"Circe"

Can be pronounced with a C or K,
but definitely not just one syllable

Madeline Miller's "Circe" is a reworking of Greek mythology from a new point of view. Circe, daughter of Helios, is mainly known for her role in "The Odyssey" – first turning Odysseus's crew into swine, then turning them back, and finally telling Odysseus what to expect on his journey home. Miller weaves together familiar myths into a story of the goddess's entire life, giving her an epic of her own.

"Circe" is part retelling of the greatest hits of Greek mythology and part exploration of the psychology of its gods and heroes. Circe's early years are not happy. I found the first section about her childhood in Helios's halls and how she came to live on the island of Aeaea almost unrelentingly grim. It probably took me as long to read the first quarter of the book as the rest combined. Miller does not shy away from the parts of Greek mythology that are filled with unpleasant gods and mortals doing unpleasant things to one another.

At some point after Circe comes to live in the mortal world the tone shifts. Alone for the first time in her life, Circe finds a way to live apart from the gods' squabbles, and finds herself. She has a role to play in many important myths, and I enjoyed guessing which stories new characters were steering the plot toward – was that a name from the story of the Minotaur, or perhaps the labors of Hercules? The book even ends on a nice note of catharsis.

Verdict: A thoughtfully crafted exploration of Greek mythology, its key figures, and their motivations as seen by the goddess Circe. Recommended.