Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

34 reviews

karingforbooks's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

The premise is interesting and what parts focused on the circumnavigation were fascinating and enjoyable. But the author jumps around a lot and I’m not sure what the point of Hadley was. She felt superfluous since we had all the other info through Marian anyway. Also the focus on sex and relationships drove me up the wall. Every other page there was a reference to or discussion of sex that was unnecessary and added nothing. I think if this were 300 pages it would have been much better 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Rape, War, Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Death of parent

Minor: Abortion

ppppaula's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I adored the main story about Marian and all of the historical side stories, but the present day story about the actress added nothing and to me, was unnecessary. This would have been a 5 star read without it.  The writing was spot on, and the historical stories were so well told from the get go and really gave a sense of place and character. I really could picture the different places, especially Missoula, Alaska, Seattle & Antartica. Loved the stories about Addison, the ship,, Jamie, Eddy, Caleb, Wallace, and of course Marian. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Abortion

doilooklikeamolly's review

challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a marathon of a read! It's incredibly dense with painstaking backstory. I went into it knowing that many reviewers didn't enjoy these perhaps superfluous additions, but as I read I kept thinking to myself "would I have edited this out," and more often than not my answer was no. The interwoven timelines are supported by histories that add complexity to the characters and the way they experience pain, joy, and one another's flaws. The end result is this dynamic, emotional, expertly crafted arc. I recommend it to anyone who loves a slow burn - an opportunity to just steep in the narrative and language.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Rape, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

There is some sex positive coming of age content, but also brief moments of non-consensual acts under the guise of marital duty.

Spoiler

This includes non-consensual removal of contraceptive device, forced impregnation and mention of abortion.

lols_cat's review

adventurous informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Death of parent, and Death

Minor: Abortion, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Abandonment, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

heatherilene's review

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Death, and Rape

cecilia_lau's review against another edition

3.75

Loads and loads happens especially in the beginning of this book. I defo recommend reading it at a time where you can “handle”/grasp a lot of characters and plot; it’s not a light read. It’s a good story, it’s heavy at times, it’s well-crafted and I enjoyed Jamie’s storyline the most tbh. My big book fear came out though as I thought it dragged a little here and there but I also had high expectations for it which is unfair tbf. Still worth a read

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Abortion, Incest, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, and War

jazhandz's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, War, Alcoholism, Death, and Alcohol

Moderate: Abortion, Rape, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Confinement, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Dementia, and Hate crime

smaravetz's review

adventurous emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This was great- on the long side but tied all ends together by the final chapter. Really enjoyable. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual violence and Rape

Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Abortion

btodd12's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

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

4.75

Great Circle takes the top spot for the longest book I’ve read in a while (608 pages/25 hours!) but the author absolutely deserves every award it has won! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Nothing short of an epic saga, Great Circle spans multiple generations and reaches (literally) around the world. Marion Graves attempted to fly a great circle from pole to pole in 1950, but disappeared during the last leg of her journey. ✈️ Yes, this is a story about flying but it is also so much more. It’s the lengths to which Marion would go to achieve her dream of being a pilot during a time when women generally couldn’t hold such a career. It’s her struggles against her controlling husband and her attempts to find true love. It’s her twin brother Jamie’s journey to becoming an artist. And fast forwarding 60 years, it’s actress Hadley Baxter’s experience playing Marion in a movie about her astonishing feats. And I’d be remiss not to mention the shipwrecks, LGTBQ, bootlegging, WWII, brothels, and Great Depression that all add to the myriad of plot lines. Summed up in a line from the book, “Hope shouldn’t be so expensive.” 💔
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I was admittedly intimidated by the size, which is why this signed copy of the book has sat on my shelves for over a year. I eventually listened on audio during a long road trip & loved it. The only parts I didn’t care for were the early chapters of Hadley Baxter & the sexual abuse. (Definitely look up or DM me for trigger warnings, because there are several but they relate to spoilers so I’m not listing them here) While the beginning can be confusing, stick with it.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, War, Lesbophobia, Abortion, and Sexual assault

eggpilot's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Abandonment and Alcoholism