Ratna Prabha
I was late to the reading party of Circe by Madeline Miller, largely because of great fears – that it might not meet the expectations and hype set in the reading world and that my love for Greek myth might shatter if I read a modern retelling.
How naive and foolish I was! Not only did it live up to my expectations, but Circe breached Olympus in this regard. Further, my love for Greek myth (a very close second to Indian puranas and itihasas, my first love) has happily magnified and rekindled. I loved every page of Circe. And Madeline Miller is nothing short of an adorable witch herself, with a wand to summon words and ideas to weave magical tales.
Till now, I thought Circe was nothing more than one of many of Helios’ daughters and her primary role was to capture and transform them into pigs, the sailors who erringly found their way to Aiaia, her island of exile.
Again, how wrong I was! Miller showed me how it is possible that Circe was much, much more than this, and how deep her personality could run, even touching the forbidden ocean floor, a place where even the fiercest of Greek warriors and divinities would dare not venture!
I loved the way Miller sometimes subtly and often unabashedly stitches powerful feminism into Circe and her story. I absolutely adored the way Circe embraced her vulnerabilities more than her strengths, and how that is what gave her the power needed to live life on her terms.
I loved being reminded of the diverse characters from Greek mythology throughout the book. It was like a refresher course in Greek mythology!
I was in awe of how wonderfully realistic Circe’s journey of motherhood was! Miller didn’t flinch from talking about hard facts as much as she spent time on the beautiful moments of being a mother, that too, a single mother.
Being a mother of a 2o-something and from a family where children rarely left the nest as in the 21st century, my heart went out to her as she wrestled with the pain of having to let Telegonus fly the nest.
I can go on and on about Circe. But I think I’ve left none of you in doubt about my adoration for her. So, I will stop and pick up Miller’s next sooner rather than later.
This post is part of the Bookish League blog hop hosted by Bohemian Bibliophile.
The only Greek mythology I have read is a simplified version of Odyssey by Homer and I loved it. Upon your raving review , I hope to pick up Circe by Madeline Miller soon, I hope it is not a thick one though?
I’ve read the Song of Achilles and loved it. I have bookmarked this and am going to read it in 2026.
Song of Achilles is my next Miller one on my TBR. And anyway, like Karna in our Mahabharata, Achilles is a kind of a favourite of mine. Hope you like Circe as much.
I enjoy Greek Mythology. Quite like Indian Mythology there are wheels within wheels and unexpected things happening. I heard Circe on Audible and quite liked it.
My knowledge about Greek mythology is iffy at best. I know some, but not all of it.
I read Circe when it first came out, and was really impressed by the writing. Not to mention the re-telling of the story from a very feminist lens.
Greek mythology is a huge, huge world but filled with wonder, and unsurprisingly, as human as it can be. That’s what’s so relatable to these ancient stories, Harshita. Even if you dont know much about Greek myth, you could easily understand Circe coz Miller introduces the characters and their backstories very well.
I believe every mother has their own journey of motherhood and the story of mothers always brings us the message of strength, courage and perseverance. Endurance is the best word that defines motherhood in its all facets.
Endurance is key! Very well said, Swarnali. Miller’s representation of Circe gave me wings to recreate stories from our own puranas and itihasas.
Seems like a a beautiful retelling that makes one see the myth in a whole new way. My only exposure to it through the Percy Jackson series. Will check this one out
I loved it, Manali. The writing is gorgeous, and the forgotten Greek characters came alive for me. Its different from Percy Jackson, and yet, I think you will like it.
I read Circe during that phase when everyone was talking about it and couldn’t stop raving over the book. And I for one fell in love with the book right from page one. It is indeed one of those books! Thanks for refreshing the memories of it for me!