Circe (May 2021) Group Read Discussion

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

This is the group thread for Circe!

This thread is open for discussion beginning May 1st! Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed (mark as a spoiler) in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days of the month can be used to catch up if needed! Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads.

The Group Read Discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 03/01
May 01: Chapters 1-2 or 28 pages
May 02: Chapters 3-4 or 28 pages

Week of 03/03
May 03: Chapters 5-6 or 28 pages
May 04: Chapters 7-8 or 28 pages
May 05: Chapters 9-10 or 28 pages
May 06: Chapters 11-12 or 28 pages
May 07: Chapters 13-14 or 28 pages
May 08: Chapters 15-16 or 28 pages
May 09: Chapters 17-18 or 28 pages

Week of 03/10
May 10: Chapters 19-20 or 28 pages
May 11: Chapters 21-22 or 28 pages
May 12: Chapters 23-24 or 28 pages
May 13: Chapters 25-26 or 28 pages
May 14: Chapters 27- or 28 pages


You can read the group book at any time during the month and at your own pace. This is the pace the group will be using, but if you read ahead or will be giving spoilers, please mark them (click the "some html is ok button"). If you have any questions a mod or another member can help you.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

So, who's planning on reading Circe this month?

I read it... wow, in 2019 (I had to look when), and I don't remember much of it but I liked the writing a lot.

[Althea ☾]

i'm reading it right now :)) i'm really loving it!! The audiobook is great and the drama is so interesting xD I find it really investing so far and yeah, the writing is really good

[May]

I read this back in January and I enjoyed the story!

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Yay! I'm glad you are loving it, and the drama 😂

[Aless, Discord/Readathon Procrastinator]

I just picked up the audiobook. Now let's see if I can keep up with the threads, haha.

[Althea ☾]

Circe as a character is everything to me <3 It's really character driven and I love her interactions with everyone

[Amelia]

I think I'll be reading this more toward the end of the month but I am looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks!

[Steven]

Read it a few years back and loved it - will follow along here.

[Brianna]

I will be picking it up in the next couple of days! I am looking forward to it.

[Jessica Mae]

I'm almost caught up with this! The audiobook is amazing. What beautiful writing.

Also, being exiled to a house that cleans itself and provides you food? Right by a beautiful forest? I'd love that "punishment" haha.

[Althea ☾]

right?? HAHA

[Hulttio]

Read this last year! Would love to discuss once everyone is done.

[Brianna]

Chapters 1 & 2
(view spoiler)[ I'm really like this so far. I know I had read the synopsis when I first picked it up, but I honestly couldn't remember what it was about other than Greek mythology. I like that it just feels like a regular fantasy since there is still world building as far as explaining the history and who the cast of gods are so far - you don't really need to know much prior.

character thoughts:
Helios - representative of most men I feel
Perse - kind of a mean mom - basically just abandoned her daughter because she wasn't pretty enough?
Circe - I like her so far - I can definitely understand her uncertainty and desire of finding a place in the world (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

Chapters 3 & 4
(view spoiler)[I can see why this is such a well liked book. I really like the writing style and I definitely feel drawn into the story. I am looking forward to seeing what unfolds. I already have some very generic guesses so we will see if I am on track or not!
Her relationship with her family is rough - I can see why she would see out something else to fill that and of course it's a boy. lol
When she first meets Glaucos, her age comes up and I'm genuinely curious to know just how old she is. Time is a strange thing for the gods so I'm not sure it will be revealed per say. Or at least not in comparable timeframes that we are used to. (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

Chapters 5 & 6
(view spoiler)[I feel like there is starting to be some intrigue!
I don't remember the details in the story about the herbs given to Kronos, but I don't remember them being red? How would she know? Also - why would she not use them on herself to show her truest self? But like her brother said - is it really their truest form or just what she wanted/her desires?
I also still feel so bad for her - she keeps getting rejected by those she cares about - her family and now Glaucos. (hide spoiler)]

[Althea ☾]

I just finished this and I loved it so much!! definitely a new favorite standalone :>> it was so satisfying

[Brianna]

