Social Distancing Greek Mythology Edition: Circe Book Review

Review: 4.5 STARS

Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes yes yes.

If you are reading this blog post today, I would like to inform you that I am writing this book review during the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020. Whether you are in quarantine or just feeling isolated from the world and looking for book characters to relate to, Circe is your gal. Circe, daughter of Helios, is banished by Zeus to a deserted island for what seems like an eternity. We are talking about immortals here. So if you think several weeks of being stuck at home is boring, try several lifetimes. However, this book is anything but boring.

After writing The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller has gifted the world with more of her beautiful writing through Circe’s point of view. This book is magical and will transport you to a whole other world of mythology. There are many familiar names throughout the book. As I mentioned in my book review on The Song of Achilles, I am no mythology expert. Nonetheless, I was still able to recognize and enjoy some of the characters who I have heard of and read about in Miller’s previous novel. One thing that is so captivating about her novels is that she finds a way to intertwine the old familiar with a modern touch of whimsicality.

I know that when we experience difficult situations or are at an uncertain point in our lives, we tend to stay away from books and media in general that remind us of what we went/are going through. This is totally normal and justifiable. I’ve heard people say they can’t read non-fiction because they need to be transported to a completely different place and don’t even want to think about the real world right now. I myself have been wary these days in light of current events of dystopian novels, which are normally my favorite to read. That being said, I want to say that I see Circe as an optimistic book. The characters, especially Circe, are faced with struggles and endure hardships, but of course it wouldn’t be Greek mythology if we didn’t have heroes and epic victories to balance out the tragedies.

In fact, there a few tips we can learn from Circe’s time in isolation:

Staying connected to news/stories from the outside world can be entertaining, but the lack of it could also be good for our sanity.
Instead of feeling sorry for yourself in difficult situations, develop a new hobby or skill.
Even in times of isolation, it’s possible to make meaningful connections and cultivate relationships.

Overall, this book is excellently written. It could very well have been a 5-star read for me if I hadn’t just finished The Song of Achilles before picking this one up. In comparison, I felt that Circe’s predecessor slightly surpasses it in the storytelling and how engaged it kept me throughout the entire book. However, I still enjoyed every moment of Circe’s journey and adventures. I look forward to more of Miller’s books in the future. Please keep them coming.

Recommendations

If you liked Circe, then try reading The Crucible by Aurthur Miller (no relation to Madeline Miller as far as I know). This is a play about the Salem Witch Trials of the 17th century. In terms of literary elements, it is completely different from Circe, but undertakes some of the same themes.

If you like your reads accompanied by music, here is a mini-playlist that I believe pairs well with Circe: