Naomi Weisman is the writer of Nomi's Pics and the editor of the Rambler Cafe Blog. She is a Canadian-Australian and mother of three who loves to Ramble with her dog, cook for family and friends, and laugh whenever possible.
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead proved to be one of the most ambitious and complex novels our Sole Sister Ramblers Book Club has tackled.
Readers described feeling frustration, confusion, anticipation, admiration, heartbreak, and awe — sometimes all within the same reading session. For some, it was immersive and all-consuming. For others, it was a demanding read that required perseverance. A few stepped away entirely. And yet, even among divided opinions, there was consensus on one thing: Shipstead has written an expansive, intelligent novel that asks a great deal of its reader.
Like Marian’s flight path itself, the story is vast, sweeping, and occasionally disorienting — but undeniably bold.
Summary
Great Circle follows Marian Graves, a fiercely independent aviator determined to circumnavigate the globe by crossing over both poles. Orphaned young and raised in Missoula alongside her beloved twin brother Jamie, Marian grows up defying expectation — socially, sexually, and professionally.
Running parallel is the contemporary story of Hadley Baxter, a Hollywood actress cast to portray Marian in a biopic. As Hadley researches Marian’s life, she begins confronting her own questions about identity, performance, and autonomy.
Across decades and continents — Montana, Alaska, Antarctica, wartime Europe, Hollywood — Shipstead crafts a novel about ambition, freedom, survival, and the immensity of both the earth and the human spirit.
Readers’ Perceptions
Great Circle elicited some of the most varied reactions we’ve experienced in Book Club.
For many, Marian was one of the strongest fictional characters they’ve ever encountered — unwavering, defiant, and fiercely self-directed. Her determination was enviable. She refused to let society define her, and that clarity of purpose commanded respect.
“Her unwavering passion and determination was something I found enviable.”
Others, however, wrestled with the cost of that determination. Some felt her sacrifices — particularly in relationships — outweighed the freedom flight brought her. There were moments when readers wanted to intervene, to say, No… It’s not worth it. Her struggle with belonging and self-worth was, for some, the most heartbreaking thread of all.
The dual timeline also divided opinion. Several readers found the structure initially jarring — especially just as Marian’s story became immersive. Audiobook listeners noted that the shifts between timelines sometimes added to the confusion. Yet many who persevered came to appreciate how Hadley’s discoveries enriched Marian’s story and complicated the idea of legacy. For some, Hadley’s storyline gained depth in hindsight — “aging like a fine wine” after the final page.
There was also deep emotional investment in the secondary characters. Jamie’s gentleness. Caleb’s steadiness. Eddie’s quiet heartbreak.
“Eddie, Eddie, Eddie…”
For several readers, Eddie’s arc lingered long after finishing the novel. Others were profoundly moved by the bond between Marian and Jamie — that early Missoula childhood, the mountains and lakes, the sense of “too-bigness” they both carried in different forms.
The novel’s scope — geographically and emotionally — was repeatedly praised. Readers loved the immersive descriptions of landscape, sky, ice, and light. The immensity of the earth mirrored the immensity of Marian’s ambition.
Not everyone connected with the book. A few found it overly long, structurally dense, or difficult to keep track of characters and timelines. Some questioned whether Hadley’s storyline was necessary. But even among those who struggled, there was recognition of the intelligence of the writing and the ambition behind the project.
And perhaps most importantly, many expressed gratitude for reading it together, in this community. The complexity of the novel was enriched — and made more navigable — through shared discussion and differing perspectives.
Like Marian’s flight, the reading experience required endurance.
But for many, it was worth the journey.
Themes & Reflections
Ambition, Authenticity & Self-Definition
Marian’s life sparked meaningful conversation about what it means to live successfully.
Most readers agreed: she lived on her own terms. Success for Marian was not about recognition — it was about alignment with her deepest self.
The novel reframed ambition not as selfishness, but as truth-telling. Marian refuses to betray herself, even when the cost is immense.
For women especially, the cost of greatness remains disproportionate. Where ambition in men is often expected, in women it requires resistance, sacrifice, and endurance. Yet those who dare become extraordinary role models.
The Geography of Vastness
Many readers were struck by the sheer scope of the novel’s landscape. The mountains of Montana, the icy expanses of Antarctica and Alaska, the curvature of the earth viewed from the cockpit — the immensity of place became almost a character in itself.
