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Circe
This #1 New York Times bestseller is a "bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story" that brilliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of The Odyssey (Alexandra Alter, TheNew York Times). In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child -- not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power -- the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus. But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love. With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world. #1 New York Times Bestseller -- named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, the Washington Post, People, Time, Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Newsweek, the A.V. Club, Christian Science Monitor, Refinery 29, Buzzfeed, Paste, Audible, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Thrillist, NYPL, Self, Real Simple, Goodreads, Boston Globe, Electric Literature, BookPage, the Guardian, Book Riot, Seattle Times, and Business Insider.
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Community Reviews
It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures, flowers, eggs, anything that may be crushed in a moment's carelessness. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did.
I loved this book! I was really looking forward to reading it after I finished the Song of Achilles last year and it did not disappoint. I loved Circe's character and growth in the novel and I enjoyed seeing how various points in mythology connected to her.
The Odyssey is one of my favorite Greek myths from childhood (Arthur episode anyone?) and I couldn't wait to see how he and Circe interacted. I also enjoyed the fact that Circe's story didn't end with Odysseus leaving. For some reason, I thought it would. But it continued and I loved how it affected Circe and her interactions for years to come.
Incredibly enjoyable read that I will recommend to everyone!
I loved this book! I was really looking forward to reading it after I finished the Song of Achilles last year and it did not disappoint. I loved Circe's character and growth in the novel and I enjoyed seeing how various points in mythology connected to her.
The Odyssey is one of my favorite Greek myths from childhood (Arthur episode anyone?) and I couldn't wait to see how he and Circe interacted. I also enjoyed the fact that Circe's story didn't end with Odysseus leaving. For some reason, I thought it would. But it continued and I loved how it affected Circe and her interactions for years to come.
Incredibly enjoyable read that I will recommend to everyone!
Coming into this book, I didn't know what to expect at all. I was immediately taken with the writing style and found it enjoyable to read. At times, I found the arc a bit weak, but I liked the main character enough to overlook it. Though it's a book about Greek myth, it was less fantastical than I was expecting. Circe's experiences and feelings are actually very mortal and relatable: love, longing, loss, loneliness, fear, courage. Overall, it was a really nice read.
3.75 stars, the first 300 pages were fantastic, but the last 100 were a STRUGGLE to get through, I was begging for it to be over. At the same time, thatâs probably what Circe was feeling too, maybe that was her intent.
3.75 out of 5. Truly a blend of Grecian literary elements, this epic fantastical story is filled with mostly tragedy. Circe, daughter of Helios and Perse does not treasure the divine, and rightfully so - they are portrayed as vapid, baleful, and egocentric. Madeline Miller is gifted at reworking classic mythology into a modern novel.
I thought I liked Song of Achilles, but this was better. To the point I think I need to revise my review on SOA because I think this will stick with me longer. Miller really captures a kind of otherworldliness that gods should have while maintaining humanity in mortal characters. Really enjoyed reading from Circe's perspective. I'm probably slightly biased to give this 5 stars because I love Greek mythology, but the prose justifies it.
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