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angele_vergoni's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Grief, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Incest, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War
aardwyrm's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
3.0
D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths, Not Like Other Girls special edition. I am not a purist who requires active protagonists or that plot twists be a huge shock every time, but Circe does, chooses, and changes more or less nothing over the course of her thousands of years, and every story beat (always accomplished or at least catalyzed by someone else) is broadcast in big neon letters. 75% of the story is Circe sitting around waiting for someone more interesting to come tell her a bit about some more interesting Greek myth that's happening, at which point she will take no action. The last bit is her mildly annoying Athena, very belatedly fixing a couple of her own mistakes that she could have addressed at any time, and making it clear that being a wife and mother is the only thing an immortal, magical being could possibly be doing with her time. Like Jane Eyre before her, she describes herself at length as ugly and unloved and troublesome, and then a succession of strangers walk in to tell her she's beautiful and adored and also she never meaningfully troubles anybody.
I don't know, the prose is pretty good. But there's no meaningful reimagining of any of the myths, or even drawing from unusual sources. Individual scenes have emotional weight, but then Circe's passive whingeing has the same stakes and pacing all through the book, so they never actually mean anything. She periodically declares herself to be much better than last time she made the same choice, which is kind of like character development. Altogether, style but no substance, the sort of thing you get when someone who doesn't know their genre reinvents the wheel and it comes out square.
I don't know, the prose is pretty good. But there's no meaningful reimagining of any of the myths, or even drawing from unusual sources. Individual scenes have emotional weight, but then Circe's passive whingeing has the same stakes and pacing all through the book, so they never actually mean anything. She periodically declares herself to be much better than last time she made the same choice, which is kind of like character development. Altogether, style but no substance, the sort of thing you get when someone who doesn't know their genre reinvents the wheel and it comes out square.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Blood, Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Slavery
miglena's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Madeline Miller weaves words together so beautifully. Her writing is so poignant and is able to touch depths that people rarely go to. I ached and wept for Circe throughout the whole book and literally cried through 40% of it.
I finished this book in two sittings, but I would have finished it in one if I didn't have work. I have no doubt I will be coming back to this book again. There are so many quotes that I just want to press into my skin and carry with me.
This book deals with the concepts of free will, captivity, isolation, feminism, how deeply rooted mysogeny is and how it plays out in our interactions, who is considered good vs evil, and many more. Madeline Miller shapes mythology, action, and romance together to craft this book. It asks us to look within ourselves and reflect.
I feel lucky to have read this book, it was enthralling and a truly magical experience.
Here are some quotes I love and keep thinking about:
"A golden cage is still a cage"
"I had been old and stern for so long, carved with regrets and years like a monolith. But that was only a shape I had been poured into. I did not have to keep it."
"Humbling women seems to me a chief pastime of poets. As if there can be no story unless we crawl and weep."
"Circe, he says, it will be all right... He does not mean that it does not hurt. He does not mean we are not frightened. Only that: we are here. This is what it means to swim in the tide, to walk the earth and feel it touch your feet. This is what it means to be alive."
I finished this book in two sittings, but I would have finished it in one if I didn't have work. I have no doubt I will be coming back to this book again. There are so many quotes that I just want to press into my skin and carry with me.
This book deals with the concepts of free will, captivity, isolation, feminism, how deeply rooted mysogeny is and how it plays out in our interactions, who is considered good vs evil, and many more. Madeline Miller shapes mythology, action, and romance together to craft this book. It asks us to look within ourselves and reflect.
I feel lucky to have read this book, it was enthralling and a truly magical experience.
Here are some quotes I love and keep thinking about:
"A golden cage is still a cage"
"I had been old and stern for so long, carved with regrets and years like a monolith. But that was only a shape I had been poured into. I did not have to keep it."
"Humbling women seems to me a chief pastime of poets. As if there can be no story unless we crawl and weep."
"Circe, he says, it will be all right... He does not mean that it does not hurt. He does not mean we are not frightened. Only that: we are here. This is what it means to swim in the tide, to walk the earth and feel it touch your feet. This is what it means to be alive."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery and War
Minor: Self harm
arisha4l's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
slow-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
this book changed something in me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Slavery
Also deals a little with trauma from rape. There is also a graphic childbirth scene.caylajoftus's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Good in terms of themes and writing but slow and hard to push through at times.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Pregnancy
annietestin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Torture, Pregnancy, Murder, Grief, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Slavery and Child death
nicole_m's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
Beautiful writing, mythology is so fascinating to read about. <Spoiler> The book kept you interested with the plot and character development. Some would say the ending was unsatisfactory but I think it ended with the peace it needed <spolier>. Overall amazing book and I recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, and Slavery
Content heavy, if the warnings above trigger I don’t recommend. If not enjoy!griffinthief's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, and Murder
Minor: Vomit, Slavery, and Child death
crystallis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
slow-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
4.0
This book is like reading an epic and beautiful poem.
I really liked this book mainly because of my little obsession with Greek mythology.
Circe is a great character and even a better main character. What I really loved about her was her character development and how sometimes not everything in the story was moving around her (which is ironic considering that’s she is our main girl) and she could take more of a viewer position.
She has her long story taking place in an even longer and bigger story which h I find fascinating.
I felt like a child at Christmas every time a myth or a mythical creature made an appearance in the chapters. I was so excited that it’s embarrassing.
And all of these other characters were very well written and interesting. I despised every single one of her siblings so much that it almost hurt .
This author has a very beautiful way with words, she truly is talented and relatable (I have the same obsession with ancient Greek culture, so I hear you girl)
If there is something I didn’t liked about this book is how long and dense it can get at times. It took me longer that I usually takes me to finish a book.
I know I sound like a fangirl, but this topics are really enthusiastic to me.
Read you all later.
I really liked this book mainly because of my little obsession with Greek mythology.
Circe is a great character and even a better main character. What I really loved about her was her character development and how sometimes not everything in the story was moving around her (which is ironic considering that’s she is our main girl) and she could take more of a viewer position.
She has her long story taking place in an even longer and bigger story which h I find fascinating.
I felt like a child at Christmas every time a myth or a mythical creature made an appearance in the chapters. I was so excited that it’s embarrassing.
And all of these other characters were very well written and interesting. I despised every single one of her siblings so much that it almost hurt .
This author has a very beautiful way with words, she truly is talented and relatable (I have the same obsession with ancient Greek culture, so I hear you girl)
If there is something I didn’t liked about this book is how long and dense it can get at times. It took me longer that I usually takes me to finish a book.
I know I sound like a fangirl, but this topics are really enthusiastic to me.
Read you all later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Murder, Pregnancy, and Slavery
katiedykema's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Slavery