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Around the Sun
Mark White appears to have it all as the head of a prestigious PR firm in Washington, DC. But in the aftermath of his wife’s sudden death, he is struggling to raise his eight-year-old son, Colin. When he takes on a controversial new technology startup mid-scandal and weeks before their IPO, Mark’s world rapidly begins to unravel. Adrift, Mark is soon forced to make life-altering choices that will affect his bond with Colin, the legacy of his deceased wife’s unsold paintings, and, most importantly, his relationship with himself. Set at intervals in present-day New York, San Francisco, Barbados, Italy, and Barcelona, Around the Sun is told in lush, graceful prose, a portrait of grief and hope in the age of social media, globalization, and artistic decadence.
- GenresFictionLiterary Fiction
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2020
1 person is currently reading
2739 people want to read
About the author
Eric Michael Bovim
1 book28 followersEric Michael Bovim is an American writer. He began his career as a journalist in 1999 for Dow Jones Newswires and Reuters, based in Madrid. While in Spain, he covered the Basque separatist group, ETA, as well as the companies that rose and fell during the dot com collapse. Around the Sun is his debut novel. He is a graduate of College of the Holy Cross, where he studied twentieth century fiction and poetry under Christopher Merrill. After deferring an MFA opportunity to study with David Foster Wallace, he moved to Barcelona after college. He returned to the U.S. in 2001 and began to work as a consultant. Over the years his essays have appeared in Salon, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. He resides in Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
November 11, 2020
Mark White has built a successful company based in his PR expertise. Living close to Washington D.C., he charges a fortune for his services but it’s clear from the early sections that his enthusiasm for the business is waning. He’s tired of the long days, the constant need for international travel but most of all he’s worried about his young son, Colin. Since the loss of his wife, Monica, to a hit-and-run accident he’s been immersing himself in work but his son is struggling and soon Mark realises that Colin’s declining grades represent the visible signs of the strain he is under. How’s he going to get his life, and that of his son, back on an even keel?
There’s quite a bit here about the life of a successful business executive and the perks (and some of the drawbacks) that such a position offers. The heart of this novel is, however, the story of Mark’s continuing battle to deal with the loss of his wife and to fully come to terms with his responsibilities as the sole remaining parent. Of course his money helps, so Colin always has somebody around – the hired help – but it’s now obvious that his struggle to cope with the death of his mother and now the absence of his father has become an acute problem.
For the most part this is a fairly dense literary piece with occasional long rambling passages that could have been penned by Don DeLillo. And because of this I had the creeping feeling that this is a book I’d rather listen to than read, so that some of the more lumbering sections could wash over me. But as I became ever more drawn into the lives of these two floundering people I began to appreciate the quality and truth of some of the writing: I’d stop and re-read a section here and there and highlight a line that particularly resonated. Yes, there was definitely some good stuff here.
It became ever clearer that Mark was in the early stages of a complete breakdown and that this was putting his entire company at risk. He’d developed a self destructive streak that he seemed unable to reverse. Some of his colleagues had determined that it might be better to jump ship now rather than risk down down with it and this death spiral seemed irreversible as one misstep followed another. By now I’d developed huge empathy for Mark and Colin and in the closing sections of the book I was willing them both on, hoping that they’d find some way of squaring the circle.
This book is not perfect, by any means. Apart from the semi-impenetrable sections I’ve already referenced there are some interactions between Mark and Colin that just didn’t quite ring true for me. But, and it’s a big but, I did eventually find myself totally captivated by this story. The good heavily outweighs the not so good here. And there’s enough of the former for me to offer up a four-star rating.
My thanks to Epigraph and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There’s quite a bit here about the life of a successful business executive and the perks (and some of the drawbacks) that such a position offers. The heart of this novel is, however, the story of Mark’s continuing battle to deal with the loss of his wife and to fully come to terms with his responsibilities as the sole remaining parent. Of course his money helps, so Colin always has somebody around – the hired help – but it’s now obvious that his struggle to cope with the death of his mother and now the absence of his father has become an acute problem.
For the most part this is a fairly dense literary piece with occasional long rambling passages that could have been penned by Don DeLillo. And because of this I had the creeping feeling that this is a book I’d rather listen to than read, so that some of the more lumbering sections could wash over me. But as I became ever more drawn into the lives of these two floundering people I began to appreciate the quality and truth of some of the writing: I’d stop and re-read a section here and there and highlight a line that particularly resonated. Yes, there was definitely some good stuff here.
It became ever clearer that Mark was in the early stages of a complete breakdown and that this was putting his entire company at risk. He’d developed a self destructive streak that he seemed unable to reverse. Some of his colleagues had determined that it might be better to jump ship now rather than risk down down with it and this death spiral seemed irreversible as one misstep followed another. By now I’d developed huge empathy for Mark and Colin and in the closing sections of the book I was willing them both on, hoping that they’d find some way of squaring the circle.
This book is not perfect, by any means. Apart from the semi-impenetrable sections I’ve already referenced there are some interactions between Mark and Colin that just didn’t quite ring true for me. But, and it’s a big but, I did eventually find myself totally captivated by this story. The good heavily outweighs the not so good here. And there’s enough of the former for me to offer up a four-star rating.
My thanks to Epigraph and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2020
Maybe this story gets better but at 22% I’m not willing to devote any more time. Extremely depressing and just not for me...
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 13, 2020
Around The Sun is a debut novel by Eric Michael Bovim. The main character lives larger than life, jetting off to expensive locations, making deals and enjoying luxury all while grieving the loss of his wife who has passed away. His son, Colin is having a hard time with just seeing his dad two days a week. Interwoven within the lives of Michael and his son are the complex business dealings that drag him deeper and deeper into a web.
The writing is detailed and descriptive, which is very enjoyable. Around the Sun is divided into three sections and the story gets more intense as the sections develop. Mark goes off the deep end, but it is not really until reading the second section that I was able to really put together part of the reasons why. The third section is more coming of age- in terms of his grief, and priorities...as well as his business choices..
Well written, often deep Around the Sun stays with you for its lasting impact with regards to the power of our choices in everyday living.
Thank you to NetGalley, Author Eric Michael Bovim, and Epigraph publishing for this temporary advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own.
