Great Circle
Page turning
Cerebral
Intense

Great Circle Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2021

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2022 SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2021 THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER TIME MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE YEAR 'A gripping historical adventure that feels sharp, fresh and modern' STYLIST 'So beautiful, so daring, so complete' TAYLOR JENKINS REID 'A masterpiece' NIGELLA LAWSON 'Luminous, masterful. Glides seamlessly through the 20th century, immersing the reader' TELEGRAPH, Best Fiction of 2021 'How deeply we care about each of these people. Extraordinary' NEW YORK TIMES 'Wonderful. Memorable characters and vivid storytelling' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MAGAZINE 'A tour-de-force' DAILY EXPRESS A soaring, breathtakingly ambitious novel that weaves together the astonishing lives of a 1950s vanished female aviator and the modern-day Hollywood actress who plays her on screen. _______________________ From her days as a wild child in prohibition America to the blitz and glitz of wartime London, from the rugged shores of New Zealand to a lonely iceshelf in Antarctica, Marian Graves is driven by a need for freedom and danger. Determined to live an independent life, she resists the pull of her childhood sweetheart, and burns her way through a suite of glamorous lovers. But it is an obsession with flight that consumes her most. Now, as she is about to fulfil her greatest ambition, to circumnavigate the globe from pole to pole, Marian crash lands in a perilous wilderness of ice. Over half a century later, troubled film star Hadley Baxter is drawn inexorably to play the enigmatic pilot on screen. It is a role that will lead her to an unexpected discovery, throwing fresh and spellbinding light on the story of the unknowable Marian Graves. _________________________________________ 'Extraordinary' NEW YORK TIMES 'Full of adventure, passion and tragedy' THE TIMES 'Soars from the very first page' SUNDAY EXPRESS 'Luminous, masterful. Glides seamlessly through 20th century history' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Breathtaking' OBSERVER 'Impressive and gripping' SUNDAY TIMES 'Surprising and moving at every turn' GUARDIAN 'Audacious and Immersive' DAILY MAIL 'Accomplished and ambitious' FINANCIAL TIMES Readers love GREAT CIRCLE: ***** What a read! Immense story with beautifully created characters ***** A 600 page turner that you are sad to finish ***** The story is so well researched and planned; historical fiction standing side by side with history itself ***** This is a stunning achievement, my perspective feels fundamentally transformed through reading it ***** A wonderful saga, covering a large chunk of the twentieth century
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Reviews

Photo of Victoria Justice
Victoria Justice@litatori
3.5 stars
Oct 25, 2023

This is an incredible novel following two different women, each trying to marinate their lives. While their lives aren't ever linked, the comparisons between the two women's early life connect them to one another.

I loved Marian's story! I found parts of it so relatable. It hurt to read them! The author has done a fantastic job of clearly and concisely summarising an accurate description of emotions Marian went through.

Hadley annoyed me. She seemed more of a driving force for revealing Marian's story and didn't really have a story of her own apart from sleeping around or thinking about sleeping around. The way she discovers something great and chooses not to pursue it makes her feel like such an auxiliary character and, therefore, worthless beyond giving a focus to Marian and her story being told.

While the ending to Marian's tale was predictable to me, I still found it heartwarming to read, and it is a story I will remember for a long time to come.

+2
Photo of Beth Bartholomew
Beth Bartholomew@BooksNest
4.5 stars
Apr 30, 2023

This book felt like as real journey from start to finish. Following two narratives and stories that link together through a mystery that slowly unfolds. I adored both narratives and the different struggles they faced whilst trying to push through to achieve their dreams.

The writing style was incredibly poetic and flowed beautifully, a thoroughly enjoyable read.

+2
Photo of swan
swan@dulcimermaid
3 stars
Apr 27, 2025
+2