ARTFUL READERS CLUB
CIRCLING THE SUN by Paula McLain
March 14, 2016
I knew nothing about Beryl Markham before reading CIRCLING THE SUN by Paula McLain. She was a fascinating woman who had a very unconventional upbringing in early 20th century colonial Kenya. She was the white daughter of a horse ranch owner who, through McLain's depiction, felt very real and multidimensional. I could envision her life and struggles...rebelling against the norms, fighting to go on after her mother's departure from her early life, her relationship with her father, her working through becoming a child bride, her relationships with people who helped as well as hurt her, her strong attachment to Kenya, her ability to move on no matter how far she fell, her fierce independence, sense of humor and her strong sense of self. McLain did a great job describing the reality of a world where independence for women...the option to pursue one's dreams... was close to non-existent... and the penalties that had to be endured if that was the chosen path to walk. Beryl Markham was a horse trainer at a time when it was a career suitable only for men and was successful at being the first woman to fly solo from England to New York as well as to cross the Atlantic, east-to-west, solo, non-stop at a time when only men were pilots.
Paula McLain is a beautiful, poetic writer... a skill that helps us as readers develop a realistic awareness and love for Markham's Kenya. CIRCLING THE SUN is a magical book about a very strong woman... there's romance, mystery, heartache and so much joy for life. It's definitely one I'd recommend. If you read McLain's THE PARIS WIFE and enjoyed it, you'll LOVE this novel.
Hope to see you for my next posting...thanks for stopping by.
Big Hugs,
abbyj
