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    Circe
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    Circe
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    Circe
    Audiobook12 hours

    Circe

    Written by Madeline Miller

    Narrated by Perdita Weeks

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    This #1 New York Times bestseller is a "bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story" that brilliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of The Odyssey (Alexandra Alter, TheNew York Times).

    In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child -- not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power -- the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

    Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

    But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

    With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world.

    #1 New York Times Bestseller -- named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, the Washington Post, People, Time, Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Newsweek, the A.V. Club, Christian Science Monitor, Refinery 29, Buzzfeed, Paste, Audible, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Thrillist, NYPL, Self, Real Simple, Goodreads, Boston Globe, Electric Literature, BookPage, the Guardian, Book Riot, Seattle Times, and Business Insider.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateApr 10, 2018
    ISBN9781478975311
    Unavailable
    Circe
    Author

    Madeline Miller

    Madeline Miller is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of two novels: The Song of Achilles, which won the Orange Women’s Prize for Fiction 2012, and Circe, which was short-listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019. Her books have been translated into over thirty two languages. Miller holds an MA in Classics from Brown University, studied in the Dramaturgy department at Yale School of Drama, where she focused on the adaptation of classical texts to modern forms, and taught Latin, Greek, and Shakespeare to high school students for over a decade.

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    Reviews for Circe

    4.5/5

    3,165 ratings171 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I recommended this for my book club to read because I know little about Greek mythology, thought this well received book would be a good place to start, and wanted others to discuss with others, who might have more knowledge of mythology than I.

      At first I struggled to get into it: I'm generally not a fan of fantasy. But as Circe developed into her own person, defying the father who didn't value her, I began to become hooked on her story, and had a hard time putting it down.

      Circe's devotion to her son really spoke to me, as a mother. She would do anything to keep her son, Telegonus, safe from Athena, even if she risks losing him in the process.

      Some reviewers have pegged this as YA; libraries catalog it as Adult. The story of Circe may be fantasy, but it is a story of one woman's growth to adult maturity. As such, I found it to be surprisingly moving.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this more than I thought I would (I feel like I say that about every YA book I read. I'll have to stop judging YA books so harshly at some point). The Odyssey was one of my favorite stories to read when I was a kid and I always had conflicted feelings about Circe. At first I hated her, then she became more intriguing. Still, it was all speculation until Miller gave the story new life with this rendition.

      Circe's character development strikes me as being especially rich in this story (it would have to be, she has a lot of time to kill) which is something Miller excels at. I found myself reflecting on earlier parts of the novel as if they involved different characters, as if it was a different story completely. Which of course, it was. By the end Circe reflects just as much on her previous lives and the lifetimes of men she has lived as an immortal. There are plenty of stories with reflective characters, but none that I've read recently that pull the reader this close. That said, there were particularly ugly parts of the story that were distanced by falling back on the conventions of Homer's myths. The tone was preserved beautifully, but I personally enjoyed not being asked to experience her trauma with her.

      I would certainly recommend this book as it's a fun and engrossing read, especially to anyone who grew up with a copy of Homer's work in their hand.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Circe by Madeline Miller, can be best described as a woman's ordeal and search for identity and power. The plot is so smooth that so many women can connect with Circe's character. A powerless woman searching for the true meaning of life in her own way was something to brace upon. But, the book doesn't have much Greek action, as the story is narrated from the main character's viewpoint.

      Although the plot slowed down in the middle, the narrator's voice kept me hooked. It was the latter half of the book that was far more interesting and something to set your mind on. Circe's character development from Helios's daughter to a mother was amazing. It is the first time I am reading a Greek Mythology from a woman's POV. I read the book as a part of the #52booksin52weeks reading challenge. Definitely, the book deserves 4 stars and I am all set to read the next book by the author.
    • 4/5
      It seems when I engage in anything to do with Greek Gods (university courses, tv shows, movies, video games, books) I think I should like it way more than I actually do. I don't know if it's the storytelling or that I'm sort of over it or if I've just heard the stories so many times yet still can't retain exactly who is God of what, only that they like to fight and fuck everything and are incredibly pompous.

      I know this book received a lot of critical praise, but it didn't entirely work for me. It didn't help that we took a major break with about 20% to go or that the final section felt like it dragged on and on, while the first half was quite exciting. Perdita Weeks was a phenomenal audiobook narrator, she did a tremendous job and I don't think the book is poorly written, it just didn't click entirely for me.
    • 5/5
      I would rate this around 4.5 stars.

