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Sean Barrs 's Reviews > Circe

Circe by Madeline Miller
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it was amazing
bookshelves: ancient-greece, 5-star-reads, historical, reviewed-for-fantasy-book-review

This is a beautiful book; it is flawless and intelligent. I do not have a single criticism for this fantastic piece of writing. I loved it!

Circe chronicles the life of a lesser god. She is the daughter of the mighty God Helios, the living embodiment of the sun. She is born without any particular talents or powers. She exists in the shadows of her more developed brothers and sisters. She does not shine in such spectacular company.

However, gifts come in many different forms and those with hidden talents are overlooked and devalued. More often than not quiet people are forgotten about and there worth ill-considered in all walks of existence. Circe’s family never saw what she could become. Power is important, though sometimes having none teaches one a greater lesson: nothing is worth having unless it has been earned. As such Circe wills herself into power as she discovers her affinity for witchcraft, especially the art of transformation.

Her family banish her from their company for her use of such a lowly art, and in doing so they set her free. She finds herself in her exile. On her island home she finds a paradise not a prison. She becomes one with nature and finds company with lions and wolves. Centuries pass, ages pass, and eventually some rather important characters come her way. She meets Hermes and Athena, Icarus and his farther Daedalus, and Odysseus, a man who changes her life and causes her to make a very powerful decision that leads this book into such an excellent conclusion.

“But in a solitary life, there are rare moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the earth. Such a constellation was he to me.�

Circe offers a huge story, a story that spans generations and includes many Greek heroes and gods. Such is the nature of godhood, of immortality. When life goes on forever many notable people cross one’s path. And despite the huge number of famous characters here, none of it felt forced: it all slotted perfectly into Circe’s life. There are so many myths that intertwine with Circe, like the story of the Minotaur and the fall of Icarus, though despite the famous nature of many of them they don’t for a second overshadow her.

She met Prometheus when she was young and decided that her life would not be the same as the other gods: she was going to be her own woman. And this is a book about her finding the most ultimate form of freedom. I could not recommend it more highly. I really liked The Song of Achilles though this surpassed it in every way. I really hope to see more from this author in the future.

Five fantastic stars

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Reading Progress

February 25, 2018 – Shelved
February 25, 2018 – Shelved as: to-read
March 21, 2018 – Shelved as: ancient-greece
April 10, 2018 – Started Reading
April 16, 2018 – Shelved as: 5-star-reads
April 16, 2018 – Shelved as: historical
April 16, 2018 – Finished Reading
July 2, 2019 – Shelved as: reviewed-for-fantasy-book-review

Comments Showing 1-28 of 28 (28 new)

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Anca I loved this book!


message 2: by Marie-Paule (new) - added it

Marie-Paule Thanks for the tip!


message 3: by Amaryllis (new) - added it

Amaryllis I'm so excited for this one too! The Song for Achilles totally wrecked me, in a good way. Can't wait for Circe!!


message 4: by Gerhard (new) - added it

Gerhard Thanks for the lovely review. Sounds like a major expansion of the promise evinced in Song of Achilles. Really want to read this.


Gale I agree! It's my current read and I am mesmerized :)


Sean Barrs Gale wrote: "I agree! It's my current read and I am mesmerized :)"

it ends so well- just wait :)


Sean Barrs Gerhard wrote: "Thanks for the lovely review. Sounds like a major expansion of the promise evinced in Song of Achilles. Really want to read this."

I'd love to see her write more books like this.


Katie.dorny Wonderful review :) made me even more excited to get round to it!!


message 9: by Sue (new) - rated it 5 stars

Sue Porter Ordered this from Booktopia after reading your excellent review


Sean Barrs Sue wrote: "Ordered this from Booktopia after reading your excellent review"

enjoy! ;)


message 11: by Xiomara (new)

Xiomara Canizales I heard this was a retelling of another book, can you tell me if that is true and if so which book is it??? Thanks...


Kenny WOW! What a fantastic review. Must buy.


MangoLoverReads Lovely review. Excited for this one. Thanks!


message 14: by Ace (new) - rated it 3 stars

Ace I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. I’m a huge proponent of Greek mythology and particularly anything that steams from the original epic poem. But I just didn’t find myself enthralled by it the way I had hopped. Felt a little lackluster for all the hubbub.


message 15: by Lex (new) - rated it 4 stars

Lex Dogterom Makes me more excited to read it! Already on my to read list.


¶Ù±ð²õ¾±°ùé±ð Dennis Aww yay!! Madeline Miller just did a book signing at the bookstore I work for. We're not a very big store, but her Mum lives in the area so she came to visit. She's so. incredibly. nice.


¶Ù±ð²õ¾±°ùé±ð Dennis I'll send you a signed copy if you want!


Sean Barrs ¶Ù±ð²õ¾±°ùé±ð wrote: "I'll send you a signed copy if you want!"

thank you for the offer - though I already have a signed copy! :D


Sean Barrs Lex wrote: "Makes me more excited to read it! Already on my to read list."

hope you like it too! :D


Tanti Have you read The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker? Would love to know your opinion about this book.


Sean Barrs Tanti wrote: "Have you read The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker? Would love to know your opinion about this book."

no, I was put off by Emily May's review who said that this book was much better.


message 22: by Tracey (new) - added it

Tracey I do believe, that although I've been lucky to have had many 5* books this year, that this is my most favourite. :)


message 23: by Niki (new) - rated it 5 stars

Niki Smirni TALKING TO HOMER - A READING RETREAT WITH MADELINE MILLER
...
An exclusive cultural event will take place in Greece from September 26th to Oct 1st


Howard P Thanks for an excellent review. I’m adding to Reading now.


Howard P I’m now in the middle another beautifully written story by Madeline Miller. An amazing modern author writing about Greek Mythology. Her first book SONG OF ACHILLES. IMHO the author’s books are literary classics. I look forward to another book by the author. Her descriptions are so beautifully real.


message 26: by Lisia (new) - added it

Lisia Ross Hi. Wondering if this is appropriate for a 13 year old boy? He’s ready for the complexity of adult books but I want to still shield him from sexual or explicit content as well as insanely graphic or unnecessarily violent content.


Clearhazedaze Beautifully said! I want to pick this book so much and read it, I appreciate Madeline's love and passion for Greek myths and her input and ways of retelling, so glad you loved it!


Clearhazedaze Beautifully said! I want to pick this book so much and read it, I appreciate Madeline's love and passion for Greek myths and her input and ways of retelling, so glad you loved it!


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