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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I like the way Madeline Miller tells mythic stories. I should say that I’m not at all precious about myths, and I don’t understand why anyone would be. They were never static stories, consistent and unvarying. So I don’t know the canonical details, and I’m good with that. Beyond that, though, I like the specifics of Miller’s telling. Especially with this book (vis-à-vis The Song of Achilles), the characters she sculpts, and I like the speculative world she builds. I was intrigued throughout by the particulars of witchcraft as Circe and others employ it. It was a fun read, for a lot of reasons.
That said, I did also have some issues with it. Not leastCirce’s interaction with the first group of sailors who arrive at the island. Did I misread, or did she allow herself to be raped before she dispatched them? Why? Then too, I didn’t love the way Circe interacts with men generally throughout the book. She’s too eager, a bit too willing to subsume her own personality & desires under those of the man she’s with. Even as she matures, this doesn’t seem to go away. It’s a character trait, sure. But I think this story wants to be the story of a strong woman carving her own space into the world, unswayed by any man, and sadly, it isn’t that.
Those things (and a few other less significant ones) aren’t enough to make me dislike the book. But they are there, for sure.
That said, I did also have some issues with it. Not least
Those things (and a few other less significant ones) aren’t enough to make me dislike the book. But they are there, for sure.
i'm a part of the people who think that TSOA is a bit overrated BUT circe is SO UNDERRATED !!
this is one of the best feminist mixed with mythology book i've read.
there were sometimes some lengths but still ok, i think it's the handwriting of the author
but her handwriting tho, despite the lengths is beautiful, details, comparisons, ...
atmosphere is incredible, i adored that book !
this is one of the best feminist mixed with mythology book i've read.
there were sometimes some lengths but still ok, i think it's the handwriting of the author
but her handwriting tho, despite the lengths is beautiful, details, comparisons, ...
atmosphere is incredible, i adored that book !
adventurous
challenging
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Bring on Persephone!
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"I would go on through the countless millennia, while everyone I met ran through my fingers and I was left with only those who were like me."
To be candid, as I jumped into this book I wasn't as drawn in as I was when I read The Song of Achilles so part of me worried that my luck with Madeline Miller had run its course. Although I definitely did not feel as connected to these characters as the ones in her other books, they grew on me with time.
"I should know better than to howl when the bird was already flown."
The character of Circe in particular surprised me. Throughout the first pages of the story I didn't really care much for her. If anything, she annoyed me. However, as she built a thicker skin, she started fascinating me. My mythological knowledge is limited, even though I have read The Odyssey, so many facets of this retelling were new to me. I'm taking a liking to these.