A review by conspystery
Circe by Madeline Miller

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book accomplishes its goal: it feels like an epic recounted in first person, and it is exceptionally well-done. I loved it in so many different ways.

The atmosphere of this book is established with grace, and lends itself to the thematic contrast between the mortal and the divine. All sorts of mythological threads are tied in: Daedalus, Prometheus, Jason, Scylla… this book’s world is thoroughly intertwined with itself and with familiar names of legend, and that connectedness carves a sense of vastness and significance to the novel. The Gods and their portrayal in actions, physical descriptions, and the settings that surround them are truly mythic, presented with simultaneous reverence and disillusion to match Circe’s perceptions of them. Most of all, the witchcraft in this book-- magic which is not divine-- is mysterious and vibrant at once, in line with the enchanting physical setting of Aiaia where it is first explored in depth. It almost has its own character to it, a kind of active playfulness at times and solemn darkness at others. I loved how it acted as both a piece of the worldbuilding and also a symbol of Circe’s character development; it gave so much depth to the atmosphere of the book while at the same time reflecting Circe’s personal narrative. 

Circe herself is, of course, a selling point of this book. She is phenomenally compelling. She is painted with immortality and the solitude that comes with divinity; as the novel goes on, those themes move with her, mirroring the ways she defies and reclaims them throughout the book. Circe occupies a liminal space of importance to the scale of the Gods around her. It is her self-definition that gives her narrative direction, and the contrast between how she sees herself and the way others view her is a central pillar of how she tells her story. Her lens throughout this novel is a discerning one; she is insightful and powerful and self-aware, especially as the story goes on, narrating always with a keen intelligence and shielded sentimentality. 

Circe’s character arcs are always guided by her experiences, as are her relationships with other characters, which allow the reader to experience her learning and see it applied with her as she goes on. My favorite part, I think, was the change in intentionality in her descriptions as she developed through the book; at times, she seems to present other characters ways which serve subconsciously to justify herself, drawing the reader in until they can understand her actions, and at other times she speaks from her genuine perceptions of others, acknowledging her charity or bias, as if to compare with the audience rather than convince. Her depictions of Odysseus and Daedalus were exceptionally thoughtful. I loved the subtle similarities and differences between them and the way she recognized herself in them. Other notably striking characters were Circe’s lioness, Pasiphaë, Medea, Athena, Telemachus, and Penelope, along with the transformed monster Scylla. How Circe revealed her own character development aided by her presentation of others’ was compelling and realistic, in line with the conflict between isolation and togetherness with which she constantly struggles. 

The narrative of Circe itself is epic, spanning countless years-- as an immortal being, immortality soaks Circe’s character and story, and the structure of the novel itself reflects that, slow-paced and grand yet circular. The prose itself evokes the divinity Circe grapples with through rich, mythological imagery, flowing syntax, and conclusive, powerful statements of theme conveyed often through metaphor, simile, and analogy. Most of all, I loved how this book echoes itself; phrases invoked over and over again with different meanings, reflected like memory and given perspective as the story continues, with repetitive emphasis that reminded me of ocean waves on a shore crashing over and over and over forever. The themes of this book are built into its foundations, even through the writing itself. 

Ultimately, this is a book which understands its lead. It moves with Circe, uses her voice to shape her narrative as it winds around her in retrospect and recollection. In its writing, atmosphere, and storytelling itself alike, Circe is epic and divine and ancient, and it is also fresh and realistic and sincere; as Circe herself is multifaceted, so too is the narrative she weaves. I love what this book suggests about what it is to be alive, and the meaning we can find in other people as well as make in ourselves. I couldn’t put it down. 
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