THERE HAS BEEN a lot of buzz around New York Times bestselling novelist Maggie Shipstead's third novel, Great Circle, especially about how meticulously researched the work is. And her aviation details do not disappoint. But be prepared to either read this 600-page book all at once or page back to catch up on who's who and what's happening in the novel. The story line employs the trope of parallel lives-two strong women from different points in time. Marian Graves is the daredevil pilot of the 1950s and Hadley Baxter is the actress hired to play the aviator in a movie 60 years later. And, as in other similar novels, Graves is lost on an ambitious flight with her male navigator during a pole-to-pole expedition (sound familiar?). The sections of the novel about flying-especially during World War Ⅱ- are well done, and a pilot reader will be impressed with the detail and accuracy. While it veers off into some oddly placed topics-homosexuality, marriage for money, alcoholism, and poverty-the novel is an epic read. Just put your feet up and devote the next few days to its reading. Great Circle is available in hard copy and digital editions through Amazon and other retailers.
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