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A review by chaptersofchase
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
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: π§
Audiobook Narration: ββββ
Pub Date: 5.4.2021
Star Rating: ββββ
"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.
π Slow moving
π Coming of age
βπΌ Dual narrative
βοΈ Women in aviation
β 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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Genre: Historical Fiction
Time: 1900 - 1950
Format: π§
Audiobook Narration: ββββ
Pub Date: 5.4.2021
Star Rating: ββββ
"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.
π Slow moving
π Coming of age
βπΌ Dual narrative
βοΈ Women in aviation
β 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.
_
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend.diner/
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thebookenddiner
Follow me on StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/thebookenddiner
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcohol, and Rape