In honor of Women’s History Month, I would like to highlight one of my favorite books written by my favorite female author. I’ve spent my whole life as an avid reader, and Circe by Madeline Miller has miraculously burrowed its way into my heart. When I read it late last year, it entered a small list of books that I could reread over and over again. You may have heard of Miller from her other prominent book, The Song of Achilles. I have read both Circe and The Song of Achilles, and both are amazing works of fiction. However, Circe has become especially dear to my heart.
Miller’s writing style is understandable but powerful.
I always love to challenge myself by reading a classic, but it’s not always fun rereading the same sentence over and over, trying to understand the meaning. Classics are considered to be the best of the best in terms of writing style and story. However, Miller’s writing style is captivating without being too difficult to understand. I often found myself writing down quotes from Circe that stuck with me as I read. Miller has a talent of being able to articulate her story in a way that made me never want to put the book down.
Feminism is a central topic to Circe.
“It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures, flowers, eggs, anything that may be crushed in a moment’s carelessness. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did.”
Circe pg. 315
If you are looking to find a book to read for Women’s History Month, I highly recommend Circe. The central theme of Circe is not about feminism, but the end of the novel makes you understand how important choice and standing up for yourself is. Many women including myself can see ourselves in Circe as she grows and learns from her mistakes. It encompasses the struggles of girlhood and coming to terms with how to succeed as your own self. No other book has ever made me feel so sure about the path I’m on more than Circe.
Circe is not a boring Greek myth retelling but one that adds depth to an already established Greek goddess.
I am a sucker for anything Greek mythology, and I will be the first to admit that I love the Percy Jackson series. However, I can see how reading about the same Greek myths can get repetitive. If there’s one thing you should take away from all this, it’s that Circe is nothing like the other Greek myths. It reads almost like a diary, and it adds so much character and gives perspective to Circe as she develops into the goddess of sorcery. Her story is not one you can simply forget about, and Miller makes sure to emphasize that fact in her 385-page novel.
Furthermore, whether you’re looking to read a detailed Greek mythology novel or a powerful story about a girl finding herself as a goddess, then Circe is the book for you. It may just become one of your favorite books in the same way it did for me.