Circe: A Book Review

Salma H. Ghaly, Class IV

Photo Credit: goodreads

“When I was born, the word for what I was did not exist.”

TRIGGER WARNING This novel contains information about sexual assault and/or violence which may be triggering to some.

Circe by Madeline Miller is a retelling of many Greek mythology stories, all told from the perspective of Circe over her thousands of years of life. The novel focuses on the idea of transformation. Over the plot of the novel, she recalls her early life, when she believed she was powerless, her relationships with gods and mortals, and her evolution into a feared witch.

Circe encounters many of the most prominent figures in Greek mythology, including but not limited to Pasiphae, Prometheus, Scylla, Daedalus, and Odysseus. Her interactions with them are interesting and allude to the various myths these legendary characters come from.

Circe’s isolation takes different forms throughout the book: Alienated and bullied by her family, sent away to a deserted island, and in her choice of actions. This allows us to understand not only how others perceive her, but how her power and confidence quietly grow over the course of the story. Her isolation also permits us to see her unique perspective of the world around her.

I enjoyed the writing style of this novel as the author uses a smart turn of phrases and lively descriptions. The use of past tense and commentary on Circe's past decisions further shows her growth through the story and her bitterness towards the people who harmed her.

Finally, we can see how Circe's character is built up prior to her role in the Odyssey, expanding her character from just a lustrous, evil witch, to an experienced, knowledgeable master of magic who exercises her skills to avenge her past self. I was deeply engrossed in this story the first time I read it, and every time after that. I highly recommend this novel if you enjoy Greek mythology or the retelling of myths and legends. This story is a fascinating tale of loss and regrowth, which chronicles the life of one of the many captivating characters from Greek myth.