Jamie’s artistic exploration of “too-bigness” paralleled Marian’s obsession with global circumference. Life coming full circle — geographically, emotionally, spiritually — became one of the novel’s most resonant metaphors.
Hadley’s Timeline: Bridge or Burden?
Reactions to Hadley’s storyline were mixed.
Some found it distracting or unnecessary, especially early on. Others felt it enriched the novel profoundly.
As the story unfolded, many came to see Hadley as both mirror and bridge — raising questions about legacy, storytelling, privacy, and ownership of identity. Hadley’s struggle with living publicly illuminated Marian’s own fierce protection of autonomy.
Interestingly, some noted that Hadley’s storyline “aged like a fine wine” — becoming more meaningful in hindsight as its thematic contributions settled.
Sexual Violence, Power & Control
One of the most impactful early responses concerned the portrayal of sexual violence, its triggering effect, and the framing of feminine desire.
Readers reflected on how the novel explores:
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How sexuality can be framed as wicked
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How reproduction becomes a tool of control
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How women internalize judgment
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How alienation from one’s own body persists even in spaces of strength
Marian’s endurance through violation and adversity did not define her — but it shaped her. For some readers, this made her stronger. For others, it deepened the heartbreak of her self-worth struggles.
Yet amid patriarchal war, social constraint, and control, she also experienced sustaining female friendships — reminders that solidarity and closeness quietly anchor survival.
Freedom, Legacy & Privacy
One of the most powerful takeaways from the group was how the novel reframed freedom as something internal.
Marian’s freedom was not ease. It was clarity. Even when constrained socially, she refused to betray her inner compass.
The novel also posed a subtle but profound question about legacy. Marian does not live to curate her own story. Instead, others interpret and reconstruct it. Legacy becomes less about public recognition and more about having lived authentically enough that one’s life continues to resonate.
Hadley’s decision regarding Marian’s private truths sparked thoughtful debate — was it protection? Respect? Control? Many ultimately felt it honoured Marian’s dignity.
Notable Quotes and Moments
Throughout our discussion, certain lines — and certain reflections — surfaced again and again.
From the novel itself:
“He was the calm in her — the ballast.”
A line that captured the quiet steadiness some characters offered Marian — grounding her even as she chased the sky.
“Born to be a wanderer.”
For many readers, this phrase felt almost personal — a description that resonated deeply with those who feel most alive in motion, in travel, in pursuit.
The recurring idea of life coming “full circle.”
Not only Marian’s literal flight path, but also the emotional and spiritual circling of identity, belonging, and legacy.
The vastness — clouds, ice, oceans, the curvature of the earth.
Readers repeatedly referenced the immensity of the landscape — how Shipstead rendered Antarctica, Alaska, Montana, and the open sky with such clarity that we felt suspended there with Marian.
And then there were the lines and sentiments that came from you — from within our circle:
“Flying wasn’t simply something she did; it was who she was.”
“Did it really bring her that much freedom and joy?”
“I felt her struggle with belonging screaming through the story.”
“You need to keep your socks dry.”
That last one — practical, grounded, and quietly wise — felt almost like a metaphor for Marian’s life. Grand ambition requires survival. Survival requires attention to the small, essential details.
Many readers also reflected on how the novel reframed freedom and ambition:
Marian’s freedom wasn’t ease — it was clarity.
Legacy isn’t always about being remembered correctly, but about having lived authentically enough to endure.
Taken together, these lines — both from the page and from our own reflections — reveal the true power of Great Circle: it is not a neat story, but a resonant one.
Final Thoughts
Great Circle was not universally loved — but it was deeply felt.
For some, it was nearly abandoned. For others, it became unforgettable. Many would deduct points for length and structural complexity. Yet almost all acknowledged the intelligence of the prose, the depth of character, and the ambition of the storytelling.
This is a novel that asks patience. It asks for your attention. It asks you to hold multiple timelines, perspectives, and moral ambiguities at once.
And like Marian’s great circle itself, its impact may only be fully understood once you’ve reached the end and looked back at the arc.
Above all, what stood out in our discussion was how each of us brought our own history to this book — our own experiences of ambition, loss, wanderlust, career sacrifice, love, geography, and belonging.
That collective richness — layered and global — may be the truest “great circle” of all.
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