Circe

by Madeline Miller

English language

ISBN:: 978-1-4088-9004-2

(285 reviews)

Circe is a 2018 novel by American writer Madeline Miller. Set during the Greek Heroic Age, it is an adaptation of various Greek myths, most notably the Odyssey, as told from the perspective of the witch Circe. The novel explores Circe's origin story and narrates Circe's encounters with mythological figures such as Hermes, the Minotaur, Jason, and Medea, and ultimately her romance with Odysseus and her son by him, Telegonus.

16 editions

Sergio reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I bumped this book to the top of my to-read list after a videogames-fueled micro-obsession with Greek mythology (shoutouts to Hades by Supergiant Games) and I couldn't have possibly chosen a better book to sate my cravings for more modern takes on said epic stories. Circe is a beautifully written, briskly paced, smartly structured retelling of a story I didn't really have much previous knowledge of, but it feels both satisfyingly mythological and powerfully timely/modern. It's a book about healing, carving a destiny of your own (relatable, but particularly difficult for divine beings in this setting!), choosing your own family and most importantly, how hard all of those things are to get right. And, thankfully, it's powerfully optimistic too. I enormously enjoyed this, couldn't put it down and find it incredibly easy to recommend. What a good book.

Applemcg reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'LibraryThing'

4 stars

Somewhere on applemcg.github.io/reading

anka.trini reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

3.5 stars
A bit disappointing considering the amount of hype the book has gotten.

SharonC reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Wonderful prose. Circe's struggles and relationships feel real and varied--she has depth and complexity. The process of her discoveries about herself are organic and so authentic to the character that Miller has imagined.

Telemachus was a far more interesting character than I thought he would be. Odysseus did not abandon him to go to war; the tragedy was that Odysseus could not be present when he returned from the war. Fascinating insight to the ancient story.

It was interesting to read this right after a novel by a much younger and less-accomplished writer to provide some contrast and highlight what Really Good Writing does that OK writing does not.

Marcus reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I'm honestly not sure what to say about this book. It's well written, no question there. I adore Miller's prose for how evocative they are. But if you're looking for a repeat of heartbreak that is The Song of Achilles, you'll be a little disappointed.

Most of the characters in the beginning are horrible people. None of them really redeem themselves either. But Circe is relate-able. Particularly her themes of abandonment and isolation.

It's particularly interesting how Miller can create this piece and make us feel the sense of isolation without it feeling too boring or depressing. Was I completely captivated the entire time? No. But was it ever a question that I wouldn't finish? No.

Seeing the prose of Circe mixed with the characters and emotionality of TSOA, I really hope that Miller moves beyond just Greek works and continues to write engaging tales. She's a talented writer, and …

Andy reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Not my normal read, but a very well written and enjoyable story.

B. Zelkovich reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Well, everything from Odysseus on was great. It just took a long time to get there. The ending is... open, but I don't mind it. Telemachus was my favorite, and I'm happy that Circe really did come full circle in finding and knowing herself.

georgewhatup reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Absolutely brilliant, if you like mythology even a little you will love this book.

You can tell Miller knows her topic and knows how to reinterpret it. The perfect example of someone with broad and deep knowledge of a subject being able to deconstruct what it is and present an entirely new understanding.

You'll never look at Odysseus the same again...if you had looked at him before.

loppear reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on Goodreads

4 stars

Fun serious narrative undoing of mythology's views of parenting, immortality, war and heroes. Picks up strong to the finish about the same time Odysseus arrives in the middle, as Circe begins to act - but is that a trait of the gods or of humanity?

Sergeant Cat reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'GoodReads'

5 stars

Update: Still just as good after the second reading!

Original: I really enjoyed this. I don't know much of anything about Circe in mythology so I don't know how true this is to the source material but it was very well written and very engaging. It makes me want to read more European mythology.

TimMason reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I've been interested in witches for quite a long time. In the space between Norman Cohn (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe%27s_Inner_Demons) and Margaret Murray (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Murray), between Robert Muchembled (www.persee.fr/doc/assr_0335-5985_1994_num_86_1_1443_t1_0297_0000_3) and Carlo Ginzburg (www.persee.fr/doc/ahess_0395-2649_1995_num_50_1_279357_t1_0183_0000_000) there's room for the imaginary to weave a pretty rich tapestry. Madeline Miller's Circe is a weaver, playing her cloth upon a magical loom, a love-gift from Daedelus. Miller herself weaves deftly, slipping Circe's thread in and out of the tapestry of the Greek myths and legends. A minor goddess, Circe becomes the first and most powerful of witches.

At the heart of the book, as one might expect, is Circe's meeting with Ulysses. It is through this meeting that Circe comes to a deeper understanding of herself, of her powers, and good and evil.

AJ Kerrigan reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This book is a beautifully written treasure.

I found myself pausing to savor the writing as much as the story and characters. This book triggered the same sense of wonder I remember feeling as a kid, discovering Greek mythology through movies like Clash of the Titans, Jason & the Argonauts and Hercules.

What a ride.

wdhertog reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Wat een briljante hervertelling van alle mythen rond Circe. En je gaat er zo anders van naar de oude Griekse mythes kijken. Heel interessant.

Sharyl reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This was a constantly intriguing read, never a dull moment. The way Madeline Miller breathes life into this mythology, fleshing out Circe to be a character I came to understand and sympathize with, is impressive. Of course, Circe is not the only mythological character to be transformed from figment to reality in this creative, enjoyable read.

In school, I had a Latin teacher who regaled us with ancient myths, something we all enjoyed, and not just because it was time away from translating. This novel brought some of that pleasure back to me, plus more.

Bravo!

Maika reviewed Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This is rather reductionist of me, but also perhaps the most succinct way to describe this book: Remember how Wicked told the tale of The Wizard of Oz from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West? Circe tells story of The Odyssey from the perspective of Circe, one of classical mythology’s original witches. This was a ferociously readable and wonderfully vivid story. Like so many people, I’ve long found mythology and folklore to be fascinating subjects for myriad reasons. But I’ll freely confess that I sometimes find the classics on the dry side and certainly on the sexist/misogynistic side. Miller’s Circe is none of those things. It’s so satisfying to get to know powerful Circe herself – not as an enchantress featuring briefly in the life of Greek hero Odysseus, but as a fully-formed individual, who we first meet during her divine, but still no-less-awkward childhood and follow …