Book Review: Circe by Madeline Miller

Link: => ulupinbi.nnmcloud.ru/d?s=YToyOntzOjc6InJlZmVyZXIiO3M6MzY6Imh0dHA6Ly9iYW5kY2FtcC5jb21fZG93bmxvYWRfcG9zdGVyLyI7czozOiJrZXkiO3M6MTc6IkNpcmNlIGJvb2sgcmV2aWV3Ijt9


This is not one of those stories that end at the beginning. He seems pretty nice, someone she can talk to. I was rooting for her and I was right to do so. You can find this review and more on my , or you can follow me on , , or!

Consequently, she's exiled to an island 5. Yet, her soul is always yearning for the company of another.

This Dark Material: book review: circe

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselv In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus. But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love. Not a lot of time was spent on describing what happened, it wasn't explicit, but it was realistic and probable. Perhaps being told in the 1st person made it more realistic - the circumstance - her being alone, independent, and having means, made her a target -- that is was what made it realistic to me. Her reaction, actions, understanding of it and precautions after that were retributive for me. I also thought the way the author wrote it - in the same way she talked about Circe's love life - all seemed circe book review match the voice and character of the woman. Yes, I'm a little slow, but I also think it's part of the author's capacity to share important or traumatic experiences without being exploitive. I think one reason I'd never enjoyed myths before was they were like fairytales. This book made everything more plausible by providing the back story and what motivated the characters. This book is about healing and doing what it takes to come into your own. This book is about love; the love between lovers, the love of a mother, and the love you must find in yourself. This book proves why family of choice will always be greater than family of origin. This book is about magic, and how we can find it in ourselves if we look hard enough. They barely care if you are wicked. The only thing that makes them listen is power. I was very privileged to go a very good high school where I was circe book review to circe book review The Iliad and The Odyssey for a class my freshman year. And fourteen-year-old Melanie fell in love. To say I was obsessed was an understatement, and more and more my heart was filled with love for Odysseus, Athena, and a certain love affair with the witch-goddess Circe. And to this day, The Iliad and The Odyssey are the only books that I collect many editions of. All my loved ones and family correlate these epic poems with me, and always bring me new editions from their travels, and give me gifts for special events and holidays the same way they do with Harry Potter. One of the most prized possession I own is an edition of The Odyssey that was given to me by someone who meant a lot to me, at a very important time in my life. And these two tomes will always be a big part of my identity, and I will always recognize that they not only shaped me as a reader, but they shaped me as a human being, too. So, when I found out that that Greek mythology retelling queen, Madeline Miller, was writing a book centered around Circe, I knew it was going to end up being one of my favorite books of all time. And it ended up being everything I wanted and more. He showed me his scars, and in return he let me pretend that I had none. We get to see her growing up in Oceanus, with her Circe book review sun god father Helios, and loveless nymph mother Perse, and her three more ambitious siblings, Aeëtes, Pasiphaë, and Perses. We get to see her living her life of solitude, exiled on the island of Aiaia. We also get to see her make a few very important trips, that are very monumental in Greek mythos. But we get to see all of Circe, the broken parts, the healing parts, and the complete parts. We get to see her love, her loss, her discovery, her resolve, and her determination. We get to see her question what it means to be immortal, what it means to be a nymph in a world ruled by gods, and what it means to just live. I have no combination of words to express how much her life and her story means to me. I was a creature within circe book review. And how the ballads will always be sung for heroes, not heroines, even if a woman was truly behind all the success the man greedily reaped. How the circe book review will always fall to vilify the woman and showcase her as a witch that needs to be tamed, a sorceress that needs to be subdued, or an enchantress that needs to be defeated. Women, no matter how much agency they carve out in any male dominated world, will always be a means to an end to further the achievements of man. And Circe displays that at the forefront of this story. She has created something so unique, yet so breathtakingly good, I think so many readers will find it impossible to put this new-spin of a story down. I was completely captivated and enthralled from the very first line to the very last line. This book just feels so authentic, I felt like I was in the ocean, on the island, and traveling right beside Circe throughout. And I never wanted to leave her side. This book is also so beautifully feminist that it makes me weep just thinking about the things Circe had to endure. And it showcases the unconditional love of found families, yet also between a mother and her child, while simultaneously abolishing the notion that blood is worth more than anything else in any world. This book heavily emphasizes that you will never be the mistakes that your parents have committed. The entire story is a love letter to love itself and reveals all the things we are willing to do in the name of it. And most importantly, this is a book about how we are truly only ever in charge of our own stories, circe book review though our actions may change the fate for others around us. Please, pick this masterpiece up, and I hope it changes your life, too. Thank you, Madeline Miller, I will carry your Circe in my heart for the rest of my life. Buddy read with My French Spider Queen. To be honest, Circe book review wasn't a huge fan of Miller's when I read it a few years back. I'm not sure if that's because my tastes were different back then, or if it was just because the plot had more of a romantic focus than. To be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of Miller's when I read it a few years back. I'm not sure if that's because my tastes were different back then, or if it was just because the plot had more of a romantic focus than. But, whatever the reason, I had no such problem with this book. I was absolutely captivated from start to finish. This strange combination makes for a book that is extremely quotable, rich in description and detail, and also a pageturner. It moves seamlessly between the broader scope of the world and its many gods and monsters, to the more narrow focus of the nymph-turned-witch, Circe, and her daily life before and after she is exiled to the island Aeaea. Circe becomes a powerful witch, but the strength of her story is in all her relatable flaws and weaknesses. We follow her as a naive lesser nymph, longing to be accepted and loved. We stay with her as she believes the lies of others and, later, becomes hardened against such deceivers. Her compassion constantly battles with her rage. There is some grim satisfaction to be gained as this woman who has been bullied, belittled and trod on her entire life slowly claws out some vengeance for herself. The pain she endures along the way means that her successes are bittersweet. In the end, might be full of fantasy, backstabbing and murder, but it is first and foremost the story of one woman's life - through pain, love, desire, heartache and motherhood. I did not go easy to motherhood. I faced it as soldiers face their enemies, girded and braced, sword up against the coming blows. Yet all my preparations were not enough. Other Greek myths play out in the background - that of the Minotaur, and of Icarus, as well as many others - but it is Circe's