Author Madeline Miller has rose to stardom with two recent works of literature. She has become one of the best writers of Greek mythology, giving it her own spins. We will be looking at Madeline Miller’s five favorite books by women. Keep reading to find out which books made the list!
The novel The Song of Achilles made Miller into a mainstream success. Published in 2011, her debut novel retold the story of Achilles and Patroclus which went on to win the Orange Prize and Women’s Prize for Fiction.
In 2018, Miller’s second novel Circe continued Miller’s success and topped bestseller lists. The novel follows the story of Circe, a character that hasn’t been explored much in Greek mythology. The novel has been greenlit for an 8-part HBO adaptation. If it is a success, expect The Song of Achilles to also follow soon after!
Madeline Miller’s Five Favorite Books
- The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
- Sense and Sensibility (screenplay) by Emma Thompson
- Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
- Heartburn by Nora Ephron
- The House of the Spirits
The Joy Luck Club
The first book on Miller’s list is The Joy Book Club. This is what Miller had to say about the novel.
“I loved the psychological realism… the relationships between the mothers and daughters were so beautifully drawn, so razor sharp… [Tan] isn’t afraid to show us the complexity of their difficulty, their trauma, but also this warmth and this real understanding and empathy for their life.”
Kitchen
A novel that Miller knew that she was going to love is Kitchen. Some books are meant for you to read.
“When I started reading it, it was that wonderful feeling when you think ‘oh my gosh, I’m gonna love this book’… It’s a story about found family – the idea that even if we don’t have family, there are families out there in the world where we can really be ourselves. And I think that part of the story really spoke to me.”
Conclusion
That ends this list of Madeline Miller’s five favorite books by women. How many of these books have you read? Have you read Miller’s novels? Let us know in the comments below!