Circe by Madeline Miller
Reviewed by: Isaac Jacobs, Reference Assistant
Genre: Mythology, Fantasy
Suggested Age: Adults
What is This Book About?: Circe revisits the mythology of Circe, a daughter of Helios, god of the Sun. An unusual daughter, she does not possess strong powers or divine beauty. In fact, she sounds like a mortal- a source of disdain from her family. With a curious mind and a dangerous fondness for humans, she discovers her skills as a witch and gets herself into messy situations with her spells and potions, proving to be a potential problem for the Olympian gods. Cast into exile by Zeus, she is banished to a deserted island where she nurtures her skills in witchcraft, befriends beasts, and falls in sync with nature. She has encounters with famous figures in mythology, such as Daedalus and Icarus, the Minotaur, and Odysseus. However, with the moments of bliss come dangers of many types, both mortal and divine.
My Review: As a Classics major, I have always loved reading mythology. Unfortunately, some myths are biased and illustrate very shallow characters. I have always viewed Circe’s story as this- neglected and missing context. She is famously deemed as a malicious and scheming woman- but Madeline Miller brings to life her journey that leads to the character we know of today. She delves into the complicated nature of both Circe’s familial and mortal relationships and the internal war of divinity versus mortality. Which is worth it, and will she have the ability to make this choice?
And I truly think that this book has a broader message beyond the retelling of Circe’s story, but to our own lives; finding who we are, and what we want in our lives.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Captivating, eye-opening, surprising
Give this a try if you like… The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, mythological fiction,
Rating: 5/5
