Book review by Colin May (2025)

Madeline Miller's Circe is an excellent reworking of Greek classics

I enjoyed this book immensely, both for the craft and beauty of its telling and for the strength of its foundation in past work. Love, sympathy and tragedy run all through it. While still a worthy read for anyone of mature mind even with little knowledge of Greek mythology or later literature based on those myths or ancient culture in general, it is far the richer for readers with that knowledge, increasing its good to great. If you don't already know who Circe is or lack other basic knowledge of Greek mythology, I strongly recommend you first read at least an introduction or overview on that subject before you tackle this book. Make sure you have the basics of The Odyssey and—here's the secret kicker—also read Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Ulysses" (along with some kind of interpretation if you're not an English major or poetry person). That background bumps up this story's impact considerably. Without it, this is a (mere) solid work of fantasy genre fiction.

On a personal note, I found myself finally making the connection between the mythical cosmology of ancient Greece and that of the many other ancient mythical cultures I have peeked into, especially Chinese and Japanese. They have their various divinities all as members of the same "divine" world in contrast with human or mortal life, whereas I suppose Western or Christian culture tends to distinguish divine beings from monsters and spirits. When Miller described the divine court into which Circe is born, with its particular hierarchy of titans and gods, nereids, naiads, dryads, monsters and spirits of all kinds I found myself thinking of the Chinese tale of the Monkey King with its Daoist heavenly court and many lesser spirits below on earth. It's all cut from the same cloth, isn't it?

Here's a parting suggestion: being a world-weary adult with teen or adult children will earn you some extra heart-squeezes, especially toward the end of the book. I took those feelings as a consolation of age, a gift that younger readers won't receive until it's their turn.

Author's website: https://madelinemiller.com/circe/