I’m Booked: “Circe”
Written by Ally Abruscato. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Beck.
Welcome to the third article of the “I’m Booked” series! Here, I review some great (and maybe not so great) books that I’ve recently read. Today, we’re looking at “Circe” by Madeline Miller.
In her own words, Miller describes the book: “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.
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.”
While I love Miller’s other book, “Song of Achilles,” “Circe” is another one of her intriguing tales derived from Greek mythology. In fact, it’s many tales, considering the book covers lifetimes of information. Because Circe is immortal, there are plenty of stories to tell, each more interesting (and sometimes more gruesome) than the last.
One of my favorite lines from the book is, “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.” Was that life-changing? It was, I know. This book gets you sometimes!
Although I did not have much experience with Greek mythology before this, I immediately found the universe intriguing and mind-blowing. In addition, this book contains many other Greek gods and goddesses that felt like fun easter eggs combined with informative history lessons. This book is probably the reason I did well in CTXT 121.
In the end, I would obviously highly recommend “Circe.” And, if you somehow haven’t heard of “Song of Achilles,” that one is also life-shattering and heart-breaking in the best way. Madeline Miller knows how to make Greek Mythology relatable and raw. I’ll be back next week with another suggestion, but until then, I’m booked.
As Editor-in-Chief, Ally Abruscato leads and supports a talented group of staff and contributors in pursuing their creative endeavors. At SCAD, Ally majors in Photography and minors in Advertising & Branding. She regularly offers pop culture insights through movie reviews, articles and her weekly column, “I’m Booked.” When she’s not writing or taking photos, Ally’s probably outside, reading or running.