The writing is detailed and descriptive, which is very enjoyable. Around the Sun is divided into three sections and the story gets more intense as the sections develop. Mark goes off the deep end, but it is not really until reading the second section that I was able to really put together part of the reasons why. The third section is more coming of age- in terms of his grief, and priorities...as well as his business choices..
Well written, often deep Around the Sun stays with you for its lasting impact with regards to the power of our choices in everyday living.
Thank you to NetGalley, Author Eric Michael Bovim, and Epigraph publishing for this temporary advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own.
July 2, 2020
This is the compelling and moving story of Mark White, a man trying to run a multi-million dollar PR company, take care of his son, hold himself together, and deal with the grief of his wife’s sudden death’s a few years earlier. Set in 2016 prior to the U.S. Presidential election, it is told in three parts. The first part is told in a frenetic, almost stream-of-consciousness way and there is a feeling of dread that something bad is bound to happen. I have to admit I wasn’t quite sure of what I thought of Mark White at first. But as the story progresses and more is learned about Mark and his past, I found myself rooting for him and his quest to become whole. And, for me, it is his relationship to his son that is the most critically important part of the story. There is a lot going on in this book regarding his business with multiple characters and at times I found myself a bit lost and having to backtrack a bit so I’m giving this four stars. Overall, I found this to be an honest and emotional portrait of a man fighting to have the life that he truly wants. Highly recommended.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 18, 2020
Around The World is the story of Mark, a businessman at the head of a large PR firm, struggling with the death of his wife and looking after his son while trying to manage his work life and schedule.
I really liked Mark as a character but I found the first half of this book really hard to get into. I loved all the moment with Mark and his son, Colin, but I had no interest in all the business side which seemed to take over the book. I couldn’t keep track of all the other characters and I didn’t care about any of the business challenges.
It’s a shame really because I really loved the very final section of the book and the depictions of Barcelona were so vivid (so much so I felt very sad my visit there, which was meant to be in April, was cancelled).
I wasn’t surprised to find this was a debut by a writer who was an entrepreneur himself. He is clearly very knowledgable about the business world but unfortunately that business-focus didn’t really do it for me and I would have liked more of the story to focus on Mark and Colin.
3 stars
I really liked Mark as a character but I found the first half of this book really hard to get into. I loved all the moment with Mark and his son, Colin, but I had no interest in all the business side which seemed to take over the book. I couldn’t keep track of all the other characters and I didn’t care about any of the business challenges.
It’s a shame really because I really loved the very final section of the book and the depictions of Barcelona were so vivid (so much so I felt very sad my visit there, which was meant to be in April, was cancelled).
I wasn’t surprised to find this was a debut by a writer who was an entrepreneur himself. He is clearly very knowledgable about the business world but unfortunately that business-focus didn’t really do it for me and I would have liked more of the story to focus on Mark and Colin.
3 stars
July 14, 2020
Despite being a debut novel, this is an old fashioned style examination of a man who doesn't realize he's in crisis. Mark White seems to have it all, and to all intents and purposes, he does. Materially at least. His lifestyle is lavish, his tastes, high end. I actually had fun with his product namedropping, his extravagant lifestyle as he jets first class, and an appreciation for his penchant for fine dining with the proper wines. The plot itself appeared intermittently, and his grief for his beloved wife and love for his amazingly prescient 8-year-old son seem to drive his motivations. There is some lovely writing ("We decline in the wrong climate, improve in others.") Hope Bovim has more in him than this one novel.
May 23, 2020
Around the Sun by debut author Eric Michael Bovim takes readers on a captivating globe-crossing journey of a man trying and failing to juggle his multimilliom-dollar business with his grief. At times funny and other times cynical, Mark White is a D.C. PR kingpin, raking in so much money from his clients he invests some of it in gold, but he is also falling apart, coping with his wife’s tragic death by popping pills, drinking too much and getting very careless with his wealthy clients. Mark feels guilty about his business travel when it comes to leaving his 8-year-old son Colin with a nanny. Colin is wise beyond his years, as so many kids are, and he sees through a lot about his father while he copes with his own grief.
Mark travels constantly, to New York, San Francisco, Copenhagen, Barcelona and back to his home turf in Washington, D.C. and Virginia. Bovim is skilled at describing the atmosphere of each city and making you feel that you are in the coffee shops, the bakeries and outdoor cafes and on the winding streets. I loved tagging along on the trip to Barbados, where Mark takes his son to escape from his imploding life back in D.C. The music, food and labyrinthian streets of Barcelona made me want to go there. As Mark’s late wife Monica says, “We are never where we are.”
Eventually Mark’s increasing apathy toward his business and his pill popping and drinking lead to a very public business disaster and a crossroads in his life. As a reader, you are rooting for him to make the right decision. Along the way, the author’s beautifully accurate descriptions of airline travel, the media, public relations, grief and human nature are wonderfully written. Some of the scenes, especially with his friend Hawthorne and some of his PR clients, are also funny. His excellent character descriptions reminded me of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s cast in Gatsby, but in today’s moneyed world of IPOs and Twitter.
Literary fiction is my favorite and I used to live in D.C. and Virginia and worked as a reporter for many years, so I particularly enjoyed the scenes and observations about the media, which were spot on. Barcelona becomes a bit of a character in the book and it was clear the author had lived there to be able to capture it so well. The exploration of grief and the relationship between the father and son were moving. Mark’s sudden, unpredictable memories of his late wife, a painter, captured the beauty and pain of grief.
I highlighted many of the passages in this novel as I read, something I don’t often do. The elegant writing was that good. This debut novel also packs an energetic plot into its 288 pages. It is scheduled to be published June 1 by Epigraph. Thanks to the publisher and BookSirens for the chance to read and review this effervescent book. The epigraph by T.S. Eliot was perfect. “These fragments I have shored upon my ruins.”
Mark travels constantly, to New York, San Francisco, Copenhagen, Barcelona and back to his home turf in Washington, D.C. and Virginia. Bovim is skilled at describing the atmosphere of each city and making you feel that you are in the coffee shops, the bakeries and outdoor cafes and on the winding streets. I loved tagging along on the trip to Barbados, where Mark takes his son to escape from his imploding life back in D.C. The music, food and labyrinthian streets of Barcelona made me want to go there. As Mark’s late wife Monica says, “We are never where we are.”
