Scan barcode
paige87's review
4.0
I wasn't sure where things were going, but I am happy with the ending. Circe's story was beautifully told.
intrepidthespian's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
calling circe the original girlboss may be reductive but it’s also not wrong
this book was amazing and miller has absolutely beautiful prose. such an easy and memorable read
this book was amazing and miller has absolutely beautiful prose. such an easy and memorable read
lillianviolinist's review
3.5
The writing here was truly lovely. Madeline Miller's prose is lyrical and rich. I wasn't overawed by the rest of the book - it seemed some plot elements were pretty contrived to just expose us to more greek mythology namely, when she goes to visit her sister and spends time with Daedalus . These plot elements, or side stories would be expected and even welcome if Circe functioned as a saga. However Circe fails at it's attempt to emulate the Odyssey or the Iliad, because it features a character who is stationary the majority of the time.
I can understand why many people love this, the prose is truly beautiful, but the plot and character beats just didn't hit as hard for me as the writing did so I was left a little disappointed. Still, a solid read and if you can go in without buying into all the hype, I would recommend this.
I can understand why many people love this, the prose is truly beautiful, but the plot and character beats just didn't hit as hard for me as the writing did so I was left a little disappointed. Still, a solid read and if you can go in without buying into all the hype, I would recommend this.
geissgirl's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
duffypratt's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
My main problem with this is that it feels like an exercise in literary criticism wrapped up, barely, in the trappings of a novel. It's interesting, because I mostly agree with her evaluation of the Gods and the Greek heroes, who are all basically dysfunctional jerks. But illustrating that was just not enough, for me, to make for a captivating novel.
The book has a clear spine. Circe is an abused child who is looking for love on her own terms, and on a slightly deeper level, is trying to come to terms with her identity. From this perspective, the book works fairly well, but it seems a bit thin and episodic. Part of the problem here, I think, is that Circe cannot be a particularly active character, since she is eternally trapped, basically alone, on her own small island. This doesn't leave a lot of room for interaction with other characters or the world.
Outside of these limitations, I basically liked this book. I especially liked the character of Telemachus. I have to say that I don't see much similarity between this Telemachus and what I see in the Odyssey (which I'm currently reading for like the fourth or fifth time). But on its own terms, his character works very well. But that, in the end is the problem here. This kind of story simply doesn't work on its own terms. Miller can twist Athena or Odysseus, or Telemachus only so far. If she makes them interesting on their own terms, the portrayal tends to chafe against the myth. If she leaves them as they appear in the myths (as with Helios, for example), then they end up being rather flat and uninteresting. Neither alternative is all that great.
<Spoiler>One thing puzzled me quite a bit. According to Hesiod, Circe bore Odysseus three sons. That creates a kind of problem on its own, because if that were the case, he could hardly leave the island without knowing he had again become a father. Of course, in Homer, there's no mention of a son by Circe (although it seems like any sex with a god inevitably leads to offspring). Miller changes this, and it strikes me as a bold change. She only has one son, and learns of her pregnancy after Odysseus has left. This makes his ignorance plausible, and makes him seem a little less of a jerk. But I got the feeling she made this choice just for the sake of her story. Now, if this had been entirely original work, I probably would have little problem with that. But given the backdrop of earlier works, this bothered me.
The book has a clear spine. Circe is an abused child who is looking for love on her own terms, and on a slightly deeper level, is trying to come to terms with her identity. From this perspective, the book works fairly well, but it seems a bit thin and episodic. Part of the problem here, I think, is that Circe cannot be a particularly active character, since she is eternally trapped, basically alone, on her own small island. This doesn't leave a lot of room for interaction with other characters or the world.
Outside of these limitations, I basically liked this book. I especially liked the character of Telemachus. I have to say that I don't see much similarity between this Telemachus and what I see in the Odyssey (which I'm currently reading for like the fourth or fifth time). But on its own terms, his character works very well. But that, in the end is the problem here. This kind of story simply doesn't work on its own terms. Miller can twist Athena or Odysseus, or Telemachus only so far. If she makes them interesting on their own terms, the portrayal tends to chafe against the myth. If she leaves them as they appear in the myths (as with Helios, for example), then they end up being rather flat and uninteresting. Neither alternative is all that great.
<Spoiler>One thing puzzled me quite a bit. According to Hesiod, Circe bore Odysseus three sons. That creates a kind of problem on its own, because if that were the case, he could hardly leave the island without knowing he had again become a father. Of course, in Homer, there's no mention of a son by Circe (although it seems like any sex with a god inevitably leads to offspring). Miller changes this, and it strikes me as a bold change. She only has one son, and learns of her pregnancy after Odysseus has left. This makes his ignorance plausible, and makes him seem a little less of a jerk. But I got the feeling she made this choice just for the sake of her story. Now, if this had been entirely original work, I probably would have little problem with that. But given the backdrop of earlier works, this bothered me.
anabeapereira's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5