Our lives are a journey, and the path we choose will mold us and shape us. These journeys are also known as pilgrimages, quests, passages, and odysseys. One of the most famous odysseys is that of Odysseus. Homer shared the stories of Odysseus and his travels after the Trojan War. Most people are familiar with some of the history and mythology that surrounds this time period. The Trojan War lasted ten years, and when the war was over, Odysseus and his men started their journey home. Because Odyssues angered Poseidon, the god of the seas, Odysseus did not return home for another ten years.
During Odysseus's journey home to Ithaca, Odysseus and his men make landing on a beautiful island. This island is inhabited by a witch who is the daughter of Helios. The witch is Circe, and this is her story.
Circe was the daughter of a nymph and Helios, but she was never wanted or loved by her parents. This creates a sense of isolation for Circe, and because of some bad decisions, she is exiled for an eternity by her father to a deserted island.
Exile and isolation is difficult even for strongest of humans. Circe struggles with the quiet at first, but then she learns to create potions, salves, and learns the art of spell work. When Odysseus and his men arrive on her island, she at first turns his men into pigs, but the Circe and Odysseus eventually come to an agreement and he and his men stay with her for a year while repairing their ship and making it seaworthy.
“But in a solitary life, there are rare moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the earth. Such a constellation was he to me.” Odysseus and Circe become lovers and confidants, but Odysseus has a home and family in Ithaca. As Odysseus prepares to go home to his wife and son, Circe realizes she is pregnant, but she does not share that information with Odysseus before he leaves.
Circe is a complex character, but as her quest progresses, she learns about love, forgiveness, and righting the wrongs that have haunted her entire existence. She learns to live. “Only that: we are here. This is what it means to swim in the tide, to walk the earth and feel it touch your feet. This is what it means to be alive.”
I loved the language, the imagery, and the mythology that surrounds the character of the book. I taught the Odyssey in freshman English for many years, so delving deeper into Circe's life and background was as magical as the character. Lose yourself in the language of the book and find a bit of yourself on this adventure.