Eventually Mark’s increasing apathy toward his business and his pill popping and drinking lead to a very public business disaster and a crossroads in his life. As a reader, you are rooting for him to make the right decision. Along the way, the author’s beautifully accurate descriptions of airline travel, the media, public relations, grief and human nature are wonderfully written. Some of the scenes, especially with his friend Hawthorne and some of his PR clients, are also funny. His excellent character descriptions reminded me of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s cast in Gatsby, but in today’s moneyed world of IPOs and Twitter.
Literary fiction is my favorite and I used to live in D.C. and Virginia and worked as a reporter for many years, so I particularly enjoyed the scenes and observations about the media, which were spot on. Barcelona becomes a bit of a character in the book and it was clear the author had lived there to be able to capture it so well. The exploration of grief and the relationship between the father and son were moving. Mark’s sudden, unpredictable memories of his late wife, a painter, captured the beauty and pain of grief.
I highlighted many of the passages in this novel as I read, something I don’t often do. The elegant writing was that good. This debut novel also packs an energetic plot into its 288 pages. It is scheduled to be published June 1 by Epigraph. Thanks to the publisher and BookSirens for the chance to read and review this effervescent book. The epigraph by T.S. Eliot was perfect. “These fragments I have shored upon my ruins.”
July 4, 2020
I received this free from Publisher for honest Review.
4 stars ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐
This is the first time reading from this author.
I really could say that this was great one. I love everything about this book. The words was just like yes give me more. I love the cover even more.
Love never ends!
What a great read! This had me hooked from the beginning. The sitting, theme, and the Characters had me pulled so in. Everything was well put together and it was just perfect. This novel did just that to me.
Highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. Its so good!
Can't wait for the next book.
4 stars ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐
This is the first time reading from this author.
I really could say that this was great one. I love everything about this book. The words was just like yes give me more. I love the cover even more.
Love never ends!
What a great read! This had me hooked from the beginning. The sitting, theme, and the Characters had me pulled so in. Everything was well put together and it was just perfect. This novel did just that to me.
Highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. Its so good!
Can't wait for the next book.
March 6, 2021
This was an interesting look at a man's grief after losing his wife. Mark is left to raise his young son, Colin but travels extensively for work so he can't be there as often as he'd like. When Colin starts to act up, Mark realizes he is needed more that he realized but his job suffers and he has to make some tough choices. I think I would have enjoyed this more if I hadn't read it during the pandemic because the prose is lovely; it is certainly worth a look!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
July 1, 2020
New voice in fiction delivers a compelling tale of naked ambition, business crises, moving grief and the path to redemption.
I received advanced copy through Net Galley.
I received advanced copy through Net Galley.
June 14, 2020
Thanks Net Galley for giving me the opportunity for reading this great debut book. It is my honor to give a review of this great piece of fiction.
This book is divided up into 3 parts... and all of them are great by themselves, but when brought together in this novel, it is one that kept me up all night turning page after page.
It is a tale of Mark White with his highly successful career, and of Colin, his 8 year old son, who after his wife’s tragic car accident, he finds himself trying to bond with.
I came away with many places I certainly would love to visit in this great world, but know, that the important things in life are sitting within arms length of you, you just need to reach out and touch them.
Great read with much self reflection thrown in!
This book is divided up into 3 parts... and all of them are great by themselves, but when brought together in this novel, it is one that kept me up all night turning page after page.
It is a tale of Mark White with his highly successful career, and of Colin, his 8 year old son, who after his wife’s tragic car accident, he finds himself trying to bond with.
I came away with many places I certainly would love to visit in this great world, but know, that the important things in life are sitting within arms length of you, you just need to reach out and touch them.
Great read with much self reflection thrown in!
June 25, 2020
Bovim's debut novel "Around the Sun" packs quite a punch in its 288 pages! Told in three distinctive parts, the reader is introduced immersively to our protagonist Mark White, the powerful CEO of an elite Washington, DC Public Relations firm. His client list includes DC movers and shakers, heads of international Fortune 500 firms, and heads of state in foreign lands. He mans the helm of the DC based, yet internationally connected firm with style, confidence, and ego to spare.
In Part One we join Mark as he jet sets (at the drop of a a dime) around the world, troubleshooting and providing damage control for his elite clientele, the picture of cool, calm and commanding, he quite literally has the world but the tail! Or so he would have everyone think. Told in rapid, scattershot, frenetic language and almost stream of consciousness prose, Mark would have everyone (himself included) believe there is no problem, no situation that he CAN. NOT. HANDLE. Bada bing, bada boom! Dash here, dash there! Fix it, fix it, FIX IT!
Part One ends, however, with a devastating professional crash for Mark. His armor has chinks and his "I Can Handle Anything" mask has slipped. In Part Two, we find that the Prince of PR has a few unresolved and seriously troubling problems. While not a surprise, for these problems were cleverly "hidden in plain sight" within the novel's first section, we discover the true extent of Mark's attempts at self-deception and avoidance. For you see, Mark's beloved wife Monica was killed in a hit-and-run accident months before. Monica, a successful artist, has always provided Mark with context and grounding. With the sudden removal of the connecting "color" in the portrait of his life, Mark has tried, unsuccessfully, to bury his deeply devastating grief in booze, pills, and business. With his mantra of "I'm fine," he has neglected to see that his young son, Colin, is far from fine. Slowly realizing that he is all Colin has in the world, a devastated Mark in the third and final part of this excellent story is led on yet another round of soul searching "turns around the sun" hopefully coming to terms with his struggle between ambition and life without, like Icarus, flying too close to the scorching rays of the sun.
Eric Michael Bovim's writing is not for those who want an "easy read" in either topic or prose. I will not lie, I consider myself a "word nerd" and his vernacular of choice had me reaching often for my dictionary! So too did I Google with frequency the world that Bovim's characters inhabited. As my career path did not lead me through the halls of high power, high energy public relations agencies or make me privy to the ins and outs of the corporate financial world, I definitely sought edification a time or two or three! But what I did recognize early on, and quite clearly, was the very real and oh so human pain of grief and loss that he so successfully wove throughout the pages his book. Mission accomplished Mr. Bovim! I look forward to sharing many more of your turns around the sun as written in your distinctive voice!
.