      Mythological stories are how humans reveal truths about themselves by looking at the lives of Gods. Circe is flipped with a story told from the Goddesses point of view as she finds out about herself through the lives of humans.

      This is a wonderful character development story. Plotting is wonderful. Weaves characters from Greek myths into an engaging story that will give new insight into the Greek myths. While the writing is very good, I would say it falls short from the five star rating in that the language didn't wow me.

      A very good read, and I will say that many will leave this book thinking this is a 5 star book.

      Song of Achilles is next....
    • 3/5
      I didn't like this as much as I'd hoped. I have three problems with it.
      1. Circe. She is irritatingly naive, she constantly wants someone else to solve her problems, she constantly expects people to treat her well, constantly gets her hopes up, and then she is disjointed and she wails, and dies nothing of consequence. I'm sure I could come up with excuses for it, but the truth is, it's just not pleasant to read about. Grow up a little faster.
      2. The people around Circe. They are almost all of them shit. The gods, obviously. And most of the people too. So there are very few worthwhile relationships, and if there are any, they don't last long, because everyone leaves.
      3. She lives by herself on an island. She leaves it twice. The rest of the time, she hears about the rest of the world from other people. It doesn't feel like your in the story, it feels like walking across a painting with scenes of the Greek myths. The gods don't feel very real, they're all pretty unrealistic. And yes, when you read the Greek stories, maybe it's not easy to make them relatable. But I wanted them to come alive, and they didn't. Circe herself is too inconsequential and feels like a vehicle for myth telling a large part of the time.

      So I was a bit bored because of the above and I couldn't relate, but still it was not all bad, or I would not have finished it. The writing was engaging, not always, but often enough. The ending was good. Finally some backbone and finally she is more sensible. I could see the bare bones of why I imagine most people rate it so high, but for me it didn't follow through.
    • 5/5
      I so enjoyed Miller’s Song if Achilles that I was eager to read Circe. Miller has done it again- turning the ancient stories of myth into an adventure it is impossible to put down. The book follows Circe through her childhood, her banishment to a deserted island, and her triumphant and thoughtful return. Loved it.
      If I have one little bug to report it was the constant comparison of things to stones. Things fall like stones, taste like stones, are like stones in her mouth, feel like stones. It’s a lovely word, stones. Smoother than rocks. Friendlier than boulders. But one wishes for a bit of variety...
    • 5/5
      What an amazing book! Circe was made real and human. She made mistakes but used them as lessons to improve herself, something I always try to do and fail
    • 4/5
      Looking for something with literary chops but just a little bit quirky? Enjoy this "ripped from the headlines of mythology" tale of Circe, the minor Greek deity with the bad reputation and the worse family life!

      Casting your memory back to high school, you may remember Circe as the enchantress who delayed Odysseus's return to Ithica (and the ever-patient Penelope) by transforming his sailors into swine. In this outing, she's the daughter of a narcissistic nymph mother and Helios, a fearsome titan but imperious and uncaring dad. Unloved, belittled, and bullied but resilient for all that, Circe gradually comes to terms with her special powers (turns out she's got a way with herbs), her character flaws (she has a thing for the bad boys - as nymphs are wont to do), and her bad choices (tip: never cast spells when you're angry) on her way to discovering the difference between the things that should make her happy - golden halls, nectar, being worshipped - and the things that actually make her happy: motherhood, compassion, love.

      Miller's prose is lyrical and lovely, without getting overly bogged down in imagery. The tale moves fairly briskly through guest appearances by such Ancient Greek celebs as Prometheus, Daedalus, Icarus, Minos, Jason, Medea, and Odysseus. And while many of the themes she explores here are, despite the novelty of the setting, familiar - abandonment, jealousy, self-knowledge, etc. - Miller's treatment of these themes is graceful and intelligent, including an unusually thoughtful exploration of the disconnect between the Greek ideal of heroism vs. the brutal realities and atrocities of actual warfare.

      Nothing too deep or profound here - just an diverting story, ably told, with refreshing notes of novelty and some unusually elegant prose.
    • 5/5
      Circe is a 2018 novel by Madeline Miller that retells the story of the Greek goddess Circe from her own perspective. The novel is set during the Greek Heroic Age and follows Circe's journey from a young woman exiled to a remote island to a powerful witch who must learn to control her own destiny. Circe is a feminist retelling of a classic myth that has won numerous awards, including the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy, and explores important themes such as gender, power, and identity.

