Truthfully, I almost missed out on this great book because I struggled to get past the first chapters. Circe's character in the beginning bugged me because she was so complacent and obedient. But I'm glad that I stuck it out because the story does an amazing job at showing how her character changes as time and experiences pass. The author gave unique viewpoints on the lives of Greek gods and monsters. It was nice to revisit Greek mythology too.

My brother, Ariadne had called it. But this creature had not been made for any family. It was my sister's triumph, her ambition made flesh, her whip to use against Minos. In thanks, it would know no comrade, no lover. It would never see the sun, never take a free step. There was nothing it might ever have in the world but hatred and darkness and its teeth.

Sculpture: Minotaur by Pedro Requejo

I had always imagined she would look like something: a snake or an octopus, a shark. But the truth of her was overwhelming, an immensity that my mind fought to take in. Her necks were longer than ship masts. Her six heads gaped, hideously lumped, like melted lava stone. Black tongues licked her sword-length teeth.

Sometimes we would play, she stalking behind me, then leaping up to grapple me by the neck. I smelled the hot musk of her breath, felt the weight of her forepaws pressing on my shoulders. Look, I said, showing her the knife I carried with me from my father's halls, the one stamped with a lion's face. "What fool made this? They have never seen your like."

Those soft, foolish flowers bobbed around us on their stems. I hated them. I seized a handful and ripped it up by the roots. I tore the petals. I broke them stems to pieces. The damp shreds stuck to my hands, and the sap bled across my skin. The scent rose raw and wild, acetic as old wine.

That one time I tried to have a photoshoot with my dogs when they were napping. I had just gone to the library and checked out too many books. I only stuck it out with The Physician. I wasn't really in the mood for the others...Thats the cool thing about libraries. Books are free and you can always take them back if you're not interested!

Finally made it to part two of this giant book! It is great so far! It reminds me of when I read Ken Follet's The Pillars of the Earth. I like the character development in both books.

Little Franny posing with one of my favorite books!

I really like the cover of this one!

Vincent Van Gogh is one of my favorite artists. It was interesting to find out more about his life and how he grew up. I did not finish this one because non-fiction is not really my cup of tea, but I got farther than I expected.