jhalloran99's review against another edition
3.0
This book was way too long. It took over 300 pages to get to where she learned to fly. I liked it better than The Paris Wife, but I don't think I'll read another Paula McLain book.
southernstory's review against another edition
5.0
Circling the Sun was such a pleasant surprise. Somehow, this book missed my radar when it was released. I stumbled upon it at the library and am so happy that I did. McClain deftly captures the spirit of Beryl Markham, a woman who most people know from "Out of Africa". The book dovetails Beryl's accomplishments with her personal relationships and I think that because of the latter, some may find Beryl unlikable, but for me it's what made her believable.
The author puts you in early twentieth century Africa so much that you begin to feel enveloped by the soaring beauty, you feel as if you're on safari with the characters, you feel yourself galloping across the plains on a racehorse or you feel the heartbreak of how brutal of a life it could be. Basically, you feel this book.
The writing in this book is so wonderfully executed. McClain uses the wildness of Africa and the untamed life that Beryl had made for herself as a horse trainer and then as an aviator, as metaphors to the complexities of Beryl's personality.
"Most of flying was instinct and intuition, with a few do-or-die rules thrown in on top. "Trust your compass" was one of these. Your own judgement will go haywire sometimes...But this needle...this will tell you where you should be going. Not where you are. Put your faith there, and you'll catch up eventually."
Looking forward to reading McClain's last book, The Paris Wife.
The author puts you in early twentieth century Africa so much that you begin to feel enveloped by the soaring beauty, you feel as if you're on safari with the characters, you feel yourself galloping across the plains on a racehorse or you feel the heartbreak of how brutal of a life it could be. Basically, you feel this book.
The writing in this book is so wonderfully executed. McClain uses the wildness of Africa and the untamed life that Beryl had made for herself as a horse trainer and then as an aviator, as metaphors to the complexities of Beryl's personality.
"Most of flying was instinct and intuition, with a few do-or-die rules thrown in on top. "Trust your compass" was one of these. Your own judgement will go haywire sometimes...But this needle...this will tell you where you should be going. Not where you are. Put your faith there, and you'll catch up eventually."
Looking forward to reading McClain's last book, The Paris Wife.
ktxx22's review against another edition
1.0
Biggest steaming pile of trash/poop I’ve had the pleasure to read/listen to ever. 1/5 And if I could give it less I would. I got 70% of the way through this book and I’m not wasting any more time on it.
This book is marketed as a “historical fiction memoir” of Beryl Markham. Beryl Markham is Britain’s “Amelia Earhart” 1st Woman to successfully cross the Atlantic. So on reading the premise you think this book is gonna be Bad ass! A female who defied the gender norms of her era and did a lot of awesome things. If I were in anyway related to Beryl Markham I’d sue McLain for slander. This book is smut. Lots of gratuitous sexual encounters. Beryl is depicted as a whiny wan woman. Who falls into bed with various men for no real reason. Other than they can help her financially... sounds like a hooker to me. There are so many loose ends that never get tied up. The only really wonderful thing is the scenery depictions of Kenya. I loved that. The rest of this book can be thrown in the garbage.
This book is marketed as a “historical fiction memoir” of Beryl Markham. Beryl Markham is Britain’s “Amelia Earhart” 1st Woman to successfully cross the Atlantic. So on reading the premise you think this book is gonna be Bad ass! A female who defied the gender norms of her era and did a lot of awesome things. If I were in anyway related to Beryl Markham I’d sue McLain for slander. This book is smut. Lots of gratuitous sexual encounters. Beryl is depicted as a whiny wan woman. Who falls into bed with various men for no real reason. Other than they can help her financially... sounds like a hooker to me. There are so many loose ends that never get tied up. The only really wonderful thing is the scenery depictions of Kenya. I loved that. The rest of this book can be thrown in the garbage.
maggersann's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
Not at all what I expected, but an engaging story nonetheless! Now, off to do loads more research on Beryl Markham.
jeri's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Boring
vojohnson's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
internationalkris's review against another edition
3.0
Paula McLain selected an amazing woman to write about but a lot of her descriptions and dialog felt lifted from the script from Out of Africa.
pagesofthevalley's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Such beautiful and descriptive writing. I didnt realize until the end that this was based on true story. A woman named Beryl Markham. It had many slow spots throughout the book but still manageable.
mkhaas29's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps closer to 3.5 stars, but the story of a remarkable life has its sway. While I understand that capturing the twists and turns of someone’s real events puts an increased challenge on a writer and storyteller, I did feel like this one lost its way every once and a while. That being said, I also had read a few headlines about Beryl before starting this book which perhaps was a mistake. Expecting a tale detailing the events leading up to her love of flight, etc knowing she was the first person to cross the Atlantic solo was the first misstep. This is truly about her life leading up to that- and by that I mean anything to do with her interest in flight in truly the last three chapters or so (out of 62 and an epilogue).