      Circe is a fascinating protagonist who is both flawed and sympathetic. The supporting characters are also well-drawn and memorable. There are many twists and turns along the way.

      If you are a fan of Greek mythology, complex female characters, or beautifully written novels, then I highly recommend Circe.

      [Disclaimer: I am not very good at writing reviews so I asked Bard, the Google AI, for help]
    • 4/5
      Distinct plot, well written, well researched, surprisingly easy to read, not usually my first choice
    • 3/5
      This was attempt number two at reading. Not the book’s fault, it was me. At the time, I wasn’t in the headspace to read something heavy and steeped in the Classics. But now, Greek mythology is having a renaissance (or did it ever disappear?) with God of War, Hades, Lore Olympus. That, combined with my own ambition to write a book about Medusa, I felt I had to give this one a second try for research.

      Madeline Miller is obviously versed in classics and Greek mythology so the text is not easy. I mean, it’s not Proust or anything, but you will feel like an adult reading this. Don’t come into this with a mindset that this is Disney’s Hercules. Or even Sam Raimi’s Hercules. This is more like a royal princess in her kingdom with her distant father, political marriages, and treading a balance beam of rebellion vs. obedience.

      This is the story of Circe, who, if you recall, is a minor character in the Odyssey. She’s basically an obstacle for Odysseus. And them ding dang women always be tempting men, so evil they are. But this is the “real story” from her birth as a demigod, interacting with various gods and goddesses, and it really starts when she creates Scylla and is exiled to a mortal island for witchcraft. At its core, it’s not dissimilar to a “witches vs. patriarchy” story. It basically follows what the other characters in Odyssey were doing behind the scenes.

      But for it trying to be a feminist retelling (which is how I interpreted it) the main character does develop a dependency on men, even though she has nothing but bad relationships with them. Circe’s inclinations are only slightly better than the usual greedy, selfish, scornful kind. In other words, Miller tried to elevate her above her relationships with men, but failed. Although, maybe that’s the point.

      But the question is will you enjoy this book? Well, if you enjoy classics and myths, maybe. If you enjoy literature that makes you feel smart, maybe. If you enjoy feminist literature, maybe. If you can check all three of those boxes, I recommend it. But if you crave less character-based, more action-based, less characters-holding-the-idiot-ball, more drama, less relationshippy, then probably you can skip it.
    • 5/5
      So, I will, hopefully, write a longer review soon, but for now... 1) Miller is a great writer. 2) She develops not just Circe, but those around her, into vibrant, complex, real characters that you will alternately love and want to yell at. 3) She so skillfully describes life as divine being and love among them that it feels not a whit awkward or contrived (something many fantasy authors have trouble doing).
    • 4/5
      I'll never be able to think about the Odyssey, or ulysses, or Greek mythology the same.
    • 4/5
      I love mythology in the first place and this book is so beautifully written! Wonderful book.
    • 5/5
      Circe is the second novel by Madeline Miller. It is loosely connected to her first, The Song of Achilles.

      Content Note: rape, abuse

      Plot:
      Circe is the daughter of the titan Helios and the naiad Perse, but she is somewhat of an outcast among her family, ridiculed for her broken voice, her unattractiveness and her powerlessness. She has resigned herself to this state of things – until she meets the human Glaucos and falls in love. She starts to dream, albeit dreams for him at first. Through those dreams, she discovers her powers, but once she uses them against another nymph, punishment awaits her.

      Circe is a feminist reinterpretation of a character that is mostly known for being a villain. The novel gives her more personal history, good reasons for her behavior and above all sympathy. All of ths is really, really great. But what is greatest is that Circe is a novel about healing from past harm so you can move on with your life. And that is simply beautiful.

      Read more on my blog: https://kalafudra.com/2022/11/26/circe-madeline-miller/
    • 5/5
      I read this during the beginning of the Covid-19 era. What a joy to read something of pure escapism. Miller magically combines all of the recorded tales of Circe into one breathtaking so-called autobiography. Circe is the teller of her own tale, and she is a force to be reckoned with. What struck me most, though, was the loneliness that embodied her character and the enduring love she had for humans (most anyway--she did turn some into swine!). I hope Miller keeps writing stories like these; mythology truly comes to life in her capable hands.
    • 4/5
      Fantasy based on Homer’s Odyssey, Iliad, and other ancient texts of Greek mythology, told from the perspective of Circe, daughter of the Titan sun god Helios and Oceanid nymph Perse. Circe was a witch, using a wide variety of herbal potions to transform others. Zeus exiled her to the island of Aiaia, where she lives mostly in solitude, but entertains assorted notable visitors, such as Hermes, her brother Aeëtes, her niece Medea, Jason, Athena, and Odysseus. She plays a role in the lives of The Minotaur, Daedalus, Ariadne, Telemachus, and Penelope.

      I enjoyed reading this story. It is woven together beautifully from many noted sources, and I applaud the author for bringing Greek mythology to a wider audience. Miller’s Circe is courageous, independent, and assertive, and her character evolved over time. Circe learns some difficult lessons and adjusts her behavior, becoming more confident. She faces many of the same challenges as a modern woman. The author has a knack for invoking emotion through poignant scenes and her prose is elegant. I particularly enjoyed her descriptions of motherhood, friendship, and the human condition. Her observations about humanity and the god-mortal relationships are thought-provoking and insightful.

      The only downsides for me were the length of time it took to grab my interest and a good portion of the plot revolved around re-telling popular myths, which seemed unnecessary. Although not required, having a basic knowledge of Greek mythology was helpful. The author provides a lengthy list of characters and their backgrounds in a section near the end of the digital version of the book. Content warnings include rape, sex, and violence. Recommended to readers that enjoy retellings of the classics, or those interested in an accessible introduction to Circe and many other characters of Greek mythology.
    • 3/5
      Nýmphē has the primary meaning of "young woman; bride, young wife." It is also the title given to lesser goddesses, like Circe. Goddess Circe has to summon her power through herbs, potions, and language. Olympians are frightened of her powers, so she is exiled to the island of Aiaia. Here Circe collects stories and lives.

      Madeline Miller writes an autobiographical epic of Circe. It appears to be accurate to ancient mythologies too. Perdita really brought the story to life with her narrating. It was like someone sitting next to you, sharing the story of their life.
    • 4/5
      4/5 stars

      I listened to this as an audiobook on Audible.

      This was a beautiful book. It was a joy to listen to and transported me to Aiaia.

      I loved how this book humanized the gods in a way that wasn't unbelievable. They seemed like actual people, but more (as the gods were meant to be portrayed in Ancient Greece). Circe, herself, was beautifully done. The comparison to Prometheus was great too, because both Prometheus and Circe loved humans, and were the most human-like of their fellow gods/titans. Circe's development from who she was, to who (and why) the mythologies portrayed her as, was explained in a way that made you go, "well yeah, I'd do the same thing if I had the ability" and made you side with Circe.

      The integration of all of the mythologies as well was extremely well done. (My Classics heart is happy and full.) I loved that it made her a bit more modern, a bit more feminist than the original myths, but also understood that the original story itself is a product of it's time. Ancient (mythological) Greece wasn't the picture perfect place we want it to be in terms of social etiquette, and looking at this re-telling with a 2022 lens isn't the way to go about understanding it.

      I think the author balanced our modern ideologies and the not-so-modern Greek myths in a way that also contributed to making everyone seem more real. I felt like I was hearing from Odysseus, Medea, and Hermes themselves.

      The lengths Circe would go through to protect her son, and anyone she deemed under her protection, was another aspect of the book that made Circe relatable and human. She was a damned good mother. One of the better mothers in Greek mythologies. She wasn't perfect, but she always tried her hardest. She loved her son and would walk into the depths of the sea to protect him.

      It's an excellent re-telling of a goddess's myth. It feels like the modern equivalent of the myths being told in ancient Greece. I don't have a better way to describe it. How the ancient Greeks felt hearing the stories of their gods, because they humanized them as well but based around their social structure. This was Madeline Miller's attempt at the same feeling and she accomplished it.
    • 3/5
      Truthfully I was expecting more from this book with all the hype that there was. I was under the impression it was more "inspired by" greek mythology than just a "behind the scenes" look at it. If you are familiar with Greek mythology at all the plot is a bit predictable, and it reads much more like they odyssey than I was expecting. Overall it was a decent book, I think I was just expecting more from it.
    • 5/5
      This is an excellent telling of Circe's story - every bit as good as Margaret Atwoodd's telling of the story of Penelope in her "Penelopiad".

