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caroline_sele's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Drug use and Sexism
deedireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
TL;DR REVIEW:
I absolutely loved Great Circle. It’s sweeping, it’s emotional, it’s beautifully written. It kept me engaged and made me feel things — and what more can you ask for?
For you if: You like historical fiction that spans a character’s entire lifetime.
FULL REVIEW:
Great Circle officially landed on my TBR because it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. A friend who read through the whole longlist earlier this year told me they thought it might turn out to be my favorite of them all. And I think, perhaps, they might be right! At least so far.
The book has two main characters. First is Marian Graves, born in 1914, who becomes one of the rare woman pilots of her time and eventually (don’t worry, this is not a spoiler) disappears trying to circumnavigate the globe. Marian’s story is probably 75% of the book, if I had to guess. We follow her from childhood and all the way through her life. The other main character is Hadley, a modern-day movie star cast to play Marian in a film, who learns more about her than anyone else.
The book is long, just under 600 pages, but I didn’t mind it. As you read, you really become so immersed in these characters and their lives. Some people at book club said they did sometimes wish it was shorter, but they couldn’t think of anything they’d cut. In fact, some people lamented the fact that there wasn’t even MORE from Hadley. Personally, I thought the balance between Marian and Hadley was just right and pulled the story along nicely.
Random thought: One of my favorite backlist reads this year was The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo, and while they don’t have a TON in common, they gave me similar feelings — a years-long timeframe, lots of pages that I was happy to read, and lots of emotions.
Anywho, if you have the patience for long books and love novels that span a lifetime, this is for you!
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Misogyny, Rape, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Sexism
Minor: Drug use and Abortion
readmedo's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexism and War
Minor: Suicide
sjanke2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
ninadb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Animal cruelty and Death of parent
A dramatic and adventurous epic tale on a grand scale geographically, historically, emotionally.emily_madcharo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Rape, and Sexism
Minor: Abortion and Death of parent
emilygigs's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Incest, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Sexism, and Death of parent