the contrast between immortality of the gods and the fleeting lives of mortals, highlighting the loneliness that comes with eternal life.
Circe's relationships with male characters often underlie the themes of betrayal and empowerment, as she learns to reclaim her own power.
The book was awarded the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy in 2018 and has been praised for its feminist interpretation of mythology.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for medium levels of violence, themes of abuse, and examples of misogyny.

From The Publisher:

The international Number One bestseller from the author of The Song of Achilles, shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction

Woman. Witch. Myth. Mortal. Outcast. Lover. Destroyer. Survivor. CIRCE.

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. Circe is a strange child - not powerful and terrible, like her father, nor gorgeous and mercenary like her mother. Scorned and rejected, Circe grows up in the shadows, at home in neither the world of gods or mortals. But Circe has a dark power of her own: witchcraft. When her gift threatens the gods, she is banished to the island of Aiaia where she hones her occult craft, casting spells, gathering strange herbs and taming wild beasts. Yet a woman who stands alone will never be left in peace for long - and among her island's guests is an unexpected visitor: the mortal Odysseus, for whom Circe will risk everything.

So Circe sets forth her tale, a vivid, mesmerizing epic of family rivalry, love and loss - the defiant, inextinguishable song of woman burning hot and bright through the darkness of a man's world.

THE NUMBER ONE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

CHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN, TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, I PAPER, SUNDAY EXPRESS, IRISH TIMES, TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, AMAZON, AUDIBLE, BUZZFEED, REFINERY 29, WASHINGTON POST, BOSTON GLOBE, SEATTLE TIMES, TIME MAGAZINE, NEWSWEEK, PEOPLE, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, KIRKUS, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY AND GOODREADS

Ratings (497)

Incredible (138)
Loved It (199)
Liked It (94)
It Was OK (27)
Did Not Like (29)
Hated It (10)

Reader Stats (990):

Read It (500)
Currently Reading (14)
Want To Read (361)
Did Not Finish (18)
Not Interested (97)

17 comment(s)

Incredible
1 week

I decided to give this a reread to see if I still love the book, and of course I did. I probably like it even more this time around. It's so beautiful written and give a voice to a nymph that didn't originally get much air, and with a feminist twist on it. It's pretty gloomy read as Circe is never really treated well or with the respect she deserves, but I really enjoyed reading her story and get her point of view.

 
Loved It
3 weeks

I put off reading this book for a long time because I thought the cover was creepy. In reality, it was magical - beautifully written and carefully researched. It spurred a new interest in Greek mythology.

 
Incredible
4 weeks

I did not know the story of Circe before reading this book, so every turn was a surprise. I absolutely loved the way this story was told from Circe's perspective and how it lets the reader get inside her head.

Highly recommend if you love Greek stories and especially if you loved Song of Achilles by this author.

 
Incredible
1 month

This was just beautiful. I don't really know what else to say. From the narrative voice, through the lyrical visions, and the final fate of Circe, I loved every bit of it. Just beautiful.

 
It Was OK
1 month

I didn't like the ending of the story, but up until the point where Circle winds up with Telemachus, I enjoyed the story and the prose

 
Loved It
1 month

If you like historical fiction, and spend as much time fact checking as reading this is the story for you. Audible narration was to my liking. If anything a little long, but she was a Goddess and immortal.

 
It Was OK
2 months

Circe is an interesting retelling of The Odyssey, but outside of that I don’t really understand the hype surrounding this book. For me, the book had a very slow pace and did not start to pick up until there was around 10 chapters left. There was a lot that I felt was unnecessary to the story and just ended up making most of the chapters very repetitive. It was a captivating read that I had trouble putting down but now that I have finished I don’t think I could really tell someone anything that happened except for Circe turning men into pigs.

 
It Was OK
3 months

*****3.5****

Review soon

 
Liked It
3 months

It is nice to get the POV of the characters especially the women . Since back in the day their view was unexistent

 
Incredible
3 months

Mitos contados con sensibilidad moderna. Una forma magnifica de mantener la mitologia griega viva!

 
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