2022 WP shortlist - Great Circle

[Hugh, Active moderator]

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

[Paul]

I liked this more than most

But as a joint Booker and Women's Prize longlistee?? - wouldn't have been the most obvious choice for that honour!

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Well I think this fits the Women's Prize better (remember it was a Booker shortlister which was even more astonishing)

Oddly Paul the two books I read in the last 12 months that you I thought were way too long are:

a) both on this longlist
b) and both ones you liked a lot more than many

[Paul]

Well Great Circle was at least enjoyable unlike many Booker books. And skimreadable.

But This One Sky Day was highly innovative (hence the Goldsmiths Prize recognition) and a book that justified its length. There are exceptions, just not many.

[Cindy]

Not too much more to say about this book that I didn't say during the 2021 Booker Prize discussion. Certainly agree with GY that this is better for the Women's Prize than the Booker. But hope it's not shortlisted.

[Paul]

Shame that the book didn’t just focus on the modern days parts as that was the highlight. The past story was rather dull.

[David]

It would have been better if all the characters suddenly converted in the middle of the book and took on Polish names.

[Paul]

I am sure I read a book recently where that happened and it was rubbish. Can’t remember which though!

(The middle being page 4627 was part of the problem)

[Lisa]

Hmm.

This was my first read of this year’s long list. I listened to this as an audible book narrated by Cassandra Campbell and Alex McKenna. I thought the narration was excellent and probably increased my submersion in the story.

Great Circle tells the story of pilot Marianne Graves both from a third person omniscient narrator viewpoint and from the first person view of actress Hadley Baxter who is cast as Marianne in a film about her life. The story explored how well we truly know about someone after their death and how much is our own wishful thinking.

That said, I felt that the concept (but not plot or execution) was so similar to AS Byatt’s Possession. Sadly, Great Circle, was not up to the same standard as Possession in either plot, viewpoints or storytelling.

[Britta]

After I finished I just felt as if I had eaten too much pink-colored cotton candy.
2.5*

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I think on this group 2.5 stars makes you a Shipstead-Stan

[Britta]

Ha, you really hated this one, didn't you?

[David]

I think a lot of our collective dislike is because it was inexplicably longlisted (and then shortlisted!) for the Booker where it seemed like a particularly ill fit.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Yes exactly David.

[Paul]

I still quite liked this one. Or at least the modern part. The historical fiction part was a bit dull.

[Hugh, Active moderator]

I enjoyed elements of this book but I think Shipstead would be very flattered by the comparison to Possession, which is much cleverer and deeper.

[Cindy]

I can’t even imagine comparing Great Circle to Possession, honestly.