I love the way fiction can transport you to another time and place, and Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead promised to do that in a BIG way.
In Great Circle, we follow the magnificent life of Marian Graves – a female pilot in the early-to-mid 1900s – and the many lives she touches. In her final daring act, she attempts to circumnavigate the Earth over the North and South Poles in a plane. Decades later, the story follows an actress playing Marian in a movie that’s being made about her life.
*I received this book for free from the publisher (Knopf) in exchange for an honest review.
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Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead: My Thoughts
When you open this book, prepare to settle in for a saga of epic proportions. I felt like I had traveled the world multiple times over: from Montana to LA to London to Antarctica, and lots more in between. That’s something I’ve always loved about fiction.
This was a fascinating and sprawling story, packed with rich history, larger-than-life characters, and adventure. The dual timeline worked really well here, switching from past to present, but with an over-arching focus throughout both.
I loved how nuanced the characters were. They made mistakes and had their flaws, but many of them also had so much passion and made their mark on the world in some way.
It was a tad bit long, but for the most part I was utterly absorbed. The writing is phenomenal, too. Highly recommended!
Rating: 4.75 (out of 5)
Release date: May 4th, 2021
Looking for more great book recommendations? Check out my list of exciting May 2021 Fiction Book Releases!
