Reviewers call Circe by Madeline Miller a feminist masterpiece about a woman trying to overcome the limitations imposed by a male dominated society. We love that. Circe is born of the god Helios and a naiad and is constantly belittled in her fathers house. She soon discovers that she has the power of transformation when she turns the mortal she loves into a god and the nymph he loves into a six-headed monster. After committing these atrocities against the gods, Zeus banishes her to an island for the rest of her life (she's immortal, by the way). Over time, she encounters many famous mythological beings, like the Minotaur, Daedalus and his son Icarus, Medea, and Odysseus.
How does this portrayal of Circe compare to her portrayal in The Odyssey by Homer? What makes this story feminist? How did her various romances affect and change her? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in episode four of our spoiler-filled podcast.
Trigger Warnings: Rape, abuse, arranged marriage, suicidal ideation, childbirth with complications, death, and bestiality.
Questions: The questions discussed in this episode were written by Emily Martin. You can find them here -> https://bookriot.com/circe-book-club-question/
Great music, huh?! The music for the intro and outro are segments from a song titled “Busy City” by TrackTribe, which was accessed through the YouTube audio library.
Coming up next: Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda
