- Date Published:
2018 - Length:
393 pages—Listening Time: 12 hrs, 8 minutes - Genre:
Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mythology, Greek Mythologly, Retelling - Setting:
Isle of Aiaia and other Greek islands, Greek Heroic Age - Awards:
Athenaeum Literary Award (2018); Goodreads Choice Awards (2018): Won in the Fantasy category; Kitschies (2018): Won the Red Tentacle Award for Novel; Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards (2019): Won in the Fiction category'; Indies Choice Book Awards (2019): Won in the Adult Fiction category; Alex Awards (2019): Won for having special appeal to young adults; Additionally, Circe was shortlisted for several other awards, including the Waterstones Book of the Year (2018), Australian Book Industry Awards (2019), Women's Prize for Fiction (2019), and International Dublin Literary Award (2020). - Language:
English, but translated into over 25 languages - Sensitive Aspects:
Rape, Depression and Emotional Distress, Some violence - Movie:
HBO Max has given a straight-to-series order for an eight-episode limited series based on the book. - Recommend for Book Club:
YES, most all book clubs will enjoy this book
In junior high, I was the girl who was always engrossed in a book. Believe me, I had no problem embracing my nerdy side. After the spring break holidays, it was common knowledge that all 8th-grade Language Arts students studied Greek and Roman mythology. I could hardly wait! We each got a paperback copy of Edith Hamilton’s
Mythology. I absolutely loved the book and spent the last months of junior high with my imagination soaring among the clouds with the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome. Today, I’ve forgotten a lot of Hamilton’s amazing research, but after diving into Madeline Miller’s Song of Achilles and Circe, the gods and goddesses are truly imprinted in my soul. Both of these books are absolutely brilliant, but here let’s examine Circe.
About the Book
Madeline Miller's Circe is a mythic fantasy novel that reimagines the life of Circe, the witch from Homer's Odyssey. The story is set during the Greek Heroic Age and offers a fresh perspective on various Greek myths. Circe, the daughter of the Titan sun god Helios and the naiad Perse, is portrayed as an outcast within her family due to her lack of divine beauty and power. However, she discovers her own unique abilities in witchcraft, which sets her apart and leads to her exile on the island of Aiaia.
The novel explores Circe's journey as she navigates her relationships with mythological figures such as Hermes, the Minotaur, Daedalus, Jason, Medea, and notably Odysseus and his son Telemachus. Her encounters with mortals, particularly her fascination with their impermanence and scars, play a significant role in shaping her character. Through her experiences, Circe evolves from a timid and powerless figure to one of autonomy and strength, embodying themes of female empowerment and self-discovery.
Why Read This Book?
I would recommend this book for any avid reader. Here’s why:
- Feminist Perspective on Greek Mythology: Circe offers a unique, feminist retelling of Greek myths, focusing on the journey of a strong female character who defies the conventions of her divine origins and the patriarchal world around her. So many characters in literature spend their lives with a “god complex.” They seek immortality through their work, their deeds, or their family. I loved that Circe was born a gooddess and spent her life seeking a human existence.
- Character Development and Empowerment: The novel follows Circe's transformation from a marginalized, overlooked goddess to a powerful, independent woman. Her growth is both compelling and relatable, making her one of the strongest female characters in literature.
- Rich Storytelling and World-Building: Miller weaves together various Greek myths, such as those involving Odysseus, Daedalus, and Medea, creating a vivid and intricate world that is both faithful to its origins and freshly imaginative.
- Themes of Identity, Love, and Power: The book explores themes of identity, love, loss, and the complexities of being immortal in a mortal world. It delves into the challenges faced by women in a male-dominated society and the resilience required to overcome them. I loved it when she turned them to swine. Touche!
- Accessible and Engaging Writing Style: Miller's prose is lyrical and engaging, making the novel accessible even to readers without extensive background knowledge of Greek mythology.
Overall, Circe is a beautifully crafted story that not only retells ancient myths but also offers profound insights into human nature and the experiences of women throughout history.
My local book club loved this book. In fact, one member came to the meeting dressed in a makeshift toga! I hope your club enjoys it as much as we did.
Circe printable BOOK CLUB KIT
The RWW book club kits provide everything you need to organize a great meeting with insightful discussions. These resources simplify book club preparation with character lists, book quotes, refreshment suggestions, recipes, and carefully prepared book club questions!
Get Madeline Miller Books
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