Scan barcode
caitie95's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Rape, War, Sexual violence, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Death
Minor: Biphobia and Alcohol
antoniav's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexual violence, War, and Rape
Moderate: Death, Alcoholism, and Sexism
Minor: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion
doilooklikeamolly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexual violence, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Rape, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
There is some sex positive coming of age content, but also brief moments of non-consensual acts under the guise of marital duty.redporchinverter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
kmuttschall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"She supposes there will be nothing. She supposes each of us destroys the world. We close our eyes and snuff out all that has existed, all that will ever be. But if she could choose, she would ask for a lift. She would want to rise from her body and have it be like when she'd first gone up with Trout, as though she were being held aloft by pure possibility, as though she were about to see everything."
This book is a combination of all of my favourite books (Milkman, Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, East of Eden) while still managing to be its own distinct entity.
Graphic: Sexual violence and Rape
Moderate: War, Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Grief, Animal cruelty, Incest, and Pedophilia
Minor: Abortion
ms_gouldbourne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I did find it interesting to note that several reviewers gave up before the 20% mark, because the beginning was definitely the weakest part of the novel for me. I didn't particularly enjoy Shipstead's depiction of female sexuality, with multiple assaults and rapes happening within the first few chapters. However, I persisted, and ultimately I'm glad I did.
Great Circle tells the story from birth to death of female pilot Marian Graves, from her early disastrous marriage to gangster Barclay Mcqueen to her final flight attempting to circumnavigate the globe in the 1950s. This covers about 80% of the novel, but it's interspersed with chapters told from the modern-day perspective of troubled actress Hadley, who has been cast as Marian in a biopic about her life.
Like other reviewers, I didn't feel that Hadley's perspective added much to the novel, except for a few interesting juxtapositions between the truth of Marian's life and the warped way it had been interpreted for the modern-day film. I found Hadley's voice irritating for the most part! However, I have to admit that Marian wasn't much better. Although I absolutely loved the writing and the flow of the narrative, I found most of Shipstead's characters fairly annoying.
It may be that this style of novel just isn't for me; I don't tend to enjoy deeply tragic stories in which a group of tragic characters are depicted following tragic narratives and coming to tragic ends. It feels very literary and beautiful, but ultimately I prefer a happy ending. However, Maggie Shipstead is undoubtedly a wonderful writer, so I would read her again.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, War, Domestic abuse, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Alcoholism and Abortion
beatriks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I‘m pretty sure this will be on top of my List for 2023.
The story is everything I want, characters are so complex and well-explained, the plot is so carefully planned and built up.
The writing is superb. There is no book so far with so many highlighted sentences and passages.
Graphic: War, Sexism, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, and Rape
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Addiction
janelleaimi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Suicide, Emotional abuse, Death, Abortion, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, War, and Rape
lols_cat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, War, and Rape
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault, Abandonment, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Abortion, and Sexual violence
laboettcher's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abortion, Rape, War, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Alcoholism