by Trianne Harabedian
How is an immortal witch from Greek mythology like a modern writer in her late thirties? They both defy the usual expectations of women and make happiness for themselves!
I first heard about Circe, the novel by Madeline Miller, from Tayari Jones. The author of An American Marriage came to visit Lemuria back in February and she kept mentioning how she had read an advanced copy and loved it. So when it finally came out in April, I bought a copy immediately. She was right–the retold story of the witch from the Odyssey was completely captivating and did not disappoint. As the daughter of Helios, the sun god, Circe falls short when she does not exhibit powers of her own. Increasingly isolated in her father’s house, she begins to spend time in the realm of mortals, where she discovers her connection to nature and her calling as a witch. The novel follows her life, weaving in other characters and stories from Greek mythology. I’m a huge fan of retellings, especially of fairy tales and myths, so I devoured this like candy. I couldn’t predict the ending, which was fun because I can usually tell where stories are headed. But it made so much sense and wrapped up so nicely that I felt complete and satisfied.
In contrast, I picked up an advanced reader copy of Motherhood by Sheila Heti by accident. I thought it was a collection of funny, nonfiction stories about parenting. Instead, I found myself reading, and absolutely loving, a serious and sarcastic novel about what it means to be a woman and how that role is too often defined by the existence of children. The narrator, a writer in her late thirties, feels like her approaching fortieth birthday means she needs to decide once and for all whether she wants to have kids. She spends time with her friends and their children, trying to imagine herself in their place. She examines her marriage and her husband, a man who has never personally desired children. She also reflects on her relationship with her own mother. Through it all, the narrator has a set of ancient Chinese coins that she uses to answer questions, like tarot cards or a magic 8 ball. The writing style reminded me of Fire Sermon by Jamie Quatro, with its honest narrator and nonfiction-esque storytelling that makes you really think about your own life. It took me a few pages to get into, but I fell in love quickly. By the time it ended, I wanted it to keep going to I could read that book forever.
It’s been exactly a year since I graduated from college, and more and more I realize that no one’s life looks the same. Women especially are expected to do certain things by certain ages, to hit milestones and fulfill specific roles. But the fact is, everyone is different. We all deserve to be able to choose our own path, which is why I loved reading these two books in a row. They are incredibly different, but both carry the same message: Love yourself and do whatever you feel called to do.
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