Chapters 7 - 10
(view spoiler)[I am really enjoying this one still. I really like seeing Circe step into herself and find that confidence in who she is and what she is capable of. I'm curious to see how this friends with benefits thing with Hermes plays out. I also wonder why she was unable to transform Scylla back - not enough conviction? I don't think I ever knew the founding of the minotaur so I'm curious if this version is in line with what has been said previously. (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

Chapters 11 & 12
(view spoiler)[I thought Daedalus' name was familiar but I couldn't place it until we met his son Icarus. The interactions with Circe and her sister were interesting. I do wonder if her sister thought things would go differently and if she would be fawned upon by getting Circe off her island/out of exile no matter how brief. (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

Chapters 13 & 14
(view spoiler)[Medea and Jason are names that are also familiar but I don't want to look up their myths to avoid spoilers in this story. Is there a pre-existing myth around Circe as well? The parallels between Circe and Medea are interesting. I feel like Medea represent what Circe could have become. And of course her favorite brother ends up being the worst one. Good on her for standing up to him!
Interesting that there are now so many others on the island with her. Wasn't part of the punishment being completely alone? Did they want to see if having these unwanted people be more of an issue since she had obviously become pretty comfortable being alone there.
Trigger warning about the end of chapter 14 - sexual assault. I was actually pretty uncomfortable with that part and definitely skimmed through it. I wish I had been forewarned so to speak. One trend I have noticed is that other than Daedalus - the men haven't really been portrayed in any positive light. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica Mae]

The sharp change in tone was definitely jarring for me too! I wasn't expecting it...it got pretty dark for a while. But I think part of the theme of this story is exploring human nature essentially. You've got the good, bad, and in-between. Circe loves mortals, but she's also betrayed by them and has to figure out how to handle it.

[Brianna]

Chapters 15 & 16
(view spoiler)[Circe's response to that initial ship of men is a pretty common trauma response - "I did it to prove my skin was still my own."
We also get Odysseus in the story now. So far I like his interactions with Circe. His story is probably the one I am most familiar with. There are a lot of parallels between him and Daedalus - especially in relation to their sons. One is a story of staying in a rough situation WITH his son and what happens while the other is leaving his son behind to save him. Who knows what would have happened had Daedalus didn't keep his son so close.
I also find it interesting that she has been closest to the men who were fathers where she was never close with her own father. - "He had more stories of his son from a single year, I though, than my father had of me in all eternity." (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

Jessica Mae wrote: "The sharp change in tone was definitely jarring for me too! I wasn't expecting it...it got pretty dark for a while. But I think part of the theme of this story is exploring human nature essentially..."

I agree that this is primarily exploring humanity and human nature. She makes some comparisons to the gods but seems more perplexed by mortals and is definitely more fascinated by them.

[Brianna]

Chapter 17 & 18
(view spoiler)[I feel like we are now getting into the core of the drama! I thought I remembered Odysseus' story better, but I don't recall a story/myth of him fathering another child so this may be where the author is starting to take their own liberties with the story. I think it was really poignant of how it is portrayed that Death basically follows Odysseus around.
I do think a mother's love is one that is not to be trifled with. It will be interesting to see what happens going forward! (hide spoiler)]

[Althea ☾]

Jessica Mae wrote: "The sharp change in tone was definitely jarring for me too! I wasn't expecting it...it got pretty dark for a while. But I think part of the theme of this story is exploring human nature essentially..."

this exactly! i feel like the author did a good job of balancing it though

[Althea ☾]

Brianna wrote: "Chapter 17 & 18
I feel like we are now getting into the core of the drama! I thought I remembered Odysseus' story better, but I don't recall a story/myth of him fathering another child so this may ..."

so excited what you think about the rest of the story! i this part onwards was when my appreciation for the story got really cemented

[Jessica Mae]

Brianna wrote: "Chapters 15 & 16
Circe's response to that initial ship of men is a pretty common trauma response - "I did it to prove my skin was still my own."
We also get Odysseus in the story now. So far I like..."

That's a really good point! It's interesting to see who she gravitates towards.