I'd like to express my thanks to NetGalley and to the author, Eric Michael Bovim, for the opportunity to receive an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
#NetGalley
#Eric Michael Bovim
In Part One we join Mark as he jet sets (at the drop of a a dime) around the world, troubleshooting and providing damage control for his elite clientele, the picture of cool, calm and commanding, he quite literally has the world but the tail! Or so he would have everyone think. Told in rapid, scattershot, frenetic language and almost stream of consciousness prose, Mark would have everyone (himself included) believe there is no problem, no situation that he CAN. NOT. HANDLE. Bada bing, bada boom! Dash here, dash there! Fix it, fix it, FIX IT!
Part One ends, however, with a devastating professional crash for Mark. His armor has chinks and his "I Can Handle Anything" mask has slipped. In Part Two, we find that the Prince of PR has a few unresolved and seriously troubling problems. While not a surprise, for these problems were cleverly "hidden in plain sight" within the novel's first section, we discover the true extent of Mark's attempts at self-deception and avoidance. For you see, Mark's beloved wife Monica was killed in a hit-and-run accident months before. Monica, a successful artist, has always provided Mark with context and grounding. With the sudden removal of the connecting "color" in the portrait of his life, Mark has tried, unsuccessfully, to bury his deeply devastating grief in booze, pills, and business. With his mantra of "I'm fine," he has neglected to see that his young son, Colin, is far from fine. Slowly realizing that he is all Colin has in the world, a devastated Mark in the third and final part of this excellent story is led on yet another round of soul searching "turns around the sun" hopefully coming to terms with his struggle between ambition and life without, like Icarus, flying too close to the scorching rays of the sun.
Eric Michael Bovim's writing is not for those who want an "easy read" in either topic or prose. I will not lie, I consider myself a "word nerd" and his vernacular of choice had me reaching often for my dictionary! So too did I Google with frequency the world that Bovim's characters inhabited. As my career path did not lead me through the halls of high power, high energy public relations agencies or make me privy to the ins and outs of the corporate financial world, I definitely sought edification a time or two or three! But what I did recognize early on, and quite clearly, was the very real and oh so human pain of grief and loss that he so successfully wove throughout the pages his book. Mission accomplished Mr. Bovim! I look forward to sharing many more of your turns around the sun as written in your distinctive voice!
.
I'd like to express my thanks to NetGalley and to the author, Eric Michael Bovim, for the opportunity to receive an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
#NetGalley
#Eric Michael Bovim
July 4, 2020
“We can know more of something through its absence, for the omissions written into stories or painted into settings all command our imagination.” Mark White, from Part 1 of this novel.
My review focuses on the main character, Mark White, and his 8 yr old son, Colin, without whom there would be no story to tell. Mark is a difficult character for the reader to know, since he no longer knows himself. And since Mark is our first person narrator and trying to fool himself that the busyness of his days has depth, it is detailed paragraphs of busyness we get too much of in both his travel and everyday life: I unpacked; I brushed my teeth; I ordered an espresso; I opened my laptop, etc.
Stripped of this filler, a story of interest does emerge, in Mark’s PR business at the height of its influence through sudden implosion to disgrace, and in his awakening that Colin will no longer suffer in medicated emotional limbo his grief for his mother or the loss of his father to absence and then distraction while at home. Four years have passed since Monica’s accidental death, and although the quote above is uttered by Mark as wisdom learned in his ascension to PR genius, the omission of what has transpired between Monica’s death and the present is a mystery left to the reader’s imagination to unravel. We get no clues as to the arc of Mark’s grief before the present time. I know from personal experience that grieving for a spouse is not a linear process, so I accept that Mark used immersion in work to avoid processing his grief and that his present state of mind is plausible.
What is difficult to accept is that Mark did not choose to scale back on his business commitments earlier in the aftermath of his wife’s death to provide the attention and support Colin needed towards a healthy adjustment to life without his mom. Part 3 of this book gives us Monica remembered through photos, her art and memories of places traveled, a firm foundation upon which Mark and Colin embark to make each other whole again. The ending is not happy, but hopeful.
Recommended, with reservations about substantial filler as described above and for a confusing whiplash of time line in the early business-focused chapters. Also for the overuse in part 1 of obscure words that I was compelled to stop and look up since each seemed to be key to understanding the point being made, thereby interrupting reading flow.
As an editing comment, I would have appreciated that the rapid fire single line business dialogues included an occasional ID of the speaker. More than once I lost track of which person was speaking and had to re-read the passage.
My thanks to Epigraph Publishing and NetGalley for ARC access in return for an honest review.
#netgalley
#aroundthesun
My review focuses on the main character, Mark White, and his 8 yr old son, Colin, without whom there would be no story to tell. Mark is a difficult character for the reader to know, since he no longer knows himself. And since Mark is our first person narrator and trying to fool himself that the busyness of his days has depth, it is detailed paragraphs of busyness we get too much of in both his travel and everyday life: I unpacked; I brushed my teeth; I ordered an espresso; I opened my laptop, etc.
Stripped of this filler, a story of interest does emerge, in Mark’s PR business at the height of its influence through sudden implosion to disgrace, and in his awakening that Colin will no longer suffer in medicated emotional limbo his grief for his mother or the loss of his father to absence and then distraction while at home. Four years have passed since Monica’s accidental death, and although the quote above is uttered by Mark as wisdom learned in his ascension to PR genius, the omission of what has transpired between Monica’s death and the present is a mystery left to the reader’s imagination to unravel. We get no clues as to the arc of Mark’s grief before the present time. I know from personal experience that grieving for a spouse is not a linear process, so I accept that Mark used immersion in work to avoid processing his grief and that his present state of mind is plausible.
What is difficult to accept is that Mark did not choose to scale back on his business commitments earlier in the aftermath of his wife’s death to provide the attention and support Colin needed towards a healthy adjustment to life without his mom. Part 3 of this book gives us Monica remembered through photos, her art and memories of places traveled, a firm foundation upon which Mark and Colin embark to make each other whole again. The ending is not happy, but hopeful.
Recommended, with reservations about substantial filler as described above and for a confusing whiplash of time line in the early business-focused chapters. Also for the overuse in part 1 of obscure words that I was compelled to stop and look up since each seemed to be key to understanding the point being made, thereby interrupting reading flow.
