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A review by siobhanward
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
I don't know why female aviators are one of my favourite subjects to read about, but I've rarely been disappointed by a book about them, fiction or non-fiction. I loved that Shipstead incorporated real life stories of female aviators into the book - it was cool to see elements of reality sprinkled in.
Shipstead creates a great narrative in this book - though it starts a tiny bit clunky with a lot of background, the payoff is worth it as more is revealed about the Graves family. Marian and Jamie are great characters and were well-written. I loved how Shipstead told a story of an era, woven into Marian's life. I would have loved if there had been more about Marian's circumnavigation of the poles - it was such an interesting part and it felt as though it was just kind of rushed. I didn't feel like Hadley's story added a whole lot to the book - I get why Shipstead used her to tell parts of Marian's story, but I could have done with fewer mundane details about her life.
If you don't mind a longer read and enjoy historical fiction, this is a great change from the normal secretary/spy stories that are often told about women in wartime novels and is definitely worth the read.
Shipstead creates a great narrative in this book - though it starts a tiny bit clunky with a lot of background, the payoff is worth it as more is revealed about the Graves family. Marian and Jamie are great characters and were well-written. I loved how Shipstead told a story of an era, woven into Marian's life. I would have loved if there had been more about Marian's circumnavigation of the poles - it was such an interesting part and it felt as though it was just kind of rushed. I didn't feel like Hadley's story added a whole lot to the book - I get why Shipstead used her to tell parts of Marian's story, but I could have done with fewer mundane details about her life.
If you don't mind a longer read and enjoy historical fiction, this is a great change from the normal secretary/spy stories that are often told about women in wartime novels and is definitely worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: War and Death