      I bought this just after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade with the Dobbs decision (2022), so the gender politics (here, set in the realm of ancient Greek myth) feels particularly appropriate.
    • 4/5
      Weaves together a whole lot of Greek myths into a seamless whole. Am not 100% happy about a rape being the thing that tips Circe from unwilling hermit to evil fairytale witch, but at least that's only one of many events and turns in her life. Overall her journey makes a convincing argument that the gods suck mightily: at one point I was hoping she'd manage to destroy them all but I guess that would have taken more than one book!
    • 3/5
      A new take on the life of Circe, with lyric language, a cynical take on mythology, and a heroine who only slowly finds her way. I found it enjoyable, true to the ancient hymns as far as that goes, pleasingly feminist in its way, and harsh in judgment on the fickle gods. I hope she got her desired ending.
    • 4/5
      A saga with gods, nymphs, monsters, witches, and mortals. Using those tools, the author fashioned an engaging tale with some deeper meanings of the dangers of power, of trying to control too much, and the value of simplicity. Eternal life was also revealed as a burden, making existence banal and boring.
    • 3/5
      I didn't remember much about the myth of Circe but as I read, the little I knew came back to me. When I read a retelling of a myth, I expect a real retelling, maybe something surprising in some way. Circe's story and her encounter with other gods, goddesses, and heroes just seemed very familiar to me with nothing really surprising or extraordinary - it was a straight retelling for the most part. Miller's writing is vivid and lyrical at times. I was a bit confused by the ending but it was satisfying.
    • 4/5
      Good read, entertaining. It was a different perspective on just the life of Circe (imagined).
    • 5/5
      Blending tales of ancient Greek gods and goddesses with other classic stories like the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Minotaur, and Daedalus and Icarus, this book has something for everyone.

      Circe is the daughter of the Titan Helios and the naiad Perse. As such she is immortal but she is fascinated by mortals. She meets a mortal sailor and falls in love with him but when she transforms him into an immortal he doesn't return her love. Instead he falls in love with the nymph Scylla and Circe was so jealous she changed Scylla into a monster. Scylla inhabited a rocky island close to the deadly whirlpool Charybdis and ate sailors who were unfortunate enough to sail too near the shores of her island (engendering the phrase of choosing between Scylla and Charybdis meaning a difficult choice between two evils). Her witchcraft called her to the attention of Zeus, head of the Olympian gods, and he demanded she be exiled. The island to which she was exiled was not a barren rocky place but quite lush with animals and fruits and a large house. (The house needed no maintenance or cleaning which sounds quite delightful.) Circe devoted herself to perfecting her witchcraft for which she gathered plants found around the island. Years passed with no contact with others and then a ship pulled into the harbour. It was sent by her sister, Pasiphae, who was married to the King of Crete, Minos. She had sent Daedalus to bring Circe to her because she was pregnant by the sacred white bull of Crete and she needed Circe's help to give birth to the monster who would become the Minotaur. So Circe went to Crete on the ship which Pasiphae had ordered to return to Crete by the fastest way which took it between Scylla and Charybdis. Circe tricked Scylla, helped with the Minotaur's birth and had a love affair with Daedalus. Then she had to return to her island Several times the island was visited by ships and when the crew threatened rape and violence Circe transformed the men into pigs. (Was this the origin of the "male chauvinist pig" epithet?) When Odysseus' ship arrived his crew met the same fate but after Odysseus pleaded for them she returned them to their human shape. Odysseus and his crew stayed on her island for some time, repairing the ship and resting from their arduous journey. Odysseus and Circe became lovers and just before Odysseus left for home Circe allowed herself to conceive his son. This son, Telegonus, would be a threat to Odysseus and thus his protector, Athena, tried to kill him. Circe used all her powers to protect him and he did go on to kill his father. Odysseus' wife, Penelope, and his other son, Telemachus, returned to the island with Telegonus. Telemachus fell in love with Circe and for him she sacrificed her immortality.

      I've always loved these Greek myths and Miller has done a marvelous job of weaving them all together.
    • 4/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed this ride! This book is very well written and reminded me of Gregory McGuire and how he created all the backstories for the characters from the Wizard of Oz. I would love to see this made into a movie.
    • 5/5
      A compulsive read. I loved this book