Photo Credit: Melissa Pashby
By Patrick O’Neill, Staff Writer
Let me start by saying that Circe by Madeline Miller is a stellar novel. And if I haven’t convinced you to read it by the end of this article, then sue me.
1) As a middle schooler or elementary schooler, did you read the Percy Jackson series? Well, Circe can bring some of that Percy Jackson nostalgia back to you, and better than before. Madeline Miller has an incredibly strong command of classical imagery and a background in classics so you can almost guarantee that her myths are strong and accurate, with that charming dramatic spin she puts on her characters.
2) If you’ve read Homer’s Odyssey and wanted a little more information about the mysterious witch, Circe well Miller provides. She brings a rich background and her own vivid imagination to the tale of the Odyssey—creating scenes to extend the plot of that classic mythos and making it her own romantic, and tragic tale of love and death.
3) Circe isn’t just a history of a famous Greek witch from thousands year old mythology—it’s a tale of love, death, and sacrifice with a steady, vibrant beginning, dramatic tension building throughout, and culminating with a wholly unexpected ending.
Miller’s command of images, stylistic writing choices, and vibrant language make this read even more worth your while. My advice? Grab a copy of Circe before it gets too popular because the only downside to this book is that you haven’t read it yet.