Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

27 reviews

thequeenofsheba3's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, War, Toxic relationship, Death, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Abandonment, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Gun violence, Transphobia, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Murder

chaptersofchase's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Great Circle

Genre: Historical Fiction
Time: 1900 - 1950
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narration: ☆☆☆☆
Pub Date: 5.4.2021
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

"We are confined to the present, but this moment we're living now has, for all of history, been the future. And now, forever more, it will be past. Everything we do sets off unforeseeable, irreversible chain reactions."

Great Circle is a sweeping tale about one woman's quest to find her place in the world. There are themes of family, love, hardship, war, loss and determination. Like anyone's story, some profoundly unsettling parts left me heartbroken for Marian and her brother. But, what I loved the most was that although these terrible things had happened to her, she continued moving forward. Her tenacious spirit was unmatched, and I cheered her on from beginning to end.

Like many coming-of-age sagas, Great Circle has a lot that happens. There are 600 pages of some fascinating storylines and some less so. I didn't love Hadley's character - I believe she was meant to be the modern-day Marian, but she grated on my nerves and felt childish, and I never really felt like her character served a purpose throughout the story. I could've done without her storyline and the novel wouldn't have lost any significance.

🐌 Slow moving
📖 Coming of age
✌🏼 Dual narrative
✈️ Women in aviation

❌ rape, domestic abuse, sexual assault, alcoholism

I recommend reading Great Circle if you're looking for a sweeping coming-of-age story that rivals the story of Amelia Earhart.



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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcohol, and Rape

hayleyvem's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Gun violence, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Violence, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Rape, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, and Suicidal thoughts

rly's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and War

ppppaula's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I adored the main story about Marian and all of the historical side stories, but the present day story about the actress added nothing and to me, was unnecessary. This would have been a 5 star read without it.  The writing was spot on, and the historical stories were so well told from the get go and really gave a sense of place and character. I really could picture the different places, especially Missoula, Alaska, Seattle & Antartica. Loved the stories about Addison, the ship,, Jamie, Eddy, Caleb, Wallace, and of course Marian. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Abortion

caitie95's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Rape, War, Sexual violence, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Death

Minor: Biphobia and Alcohol

doilooklikeamolly's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

• 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

This is a marathon of a read! It's incredibly dense with painstaking backstory. I went into it knowing that many reviewers didn't enjoy these perhaps superfluous additions, but as I read I kept thinking to myself "would I have edited this out," and more often than not my answer was no. The interwoven timelines are supported by histories that add complexity to the characters and the way they experience pain, joy, and one another's flaws. The end result is this dynamic, emotional, expertly crafted arc. I recommend it to anyone who loves a slow burn - an opportunity to just steep in the narrative and language.

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Content Warnings

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.

This includes non-consensual removal of contraceptive device, forced impregnation and mention of abortion.

heatherilene's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Death, and Rape

cecilialau_'s review against another edition

3.75

So much happens especially in the beginning of this book. I defo recommend reading it at a time where you can take it in and also “handle”/grasp a lot of characters and plot; it’s not a light read.

However, it is a very good story, it’s heavy and intense at times, it’s well-crafted and I enjoyed Jamie’s storyline the most tbh. Also, Marian is a pretty wonderful kind of main character. 
My big book fear came out though as I thought it dragged a little here and there but I also had high expectations for it which is unfair of course.

Sounds like I didn’t really enjoy it but I did and I thought it was done very well. What a task it must have been to put this all together - so much happens!!
Very glad I read it and think it’s defo worth a read. And it stays with you bc so much happens both emotionally, time-wise and geographically so you sort of remember things here and there which means the author knew what see was doing imo. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, Incest, and War

jazhandz's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, War, Alcoholism, Death, and Alcohol

Moderate: Abortion, Rape, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Confinement, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Dementia, and Hate crime