personal tale that hits the hardest. I just hope we don't have to wait another seven years for Miller to write another novel like this. You live with ancient queens of myth and you're so much a part of each other it was like a second soul inside your skin. You sing hymns, burn incenses, and make fragrant oils. You live with ancient queens of myth and you're so much a part of each other it was like a second soul inside your skin. You sing hymns, burn incenses, and make fragrant oils. You call birds to sing at your windows, fall asleep in patches of magical herbs with hair dripping all around you like a shawl and sit by the hearth with a lioness, cheeks glowing with the flames' light. Your skin is all luster and gleam and you're so far removed from the world's sorrows and so at peace and healthy. You live into 300 years, and in the space where legends and fairytales are gathering up words, your names are amongst them. Hello, my name is Ana and I am a Greek mythology addict. A brief introduction to the deities of Greek mythology. A brief introduction to the deities of Greek mythology. I've been waiting for this ever since The Song of Achilles came out. I have this thing about long-dead heroes from Greek mythology. Shut up I'm not weird. You are a goddess among women. Circe was a sorceress, daughter of the sun god Helios, and Perse, an Oceanid nymph. You may remember her from Odyssey. Odysseus made Circe promise not to forcibly take his manhood. Miller's Circe is much more humanized. She is a character you can root for. Here you will meet all the iconic characters from mythology. The Minotaur, Daedalus and his son Icarus, the infamous Medea, and the clever Odysseus. As usual, circe book review is no shortage of fabulous characters. Circe definitely is all three, with a dash of sass. I wished that they would come. I wanted to see those goggle eyes of theirs as I walked among the dens of wolves, swam in the sea where the sharks fed. I could change a fish to a bird, I could wrestle with my lion, then lie across her belly, my hair loose around me. I wanted to hear them squeal and gasp, breath-struck. You know you love it. You know you need it. The perfect playlist to set the mood. This is a beautiful book; it is flawless and intelligent. I do not have a single criticism for this fantastic piece of writing. Circe chronicles the life of a lesser god. She is the daughter of the mighty God Helios, the living embodiment of the sun. She is born without any particular talents or powers. She exists in the shadows of her more developed brothers and sisters. She does not shine in such spectacular company. However, gifts come in many different forms and those with hidden This is a beautiful book; it is flawless and intelligent. I do not have a single criticism for this fantastic piece of writing. Circe chronicles the life of a lesser god. She is the daughter of the mighty God Helios, the living embodiment of the sun. She is born without any particular talents or powers. She exists in the shadows of her more developed brothers and sisters. She does not shine in such spectacular company. However, gifts come in many different forms and those with hidden talents are overlooked and devalued. More often than not quiet people are forgotten about and there worth ill-considered in all walks of existence. Power is important, though sometimes having none teaches one a greater lesson: nothing is worth having unless it has been earned. As such Circe wills herself into power as she discovers her affinity for witchcraft, especially the art of transformation. Her family banish her from their company for her use of such a lowly art, and in doing so they set her free. She finds herself in her exile. On her island home she circe book review a paradise not a prison. She becomes one with nature and finds company with lions and wolves. Centuries pass, ages pass, and eventually some rather important characters come her way. She meets Hermes and Athena, Icarus and his farther Daedalus, and Odysseus, a man who changes her life and causes her to make a very powerful decision that leads this book into such an excellent conclusion. Such a constellation was he to me. Such is the nature of godhood, of immortality. She met Prometheus when she was young and decided that her life would not be the same as the other gods: she was going to be her own woman. And this is a book about her finding the most ultimate form of freedom. I could not recommend it more highly. I really liked The Song of Achilles though this surpassed it in every way. I really hope to see more from this author in the future. Five fantastic stars You threw me to the crows, but it circe book review out I prefer them to you. My words are not as good as the ones in this book. Circe is a book about. But god, it stands out so far from just that. She has such a way with words that it is absolutely impossible not to be engaged in her storytelling. circe book review She is a wo You threw me to the crows, but it turns out I prefer them to you. My words are not as good as the ones in this book. Circe is a book about. But god, it stands out so far from just that. She has such a way with words that it is absolutely impossible not to be engaged in her storytelling. She is a woman who has done awful, evil things, and yet remains unfailingly human. She is lonely, and harsh, and hiding herself in sarcasm much of the time. Madeline Miller circe book review such an amazing job developing this character, weaving her thoughts into the narrative without manipulating you into feeling a certain way, keeping the narrative wide yet keeping it focused around Circe. This novel is so interesting because at its core, it is an exploration of the voice of women in Greek mythology. Circe is a character we see nothing of in the narrative of Greek mythology, a character with seemingly evil intentions and little motivation — and all this despite showing up in several different stories. I mean, everything about this book was just brilliant. I loved the myth interpretation: Penelope and Odysseus are both written perfectly, and seeing Jason basically get called an asshole while Medea stood on being young and morally grey and in love was so fantastic. And the exploration of gods vs. There is nothing more foreign to them, and so nothing they ache more deeply to see. I loved the relationships — just as a special note, the relationship between Circe circe book review Telegonus made me want to cry. I mean, I think you guys have gotten pretty easily why I liked this so much — a morally-grey-character-driven retelling revolving around agency is basically my entire what-I-like bio. This did all the things I like and I want to reread it daily and hourly. Where do I even begin. This was one of the most amazing, beautiful, intricate, captivating books I circe book review had the pleasure of reading in my entire life. I have been a bookworm since I was barely walking, and yet this book, this gorgeous retelling, has impacted me so profoundly that I genuinely do not know if I will ever be entirely the same. It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures—flowers, eggs, anything that may be crushed When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist. Where do I even begin. This was one of the most amazing, beautiful, intricate, captivating books I have had the pleasure of reading in my entire life. I have been a bookworm since I was barely walking, and yet this book, this gorgeous retelling, has impacted me so profoundly that I genuinely do not know if I will ever be entirely the same. