In the Spirit of Greece: Circe

In college, I took a course in Ancient Greek mythology and was hooked. The professor was riveting, and it was one of those classes that I genuinely looked forward to every week. Later that summer, the professor planned the most amazing study abroad trip to Greece, and to this day I regret not dropping everything to go.

Lately with the pandemic, I’ve been looking for ways to transport myself to Greece that are COVID safe. One of the best ways that I have found has been through reading books that relate to Greece in some way — be it in story, location, or even by a Greek author.

Written from the perspective of the Greek goddess Circe, daughter of Helios, Madeline Miller’s novel retells the story from her protagonist’s perspective. Admittedly, aside from her encounter with Odysseus in the Odyssey, I did not know a lot about Circe before diving into this book. But while reading, I was surprised to learn how much her story intertwines with that of other mythological figures.

To be completely honest, I could not put this book down. I found myself reading it during my spare moments, and looking forward to the moment when I could curl up with it in my bed. In fact, the moment I finished it, I got online and ordered Madeline Miller’s other book, Song of Achilles.

I loved this book. Circe is story is about being immortal among mortals. It’s about what it means to live. It’s about love, and the various types we encounter in the world. It’s about finding yourself — but most importantly, being brave enough to become who you truly are. If you are looking for an excellent quarantine read (or, you know, when life is just normal too!), I definitely suggest checking out Circe.

Have you read Circe? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.