A review by robsfavoriteaudiobooks
Circe by Madeline Miller

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“I was not surprised by the portrait of myself: the proud witch undone before the hero’s sword; kneeling and begging for mercy. Humbling women seems to me a chief pastime of poets; as if there can be no story unless we crawl and weep.”

A beautiful revisiting of one of the classic myths of Western Literature. The unique perspectives offered by the titular nymph showcases the reasons why discarded women in the past would choose the path of becoming a secluded witch rather than suffer at the mercies of powerful men. 

Interestingly, it wasn’t just Circe’s point of view deepened but that of Odysseus himself. The hero of “The Odyssey” is still a larger-than-life übermensch sort of figure; always the bravest, smartest, cleverest, smoothest guy around. At the same time, Circe sees in him and brings out of him a vulnerability that he keeps guarded from everyone who knows him. She knows and tells readers about the things the epic writers would never know to share.