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A review by malloryhardesty
Circe by Madeline Miller
4.0
"We are not our blood," he answered. "A witch once told me that."
I was not entirely sure what I was expecting when I picked up this book. I knew that it was written by Madeline Miller, and after reading Song of Achilles, I knew that I wanted to read more of her work. However, this book didn't quite meet my perceptions. While this could solely be the fact that I am less familiar with the Odyssey than I am with the Iliad, I think that part of me also wanted this to be a re-imagining instead of a retelling. I found myself wanting more out of Circe. I have always known her as goddess of witches, turning men into pigs. I think I wanted this book to be more of a feminist piece, but there were several times when I found myself wishing that Circe had done more to show her justified anger against the men she came into contact with. However, this story showed amazing character growth on her behalf and showed her actively resisting falling into the same wicked ways that she felt like she was destined to. The character growth over the millennia that Circe was in exile and fighting against the bitterness that she had every right to hold was done so well in this book. I have given it 3.5 stars only because there were times that I felt myself wanting more from Circe. But never once did I feel like I was slogging through this book to finish it. It was beautifully written, and I expect nothing less from Madeline Miller. As always, thank you for listening.
I was not entirely sure what I was expecting when I picked up this book. I knew that it was written by Madeline Miller, and after reading Song of Achilles, I knew that I wanted to read more of her work. However, this book didn't quite meet my perceptions. While this could solely be the fact that I am less familiar with the Odyssey than I am with the Iliad, I think that part of me also wanted this to be a re-imagining instead of a retelling. I found myself wanting more out of Circe. I have always known her as goddess of witches, turning men into pigs. I think I wanted this book to be more of a feminist piece, but there were several times when I found myself wishing that Circe had done more to show her justified anger against the men she came into contact with. However, this story showed amazing character growth on her behalf and showed her actively resisting falling into the same wicked ways that she felt like she was destined to. The character growth over the millennia that Circe was in exile and fighting against the bitterness that she had every right to hold was done so well in this book. I have given it 3.5 stars only because there were times that I felt myself wanting more from Circe. But never once did I feel like I was slogging through this book to finish it. It was beautifully written, and I expect nothing less from Madeline Miller. As always, thank you for listening.