As an editing comment, I would have appreciated that the rapid fire single line business dialogues included an occasional ID of the speaker. More than once I lost track of which person was speaking and had to re-read the passage.
My thanks to Epigraph Publishing and NetGalley for ARC access in return for an honest review.
#netgalley
#aroundthesun
June 28, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Around the Sun
Author: Eric Michael Bovim
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: business minded people, grief
Publication Date: June 1, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Recommended Age: 17+ (death, grief, and businesses)
Publisher: Epigraph Publishing
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Mark White appears to have it all as the head of a prestigious PR firm in Washington, DC. But in the aftermath of his wife’s sudden death, he is struggling to raise his eight-year-old son, Colin. When he takes on a controversial new technology startup mid-scandal and weeks before their IPO, Mark’s world rapidly begins to unravel. Adrift, Mark is soon forced to make life-altering choices that will affect his bond with Colin, the legacy of his deceased wife’s unsold paintings, and, most importantly, his relationship with himself. Set at intervals in present-day New York, San Francisco, Barbados, Italy, and Barcelona, Around the Sun is told in lush, graceful prose, a portrait of grief and hope in the age of social media, globalization, and artistic decadence.
Review: Overall I thought this was a beautifully done book. The book had great character development and the world building was so detailed it felt like you were in those places. The plot of the book kept me intrigued in it throughout the novel.
However, I think that the pacing was slowed down as the book went on and the business focus of the book was a bit hard of a concept for me to grasp, but I think the author did pretty well!
Verdict: It was a good book!
Book: Around the Sun
Author: Eric Michael Bovim
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: business minded people, grief
Publication Date: June 1, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Recommended Age: 17+ (death, grief, and businesses)
Publisher: Epigraph Publishing
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Mark White appears to have it all as the head of a prestigious PR firm in Washington, DC. But in the aftermath of his wife’s sudden death, he is struggling to raise his eight-year-old son, Colin. When he takes on a controversial new technology startup mid-scandal and weeks before their IPO, Mark’s world rapidly begins to unravel. Adrift, Mark is soon forced to make life-altering choices that will affect his bond with Colin, the legacy of his deceased wife’s unsold paintings, and, most importantly, his relationship with himself. Set at intervals in present-day New York, San Francisco, Barbados, Italy, and Barcelona, Around the Sun is told in lush, graceful prose, a portrait of grief and hope in the age of social media, globalization, and artistic decadence.
Review: Overall I thought this was a beautifully done book. The book had great character development and the world building was so detailed it felt like you were in those places. The plot of the book kept me intrigued in it throughout the novel.
However, I think that the pacing was slowed down as the book went on and the business focus of the book was a bit hard of a concept for me to grasp, but I think the author did pretty well!
Verdict: It was a good book!
June 16, 2020
Around the sun By Eric Michael Bovim was a wild trip of writing where it felt stream of consciousness from the first person point of view. The style is something very unique in which something I have never seen or experienced.
The character Mark White works in a Big PR clean up firm and is grieving over his wife's death. He is a single father who keeps spiraling out of one big problem into another while trying to be a father however in some ways its kind of absent. He basically overworks himself and drugs himself with anti depressants and alcohol to feel numb to any feelings or grief. He sees her everywhere ( her name was Monica White) It feels like a downwards spiral and he has to create a perfect image. Her memory haunts her like a ghost. While his child Colin needs his attention and love and to talk about what happened that his dad just doesn't want to talk about her or anything.
In a job where you have to deal with social media also with news fading more it can attack any company at any angle you are paid to clean it up with a ton of money. He is getting an account onespeak where the creators Lars and Fung had an incident. His Job is to fix it however he gets dragged in a spiraling problem of not coming through or possibly not coming through with empty promises.
This is an amazing book with a really complex story.
Thank you net galley for this arc
The character Mark White works in a Big PR clean up firm and is grieving over his wife's death. He is a single father who keeps spiraling out of one big problem into another while trying to be a father however in some ways its kind of absent. He basically overworks himself and drugs himself with anti depressants and alcohol to feel numb to any feelings or grief. He sees her everywhere ( her name was Monica White) It feels like a downwards spiral and he has to create a perfect image. Her memory haunts her like a ghost. While his child Colin needs his attention and love and to talk about what happened that his dad just doesn't want to talk about her or anything.
In a job where you have to deal with social media also with news fading more it can attack any company at any angle you are paid to clean it up with a ton of money. He is getting an account onespeak where the creators Lars and Fung had an incident. His Job is to fix it however he gets dragged in a spiraling problem of not coming through or possibly not coming through with empty promises.
This is an amazing book with a really complex story.
Thank you net galley for this arc
July 11, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this debut novel from Net Galley. It was a struggle to really become invested in the story at first. The first part is 42% of the entire three part story and mostly involves describing the main character, Mark's, career. As someone unfamiliar with the business sector outside of basic concepts, I found it hard to keep up and want to keep reading. There were so much business jargon and many side characters/clients that it was difficult to remember them when they were mentioned again. It was also hard to determine if these were characters I should remember that would play a larger role in the story later or just one-time occurrences.
I am glad that I chose to the continue to read on. The other two parts of the story were beautifully written and captured my attention. Bovim explores the relationship with Mark and his son in such a realistic and relatable manner. There are strong messages Bovin conveys through Mark and his son as they navigate the death of their wife/mother, including the need to prioritize family and relationships. While I have never been to Barcelona/Spain, the vivid details Bovim provides in the last part makes you able to picture it as if you were there. It does not surprise me that Bovim had lived there for a period of time in his own life.
Overall, an enjoyable read. I do wish the first part of this novel was structured/focused the same way the other parts were.
I am glad that I chose to the continue to read on. The other two parts of the story were beautifully written and captured my attention. Bovim explores the relationship with Mark and his son in such a realistic and relatable manner. There are strong messages Bovin conveys through Mark and his son as they navigate the death of their wife/mother, including the need to prioritize family and relationships. While I have never been to Barcelona/Spain, the vivid details Bovim provides in the last part makes you able to picture it as if you were there. It does not surprise me that Bovim had lived there for a period of time in his own life.
Overall, an enjoyable read. I do wish the first part of this novel was structured/focused the same way the other parts were.
