Book Review: 'Circe', by Madeline Miller.
Posted Aug 13, 2020 10:20 PM
Book Review: Circe by Madeline Miller
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Disclaimer:
This book (and subsequent review) deals with themes of sexual assault (rape) against women. Although it is not in overly graphic detail, I would recommend steering clear of this book as a whole if you might find these scenes upsetting. The review will also naturally contain minor spoilers due to me elaborating upon the myth which the book’s based upon.
Introduction:
During quarantine, I’ve taken up reading as a hobby and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. One of the books I read which really captured my interest was ‘Circe’ by Madeline Miller – a book founded in Grecian mythology but with the twist of a feminist perspective. I often find books like these tiresome and condescending in their mission, but Circe really stood out to me as a thoroughly enjoyable feminist novel, and I would advise others to read it. The book, which I read on Kindle, was 3339 pages in length.
Main premise of the novel:
Circe is, first and foremost, a feminist retelling of the legendary Homer’s ‘Odyssey’. The novel features a plethora of famous (or infamous) Greek figures ranging from Scylla and Prometheus to Zeus himself and focuses on the life of Circe, daughter of Helios who is exiled and forced to live a life of isolation. Traditionally within Greek myth Circe is portrayed as an evil enchantress, turning Odysseus’ companions into swine before he is eventually able to charm his way into making her changing his men back before escaping the island due to the help of a herb known only as ‘moly’, which he was gifted by Hermes. However, within Miller’s novel, Circe’s actions are explained, with her becoming more of a sympathetic figure than the ill-meaning witch she is traditionally portrayed as. This trend is widespread within the book; Circe’s questionable actions are explained by the author conjuring up an expansive backstory for her which entwines with other legendary myths such as those of Icarus and the Minotaur.
Main Themes:
- Gender – The main theme of this book is most certainly gender, with the few women in Greek mythology typically being seen as needlessly spiteful or simple-minded individuals Madeline Miller is able to instill a breath of fresh air into the genre through her portrayal of Circe who, despite not being innocent by any means, is ultimately a sympathetic character who, despite a tragic backstory, still means well.
- Immortality – At the beginning of the novel, Circe is exiled to live life alone on an island forever. She is immortal despite not being a God due to her parentage and frequently questions the intrinsic value of immortality as she sees lives pass her by on the island and hears of the deaths of mortals whom she had once known. It is established at the beginning of the novel that Gods and their offspring can feel pain but not be wounded, and this notion is central to Circe’s character; she lives a pained life but this goes unbeknownst to all who visit her island due to her homely façade.
- Greek Mythos – If you were a fan of Percy Jackson as a child, or find Joy in reading classics such as Homer’s poetry or even partaking in performance pieces such as that of ‘Medea’ (who appears within this novel), this book is a must-read for you. I cannot remember having read a book so rich in insight into Greek mythology since I originally read Homer’s odyssey a good couple years ago. If anyone would like an expansive list of each and every Greek figure/story touched upon within the book (and you don’t have the time to read it) please contact me!
Why you should read it:
I believe you should read this book because it is a shining example of brilliance within a genre which is particularly hard to do well, that being the feminist novel. While plenty of other feminist novels produce narrators who are condescending, unreliable and self-victimizing (Offred from the Handmaids’ Tale comes to mind), Madeline Miller has produced a powerful female voice who actively fights against those who desire to oppress her instead of spending the rest of her days wallowing in self-pity. Many of the great English novels, such as Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’, feature women only as helpless victims so it is thoroughly revitalizing to read a well-written book that actually portrays women as being the masters of their own destiny. Additionally, there are very, very few books that provide old stories with feminist perspectives, with this being one of - if not the, most famous example around. It's always good to diversify your reading so that you can deem yourself well-read, and it's even better to do so with genuinely good books.
My personal rating:
I have established five criteria in my reviews which I believe are vital in establishing whether a book is well-written, but I am open to editing these criteria if anyone thinks there are other aspects of the book which should be critiqued
- Writing Style: 4/5
The writing style was very good; sentences flowed, and I didn’t notice any repetitive descriptions outside of those which were used for emphasis.
- Engagement Factor: 3.5/5
Due to Circe being the first person-narrator of the text, she often laments upon her time on the island or speaks of flashbacks to her past, flashbacks which are mentioned previously in the novel. Because of this, it can be hard to keep focused at some points within the novel when she isn’t really doing anything, with the first thirty pages probably being the weakest point of the novel. However, the action ramps up in the final third and thus I finished with a flourish.
- Pace: 4/5
As aforementioned, mixed in with all the adventure were some dull moments upon which Circe merely spoke of her past or lamented upon the fates of those she once knew, however these are used sparingly throughout the book and do good to show that Circe’s time in exile wasn’t always full of adventure.
- Relevance: 4.5/5
This book is particularly relevant today due to the influx of feminist authors in recent times. If one wishes to write a feminist novel, reading ‘Circe’ is a great start as the book shows one how to create a likable female lead without making her annoyingly pitiful.
- Story: 4.5/5
The story is most certainly the highlight of the text, with it being thoroughly engaging and tying in with many, many Greek myths, my personal favourite being that of Scylla.
Total: 4.1/5
A thoroughly good read, I would deem anything above 3.5+ worth reading, anything above 4+ good, and anything above 4.5 absolutely exceptional and potentially life-changing. While I wouldn't herald this novel as life-changing, it does provide an interesting insight into Greek mythology and challenges the preconceived notions of any story dealing with Greek myth sidelining or villainous the female cast. I would not consider myself a feminist, in modern terms, but I very much appreciate this feminist novel.