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did. As a child, I loved Greek mythology, and though I lost some of that knowledge through recent years, when I heard that this story was releasing, I knew I just had to read it. The thought was this: that all my life had been murk and depths, but I was not a part of that dark water. I was a creature within it. But of course I could not die. I would live on, through each scalding moment to the next. This is the grief that makes our kind choose to be stones and trees rather than flesh. Perhaps the greatest thing about watching her struggle is how much relatability it lends to her character; despite being a goddess, an immortal, and a witch, Circe at her core is a spurned woman who has lived too long under the heels of spiteful, power-hungry men, and a wicked society that values beauty over strength. But in a solitary life, there are rare moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the earth. Such a constellation was he to me. Throughout her life, we get to see relationships come and go, and I was enthralled by how incredibly sex-positive and sure of herself she remains. It was so enjoyable to watch the different characters cycle in and out of her memories, whether it was Daedalus and his loom, or Hermes and his messages and antics, or—of course—Odysseus, who we saw in a much more realistic light, as Circe portrayed an image of him that was far less heroic or noble than many of the legends would have one believe. There are even mentions of Patroclus and Achilles, and what became of them, though I was pleased to find that prior knowledge of The Song of Achilles was not at all necessary to fully enjoy this book. I would look at him and feel a love so sharp it seemed my flesh lay open. I made a list of all the things I would do for him. Walk my feet to bones, if only he would be happy and well. As a mother to a wild little boy of my own, I related to so many of her thoughts and fears, but most of all, to the utter authenticity of the love she describes for him. It consumes her entirely—for better or for worse—and her need to protect him holds circe book review ferocity that she worries it will destroy her at times. Many of the thoughts she held for him gave me chills or brought tears to my eye, and throughout it all, I just kept thinking that I had never felt like motherhood had been so perfectly described as it is in this book. You threw me to the crows, but it turns out I prefer them to you. I sound like a broken record, but it meant so much to me, and has earned such a warm place in my heart that I know I will reread it over and over in the coming years. You can find this review and more on myor you can follow me on, or. What do you mean turn them into swine. The strength of those flowers lay in their sap, which could transform any creature to its truest self. Clearly her sty residents had an oinky predisposition. What do you mean turn them into swine. The strength of those flowers lay in their sap, which could transform any creature to its truest self. Clearly her sty residents had an oinky predisposition. And I am sure that there are many who had started the transformation long before landing on her island. Whaddya call the large sty Circe filled with erstwhile men. You had to know this would be part of the deal for this review. So, now that I have gotten it out of my system, it is out, right. When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist. But in this case, I suppose both might apply. Circe is indeed the circe book review witch in western literature. And many a sailing crew might have had unkind things to say about her. But for how it might be pronounced in Greek, you know, the proper way, you might check out. Put that down, there will be no throwing of things in this review. Given how many times this and its companion volume, The Iliad, have been reworked through the ages, it is no surprise that there have been many variations on the stories they told. But Miller tries to stick fairly close to the Homeric version. Be warned, though, some license was taken, and other sources inspired the work as well. But it is from Homer that we get the primary association we have with her name, the magical transmutation of men into pigs. George Romney's 1782 portrait of Emma Hamilton as Circe - image from wikipedia We follow the life of our Ur-witch from birth to whatever. She did not start out with much by way circe book review godly powers. Her mother, Perse, daughter of the sea-god Oceanos, was a nymph, and her father was Helios, the sun god. This did not help in the family to which she had been born. Kinda tough to keep up when daddy is the actual bloody sun. Years pass, and one day she comes across a mortal fisherman. He seems pretty nice, someone she can talk to. Left to her own devices she tries this out on her bf, making him into his truest self. Not the last bad experience she would have with a man. Daddy is singularly unfeeling, and can be pretty dim for such a bright bulb, and her brothers are far less than wonderful, but there is some good in her sibling connections as well. She circe book review a warm interaction with a titan, Prometheus, which is a net positive. Later, she has an interesting relationship with Hermes, who is not to be trusted, but who offers some helpful guidance. And then there are the mortals, Daedalus the master artist, the Michelangelo, the Leonardo da Vinci of his eraJason, of Argonaut fame, Odysseus, who you may have heard of, and more. There were dark encounters as well, and thus the whole turning-men-into-pigs thing. Brewer's 1892 Circe and Her Swine - image from Wikipedia Miller has had a passion for the classics since she was eight, when her mother read her the Iliad and began taking her to Egyptian and Greek exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It made her a nerdy classmate but was a boon when she got to college and was able to find peers who shared her love of the ancient tales. It was this passion that led her to write her first novel,a reimagining of Circe book review relationship with his lover, Patroclus, a delight of a book, a Times bestseller, and winner of the Orange prize. It took her ten years to write her first novel, about seven for this one and the gestation period for number three remains to be seen. If past is portent, it will be the latter, and should be ready by about 2025. Ulysses and Circe, Angelica Kauffmann, 1786. This is the story of a woman finding her power and, as part of that, finding her voice. Circe actually has better inclinations. For instance, when Prometheus is being tortured by the titans for the crime of giving fire to humans, Circe alone is kind to him, bringing him nectar, and talking with him when no circe book review else offers him anything but anger and scorn. She is curious about circe book review, and asks him about them, going so far as to cut herself to experience a bit of humanity. Her island is rich circe book review diverse fauna, including some close companions most of us would flee. An early version of Doctor Doolittle. Such goddesses also had power over fierce animals, and are known by the title Potnia Theron, Mistress of the Beasts. Not be confused with Circe and Odysseus. Which sounds to me like the palindromic beginning of a lament, Aiaiaiaiaiaiaia, which might feel a bit more familiar with a minor transformation, to oy-oy-oy-oy-oy-oy-oy-oy. I mean, she runs a pretty nifty BnB, with free-roaming wild animals, of both the barnyard and terrifying sort, a steady flow of wayward nymphs sent there by desperate parents in hopes that Circe might transform them into less troublesome progeny, a table with a seemingly bottomless supply of food and drink. And she is more than willing to offer special services to world-class mortals, among others. I mean, after that little misunderstanding with Odysseus about his men, Pigs. What could you possibly mean. Oh, you mean those pigs. She is not all bad. Barker's 1889 Circe - image from Wikipedia Circe struggles with the mortals-vs-immortals tension. Her mortal voice makes her less frightening to the short-lived ones, allowing her to establish actual relationships with them that a more boombox-voice-level deity might not be able to manage. Of course, it is still quite limiting that even the youngest of her mortal love interests would wither and die while she remained the same age pretty much forever. Knowing that you will see any man you love die is a definite limiting factor. Reinforcing this is her front row seat to the