Circe, Madeline Miller, Little Brown and Company, 2018, 385 pp
I was not a big fan of Madeline Miller's first novel, The Song of Achilles. I felt the narrative voice was too feminine for such a male centric tale, based on The Iliad. In Circe, she has totally redeemed herself in my eyes.
I was glad I saved Circe until I had read The Odyssey. In fact, it was just two weeks ago when I finished it. I was still in that world in my heart and mind, so I knew about as much as anyone who is not a Greek scholar about ancient Greece, the heroes and the gods.
Miller provides an extensive list of characters both divine and mortal at the back of the book and I used it often. In fact, I finally got a grip on the difference between the Titans and the Olympians, something I was always confused about when I tried to read Greek myths.
My preparation paid off. I loved the book! Circe as a character was deep, deeply disturbed, but kick ass as all get out. The book just flew by for me with nary a boring moment.
Odysseus was there but only as an almost minor character. He may have lived for thousands of years as a hero in our minds, thanks to Homer, but he was after all a mortal. In truth he lived a short span of years compared to Circe who was after all immortal. Interesting thoughts about lifespans and immortality, about how tales and religion can confer immortality even on humans.
One thing I loved was how well she captured the Greek conception of their deities. She was also good at that in The Song of Achilles. Their extreme dysfunction is in such contrast with modern day sensibilities about our Gods. It is almost as if the Greek gods and goddesses get away with what humans wish they could. And they never feel guilty!
Circe then, comes across as almost an outlier whose sympathies and interactions with humans becomes a sort of redemption. Very clever and provocative ideas are at work in this novel.
Circe will definitely be on my Top 25 list for 2018.
(Circe is available in hardcover by order from Once Upon A Time Bookstore.)
That's an excellent analysis of the book. And a very good book it is; we agree on that. I still have not read The Song of Achilles, but I have it in my queue and I hope to get to it sometime this summer.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dorothy. I will be interested to hear how you liked The Song of Achilles when you get to it.
DeleteI wasn't as prepared to read it but I liked it just the same. I took a mythology course in college though. I agree with this assessment: "Very clever and provocative ideas are at work in this novel."
ReplyDeleteI think a mythology course would be good preparation. I like that we agree on my assessment. Of course, I am thrilled that you and Dorothy and I all liked the book. It is almost like we had a reading group on it.
DeleteSounds like a delightful read! I've had both of Madeline Miller's books on my reading wishlist for a long while, but already have such a huge 'to be read' pile that it may be a long while before reading her books.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the "to be read" pile. Mine is towering and probably always will be. Aren't we lucky to have so many great authors writing books for us?
DeleteYes, I feel blessed to have so many wonderful books to read!
DeleteI'm so glad you liked this! I thought Circe was a fascinating character and I found it interesting that so many different myths were woven into her story. I enjoyed The Song of Achilles too, but I understand what you mean about the narrative voice feeling very feminine. This is a better book, I think.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a better book. It's always nice when the second book is better, don't you think? Circe was a character I could love.
DeleteBoy, this book has certainly been getting a lot of buzz. It doesn't seem to be one that I'd like.
ReplyDeleteYes it has but we won't make you read it!
DeleteI'm glad this book was better than the author's first book. I'm often hesitant to try a second book when I don't like the first book I've read by an author. But I've been pleasantly surprised a few times when I took a chance.
ReplyDeleteIt was a pleasant surprise, you are right!
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