Great Circle- Reading Guide

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 is a sweeping, ambitious novel about obsession, ambition, freedom, and the enduring pull of the sky. Maggie Shipstead weaves together two timelines—one historical and one contemporary—to tell the story of a woman aviator determined to fly around the world, and a modern actress preparing to portray her. Epic in scope yet deeply intimate, this novel explores what it means to pursue a calling, the cost of greatness, and the invisible threads that link women across generations. Also, it was a finalist for the Booker Prize!

About the Author

Maggie Shipstead is an American novelist known for her rich storytelling, vivid characters, and emotional depth. She is the author of Seating Arrangements, which won the Dylan Thomas Prize, and Astonish Me. Great Circle was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and widely praised for its scope, research, and narrative ambition. Shipstead’s work often explores desire, identity, family, and the tension between freedom and belonging.

Summary

The novel follows two interconnected narratives:

• Marian Graves, born in 1914, who becomes a daring aviator in the early 20th century. Raised in Montana by her uncle after her parents’ deaths, Marian develops a passion for flying that defies social conventions. She joins the war effort as a pilot and later sets her sights on an audacious goal: to fly around the world over the North and South Poles.

• Hadley Baxter, a contemporary Hollywood actress cast to play Marian in a film adaptation of her life. As Hadley immerses herself in Marian’s story, she reflects on her own life, relationships, fame, and identity.

As Marian’s life unfolds—marked by fierce independence, complicated love, friendship, and relentless pursuit of flight—Hadley’s narrative offers a modern counterpoint, raising questions about legacy, interpretation, and how women’s stories are shaped and reshaped over time.

Themes

1. Ambition and Obsession
Marian’s life is driven by a singular devotion to flight. The novel explores how ambition can be both noble and isolating, and how the pursuit of greatness often comes at the expense of conventional happiness.

2. Freedom vs. Belonging
Marian resists domesticity and social expectations, choosing independence over stability. The book asks whether true freedom is possible without loneliness—and whether belonging always requires compromise.

3. Women Defying Expectations
Set against a male-dominated aviation world, Marian’s story is one of resistance and resilience. The novel interrogates the constraints placed on women’s ambitions across generations.

4. Legacy and Storytelling
Hadley’s role highlights how lives are remembered, mythologized, and interpreted. The novel raises questions about who gets to tell women’s stories—and how truth is shaped by perspective.

5. Love, Friendship, and Sacrifice
From Marian’s complex relationships to Hadley’s romantic struggles, the novel portrays intimacy as both grounding and limiting, revealing how love often competes with personal calling.

Questions to Ponder

1. Marian is fiercely devoted to flight. Did you admire her ambition, or did it feel self-destructive at times? Why?

2. How did the dual-timeline structure affect your reading experience? Did you find Hadley’s storyline enriching or distracting?

3. The novel challenges traditional ideas of fulfillment. Do you think Marian lived a “successful” life? On whose terms?

4. What does Great Circle suggest about the cost of greatness, particularly for women?

5. How does Hadley’s experience as an actress shape the way she interprets Marian’s life?

6. Did the novel change the way you think about freedom, ambition, or legacy?

Great Circle is a bold, emotionally resonant novel that asks what it truly means to live a meaningful life. Maggie Shipstead crafts a story that is both epic and intimate, reminding us that ambition can be a form of devotion—and that devotion often demands sacrifice. Through Marian and Hadley, the novel invites us to reflect on the stories we inherit, the paths we choose, and the ways women across time struggle to claim space for their dreams.

For Sole Sister Ramblers, this book offers rich ground for discussion about identity, independence, ambition, and the invisible bonds that connect women’s stories across generations.

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