‘I had no right to claim, I knew it. But in a solitary life, there are rare moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the earth. Such a constellation he was to me.’
Circe by Madeline Miller is a retelling of one of the lesser known Greek goddesses ‘Circes’. I love a bit of Greek mythology however I had never come across the goddess Circe before this book. She is the daughter of the naiad Perse and the sun god Helios. Circe struggles with her life living with the gods in her father’s halls. Forever the outcast amongst the gods, Circe spends long periods alone exploring the world around her until she discovers she is not like the other gods.
For witchcraft runs through her veins.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Circe from start to finish. Miller’s writing style is easy to follow and draws you into the vivid world of the Greek gods and goddesses. Circe’s life at the beginning is lonely and unforgiving. She is the misfit amongst her family. That period of Circe’s life is reminiscent of every teenage girl who has ever felt like an outcast It definitely brought up some feelings from my own teenage years! During this time, she discovers her talent for witchcraft and naively falls in love with a mortal. After using her new found talents to turn him into a god, he then rejects her in favour of her cousin, the nymph Scylla.
Now I’m sure I am not the only one who has said or done something out of the hurt and anger caused by rejection and heartbreak, and it seems goddesses are in the same boat as us mere mortals. Circe, consumed by these unforgiving emotions, uses her new witchcraft abilities to turn the beautiful Scylla into a hideous sea monster. I had already related to Circe as a character a lot but this made her even more relatable to me, especially the feelings of regret and guilt that follows a stupid decision made on high emotions.
One of the many things that struck me about this book is the human emotions displayed by Circe and her naivety at the world around her. During her banishment on her lonely island we see Circe grow not only into her personality but also into her magic that landed her on her little island. She uses her magic to defend herself against sailors who accidentally become marooned onto her island. All I will say is that I wouldn’t want to get on Circe’s bad side.
One of the descriptions that struck with me, even after I finished the book however, was her views on motherhood ‘I did not go easy into motherhood , I faced it as soldiers face their enemies, girded and braced, sword up against the coming blows.’ Circe faces motherhood utterly alone and as a single mother myself, that scene encapsulated that although motherhood can be loving and joyful but also a hard and lonely road at times.
I am a huge fan of Greek stories and retelling. The amount of research that went into this is utterly mind-blowing to me. There are several Greek stories and tragedies that Miller draws upon and has spun so that it can be retold from Circe’s perspective.
I will warn prospective readers that Circe is an adult book with some strong themes and scenes – though overall it is a very satisfying and emotional read!
Best wishes,
— Natasha Reads xx
The Talking Bookshelf 