Circe, by Madeline Miller

Madeline Miller’s Circe is based on Greek mythology. It follows the titan Circe through her complicated childhood and into adulthood. Circe is an outcast from her family but finds her witchcraft. Famous figures from Greek mythology like Glaucus, Hermes, Odysseus, and Daedalus flow through her life as she grows into herself. As a titan, time slips past and the humans that she loves wither away. For a witch whose power is transformation, why can she not figure out who she is?

 

If you love Greek myths, this book is for you. Madeline Miller’s lyrical prose fits well with her protagonist. I loved how her writing style showed how Circe saw the world. This book explores themes of femininity and power in the traditionally patriarchal society of Ancient Greece. The many male figures she met were all protagonists of their own stories, but in this story they are just a path to self-recognition for Circe. The imagery of the loom is also critical to her finding out who she is.

Reviewed by D.J.L, Grade 10

Glendale Central Library Library