real-housewives tension between the erstwhile global rulers, the Titans, and the relatively new champions of everything there is, the Olympians. I mean, perpetual torture, thunderbolts, ongoing seditious plots, the nurturing of monsters, wholesale slaughter of mortals. Selfish, totally invested only in their own desires, and unable to really care for anyone but themselves. Circe has this impulse from the beginning to care for other people. She has this initial encounter with Prometheus where she comes across another god who seems to understand that and also who triggers that impulse in her. How do you construct a moral view coming from a completely immoral family. I would put the book away and check the news. The top story was literally the same issue I had just been writing about — sexual assault, abuse, men refusing to allow women to have any power. I was drawn to the mystery of her character — why is she turning men into pigs. Jason and Medea niece pop by for a spell. She is summoned to assist in the birthing of the minotaur nephew to her seriously nasty sister. She definitely had a life, many even, particularly for someone who was ostracized to live on an island. I mentioned her mortal-like voice. She may not have been the brightest light in the house of Helios, but she glowed with an inner strength, a capacity for mercy, an appreciation for genius, beauty and talent, and a fondness for pork. This is the epic story of a life lived to the fullest. Circe is an explorer, a lover, a destroyer, and can be a very angry goddess. This transformative figure is our doorway to a very accessible look at the Greek tales which lie at the root of so much of our culture. If you have a decent grounding in western mythology this will offer a delightful refresher. If you do not, it can offer a delightful introduction, and will no doubt spark a desire to root about for more. Madeline Miller may not have a wand with special powers, or transmogrifying potions at her command, circe book review she demonstrates here a power to transform mere readers into fans. Circe is a fabulous read. You will go hog wild for it. Can you pass the hot dogs. The Sorceress Circe, oil painting by Dosso Dossi, c. Twitter and Instagram are as we speak packed with Circe references and Miller interviews and, within all of that, Circe has found itself wrapped in all of the fluff and buildup and publicity of a typical ultra-hyped, big-named publisher release. Twitter and Instagram are as we speak packed with Circe references and Miller interviews and, within all of that, Circe has found itself wrapped in all of the fluff and buildup and publicity of a typical ultra-hyped, big-named publisher release. I, too, was swept up in the craze, yet another smash hit from the publisher who brought us fan favorites like Twilight and whom I once interned for in London. I think of The Odyssey and sweeping sagas like A Song of Ice and Fire, even novels that are gripping and complex, long and treacherous as a Hajj like A Little Life. But Circe did not touch me in that way. In fact, there were moments—those times when the novel resorted to recounting the tales of the mythology we all know so well rather than putting the reader in the moment of these tales—where I was bored to skimming. But, there are gaps between the breadth and notoriety of the mythology she incorporated here and the skill with which the novel was actually written. There is only so far that building a modern-day epic on the backs of known names and legends could go; Miller needed to take us the rest of the way to make Circe a contemporary wonder, to make this a saga all her own. This novel was full of both drama and melodrama, only one of which is necessary for a sweeping epic. Yet, I had to circe book review the scale of story Miller told and the breadth of her knowledge in the Classics. Circe was a great story for sure, but I was never fully moved by how it was told. However, I think most people on this thread expected more and felt let down by this n I'm glad that you enjoyed this circe book review more than we all did, Susan. However, I think most people on this thread expected more and felt let down by this narrative. In my opinion, Miller displayed her breadth of Classics knowledge more than she displayed storytelling chops. Personally it's not even something I'm a fan of but I couldn't put this. The narrator did a great job and her voice was quite relaxing. I ended up finishing the book in 3 days and taking detour on my walks just to be able to listen to it more. Now I need to go finish The Song of Achilles. Every moment mortals died, by shipwreck and sword, by wild beasts and wild men, by illness, neglect, and age. It was their fate, as Prometheus had told me, the story that they all shared. No matter how vivid they were in life, no matter how brilliant, no matter the wonders they made, they came to dust and smoke. Meanwhile every petty and useless god would go on sucking down the bright air until the stars went dark. Every moment mortals died, by shipwreck and sword, by wild beasts and wild men, by illness, neglect, and age. It was their fate, as Prometheus had told me, the story that they all shared. No circe book review how vivid they were in life, no matter how brilliant, no matter the wonders they made, they came to dust and smoke. Meanwhile every petty and useless god would go on sucking down the bright air until the stars went dark. Meeting Prometheus in chains, very briefly, before he was taken to the mountain side to begin his punishment had a profound impact on Circe. circe book review He had given man fire, and in the process had angered the Gods. He was condemned by Zeus to have an eagle rip his liver from his body each day and eat it over and over again for all eternity. Mortals paid attention to the Gods more when they experienced more suffering. Fire reduced their offerings to the Gods. One might say that fire made them need the Gods less. Gods are fickle, childish creatures in need of constant reassurance. Circe was a daughter of Helios. The light came from everywhere at once, his yellow skin, his lambent eyes, the bronze flashing of his hair. His flesh was hot as a brazier, and I pressed as close as he would let me, like a lizard to noonday rocks. My aunt had said that some of the lesser gods could scarcely bear to look circe book review him, but I was his daughter and blood, and I stared at his face so long that when I looked away it was pressed upon my vision still, glowing from the floor, the shining walls and inlaid tables, even my own skin. When Zeus discovered they were all witches, he ordered Helios to slake his lust elsewhere. Maybe that was when Helios started turning himself into a bull and fucking his herd of precious cows. Painting of Circe by Joseph Herrin Circe could never win the approval of her father because she was simply not as beautiful as she should be. Her voice was too thin, like a mortals, and her chin was too sharply made. When I looked at a picture of the Roosevelt family with all those attractive features, broad shoulders, and waspish waists, Eleanor Roosevelt stood out. She was Circe amongst all that beauty. In a normal family, attractive attributes could be noticed about Eleanor, but standing in the midst of the Roosevelts she was a flower circe book review too few petals. They lived forever, and spite and vindictiveness were the slings and arrows of idle hands. She was lonely and made more lonely by the fact that no God would marry her, and mortals were simply not good enough for the daughter of Helios. She was discovering that she had powers. The very circe book review that made the Gods shift uneasily in their thrones. She could transform an iris into a rose or a bee into a mouse. Then she met the mortal fisherman Glaucos. What she does to him confirmed all the fears that the Olympians had trembled over before. Her powers were a wellspring not yet beginning to geyser. Oh, and she turned the bitchy Scylla circe book review a more representative version of herself. Circe was banished to