I first read the first half of Great Circle as an ARC during the height of Covid. It got me through a rough time, full of loneliness and dealing with family health issues. It took me two and half more years before I picked it back up because my book club wanted to read it, and I’m so glad that I did.
Synopsis
From the publisher marketing:
After being rescued as infants from a sinking ocean liner in 1914, Marian and Jamie Graves are raised by their dissolute uncle in Missoula, Montana. There–after encountering a pair of barnstorming pilots passing through town in beat-up biplanes–Marian commences her lifelong love affair with flight. At fourteen she drops out of school and finds an unexpected and dangerous patron in a wealthy bootlegger who provides a plane and subsidizes her lessons, an arrangement that will haunt her for the rest of her life, even as it allows her to fulfill her destiny: circumnavigating the globe by flying over the North and South Poles.
A century later, Hadley Baxter is cast to play Marian in a film that centers on Marian’s disappearance in Antarctica. Vibrant, canny, disgusted with the claustrophobia of Hollywood, Hadley is eager to redefine herself after a romantic film franchise has imprisoned her in the grip of cult celebrity. Her immersion into the character of Marian unfolds, thrillingly, alongside Marian’s own story, as the two women’s fates–and their hunger for self-determination in vastly different geographies and times–collide. Epic and emotional, meticulously researched and gloriously told, Great Circle is a monumental work of art, and a tremendous leap forward for the prodigiously gifted Maggie Shipstead.
You push on men and eventually you get to the bedrock of it all, which is that they think they’re better than us. And they’re the ones who made this war. I’ve been thinking about that. We get angry and nothing happens. Men get angry, and the whole world burns up. Then when we want to do our part, they’re always trying to keep us out of danger. Because heaven forbid we should be allowed to decide for ourselves. Their worst fear is that one day we’ll end up owning our lives same as they do.
Clouds, Contrails, and a Dash of Chaos
Maggie Shipstead’s Great Circle is a sprawling, skyward journey that sweeps across decades, continents, and the depths of human ambition. With two dynamic heroines and a richly layered narrative, this novel takes flight on an unforgettable journey.
At the heart of the story is Marian Graves, an aviator with an insatiable thirst for freedom, a woman who refuses to let the constraints of her time define her. Her journey is a fascinating one, from her unconventional childhood to her relentless pursuit of the skies. Marian’s resilience and quiet vulnerability make her a character to remember, even when her story occasionally gets tangled in the many threads being woven together. And yes, while the mystery of her final flight is teased early, don’t expect earth-shattering revelations—it’s less about the destination and more about the journey.
And while Marion is the star, it’s Jamie who I fell in love with, her twin brother. He quietly steals scenes with his steadfast loyalty and rich inner life. Shipstead weaves him into the narrative beautifully, offering a grounded counterpoint to Marian’s high-flying ambitions. And then there’s his detour to Seattle—an unexpected highlight that brings warmth and vitality, even if the reveal about his daughter, Adelaide, feels a tad too obvious.
The third narrative (yes, it’s a lot) centers on Hadley Baxter, the modern-day movie star who’s story is written first-person as opposed to Marion’s third. Those of you who have read my reviews for awhile now know how I feel about that. Her story parallels Marion’s—fame, identity, self-discovery—but Hadley’s journey feels more like a subplot trying to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Marian’s epic tale. Her mushroom trip, while quirky, could’ve been left on the cutting-room floor without much consequence. Honestly, the book might have soared higher had it stuck solely to Marian’s narrative.
That said, Great Circle isn’t just about Marian or Hadley—it’s about the larger themes of love, resilience, and human connection. Take Marian’s tumultuous relationship with Caleb, for instance. Their dynamic is fraught and imperfect, but it brims with authenticity, offering a raw commentary on what it means to hold on—even when it hurts. And Matilda, with her quiet, symbolic role in Caleb’s life, is a beautifully understated detail that lingers.
Shipstead’s prose is, in a word, stunning. Her vivid descriptions transport you to the golden age of aviation and beyond, making every setting from remote islands to bustling cities feel alive. The historical details are meticulously rendered, grounding its ambitious scope in a sense of place and time.
Yes, Great Circle stumbles now and then under the weight of its sprawling narrative. But when it soars, it truly soars. It’s an epic story of ambition, survival, and the ties that bind us, and fans of character-driven tales will find plenty to love here. Maggie Shipstead’s Great Circle is a breathtaking journey worth taking. So fasten your seatbelts, keep your expectations high, and prepare to be swept away.
Rating: 8 out of 10
If you’ve already read and liked Great Circle, check out the following books:
- The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin – A historical novel about Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of Charles Lindbergh, and her journey from being in his shadow to becoming a pioneering aviator in her own right.
- West with the Night by Beryl Markham – A memoir of Markham’s life as a pilot in Kenya during the early days of aviation, full of lyrical prose and breathtaking adventure.
- Circling the Sun by Paula McLain – A fictionalized account of Beryl Markham’s life, capturing her pioneering spirit, complicated relationships, and defiance of gender norms.
- The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert – Though not about aviation, this novel follows a fiercely independent woman scientist in the 19th century, with sweeping adventure, intellectual exploration, and a rich historical setting.
- A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline – A beautifully written novel about Christina Olson, the woman who inspired Andrew Wyeth’s Christina’s World, featuring themes of resilience, isolation, and the constraints placed on women’s lives.
Celebration of Books 