Pippa Counselling

Another day, another book recommendation!

I had to get myself another copy of one of my favourite books, Circe by Madeline Miller, I’ve given away copies to friends and family as I want everyone to read it!

Not your average retelling of a Greek myth, it’s narrated through the eyes of Circe, daughter of Helios, god of the Sun, and a mother who is distinctly lacking in maternal instincts where her daughter is concerned. It’s just so vividly written and manages to be funny and heartwarming, despite being a devastating indictment of narcissistic families and other businesses.

The cruelty Miller paints is very uncomfortable to read at times, as it should be, but it’s always brought back to Circe and her story, forging her own extraordinary path as she explores her gift of witchcraft.

There are so many characters you’ll probably remember from books and films - memorable mentions include Prometheus getting his liver plucked out daily for eternity, or Odysseus’s encounters with the horrifying Charybdis and Circe’s love affair with Hermes on the island of Aiaia, one of the slightly more likeable gods who nonetheless can’t get past his own ego.

It’s described as ‘blisteringly modern’ in the blurb on the cover, and that’s very apt. It feels incredibly relevant, particularly pointed at what’s going on in our current world of gender politics.

I’d love to know your thoughts if you’ve read it… any and all book recommendations hugely welcome!

Pippa x

Such insightful words, I’m sure they’ll resonate with all those women going through this journey with a narcisstic ex partner and father of their child/ren. I know what an incredibly difficult time the Christmas holiday can be, so sending love and support to anyone who’s going through that right now x

Narcissistic fathers will exploit their son's need to bond with them. The narcissistic father will offer their sons gifts that he knows their mother cannot afford to give them, especially during a divorce or separation. The son will jump at the chance to bond with their father, and sadly, may push their mother away to appease the father.

This is abuse. This is emotional and psychological manipulation. To the narcissistic father it is all a game, but their son may never recognize this to be true. His relationship with his mother may be damaged for years, or maybe even a lifetime.

To the mother and wife who has escaped, especially if she has struggle with self love, codependency, and setting healthy boundaries, this time in her life will be wrought with insurmountable pain. She can see the game her ex is playing. She can feel her son's need for connection. She will know her son is innocent, even in his pushing her away and there will not be a damn thing she can do about any of it, except hold onto herself while the plot unfolds.

If this is you, Dear One, consider this your chance to practice healing the wounds of the past, that may have been part of the reason this relationship came to be.

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