Circe
In a world of powerful Olympians and Titans, the daughter of Helios stands as a figurehead for all women who are outcasts because they won’t shrink themselves to cater to men’s desires. Madeline Miller’s second book, Circe, tells the story of Circe, Helios’ daughter, who discovers she has the power of witchcraft – something that terrifies the powerful gods. When she is banished to an isolated island, she further unlocks her gifts and discovers an immortal life can be as complicated as a mortal’s.
Circe is one of my favourite literary heroines of 2018. Her character grows and changes so much throughout the book and she is anything but the picture-perfect heroine. She is a complicated woman who is so many things: unsure, naïve, jealous, loving, powerful, weak – she is who every woman is on the inside. You can’t paint her with a single characteristic/trait because her experiences shape her throughout her long life.
Miller did an excellent job bringing Circe to the modern reader and giving young girls an ally as they go through the messy process of growing up. They can walk with Circe throughout their lives and find parts of her story they relate to at any age.
It was interesting to see Miller weave famous Greek heroes and legends into Circe’s story, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus. Instead of being written in as a background character in Odysseus’ tale like the original Greek myths describe her, Circe has a leading role and makes her mark on Odysseus’ story, as he does in hers.
Circe’s fascination with mortals is a reoccurring theme throughout the book. She meets many people and sees how different they are. She sees the good and the bad and each encounter changes her. When she has her son through Odysseus, she documents the messiness that is motherhood and her fears for her son’s safety. Motherhood has the biggest impact on her. With his mortal flesh, she knows anything could harm her son. When one of the most powerful gods from Olympus threatens her son, she goes to extreme measures to protect him.
Circe was one of my favourite books of 2018 and completely deserves the high rating I gave it. I can’t wait to read the next book by Miller!
Circe Rating: ★★★★★
Circe is one of my favourite literary heroines of 2018. Her character grows and changes so much throughout the book and she is anything but the picture-perfect heroine. She is a complicated woman who is so many things: unsure, naïve, jealous, loving, powerful, weak – she is who every woman is on the inside. You can’t paint her with a single characteristic/trait because her experiences shape her throughout her long life.
Miller did an excellent job bringing Circe to the modern reader and giving young girls an ally as they go through the messy process of growing up. They can walk with Circe throughout their lives and find parts of her story they relate to at any age.
It was interesting to see Miller weave famous Greek heroes and legends into Circe’s story, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus. Instead of being written in as a background character in Odysseus’ tale like the original Greek myths describe her, Circe has a leading role and makes her mark on Odysseus’ story, as he does in hers.
Circe’s fascination with mortals is a reoccurring theme throughout the book. She meets many people and sees how different they are. She sees the good and the bad and each encounter changes her. When she has her son through Odysseus, she documents the messiness that is motherhood and her fears for her son’s safety. Motherhood has the biggest impact on her. With his mortal flesh, she knows anything could harm her son. When one of the most powerful gods from Olympus threatens her son, she goes to extreme measures to protect him.
Circe was one of my favourite books of 2018 and completely deserves the high rating I gave it. I can’t wait to read the next book by Miller!
Circe Rating: ★★★★★