June 1, 2020
The author captured Mark's struggle between success and grief over the loss of his wife in a realistic manner. The emotion felt by Mark came across when he started his self-destructive behaviors . This is a great book for anyone that likes character driven reads.
June 25, 2020
Bovim's debut novel "Around the Sun" packs quite a punch in its 288 pages! Told in three distinctive parts, the reader is introduced immersively to our protagonist Mark White, the powerful CEO of an elite Washington, DC Public Relations firm. His client list includes DC movers and shakers, heads of international Fortune 500 firms, and heads of state in foreign lands. He mans the helm of the DC based, yet internationally connected firm with style, confidence, and ego to spare.
In Part One we join Mark as he jet sets (at the drop of a dime) around the world, troubleshooting and providing damage control for his elite clientele, the picture of cool, calm and commanding, he quite literally has the world by the tail! Or so he would have everyone think. Told in rapid, scattershot, frenetic language and almost stream of consciousness prose, Mark would have everyone (himself included) believe there is no problem, no situation that he CAN. NOT. HANDLE. Bada bing, bada boom! Dash here, dash there! Fix it, fix it, FIX IT!
Part One ends, however, with a devastating professional crash for Mark. His armor has chinks and his "I Can Handle Anything" mask has slipped. In Part Two, we find that the Prince of PR has a few unresolved and seriously troubling problems. While not a surprise, for these problems were cleverly "hidden in plain sight" within the novel's first section, we discover the true extent of Mark's attempts at self-deception and avoidance. For you see, Mark's beloved wife Monica was killed in a hit-and-run accident months before. Monica, a successful artist, has always provided Mark with context and grounding. With the sudden removal of the connecting "color" in the portrait of his life, Mark has tried, unsuccessfully, to bury his deeply devastating grief in booze, pills, and business. With his mantra of "I'm fine," he has neglected to see that his young son, Colin, is far from fine. Slowly realizing that he is all Colin has in the world, a devastated Mark in the third and final part of this excellent story is led on yet another round of soul searching "turns around the sun" hopefully coming to terms with his struggle between ambition and life without, like Icarus, flying too close to the scorching rays of the sun.
Eric Michael Bovim's writing is not for those who want an "easy read" in either topic or prose. I will not lie, I consider myself a "word nerd" and his vernacular of choice had me reaching often for my dictionary! So too did I Google with frequency the world that Bovim's characters inhabit. As my career path did not lead me through the halls of high power, high energy public relations agencies or make me privy to the ins and outs of the corporate financial world, I definitely sought edification a time or two or three! But what I did recognize early on, and quite clearly, was the very real and oh so human pain of grief and loss that he so successfully wove throughout the pages of his book. Mission accomplished Mr. Bovim! I look forward to sharing many more of your turns around the sun as written in your distinctive voice!
.
I'd like to express my thanks to NetGalley and to the author, Eric Michael Bovim, for the opportunity to receive an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
#NetGalley
#Eric Michael Bovim
In Part One we join Mark as he jet sets (at the drop of a dime) around the world, troubleshooting and providing damage control for his elite clientele, the picture of cool, calm and commanding, he quite literally has the world by the tail! Or so he would have everyone think. Told in rapid, scattershot, frenetic language and almost stream of consciousness prose, Mark would have everyone (himself included) believe there is no problem, no situation that he CAN. NOT. HANDLE. Bada bing, bada boom! Dash here, dash there! Fix it, fix it, FIX IT!
Part One ends, however, with a devastating professional crash for Mark. His armor has chinks and his "I Can Handle Anything" mask has slipped. In Part Two, we find that the Prince of PR has a few unresolved and seriously troubling problems. While not a surprise, for these problems were cleverly "hidden in plain sight" within the novel's first section, we discover the true extent of Mark's attempts at self-deception and avoidance. For you see, Mark's beloved wife Monica was killed in a hit-and-run accident months before. Monica, a successful artist, has always provided Mark with context and grounding. With the sudden removal of the connecting "color" in the portrait of his life, Mark has tried, unsuccessfully, to bury his deeply devastating grief in booze, pills, and business. With his mantra of "I'm fine," he has neglected to see that his young son, Colin, is far from fine. Slowly realizing that he is all Colin has in the world, a devastated Mark in the third and final part of this excellent story is led on yet another round of soul searching "turns around the sun" hopefully coming to terms with his struggle between ambition and life without, like Icarus, flying too close to the scorching rays of the sun.
Eric Michael Bovim's writing is not for those who want an "easy read" in either topic or prose. I will not lie, I consider myself a "word nerd" and his vernacular of choice had me reaching often for my dictionary! So too did I Google with frequency the world that Bovim's characters inhabit. As my career path did not lead me through the halls of high power, high energy public relations agencies or make me privy to the ins and outs of the corporate financial world, I definitely sought edification a time or two or three! But what I did recognize early on, and quite clearly, was the very real and oh so human pain of grief and loss that he so successfully wove throughout the pages of his book. Mission accomplished Mr. Bovim! I look forward to sharing many more of your turns around the sun as written in your distinctive voice!
.
I'd like to express my thanks to NetGalley and to the author, Eric Michael Bovim, for the opportunity to receive an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
#NetGalley
#Eric Michael Bovim
July 3, 2020
Where do I even start with this book? As a debut author, I'm seriously impressed with Mr. Bovim. This book brought out so many emotions in me - I actually felt like I was living right alongside Mark and his young son, Colin.
Mark married the sweetheart he had since he was 18 years old. She was an artist - he became an entrepreneur. They had a child, Colin. Unfortunately, his wife passed away leaving him to care for his son and his demanding business. Each time he told his son he had to go out of town, he saw the worry and sadness in his son's eyes. Both Mark and Colin were taking pills to help with everything - their anxiety, depression, etc. Until one day Mark just about reached his breaking point - his business went to hell and his son was nearly failing out of school (early years - either kindergarten or 1st grade). He can't keep living like this - he hears his wife talking to him all the time, but he is starting to forget her face. He is driving himself crazy. He knows he needs to do something to save both himself and his son, but does he have the courage to do what it takes?
