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A review by lindsaysofia_25
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
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
Such a gorgeous novel! The prose is absolutely captivating and is the perfect blend of Homer's epic tradition and Miller's own flair. Following an immortal protagonist through an epic spanning thousands of years allows the story to touch on many myths as well as the overlap with the Odyssey which inspired the novel in the first place. I was impressed by how smoothly Miller managed to transition between these eras of Circe's life such that in hindsight I can remember all the different myths I read about Circe's involvement in, and yet I never felt like I was being jolted from one to the next. It's also quite a feat to write such a sprawling epic while maintaining strong narrative momentum!
In the first half of the novel, I was already enamoured with the style and atmosphere, but reading further and beginning to see how loose ends tied together and themes emerged, I really saw that this was a 5 star novel. I remember my 12th grade English teacher saying that reading fiction is the best way to learn about the world and yourself, and this novel turned out to be a perfect example of that. I genuinely believe that I am changed by my reading of it, and by exploring my own reaction to it. Miller skillfully blends a fabulous reading experience on the surface with an insightful philosophical argument about life, love, and passion.
Using Greek myth as a vehicle for all this allowed Miller to use readers' existing knowledge of these oral histories to make commentary, and allowed her to use immortality and divinity as a foil for mortality and humankind. I love reading work that uses well-known source material but doesn't feel hollow or derivative, and this is a great example of exactly that. The blend of style against a thoroughly well-researched background reminds me of Chloe Gong, which is one of the highest compliments I can offer! Of course their particular style differs, but they both are experts at producing an engrossing atmosphere that draws readers in and invites them to contemplate the events of the novel and their underlying meanings and motivations.
I'm excited to reread this at some point after becoming more familiar with the Odyssey (I know the Iliad much better) and some of the less popular source myths, and buy my own copy so I can annotate to my heart's content. This is such a rich novel I can feel in my bones its excellent reread value!
In the first half of the novel, I was already enamoured with the style and atmosphere, but reading further and beginning to see how loose ends tied together and themes emerged, I really saw that this was a 5 star novel. I remember my 12th grade English teacher saying that reading fiction is the best way to learn about the world and yourself, and this novel turned out to be a perfect example of that. I genuinely believe that I am changed by my reading of it, and by exploring my own reaction to it. Miller skillfully blends a fabulous reading experience on the surface with an insightful philosophical argument about life, love, and passion.
Using Greek myth as a vehicle for all this allowed Miller to use readers' existing knowledge of these oral histories to make commentary, and allowed her to use immortality and divinity as a foil for mortality and humankind. I love reading work that uses well-known source material but doesn't feel hollow or derivative, and this is a great example of exactly that. The blend of style against a thoroughly well-researched background reminds me of Chloe Gong, which is one of the highest compliments I can offer! Of course their particular style differs, but they both are experts at producing an engrossing atmosphere that draws readers in and invites them to contemplate the events of the novel and their underlying meanings and motivations.
I'm excited to reread this at some point after becoming more familiar with the Odyssey (I know the Iliad much better) and some of the less popular source myths, and buy my own copy so I can annotate to my heart's content. This is such a rich novel I can feel in my bones its excellent reread value!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Rape, and Violence