Reviews

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

annalaurasw's review against another edition

5.0

A fascinating and deeply researched character study, Marian was so fully realized I forgot she wasn’t a real life historical figure. I found it to be engrossing, even with the dual timeline, which I don’t normally like. I felt the parts set in modern day informed the way we view Marian’s status as a legendary historical figure, and solidifies the impact her story has. The difference between fact and fiction within her actual story and the biopic being made about her I also found interesting, and reflective of the way certain parts of real people’s stories are glossed over, smoothed out, or erased.

abisnail564's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Really enjoyed reading this but it definitely could have been shorter. I also thought there were bits of just unnecessary description that didn’t add much. But I was rooting for both Hadley and Marian.

amandawhit's review against another edition

I had such high hopes for this book, and I did like the writing style, but was just not into the random child sexual abuse that happens. And the constant mention of her throbbing vagina. Like I am not a prude, but they added nothing to the story? I also felt like this suffered a bit too much from the constantly changing POV problem that the book about the Panama canal did. I just want to get to know the characters! Also, the present day storyline was not needed.

kimg's review against another edition

adventurous

4.5

nsperger's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

sskie's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring slow-paced

4.0

divreadsbooks's review against another edition

5.0

I like how complicated it was, how much of a life was lived

olgakoponen's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective

4.0

zozosbooks's review against another edition

5.0

Thought I’d come back because this book was so amazing it deserves6 stars. Just such a good story AND so am written. Not a disappointing moment in the whole thing! Just very very long :)

bea_reads78's review against another edition

4.0

The first 250 pages are an unrelenting series of scenes in which every single one of the female protagonists are sexually exploited by men, often violently. To what extent was that necessary, I’m not sure, but it was hard to read and a slog for me. The latter 2/3 of the book our main characters get to do things other than suffer, and the book picked up imo. Interesting commentary on genuine human connection, death, and the forces that shape what things we understand ourselves as capable of