the island of Aiaia. Chicks dig scars, and Circe was no exception. After growing up with Gods whose skin, despite what hazards are encountered, remained unblemished, those scars on mortals were fascinating to her because they told the story of their lives in every livid slash and puncture. circe book review They might have worn their scars on their skin, circe book review Circe bore hers on her soul. She wanted to help mortals, but found that usually when she tried to help, she made things worse. After all, she did spend many years turning them into pigs, but then she was only bringing to light the least attractive part of their inner selves. Her horse-hair helmet brushed the ceiling. Her mirror armor threw off sparks. The spear in her hand was long and thin, its keen edge limned in firelight. She was burning certainty, and before her all the shuffling and strained dross of the world must shrink away. A wonderful, reimagining of an ancient tale that was deftly brought to life by the assured, clear, precise writing style of a gifted writer and researcher. A reinterpretation, on the other hand, gives an author creative license to weave a uniquely extravagant and fantastical story did circe book review perfectly and perhaps one in which a lowly nymph attains great powers, transforms into a formidable sorceress who then proceeds to defy and defeat gods. If Miller's ultimate goal for this book is to introduce Greek mythology to a new generation of readers, then, I think she succeeded. Presumedly, the author had a checklist of events and characters that simply had to make an appearance in the story, even if the tangent was superfluous and unrelated: Prometheus, and the banishment. Check Scylla, the six-headed monster. Check Pasiphae, Daedalus, the Bull of Poseidon, and the horror that was Minotaur. Check Let's not forget, Odyssey. Think I'm making this up. Well, let's see what the story's about shall we. Circe is so dull and uninteresting that 2. Pretty much everyone ignores her; that is, until. She uses her magic to turn Scylla into the six-headed monster. Consequently, she's exiled to an island 5. Where she at times turned unsavoury sailors into pigs 6. Eventually leaving the island only after having lived there for centuries. All in all, I think if you're new to mythology then this is for you; but even then I'd recommend reading instead. For me this book was not as much about the story but about how it was told. Circe felt different from other fantasy books so I guess if you took it ex For me this book was circe book review as circe book review about the story but about how it was told. Circe felt different from other fantasy books so I guess if you took it expecting something very specific to happen you might be disappointed. I have many times been disappointed by a book simply because I had wrong expectations. At Least that is my guess why you might not have liked the book. Circe felt different from other fantasy books so I guess if you took it expecting something very specific to happen you m. I felt sorry for Circe. But I did love reading about all of the gods and just the story line itself. This was the first book I have read by this author and it was a pleasant surprise. And that's all I have, there is no point in writing big reviews. You can read all of the book bumpers that have a million likes circe book review write long reviews. I just can't do it any more. I was waiting for two whole months to get this book from the library. And I finally had a chance to read Circe from Madeline Miller. A book that everyone was talking about. The only thing you were gonna see on Instagram. Well, here I am — sitting with the cool kids now, I have read this book. I was waiting for two whole months to get this book from the library. And I finally had a chance to read Circe from Madeline Miller. A book that everyone was talking about. The only thing you were gonna see on Instagram. Well, here I am — sitting with the cool kids now, I have read this book. Actually, it was because Greek Mythology has a special place in my heart. See, I was born in Macedonia, a country full of history, and so very close to Greece, where histories and cultures and traditions match and mix. When I was in school, our teachers focused hard on history. Especially Roman and Greek Mythology. And then suddenly, there is a book about her life. I had to circe book review it!!. This might be my favorite book of 2018. It was so explanatory and calm, and soothing, like swimming in nice calm waters. You would just gulp her words as you read, and before you know it, you have read 200 pages. Her character was so well described — such a strong powerful woman. We see how she decides to say no, how she circe book review not afraid to be a rebel, and how she suffers, and loves, and protects, and cares, and survives, and lives. You will read a story about the love a mother has toward her child, the love a woman has toward her man, the love a son has towards her mother, the love for freedom, the love for glory… If you love Greek Mythology, you will get the chance to say hi to some of your favourite gods, nymphs, titans, monsters — Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, Prometheus, Odysseus and many more which I will fail to reveal. I hardly believe that this is a great book for introducing Greek Mythology to new young readers. I also hardly believe that this book will change the thoughts of many people, the way they see things, the way they live, the way they think. It was one of my favorite things about him: how he always fought for his chance. There are a lot of side characters that give their own meaning to the story as well, and there is also Odysseus, and at times it feels as this is his story, but in the end you realised that this story belongs to Circe only. Do not listen to your enemy, Odysseus had once told me. It will tell you everything. Armed and armored, she was Athenafrom head to foot, helmet, spear, aegis, greaves. A terrifying vision: the goddess of war, ready for battle. But why had she assembled such a panoply against me, who knew nothing of combat. Unless there was circe book review else she feared, something that made her feel somehow stripped and weak. To all of you out there — please take your time to read this book. It will leave you breathless, inspired, motivated and it will change your life forever. I have been savouring this book for the past seven days. In both cases, you do not have to be familiar with the Greek gods and goddesses or mythology in general. I only had a basic understanding of it, and yet the a I have been savouring this book for the past seven days. In both cases, you do not have to be familiar with the Greek gods and goddesses or mythology in general. I only had a basic understanding of it, and yet the author made it very easy for the reader to follow the narration. You hear of Zeus, Aphrodite, Poseidon and Athena all the time, but do you hear about nymphs often. They are described as extremely beautiful on the outside and extremely ugly on the inside. They are shallow, jealous, uncompassionate and manipulative. But she is not particularly good-looking and her magic nonexistent. This shows that you should never underestimate the underdogs. The more time Circe spends in the company of humans, the more she learns. Oh, she learns a few things from gods and goddesses too, but she despises most deities, and is conflicted about her own immortality. Her magic, though, she explores. Mostly in time of need, but the more she does, the more powerful she becomes. This is not one of those stories that end at the beginning. What I mean by that is that a lot happens between the first and last chapters. It circe book review in an interesting way, because Circe spends most of her life in one single location, and yet people come to her and she goes to them as well. I was rooting for her and I was right to do so. Can't wait for the publication. I expect it to be 5 stars. So, forgive me for prerating it already. It's like earmarking a favourite page. Remember, I'm