Book Review: Circe

Circe by Madeline Miller is one of the books I said I would be reading soon from my list of books on my tbr and bookshelf. I bought it 3 years ago when I was in Portland, Oregon at Powell’s Books! The reason I kept putting it off is because I had read Song of Achilles also by Madeline Miller back when I first bought them from Powell’s and loved it but it was so sad! So I knew Circe would be emotional too and I’ve been avoiding it. While it was emotional, it didn’t wreck me in the same way and I wish I read it sooner because it was stunning.

The novel follows Circe, the famous Greek nymph and daughter of Helios. I knew very little about Circe going in to this book. I only knew of her from The Odyssey and even then I’ve only read the abridged version so I know on his long journey home Odysseus stays on Circe’s island for a while, but that’s all I really remember.

The novel spans thousands of years starting when Circe is a young girl, wanting some love and attention from her parents. Helios is indifferent to her and lets her tag along with him, but he doesn’t seem to care one way or another what she does unless it looks bad for him as a Titan. Her mother has two children, Perses and Pasiphae, shortly after she is born and they are cruel to her and their mother prefers them to her. She has one other brother a little while later, Aeetes, whom she is close with when they’re growing up but grows apart from later. I loved making connections because I’m not a greek mythology expert, but I have read some – it was cool to learn that Aeetes is Medea’s father (I have read and taught Medea) and Pasiphae is Ariadne’s mother!

Anyway, as Circe grows up she is kind and looking for friendship, love, companionship. When the one person she loves seems to turn on her as well for yet another person who is cruel to her, Circe lashes out. Using the witchcraft she has been learning, she transforms one of her enemies, Scylla, into the infamous sea monster by the same name. Her punishment is exile. On all her years living alone on the island she learns more about herself and life. She encounters sailors who end up on her island – some good, some bad. She meets Odysseus. She is summoned to her sister’s kingdom for a period of time and meets Daedalus. And eventually she meets Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, and Odysseus’ wife, Penelope.

I don’t want to give away what happens in this interpretation of the life of this greek mythological heroine, but I loved it from start to finish. Circe may be a greek goddess, nymph, and witch, but her story was so relatable and I think most women could feel for her during many of her low moments and trying times.

Her story with Daedalus was not very long, but still tragically beautiful and is one of the parts of the story that will stick with me. I am appreciative that the story ends on a happy note, not only for my own emotional well-being, but because I loved Circe so much that I believe she deserves a happy ending.

I highly recommend this novel if you’re interested in greek mythology, women’s literature, and a book about female empowerment and challenging the patriarchy.

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