After I finished this book, I told my husband I thought he would like it more than I did. Don't get me wrong - I really liked the book, but it also left me exhausted. The book is SO detailed with descriptions for everything - at times I felt I couldn't breathe. I swear a few times one sentence lasted for an entire page. But the writing is beautiful and his use of words are eloquent. I probably should have paced my reading to where I had more breaks to let my brain recover. But I do recommend this book - it still has me thinking about it nonstop.
I was provided this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are mine without biases.
Mark married the sweetheart he had since he was 18 years old. She was an artist - he became an entrepreneur. They had a child, Colin. Unfortunately, his wife passed away leaving him to care for his son and his demanding business. Each time he told his son he had to go out of town, he saw the worry and sadness in his son's eyes. Both Mark and Colin were taking pills to help with everything - their anxiety, depression, etc. Until one day Mark just about reached his breaking point - his business went to hell and his son was nearly failing out of school (early years - either kindergarten or 1st grade). He can't keep living like this - he hears his wife talking to him all the time, but he is starting to forget her face. He is driving himself crazy. He knows he needs to do something to save both himself and his son, but does he have the courage to do what it takes?
After I finished this book, I told my husband I thought he would like it more than I did. Don't get me wrong - I really liked the book, but it also left me exhausted. The book is SO detailed with descriptions for everything - at times I felt I couldn't breathe. I swear a few times one sentence lasted for an entire page. But the writing is beautiful and his use of words are eloquent. I probably should have paced my reading to where I had more breaks to let my brain recover. But I do recommend this book - it still has me thinking about it nonstop.
I was provided this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are mine without biases.
July 4, 2020
Appreciated the opportunity to read and review this book received from Netgalley. This novel is the story of Mark White, head of the highly successful PR firm that he built in the DC area. Mark has recently lost his much-loved wife Monica to a tragic accident. He and his young son, Colin, are both suffering from the time and travel demands of Mark’s corporate position;
both are taking medications for anxiety and stress while coping less and less well. The first part of the book centers on the work of Mark’s firm, the major characters there, and specifics of his work for a start-up translation app company about to launch an IPO but suddenly beset with devastating publicity. Mark can give only scant attention to Colin, who is struggling, lonely for his remaining parent and largely being raised by their housekeeper.
The second part of the book, when Mark’s psyche begins to unravel and he begins to realize fully how his hectic job is damaging his son, is much better and stunning as regards his emotional growth. He takes steps to remedy the cockeyed work-balance in his life to reflect the love and attention his son needs. The trips he and Colin take to Barbados and Barcelona are well-described and present local color very well down to the finest detail.
While I enjoyed this book very much, I found the beginning regarding the corporate PR world ponderous going in parts and some verbiage and vocabulary overly pedantic. The later parts of the book with father and son drawing closer while spending more time together and traveling moved more quickly, were rich in local color and emotionally touching.
both are taking medications for anxiety and stress while coping less and less well. The first part of the book centers on the work of Mark’s firm, the major characters there, and specifics of his work for a start-up translation app company about to launch an IPO but suddenly beset with devastating publicity. Mark can give only scant attention to Colin, who is struggling, lonely for his remaining parent and largely being raised by their housekeeper.
The second part of the book, when Mark’s psyche begins to unravel and he begins to realize fully how his hectic job is damaging his son, is much better and stunning as regards his emotional growth. He takes steps to remedy the cockeyed work-balance in his life to reflect the love and attention his son needs. The trips he and Colin take to Barbados and Barcelona are well-described and present local color very well down to the finest detail.
While I enjoyed this book very much, I found the beginning regarding the corporate PR world ponderous going in parts and some verbiage and vocabulary overly pedantic. The later parts of the book with father and son drawing closer while spending more time together and traveling moved more quickly, were rich in local color and emotionally touching.
July 15, 2020
Eric Michael Bovim's Around the Sun is to prose what T.S. Eliot' s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is to poetry. I found myself immediately immersed in the richly developed protagonist. Some describe this story as a journey of grief for the widower, single parent character. While this is evident, I found the novel more reflective of the imposing estrangements of the individual in modern society. This is truly a relevant, engaging, and satisfying read. It is an amazing first novel.
July 17, 2020
This took me a bit to get into (slow start & I do not normally go for literary fiction). It’s a beautiful story of love and processing grief. A lot of moments resonated with me. Very well written. Thank you to NetGalley & Smith Publicity for the Arc.
July 13, 2020
I wish I could have gotten into this book more. The writing itself is well done so I could see this book appealing to others but it just felt like it was missing something. Colin was adorable and realistic and Mark's struggles were well depicted. The character development was well done in slow layers but felt too slow at times.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2020
This is the story of Mark, the head of a firm of consultants, who travels around the world pretty much nonstop. He is also dealing with the death of his wife and trying to raise his son, Colin. The writing was choppy like bursts of thoughts that Mark is having. Part 1 dealt with his business deals and I found that boring. Part 2 was more interesting as Mark makes some colossal mistakes and on one hand is trying to save the business but on the other seems to be doing what he can to make it tank. I didn't like Mark very much. He seems to feel sorry for himself. He has created this business that makes him a lot of money but now seems to hate every minute of the responsibility. Instead of getting out and selling the business he sabotages the future of the company but I don't think it was intentional. He takes pills, drinks and keeps himself highly caffeinated.
Colin seems like a normal little boy, missing his mother but Mark has him on a regimen of pills for supposed anxiety. All I saw was a kid looking for some stability. Colin was nine and I thought that his mom died about a year before but it turns out it was four years. It seems like a long time for Mark to be getting his act together. I felt like he keeps Colin medicated so he doesn't ask questions.
This was the kind of book that can't be read for short periods and picked up later. I found once I could sit and absorb it I liked it much better. The writing seemed to flow better. There was no big ending because this wasn't that kind of story. A lot of character study so if you are looking for action this isn't the book.
Colin seems like a normal little boy, missing his mother but Mark has him on a regimen of pills for supposed anxiety. All I saw was a kid looking for some stability. Colin was nine and I thought that his mom died about a year before but it turns out it was four years. It seems like a long time for Mark to be getting his act together. I felt like he keeps Colin medicated so he doesn't ask questions.
This was the kind of book that can't be read for short periods and picked up later. I found once I could sit and absorb it I liked it much better. The writing seemed to flow better. There was no big ending because this wasn't that kind of story. A lot of character study so if you are looking for action this isn't the book.