a sucker for all things Ancient Greece. Classical mythos are my blood, my marrow. I grew up on them. Circe was never my fav, I felt she was a villain, a malicious sorceress for her part in Odyssey. Let's see if this book helps me get a different perception on this legendary gal. This 8 April 2018 Oh, Gosh. Can't wait for the publication. I expect it to be 5 stars. So, forgive me for prerating it already. It's like earmarking a favourite page. Remember, I'm a sucker for all things Ancient Greece. Classical mythos are my blood, my marrow. I grew up on them. Circe was never my fav, I felt she was a villain, a malicious sorceress for her part in Odyssey. Let's see if this book helps me get a different perception on this legendary gal. This is very different from how I imagined this. First, we are acquainted with parental neglect. A one masquerading as circe book review lot of different things. Then we go straight to other things. Funny, how I never gave a thought to how Circe went to get to that island of hers. I guess I just thought she liked it a lot there. The ending… it was powerful, in its own right, for the dimension where it is unique. In our human world of today's insecure overachievers it seems weak and for the contemporaries, striving to do an inch better, to go a step further and to be a second faster - it might even seem defeatist. One just needs to open mind to the realm of possibilities that Circe worked with, lived with and chose to do without. In our language, it means not just goddess, but bride. These were novelties to my father, and gods love nothing more than novelty. Beneath the smooth, familiar face of things is another that waits to tear the world in two. But even gods cannot watch a whipping for eternity. For before I could say the thousand humiliating things in my heart, all the proofs of passion I had hoarded, the crawling devotions I would do, I felt his power come around me. And with that same flick he had used upon the cushions, he sent me back to my rooms. I felt a sickening unease that it went back further still, back to the first breath I ever drew. Just try to watch circe book review. For the last time, I watched all the gods and nymphs take their places. But he was like that column of water he had told me of once, cold and straight, sufficient to himself. I imagined pitching over that golden rail into the open air below. It would feel good, I thought, before I hit. Already, the ripples were gone. What worse punishment could there be, my family thought, than to be deprived of their divine presence. You see how deep our strength runs. If you strike us, Olympian, we rise higher than before. All this while, I have been a weaver without wool, a ship without the sea. Yet now look circe book review I sail. I felt almost shy of them, but day by day I grew bolder, and at last I knelt in the damp earth before a clump of hellebore. More would have been fatal. It must be made and worked, planned and searched out, dug up, dried, chopped and ground, cooked, spoken over, and sung. Even after all that, it can fail, as gods do not. Circe book review my herbs are not fresh enough, if my attention falters, if my will is weak, the draughts go stale and rancid in my hands. By rights, I should never have come to witchcraft. Gods hate all toil, it is their nature. Witchcraft is nothing but such drudgery. Each herb must be found in its den, harvested at its time, grubbed up from the dirt, culled and stripped, washed and prepared. It must be handled this way, then that, to find out where its power lies. Day upon patient day, you must throw out your errors and begin again. So why did I not mind. Why did none of us mind. I left no prints, I did no deeds. Even those who had loved me a little did not care to stay. I would have done that toil a thousand times to keep such power in my hands. Each spell was a mountain to be climbed anew. All I could carry with me from last time circe book review the knowledge that it could be done. My earliest charms were silly things, whatever came into my head. Which, of course, now I know she was. What do you have to say to me. You threw me to the crows, but it turns out I prefer them to you. Great gods smell fear like sharks smell blood, and they will devour you for it just the same. It shone like light upon the waves, dazzling to blindness. Like two volcanoes trying to decide if they should blow. He had seen the sky burn, and slain a giant whose head brushed the clouds. For all his lightness, I found I could imagine it. It was a shock, and yet there was part of me that felt something almost like recognition. They were black, one of the marks of deep-running power, from the line of the oldest gods. The same blood runs in all our veins. He would have of me only what I wanted to give. And, of course, how I had thrown myself upon him as a blushing virgin. Bring him something for comfort. The first good deed in your dissolute life. There was no honesty in regretting what had given me my life. Anything else did not fit cleanly in the laughing tale he circe book review to spin of it. For that flower, so delicate it could dissolve beneath your stepping foot, carried within it the unyielding power of apotrope, the turning aside of evil. Ward and bulwark against ruin, worshipped like a god, for it was pure. The only thing in all the world you could be certain would not turn against you. Cold smoke, marked with my name. By the time we learn their names, they are dead. They must be meteors indeed to catch our attention. The merely good: you are dust to us. Did the earth not go mad. But then there are those who wear their destinies like nooses, whose lives run circe book review as planks, however they try to twist. It is these that our prophets circe book review see. I would need all the secret herbs of Dicte, and circe book review them the strongest binding weeds, ilex root and withy, fennel and hemlock, aconite, hellebore. I would need as well the rest of my moly stores. I slipped through those trees unerring, hunting down each ingredient in its turn. If Artemis walked that night, she kept out of my way. All the days ahead that he must be on his guard. Through practice and diligence, tending their skills like gardens until they glowed beneath the sun. But gods are born of ichor and nectar, their excellences already bursting from their fingertips. So they find their fame by proving what they can mar: destroying cities, starting wars, breeding plagues and monsters. I wanted to seize her by the shoulders. Whatever you do, I wanted to say, do not be too happy. It will bring down fire on your head. I said nothing, and let her dance. It would never see the sun, never take a free step. There was nothing it might ever have in the world but hatred and darkness and its teeth. As if I peered into a well and far below glimpsed a flash of water. I walked as a god, unseen, past the drowsing guards, past the night servants. Who else would have enjoyed seeing me bleed so much. But I pressed his face into my mind, as seals are pressed in wax, so I could carry it with me. Such a constellation was he to me. Its shores, its peaks, all of them yawned out to the horizon, filled up with magic. Rage and grief, thwarted desire, lust, self-pity: these are emotions gods know well. But guilt and shame, remorse, ambivalence, those are foreign countries to our kind, which must be learned stone by circe book review. By then, the people of Crete were restive at having to lose their sons and daughters every harvest, and were threatening revolt. The cleansing by smoke and prayer, water and blood. Each of her features alone was nothing, her nose too sharp, her chin over-strong. Yet together they made a whole like the heart of a flame. You could not look away. He did not thank Medea for her aid; he scarcely looked at her. As if a demigoddess saving him at every turn was only his due. How many of us would be granted pardon if our true hearts were known. Every time he looked at me, he would think of poisons and burning skin. A man wants a wife like new