[Brianna]

Chapters 19 & 20
(view spoiler)[I am so curious to know why Athena wants Circe's son dead so much! I completely understand how protective she comes, but sometimes trying to contain too much will have bad results.
What is Trygon? Like what kind of god/monster/being? I have a feeling that her son is going to do something dumb with that spear and die anyways. (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

Chapters 21 & 22
(view spoiler)[It's kind of fun seeing Circe be more sarcastic. It adds some levity to a stressful situation.
It makes sense why Athena wanted Telegonus dead - he accidentally killed his dad! But really - it was Circe. She is the one who got the spear and put it together.
It's also interesting how different Telemachus views his father. I think all heroes are not always heroes to everyone. A hero would be an enemy to someone - if that makes any sense.
Earlier I had said how Odysseus seemed to have Death following him and Telemachus said "all he brought home was death" so not completely wrong. It almost seems like Odysseus liked it though? Or at least at the end.
I'm curious if her relationship with her son and view on parenthood would affect how she views her relationship with her father - "But perhaps no parent can truly see their child. When we look we see only the mirror of our own faults."
Penelope and Circe are similar in that they would do what they can to save their sons (especially considering since both are sons of Odysseus). They also seem to have a good poker face and don't reveal everything upfront. (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

Chapters 23 & 24
(view spoiler)[I kind of like Telemachus more than Telegonus. He seems like such a good counterpoint to Circe.
I don't think Telegonus really understood how old Circe was and how much she had seen/gone through before hearing the stories from many years past that she was able to add to.
I like that it is also putting Odysseus in a more human light. His story paints him so god-like, but he was a human with a very particular kind of mind. - "Odysseus' favorite task was the sort that only had to be performed once: raiding a town, defeating a monster, finding a way inside an impenetrable city."
The end of chapter 23 makes me think that there are romantic thoughts a brewing for Telemachus and Circe - not that it would be necessarily feasible, but definitely hinted at.
I wonder why Athena is saying she longer wants Telegonus and what she thinks Telemachus is the inheritance he needs to claim - the throne?
I was surprised (but only a little) that Telemachus refused Athena.
I think Circe is finally realizing how finite human life is.
I wonder why she is reaching out to her father! (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

Chapters 25 - End
(view spoiler)[I'm pretty proud of Circe for standing up to her father. I am curious to see what will happen with Telemachus. It seems like they have a new.... appreciation I guess? for each other.
Oh snap! It seems like she is undoing her wrongs. "No more souls would walk to the underworld written with my name."
Is she going to try to make him immortal?! Did she not learn her lesson with Glaucos? Oh wait - seems like she'll make herself mortal instead?
But... what happens?! Is the vision true? Is that the future?! Ugh!

I seriously loved this book. It is so so good. It also makes me want to revisit the myths and stories that were touched on. (hide spoiler)]

[Althea ☾]

agreed that it makes me want to reread the original myths T_T

[Jessica Mae]

Finally finished! I loved how much the ending surprised me...at times it was hard to tell where this was all going and the twist at the end was so unexpected for me. But it was also really fitting and satisfying. Circe really comes full circle and grows so much. Love it!

To address your question, Brianna, I choose to believe that the vision is true. :)

[Brianna]

Jessica Mae wrote: "Finally finished! I loved how much the ending surprised me...at times it was hard to tell where this was all going and the twist at the end was so unexpected for me. But it was also really fitting ..."

I'm going to go with the vision being true as well. I did appreciate how open the ending was left, but still feasibly closed depending on your view.

[Abigail]

I finished it like a week ago and idk why I didn't bother sharing my thoughts sooner. I also listened to the audiobook and quite enjoyed it. I used to know quite a bit about Greek myths but anymore my memory is kinda bad. So I was curious to see what Miller did with them and how they matched up to what I remembered. Honestly I couldn't have remembered much because I mixed up Circe and Calypso for the entire time until Calypso was brought up and I realized I was on the wrong track 😂. Miller's writing was absolutely wonderful! This book didn't make me nearly as sad as Song of Achilles but I still loved it!