If there’s one book that I’d say you absolutely have to read, this is it. I was completely hooked right from the very first chapter of this epic work about the witch/demigoddess Circe (yes – the one who turned men into pigs).
Madeline Miller’s retelling of Homer’s Odyssey recasts this ancient greek epic from the point of view of Circe as a woman misunderstood, rather than the sinister character she is usually portrayed as. From the very beginning of the novel we realise that Circe is seen as inferior to the rest of her family. Despite being the daughter of the powerful sun god Helios, Circe is teased for the ‘thin sound’ of her crying; she has been born with the voice of a mortal, not a god. Eventually outcast to an uninhabited island is the world of mortals, Circe must navigate life on her own, all the while shadowed by the burden of immortality.
Powerful, magical, devastating – this book is a keen portrayal of an individual’s strength to overcome all odds in a world where everything seems against them. A feast for the imagination, and truly unputdownable. So, get ready to curl up on the sofa and forget all about the outside world, as this book will have your entire attention from the very first page to the very last word.
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