I loved this book. 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. https://circe.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5?oldid=206. All the gods except Poseidon gather again on Mount Olympus to discuss Odysseuss fate. ), Anyway, my point is, it’s definitely readible as an ebook, I did just fine with it. See Circe on Amazon. I cried by the time it ends. It’s a re-telling the story of Circe, a character originated circa 8th century B.C. A golden chariot whisks her home.) Its setting is the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin, and one of the hospital's superintendents is Dr. Andrew J. Horne, whose name is subjected to much punning by Stephen Dedalus and his friends. I honestly can’t believe I didn’t read it sooner! Through Miller’s detailed and honest first-person narrative , which takes place over thousands of years, the evil witch becomes relatable. The best part about book blogging is getting to chat with others about how awesome a book is when you find one you love… thanks for dropping by! She drinks the potion. Circe is born a God, the daughter of a Titan and a water nymph. Odysseus continues his story to the Phaeacians: The men's next stop was the Aeolian island, home to the god of the winds.They stayed with Aeolus for a month, and his parting gift to Odysseus was a sack holding the winds. Medea kills the new wife and murders her children. My character, Circe, is strong-willed, but she is dramatic. I loved what a complete character Circe is. She agrees to suffer eternal pain to acquire a deadly weapon, the tail of Trygon, a sea god. Daedalus is forced to help because they have his son, Icarus. In Homer’s in The Odyssey, Odysseus encounters her on the island of Aeaea where she is villainously doling out dangerous potions and turning men into pigs. Thanks for reading! Hermes, messenger of the gods, is sent to Calypsos island to tell her that Odysseus must at last be allowed to leave so he can return home. 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. She is surprised to find that it has a beautiful, self-cleaning house until she realizes it is only another powerplay. She uses Circe’s story to bring in a whole host of other mythologies, ranging from the Titanomachy (“battle of the Titans”) to the Gift of Fire, various other parts of the Odyssey and so on. Glaucos' body begins to change. I think it worked well in Circe because she does a fantastic job of “showing” you how her perspective on things is shaped, etc. This episode of Ulysses is based more loosely upon Homer's epic than are the other episodes in the novel. It was about a hour out from where we were staying, so we had to rent a car, and it was a whole mess, but I desperately wanted to see it. Circe tells him that she has loved him since the day they met, since he was a human with fish guts on his hands, weeping from his father's cruelty. Circe leaves her father's halls at twilight and gathers the flowers of true being. The flowers are beautiful and fragile as moth wings, bell-shaped and of the palest yellow. She tells him that he will find no one more loyal than her, and that she will do anything. Thanks for your review, I’ve been meaning to read this book and whilst I’m not a huge fan of her previous book, I have to admit she has a beautiful writing and a melancholy that I like. She wishes to marry him. He uses his powers to send her back to her rooms. This book gave me a fresh perspective from Circe… Oh, I’m excited on your behalf, I think you’re going to love it! Yes, do it! ... Circe is very nosy, snooping in every closet and drawer in the house, discovering the many gallons of Sateen Dura-Luxe paint stored in the basement and the existence of 15-year-old Celeste's birth control pills. "Of course. She gets some food from the pantry and as she sits down to eat at the table, Circe realizes that she has never eaten alone before. I’m really curious about it — I haven’t read it yet so unfortunately I have no insight to provide on a comparison between the two, but I hope you do like Circe, and thanks for reading the review! Circe falls in love with Glaucos, a mortal fisherman. The song belonged to Circe, a sorceress known to transfigure men into animals. Summary. I listened to the audio last summer and found the story lively – it moves at such an absorbing pace, from start to finish. Through the use of these and a magic wand or staff, she would transform her enemies, or those who offended her, into animals. Mae Holland has landed a job at the Circle, “the most influential company in the world,” with help from her college friend Annie. Miller’s mythological retelling is so dazzlingly alive. He laughs and says that Glaucos can have his pick, and he does not think that it will be her. I absolutely rave about this book as well! Verified Purchase. In Homer's Odyssey, Circe turned Odysseus's men into swine; Odysseus, however, never succumbed to Circe's spells. Circe knows he is married, but she yearns for him to stay. He is very excited about this and asks Circe if she can take him to the gods' halls. Summary. I was lucky enough to hear Madeline Miller talk about it at an author event – especially hearing her read sections aloud, based on the Ancient Greek oral traditions of storytelling. Telegonus grows up, but longs to visit his father. Daedalus later dies from old age. Circe offers them food, but the captain attacks her so turns them into pigs. I adored Circe, and The Song of Achilles! She then has a vision of herself as a mortal, growing old with Telemachus. Not much of a poetry fan, Dreher was killing time one day, browsing the poetry section of a book store when he pulled Dante from the shelf and began to thumb through it. It takes her several tries to start up the fire, as she had seen Glaucos do so often. Circe by Madeline Miller, An elegant and delightful retelling of Greek mythological tales. Of course, by the end I loved it so much I went out and bought a first edition signed copy, haha, so now I actually have two. Circe realizes that the house is as grand as it is as a way to get back at Zeus. I’ve come across other references to this site then, but Circe was the first book that ever made me reminisce about it. Thank you for the kind comment! At those junctions, Miller is thoughtful and introspective. Circe warns Medea that Jason's feeling for Medea will wane now that she is no longer usefulness, and Medea angrily departs. One day, Odysseus and his men arrive. In hopes of making Glaucos immortal, Circe learns about illicit Pharmaka, herbs endowed with power that only grow where Gods have fallen. Ulysses at the Palace of Circe by Wilhelm Schubert van Ehrenberg (1667). Circe falls in love with Glaucos, a mortal fisherman. She tells him that Scylla is beautiful, but she doesn't deserve him because she is cruel and doesn't love him as he deserves to be loved. Hope you like it if you get a chance to read it! She plans to pull Glaucos into the nearby forest and show him that her oath does not hold them anymore after she turns him into a god. See the archives. She wants Telemachus to leave and start an empire, but he has no desire for glory and power. Thanks for reminding me about this! Anw, I love reading your reviews, it’s always well written. I looked around the next corner and saw my brother and Synn. Telegonus leaves for Ithaca, but returns quickly because Odysseus is dead. Eurylochus, the leader of the scouting party, decides to wait outside the doors should some danger befall the men. I’m so glad other people loved this book too! I wrote about Circe in my dissertation so it seems incredible I still haven’t read it!! by Homer. If you aren’t as into mythology, I still think the story is very worthwhile, though you may have to exercise a bit more patience as you get grounded in all the characters and their stories. It is such a vivid and wonderful story that brings together so many bits and pieces of Greek mythology and somehow turns them into a cohesive book that is well worth your time. Chapter 5: ⭐ chapter 5 Summary: We're so close to Jon meeting Gendry and Arya for the first time!