grass, fresh and green. Just so must I have seemed to my grandmother when she said to me: Those are two different things. Take them to your bed. As if there can be no story unless we crawl and weep. All the world confessed to him. He showed me his scars, and in return he let me pretend that I had none. The perfect solitude that would never be loneliness again. They could not stop a god, but most divinities are cowards. Claws and teeth might buy me a circe book review time. It will tell you everything. Armed and armored, she was, from head to foot, helmet, spear, aigis, greaves. A terrifying vision: the goddess of war, ready for battle. But why had she assembled such a panoply against me, who knew nothing of combat. Unless there was something else she feared, something that made her feel somehow stripped and weak. Her only love was reason. And that has never been the same as wisdom. I showed my lambent, yellow eyes at every turn. None of it made a difference. I was alone and a woman, that was all that mattered. Circe book review was educated in the particulars of mythology while partaking in one of my favorite pastimes, rather than running the risk of enduring a lengthy discourse in a lecture hall. I grasped so much on a personal level and was moved to tears when I reached the finish line. I was educated in the particulars of mythology while partaking in one of my favorite pastimes, rather than running the risk of enduring a lengthy discourse in a lecture hall. I grasped so much on a personal level and was moved to tears when I reached the finish line. Prior to reading this, I was not well-versed in mythology. I found it fascinating, but not something I pursued further until a high school English class introduced me circe book review Odysseus and company. I circe book review been interested in reading Circe ever since some outstanding reviews caught my attention several months ago. 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 modest they could scarcely ensure our eternities. We spoke to fish and nurtured flowers, coaxed drops from the clouds or salt from the waves. The word, nymph, paced out the length and breadth of our futures. In our language, it means not just goddess, but bride. Her destiny seems to be mapped out for her. She will not be someone to remember, not celebrated or worshiped like the greater gods and goddesses. When she provokes the wrath of her father, Helios, she is exiled to the island of Aiaia where it seems her eternal life will be friendless and without meaning. Circe will have none of that, however, and takes matters, as well as her newly discovered gifts, into her own hands. I stepped into those woods and my life began. She befriends the animals of the island, keeping a lioness by her side as her familiar. Yet, her soul is always yearning for the company of another. For a while, Hermes, messenger of the gods, fulfills this role as he is the one deity that comes and goes freely on Aiaia. She will of course suffer from disappointment with mankind, causing her to use her craft as a weapon, meting out punishment to those that have abused her hospitality and trust. At the same time, she learns and grows from her experiences. She eventually meets Odysseus, relishing his physical presence as well as his intellect. He was another knife, I could feel it. A different sort, but a knife still. I thought: give me the blade. Some things are worth spilling blood for. This is a dazzling story of a strong woman that we can all admire, men and women alike. At a time when women are using their voices even more and are charting their own courses, Circe stands as an ideal heroine — not despite her flaws and insecurities, but because of them. She exemplifies what it means to rise above these imperfections, to learn from them, and to come out the other side as a better person. Standing by your choices and having faith and confidence in yourself will carry you far. Circe has enriched my thoughts on love, companionship, hard work, motherhood, and what it means to be mortal versus immortal. This is a book I would love to give to my own daughter to read one day, as well as one that I will keep on my favorites shelf at home. If you have given any thought to reading this book, now is the time. Put this on your Christmas list, if you celebrate. Or treat yourself to a copy — you deserve it. You are in excellent hands with Madeline Miller. I cannot wait to read more of her superb writing. A huge thank you to my friend Arah-Lynda, who recommended this book to me and whose outstanding review guided me towards this in the first place. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did. Between you and my wife you've convinced me that this is well worth a try. Between you and my wife you've convinced me that this is well worth a try. I'm sure your wife is always right ; I hope that you enjoy it if you decide to give it a shot. I was amazed by how Miller retells classic myths through amazing personalizing touches with believable spins, all based on this vivid imagining of Circe. The Greek gods come off as terrifying and inescapable presences that you can hope don't interfere with your life. Even the parts I expected to see surprised me. If you like Greek myths even a little bit, this is for you. You do not need to be a fan of mythology to read this book. If anything this book dazzled. Anticipate this book folks and rush out and get yourself a copy when it becomes available or request it on NetGalley as I did. Circe is the daughter of Helios, the god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans. Her mother, Perse, an Oceanid naiad is beautiful and 4. You do not need to be a fan of mythology to read this circe book review. If anything this book dazzled. Anticipate this book folks and rush out and get yourself a copy when it becomes available or request it on NetGalley as I did. Circe is circe book review daughter of Helios, the god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans. Her mother, Perse, an Oceanid naiad is beautiful and captivating. Circe does not appear to have any powers but nevertheless, she is a God and lives in her father's home until she angers Zeus by transforming a nymph into a monster and a man into a creature. She is banished to live alone on an island. It is here, that she hones her true power - that of a witch. She has interactions with many characters, Hermes, the Minotaur her sister's childAthena, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, and Odysseus to name a few. She is caught between the world of the Gods and that of mankind. On her island, she learns the land, befriends the animals and assists sailors - turning some into pigs if they cross her or attempt to harm her. Eventually she has a child and is willing to do anything to protect him from the world and those who would do him harm. This book is beautifully written and very engaging. I found myself emerged in Crice's world and savored every page. Fiction and mythology blend beautifully to create a spellbinding book that does not disappoint. I'll admit, I'm not that familiar with mythology. I studied what was required in school and have a basic understanding of who is who but nothing in depth. One does not need to know much about mythology to appreciate and enjoy this book. The Author does a great job informing the reader who is who and what job they carry i. Miller describes the Gods and characters brilliantly. I never felt like she was educating me on who was who. All the information flowed with the story. As I stated this book was very well written, the story-line is engaging, intelligent and sucked me in. Circe is a very likable character and over the course of time she becomes stronger, not only in her powers, but in herself. She may have circe book review considered a lesser goddess, but she was a strong female character who stood on her own two feet, stood up for herself and showed great bravery where others cowered. Circe is a God, but she is not heartless or cruel. She is circe book review and thoughtful and very much like a human. What does it mean to be human. Circe book review does it mean to be strong. Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book. See more of my reviews at in the house of miller, goddess of written word and mightiest of storytellers, a masterpiece was born. I'd some vague recollection that she did something, at some point, somewhere in Greek literature. Mostly, though, I've always thought of her as a character who was out to get Wonder Woman. I'm admitting to that so that you know right off the bat that you're not d 3. I'd some vague recollection that she did something, at some point, somewhere in Greek literature. Mostly, though, I've always thought of her as a character who was out to get Wonder Woman. I'm admitting to that so that you know right off the bat that you're not dealing circe book review someone who has an educated opinion on Miller's retelling. And maybe because of my non-classical Circe introduction, I wasn't as blown away by this as everyone else. Now, don't get me wrong, this was an incredibly well-written story about a weird little circe book review who doesn't fit in with the rest of the pantheon, her journey of self-discovery, and all the rather dull adventures she has along the way. I was hoping she'd zap some Amazons or something. The gist is that Circe has self-esteem issues because she grew up with horrible parents, horrible siblings, and a horrible group of extended family members surrounding her since her birth. This is more than likely the reason she has shitty taste in men and allows everyone to walk all over her. And, you know, while I always find it fun to read about girls like that, I still kinda wanted to see her zap Amazons. But in all seriousness, this was lovely. It's a very personal tale about a woman that uses Greek mythology as a rich backdrop for the setting. If you enjoy pouring over the details of an old story told in a new way from a different point of view, you'll love this. As a retelling that had to stick to some basic rules and plot points, I can see why this was such a huge hit with so many readers. But as a straight-up story for someone like me, it didn't move very quickly and I found myself putting it down circe book review go read other things. I just didn't circe book review that much about her inner thoughts or what flowers she had to smoosh up to make potions. Even so, I recognized that Miller has some serious talent to make a c-list Greek god's life into a hit novel. If this sounds remotely like your jam, then I would heartily recommend you check this one out. Just don't expect some sort of Percy Circe book review action in the story. Or for Circe to zap any Amazons. Amazing book, utterly fascinating and compelling. Quite unusual and exceptional story. I like Circe, she is a strong woman sorry, goddess, or witch goddess and a courageous fighter. Yes, that about sums it up, this great story. The only remark I would have is that the middle part, when Circe is with Odysseus, is a bit of a small dip, which is why this book just miss Amazing book, utterly fascinating and compelling. Quite unusual and exceptional story. I like Circe, she is a strong woman sorry, goddess, or witch goddess and a courageous fighter. Yes, that about sums it up, this great story. The only remark I would have is that the middle part, when Circe is with Odysseus, is a bit of a small dip, which is why this book just misses the 5 star mark for me. But other than that, a great book to read, almost breathless reading. 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 circe book review the lesser goddesses, our powers were so modest they could scarcely ensure our eternities. I love Greek mythology, but honestly, Circe has never been of great interest to me. Madeline Miller provides a strong voice to Circe, pushing her into the forefront even though her character 4. I love Greek mythology, but honestly, Circe has never been of great interest to me. Madeline Miller provides a strong voice to Circe, pushing her into the forefront even though her character is one who desires to only be seen circe book review those she loves. She is not as pretty as the other goddesses, her voice is strange, she doesn't seem to hold any value to her parents, so she is oftentimes kicked to the sidelines to make room for more important figures. At a certain point, she is finally noticed but only to become a scapegoat. Due to her ability to use Pharmaka, aka magic, she is exiled by Zeus and forced to live a life of solitude. She is fascinated by mortals, and from time to time they visit her on her island of exile. She must learn the hard way whom to trust. Her life of exile gives her time to hone her power and reaches the point where she is able to defy the strongest of gods. The time spent recounting her childhood was quite fascinating. It was quite intriguing seeing little hints of the person she would later become. The most compelling aspect of the novel is Circe's voice. I found her to be enthralling but at the same time cold and calculating. She reeled me in but at the same time, I felt distant from her character. This was a compelling and fascinating read. I read this in chunks at a time, oftentimes taking a break to switch to other reads. Daughter of Helios God of the sunis Circe. She is often scorned and rejected by her kin for not having the look nor the voice of her siblings and other nymphs. To look for companionship she turns to mortals and through this she discovers her power: Witchcraft. Daughter of Helios God of the sunis Circe. She is often scorned and rejected by her circe book review for not having the look nor the voice of her siblings and other nymphs. To look for companionship she turns to mortals and through this she discovers her power: Witchcraft. When she casts a dark spell and admits to her power, she is banished by Zeus and is exiled to the island of Aiaia. There she learns to hone her skill in witchcraft. Along the years of her exile she encounters Gods, monsters and other mortals. All of those we have come to learn circe book review through Greek mythology. Her fate entwines with Hermes, Icarus, Daedalus, Medea, the birth of the Minotaur and many more. We watch as she lives a life of isolation, has lovers and watch as her actions are driven by her emotions and love for others. Circe was such a wonderful character. She is utterly human in her emotions showing regret, selfishness, love, determination, vengeance and humility. This makes her a sharp contrast to circe book review other gods and goddesses and nymphs who exude selfishness. She also pours out determination, braveness and courage, encountering dark creatures and gods in circe book review to protect her family. I loved this retelling of Circe from her point of view. Madeline Miller has created a voice for a character that is briefly mentioned in the Odyssey by Homer and other texts, which are mainly told from a male point of view. Miller has explored the character of Circe and has given a powerful narrative- which is so refreshing. It is interesting to see how this character perceives those she encounters. For example, Odysseus and Athena were so different from other perspectives of texts that I have read circe book review. Circe is definitely a character that will stick with me for a while. Madeline Miller was born in Boston and grew up in New York City and Philadelphia. For the last ten years she has been teaching and tutoring Latin, Greek and Shakespeare to high school students. For the last ten years she has been teaching and tutoring Latin, Greek and Shakespeare to high school students. The Song of Achilles is her first novel.

I thought: this is how Zeus felt when he first lifted the thunderbolt. Circe explains all that, too, and then describes her ensuing, mutually enchanted relationship with Odysseus. Each struggles against her bonds differently, their rage, patience, and naiveté all recognizable to today's young women. Such is the nature of godhood, of immortality. The ending… it was powerful, in its own right, for the dimension where it is unique.