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A review by ahmay
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Reading Circe is like going on a journey with her. From her youngest days as a naive girl to a powerful witch brave enough to face even the likes of Athena through sheer will.
Truly, it’s a story of the loneliness of an immortal—a yearning to be seen. A feeling that settles into our throats and chests.
It’s a story of learning how to live.
-
This is the first book that’s managed to keep my interest in years. (An impressive feat, really, considering I haven’t fully finished a book since perhaps middle school.) This is a very self reflective book, and Miller’s prose is just beautiful. The imagery, wow, just wow. The coastlines and the hills of Aiaia and the treacherous seas—all clear in my mind.
Some parts may have been a bit slow for my taste, but I always wanted to turn the page, wishing to know what would happen next—when would Circe finally have something that’s not fleeting?
I quite enjoy the yearning in this book and resonated with her feelings of loneliness. Maybe that is why I wanted to see her finally happy and fulfilled.
The understanding between Circe and Telemachus as well as the unyielding truth holding them together is such a heartwarming change from Circe’s other relationships. To see and be seen by someone so clearly. Though I wished to see more of them together (Christ this family tree…), the end still left me satisfied and was a good place to finish the book even if Circe’s life was really just beginning. Ironically, through the end of her immortality.
Truly, it’s a story of the loneliness of an immortal—a yearning to be seen. A feeling that settles into our throats and chests.
It’s a story of learning how to live.
-
This is the first book that’s managed to keep my interest in years. (An impressive feat, really, considering I haven’t fully finished a book since perhaps middle school.) This is a very self reflective book, and Miller’s prose is just beautiful. The imagery, wow, just wow. The coastlines and the hills of Aiaia and the treacherous seas—all clear in my mind.
Some parts may have been a bit slow for my taste, but I always wanted to turn the page, wishing to know what would happen next—when would Circe finally have something that’s not fleeting?
I quite enjoy the yearning in this book and resonated with her feelings of loneliness. Maybe that is why I wanted to see her finally happy and fulfilled.