Reviews - კირკე | The StoryGraph

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74.4k reviews for:

კირკე

Madeline Miller

4.25 AVERAGE

dmsullivan's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

"I believed that she would rather set the world on fire than lose."

"It was so simple. If you want it, I will do it. If it would make you happy, I will go with you. Is there a moment that a heart cracks? But a cracked heart was not enough, and I had grown wise enough to know it. I kissed him and left him there."

Another beautifully written story by Miller.

cybersajlism's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I'm sad to say that this book was a bit of a disappointment for me. In the beginning, I quite liked Circe's characterization and I enjoyed how she was able to find peace and happiness upon her island. I liked that she felt an indomitable spirit, determined to make the best of her situation and find joy for herself. When she experienced violence at the hands of men, I understood her reaction and didn't entirely find it wrong how she turned the men into pigs. I was enjoying reading about her experiences with different people that came to her island. However, the more I kept reading, the more I felt the book was dragging on. There were certainly moments of emotional intensity, but they began to feel less and less significant and impactful. When Telegonus leaves the island and returns with Penelope and his half brother, I was excited to see how things might unfold. To be honest, I found it hard to swallow that Circe developed a relationship with her son's half-sibling. I couldn't help but feel that this development was inappropriate and couldn't possibly be the resolution for all of this characterization that I had witnessed Circe through. I think the decision for her to lose her immortality was amazing and made a lot of sense for her, but it was barely glossed over at the end. I just feel like this ending was really off-putting to me and it feels like Madeline Miller is trying to portray Circe's relationship with Telemachus as a happily ever after for her. I simply don't feel that this is a happily ever after and I'm left pretty unsatisfied with the outcome of this story. That's not to say that I hated it or thought most of it was bad. There were many great and even excellent parts of this book, but overall I feel disappointed.

littlebird88's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

jennasaispas's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 67%

Ich fand es leider langweilig und emotionslos geschrieben.

eliever's review against another edition

3.0

so so human despite her divine nature. thanks to a friend for recommending me this.

sophielivella's review against another edition

5.0

So beautiful!!!! Such a good story and will stick with me for a long, long time. This book really showcases the life of a woman, and it is harrowing ;~; so well done

elysiumdream's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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: Complicated

niknat's review against another edition

3.0

medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

reflejx's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Another interesting read by Miller! The one thing I found a little annoying was that the story feels a bit repetitive, but I'm a sucker for Greek mythology and how it makes sense of the world; one of the things I particularly liked about this book was how comprehensibly it presents the various relationships and family trees. (

Apparently Circe and Telemachus are the OG stepmom-stepson getting it on?! Get some, I guess?

). Also really enjoyed the exploration of medicine and witchcraft, and of homesteading. Through these, through experience, Circe learns to take ownership of her own domain, shapes the limits and the expanse of her power, and strives to do what so many of us want: to form our own image of ourselves and to embody our values and ideals, unbeholden to a legacy, to family expectations, or to sociocultural normativity.

Not as gay as Song of Achilles — could have been gayer, in my opinion, but there's an acceptable amount of queer representation. There is a fair amount of trauma, abuse, neglect, desperation, and sexism. So much sexism!

What I'm taking to be the moral of this story: do not trifle with goddesses (read: women) if you're just some guy (read: Just. Some. Guy.). You're a pig, and you'll run out of stories to cover up how horrible you are.

Content Warnings

elizanorth's review against another edition

3.75

emotional mysterious relaxing slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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