Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Circe by Madeline Miller

164 reviews

ally1994's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I personally loved Circe better than The Song of Achilles. Don't get me wrong, I really liked the Song of Achilles but I just related more to Circe.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Infidelity, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

paulawind's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Spoiler

Her final act, the act of “becoming herself” being becoming human and a mortal is so powerful. She never sat well with the other gods, her heart was too big for that. Drinking her potion was an act of defiance, taking her own destiny into her hands, I felt so happy for her when I read the last words. Perfect ending to a nearly perfect book

I am a Greek mythology hoe so of course I loved this book. Feminist story set in the canon which diminished women mostly to tools for heroes to chase their glory. Miller doesn’t strip away achievements of men but rather shines light on the women who were always in the background of these stories, giving them the centre of the stage. At last.
Circe is written with such an intense amount of compassion to women in general, not only the ones from myths. Circe starts off as an innocent soul, with heart of her sleeve - life is beating that out of her but never fully succeeds. She learns to guard her heart and those she loves, seizing power for herself and you can’t help but think “good for her”.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Animal death, Death of parent, Rape, Violence, Blood, Infidelity, Torture, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Classism, and Misogyny

micalyia's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I love Greek mythology. Idk if I’m vocal enough about that. 

I’d been meaning to read this for over a year and I’m glad I finally got around to it. It’s such a beautiful and harrowing tale that follows Circe’s life but weaves in the stories of so many other gods and goddesses. I was deeply engrossed even if I was sad.

I will say it was long asffff. And when I hit the 80% mark I was tired, but I’m glad I kept going because I loved the ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, War, Sexism, Rape, and Violence

ghulsona's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Violence, Bullying, Abandonment, Grief, Rape, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Death, Alcohol, and Sexual content

jessiereads98's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Circe is truly an epic. I loved how Madeline Miller created an Odyssey-style story following a woman throughout major events in her life along with the mundane details of daily life at various points. Madeline Miller’s prose is so gorgeous that moments which would traditionally be considered dull feel more like a natural ebb in the story. Comparatively, the ending felt a bit abrupt. Things seemed to rush to a close, compared to the ebb and flow, and slowed pacing of the rest of the book. Overall, characterization is at times weak as the focus is more on overall themes and the more universal storytelling of Greek mythology. Circe is told through a highly introspective narrative. This, combined with the storytelling structure Miller employs, at times leads to side characters feeling flat.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Violence, Sexual assault, Death, Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexism

Minor: Blood, Confinement, Animal death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Murder, Grief, and War

galexy_brain's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Classism, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Abandonment, War, Violence, and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcohol and Slavery

gabriella_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I read most of this book on a round trip train ride and someone’s front lawn. My god this book was gripping. I preferred The Song of Achilles for the romantic overtures but I think Madeline Miller really comes into her own as an author writing prose in this piece. The depth of the way she characterizes has compounded exponentially in this book. It’s such a refreshing spin on Greek mythos that I couldn’t put the book down.

This book made me laugh and cry within mere lines. I love the way Madeline Miller writes structures of misogyny without relegating women to damsels, and while writing all her characters as multidimensional with their own agendas. She captures the essence of Greek mythos without letting it choke out her own artistic vision.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Rape, Child death, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Cannibalism, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Sexism, Death, Grief, Pregnancy, Violence, Blood, Body shaming, Confinement, Medical trauma, Medical content, Misogyny, Incest, Sexual harassment, War, Child abuse, Classism, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

aliveandnotlovingit's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

i loved this, a progression of life.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Confinement, Rape, Sexual violence, Body horror, Violence, and Child abuse

some_froggish_lad's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A sweet little book. I really related to the characters

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Violence, Sexism, Blood, and Rape

fengari's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Misogyny, Grief, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Confinement

Moderate: Rape