This is not meant to discredit all the fascinating and wonderful things she accomplished and significant barriers she faced as a bold woman in the early 1920s forging her way in a man’s world, let along in Africa. Abandoned by her mother early on, then essentially by her father as well as a teenager she was served her lumps. While she herself was no innocent, hers is a life I’m glad to know more about. And without this book I probably never would have encountered her.
This is not meant to discredit all the fascinating and wonderful things she accomplished and significant barriers she faced as a bold woman in the early 1920s forging her way in a man’s world, let along in Africa. Abandoned by her mother early on, then essentially by her father as well as a teenager she was served her lumps. While she herself was no innocent, hers is a life I’m glad to know more about. And without this book I probably never would have encountered her.
kandicez's review against another edition
4.0
From Wikipedia: Beryl Markham (née Clutterbuck; 26 October 1902 – 3 August 1986) was an English-born Kenyan aviator (one of the first bush pilots), adventurer, racehorse trainer and author. She was the first person to fly solo, non-stop across the Atlantic from Britain to North thAmerica. She wrote about her adventures in her memoir, [b:West with the Night|1624|West with the Night|Beryl Markham|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1368204688l/1624._SY75_.jpg|192528].
The back flap of this book says basically the same thing, so when I read it I kept waiting for the flying part! I feel it was a bit of a bait and switch since we mostly get Beryl's story up until she begins flying, none of the details of the flying itself. In all honesty, I would have been ok with that and not felt cheated at all, since she was a remarkable woman even without the solo flight. But why market the book using that? I digress.
This reminded me very much of [b:Out of Africa|781787|Out of Africa|Isak Dinesen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1608486134l/781787._SY75_.jpg|1189079] even before Karen Blixen and her Denys show up. Both books are about independent and amazing women, living in Africa in the late 19th, early 20th centuries. Clearly, Africa was the place to be for women at that time!
I didn't like Beryl. I have to admit that right away. She was selfish and self serving, but also incredibly admirable, and in reality, maybe being selfish was the only way to be an independent woman in that time period. I found it just as remarkable that she was the first female licensed horse trainer as the solo flight. I squirmed at her affairs, especially the affair that affected Blixen, since I had grown to love Blixen from her own book, and then even more so from Meryl Streep's portrayal.
I found myself trying to cast Beryl, who definitely deserves her own movie. I think Charlize Theron could have played her perfectly a few years ago, maybe even now if they used makeup or CGI to make her younger in the beginning. Scarlett Johansen or Alicia Vikander would also do justice to the role.
The back flap of this book says basically the same thing, so when I read it I kept waiting for the flying part! I feel it was a bit of a bait and switch since we mostly get Beryl's story up until she begins flying, none of the details of the flying itself. In all honesty, I would have been ok with that and not felt cheated at all, since she was a remarkable woman even without the solo flight. But why market the book using that? I digress.
This reminded me very much of [b:Out of Africa|781787|Out of Africa|Isak Dinesen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1608486134l/781787._SY75_.jpg|1189079] even before Karen Blixen and her Denys show up. Both books are about independent and amazing women, living in Africa in the late 19th, early 20th centuries. Clearly, Africa was the place to be for women at that time!
I didn't like Beryl. I have to admit that right away. She was selfish and self serving, but also incredibly admirable, and in reality, maybe being selfish was the only way to be an independent woman in that time period. I found it just as remarkable that she was the first female licensed horse trainer as the solo flight. I squirmed at her affairs, especially the affair that affected Blixen, since I had grown to love Blixen from her own book, and then even more so from Meryl Streep's portrayal.
I found myself trying to cast Beryl, who definitely deserves her own movie. I think Charlize Theron could have played her perfectly a few years ago, maybe even now if they used makeup or CGI to make her younger in the beginning. Scarlett Johansen or Alicia Vikander would also do justice to the role.