Circe - Madeline Miller

"It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures, flowers, eggs,

anything that may be crushed in a moment's carelessness.

If I had ever believed it, I no longer did."

••••••

Witches and mythology. What a perfect combination wrapped into one well-written novel. My last review was about Madeline Miller’s previous novel The Song of Achilles and I didn’t know how Circe would measure up. But, unsurprisingly, it did. All I’d ever really known of Circe was what I’d read about her in The Odyssey by Homer and her “appearance” as the enchantress in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. It was cool to uncover more of her background in this novel. In comparison to The Song of Achilles, this book is slower as it doesn’t have battles within but since I expected that, it was a really enjoyable read from start to finish.

There were so many things that I loved about this book. One thing that I absolutely adored was the character development and how it was shown through Madeline’s writing. In the first few chapters, it felt like I was seeing the world of gods through children’s eyes and with a child’s naivety. Circe didn’t understand Prometheus’ punishment, she didn’t understand why her family hated her, and she didn’t understand how her first love couldn’t love her. She made foolish mistakes because she believed the best in people. Even when she started to lose faith and transformed Scylla out of anger, it was a long while into her exile before she started to understand the harshness of the world and began to distrust anyone she met. By the time she was a mother, she was an entirely different character than what she started out as and while I was reflecting on that transformation while reading the last few chapters, I was pretty impressed with how the author managed to capture that transition so perfectly. The change in perception made me feel more in sync with Circe. Betrayal, loneliness, empowerment, I felt what the character felt. The reader grows alongside her.

Another thing I loved about this book was Circe’s relationships. The artificial abruptness of the first two vs. the genuine build-up of the last.  It’s impressive that Circe’s last love took up a larger part of the plot than the other two who both had a much larger chunk of the book written about them. Yet even with the various love interests that were mentioned throughout the book, they weren’t the main event. These relationships were just ways to help Circe learn and accept herself and find the strength to decided her own fate.

I’m honestly having a very hard time thinking of things I didn’t like in this book. I guess my one grievance is a very problematic scene and the ensuing portrayal of her because of it by the original book, The Odyssey. When lost sea-farers and pirates find her island, Circe is taken advantage of and attacked in her own home. Not knowing of her status as a goddess and only discovering that there is no man of the house, these strangers, to whom she opened her home to, fed, sheltered, and otherwise rescued from the elements, repay their thanks by assaulting her. It only happens the once, and it’s heartbreaking reading her plea for someone, anyone, to help her. It is in her father’s power to see everything yet he does not stop it, nor does he help her. Neither do any of the other gods. Once it is over she realizes that no one is there for her, that humans are treacherous, and that no one will save her but herself. She transforms the men who attacked her into pigs and continues to do so to every crew that seeks to take advantage of her kindness from then on. Until she meets Odysseus, this is how she spends her eternity.

For a long time, I’d always seen Circe as evil. She kept Odysseus there for three years when all he wanted to do was get home to his wife. She turned his men into pigs. She was evil and that’s all there was to it. But having this different perspective is wonderful. Why is she that way? What reason would she have for turning “innocent” men who sought shelter on her island into beasts? This book gives a reason for those actions and sheds light on the pain that inspired her sorcery.

These retellings of Homers’ works were more than I could have hoped. The focus on the background behind some of these beloved characters was such an interesting take on these ancient myths. What made Achilles tick? Who was Circe really? Even if these books are one author's viewpoint, it helps shed some light on these old favourites. I know that the next time I read The Iliad or The Odyssey I will be seeing things in a new light.

••••••

    

I'm giving this book five stars because it was spectacular. When I return to Greek mythology in the distant future, I would definitely read this book again. Circe lived up to expectations and far surpassed them. It’s a good read to curl up with this winter when you’re stuck indoors.  

If you do read it or have already, let me know your thoughts! I’d love to talk about it with you.

-Taylor