Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Circe

Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Circe by Madeline Miller

1128 reviews

hammie_32's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This was really disappointing. I had a lot of hopes for a dark, reflective retelling of a myth often starring a villainous evil bitch, easily defeated. And this gets 2.5 stars ONLY because for precisely the first 50% of the book, it was the dark, captivating, sorrowful tale I was promised.

And then it turned into a shitty "feminist" novel. And I know that makes me sound gross, but it's in quotes for a reason. Because why, why does every book featuring a powerful woman always have to end up about

motherhood

? I have nothing against it, and yes, sometimes that IS a powerful statement to be made. Not like this, and not this often. If someone somewhere needs permission, you have my allowance to write a feminist, feminine power, woman-dominated, whatever else story where your main female character DOESN'T

get pregnant

!! Doesn't "

find power in nurturing

." Doesn't

use a child to remedy their own traumas

!!! Successfully might I add! It's just never the feminist statement that these authors think it is, and I'm so sick of having to read it after hearing the same sentiment shouted from the rooftops for years by young women and femmes.

I wish I could have more love for this book. But I want 500 pages of an immortal's torment at the hands of humanity. I want a narrative of her suffering on finding a few kind souls, only to be torn apart by the next pack of dogs. I want a dark assemblage of our species' sins told via a recollection of an eternal life's worth of memories. I want her to be twisted and cold and cruel and I want it to be justified because that would be real. If someone wants something happy in there, throw a Sapphic romance in at the end that doesn't "fix" her. But I can't stand to read Circe talking about the cruelties of men, cruelties of gods and goddesses, cruelties of LIFE, just to turn around and

pop out a baby

because she wishes a reprieve of her solitude.

And then she

fucks her stepson

, and that just made me mad.

Content Warnings

hyjules's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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mbelle97's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was beautifully written, but brutally difficult to read. I'm glad I got through it, it was a fascinating story, but I'm left a bit emotionally exhausted

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sdkluce's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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samanthawade92's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

4.5

Really enjoyed this read! I found the story had lots of great depth, adventure, and a great ending that wrapped it all up nicely.

I don’t know much about Greek mythology so I found myself having to look things up and really leverage the “cast of characters” section she included in the back of the book but that didn’t take away from any enjoyment I had about it.

Throughout, I thought the story was very engaging. I did think it read a little on the slow side but it didn’t take away any points in my book.

I LOVED the ending and how she tied up the story so everyone landed in a great spot and she wasn’t alone. I also loved that she turned herself into a mortal with the herbs that she used in the beginning. She belonged with the mortals and I thought it was so fitting and poetic the way she laid that out. I was a bit bummed her son left the island but I think he also had a great ending and she doesn’t have to live on without all of her new family.

Definitely would recommend.

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yasminao's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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issysamb's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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cavallonee's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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tgutauskas's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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almaprincess66's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Nagyjából másfél évvvel ezelőtt fejeztem be az Akhilleusz dalát, és akkor megfogadtam, hogy sohasem fogom elolvasni a Kirké-t abból kifolyólag, hogy milyen negatív kapcsolatban mutatták be az Odüsszeusszal való kapcsolatát a felszínes tapasztalataim. Természetesen ez egy hibás gondolat volt, és roppant mód örülök, hogy mégis úgy döntöttem elolvasom ezt a könyvet.

Bár Kirké történetét kevésbé ismertem, sokkal jobban kapcsolódni tudtam vele és az isteni mivoltával csupán azért mert ezek olyan gondolatok amikre gyakrabban kerestem a választ. Ha a görög isteneket akartam volna megérteni, akkor ez a mű csodás kommentárt adott a megértésükhöz narratíván keresztül.

A rengeteg történet amelyben Kirké részt vesz és a rengeteg mitológiai utalás mind megérintettek vagy megnevettettek. Érdekesnek találtam, hogyan kapcsolódnak össze mégis a különböző mesék és legendák.

Kirké karakterfejlődése figyelemreméltó volt, és csodáltam, hogy mennyire megérthetőnek és megérintőnek találtam. Talán ez tetszett benne annyira, hogy milyen karakterfókuszú volt a mű.

A mellékszereplők mind érdekesek és élvezetesek voltak. Pasziphaé gyönyörűen kegyetlen, Daidalosz mélyen érintő, Pénelpeia furfangos, Télemakhosz és Télegonosz pedig szívmelengetőek. Odüsszeusz pedig önmaga volt, mely nosztalgiát ébresztett bennem, de nem mondhatom azt, hogy nem változott meg a róla alkotott képem teljesen.

A különböző metaforák és gondolatok amiket megjelenített igazán elgondolkodtatóak voltak és nem hiszem, hogy a közel jövőben ki fogom tudni szedni ezt a könyvet a fejemből.

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