July 5, 2020
There was much to enjoy in this debut novel. The story revolves around a successful PR executive struggling to deal with the grief of losing his wife and raising his son as a single dad. I felt myself cheering for him, even as he spiraled out of control and lost his grip with important clients of his company. His abuse of drugs and alcohol caused irreparable damage at work and with his son, who couldn't handle his father's constant absences. However, he was a good person, who recognized his faults and eventually tried to overcome them. I liked the first-person narration, although at times keeping track of conversations was difficult. The author had many thoughtful phrases and insights that made you pause and reflect. The business story was at times lengthy but having worked in the corporate world, I enjoyed the details and found them to be quite accurate. I also enjoyed the travelogue of places he visited - New York, DC, San Francisco, Barbados, and Barcelona. The one downside for me is that most of the other characters were not very interesting. I really enjoyed the story when it focused on Mark and his son Colin. I would recommend this book as a hopeful book with good writing.
July 6, 2020
Bovim's novel entertains with humor and insight. The plot moves along nicely while entertaining the reader with numerous twists and turns. The detailed and psychological characterizations resonate with accuracy and realism and help allow the crazy plot to come through effectively. I raced through the pages, and ultimately, isn't that the best evidence of a solid book?
May 27, 2020
Around the sun
Eric Micheal bovine
Adult fiction grief
June 1st 2020
Spoiler alert
This is a book full os surprises you either hate it or love it. I love it it’s about mark white who lost is wife in a car accident and bringing up his son Colin who eight years old. He hires a nanny two look after Colin while he runs his own business and go on expensive first class trips. He has his own businesses white and partners company. He the chief executive of white and partners is co workers are lars Alan sally hawthorn. The company just bought bitcoin and set up allot of technology apps and invest in first and firms invest in his. He a multi million company.
He traveled allot on business planes first class two Barcelona New York Paris California. And other luxury places he loves having coffee and champagne on the flights where he checks his email and his phone and the food his great on these flights if people offer him a newspaper he waves them off he doesn’t read newspapers as a rule. He talks about his wife allot in the book how she died and how he misses her how he loved the smell of her perfume and how they met in college and how they met. He loved poetry he had a piece published when he was young he enjoyed parties in. College his parents paid for him two go two university. He loved music. He become a journalist for two years and loved it but it was dangerous. He explain that when his wife dies he took up the idea of pills and whisky. And he not had another girlfriend since his wife died. The idea haunts him.
His colon misses him terrible he wants two spend more time with his son more than just two days a week. His plays hockey so when mark get the chance he takes him two practices and he I’ve doing these thing reading him a bed time story putting him two bed making him pancakes in the morning before school.
But he notices that colon not doing so great in school he only got a c in maths and tell him school important and he must concentrate in school. Colin says you never here you never help me and that make him feels guilty allot for not being supported. Then he had important meeting with the firm and Lars and fung got engaged in the meeting he reckons it be good press for his firm.
He loves buying expensive ties and suits for his firms. After the meeting he asked two go on tv two represent the firm but realising he taken two many pills and whisky before going on tv he collapsed in front of everyone and doesn’t go down well for his company or firm he then decided two gave a massage and that night he slept with a married woman and regretted ever since.
I love the fact you get drawn into the coffee shop the restaurant the fancy sandwiches the bakery the hot chocolate.
After thing didn’t go well in the meeting when he got home and realisers is son need him more his nanny told him he not coping when you not here he goes two cbs and buys a load of stationary supplies and a new bag for him and they have a chat. He then takes him two the doctors and he gets the cream for his rash and mouth put it on him and they spend a couple of days together in the snow storm has his company shut for a couple of day. They go two the museum Together and they happy they go two the bakery now and have pastry coffee and watch the snow for a while. Then that night mark takes him two Barbados for a couple of days they arrive the next day they have a nice house they love the beach they go on a boat trip together and when Mark discovers his son Colin says his mother on Facebook and there loads of photos of them together and they look through them.They have a lovely trip it was worth’s it.
The next days he decides thing are not going well in work or his business and he sells the business and walk away a free man and spend more time with his son and takes him on another hoiliday again and realisers it’s all about him.
I love the characters in this book I loved the writing the plot was good I love how mark white dealt with things I give this 4 stars rating.
Eric Micheal bovine
Adult fiction grief
June 1st 2020
Spoiler alert
This is a book full os surprises you either hate it or love it. I love it it’s about mark white who lost is wife in a car accident and bringing up his son Colin who eight years old. He hires a nanny two look after Colin while he runs his own business and go on expensive first class trips. He has his own businesses white and partners company. He the chief executive of white and partners is co workers are lars Alan sally hawthorn. The company just bought bitcoin and set up allot of technology apps and invest in first and firms invest in his. He a multi million company.
He traveled allot on business planes first class two Barcelona New York Paris California. And other luxury places he loves having coffee and champagne on the flights where he checks his email and his phone and the food his great on these flights if people offer him a newspaper he waves them off he doesn’t read newspapers as a rule. He talks about his wife allot in the book how she died and how he misses her how he loved the smell of her perfume and how they met in college and how they met. He loved poetry he had a piece published when he was young he enjoyed parties in. College his parents paid for him two go two university. He loved music. He become a journalist for two years and loved it but it was dangerous. He explain that when his wife dies he took up the idea of pills and whisky. And he not had another girlfriend since his wife died. The idea haunts him.
His colon misses him terrible he wants two spend more time with his son more than just two days a week. His plays hockey so when mark get the chance he takes him two practices and he I’ve doing these thing reading him a bed time story putting him two bed making him pancakes in the morning before school.
But he notices that colon not doing so great in school he only got a c in maths and tell him school important and he must concentrate in school. Colin says you never here you never help me and that make him feels guilty allot for not being supported. Then he had important meeting with the firm and Lars and fung got engaged in the meeting he reckons it be good press for his firm.
He loves buying expensive ties and suits for his firms. After the meeting he asked two go on tv two represent the firm but realising he taken two many pills and whisky before going on tv he collapsed in front of everyone and doesn’t go down well for his company or firm he then decided two gave a massage and that night he slept with a married woman and regretted ever since.
I love the fact you get drawn into the coffee shop the restaurant the fancy sandwiches the bakery the hot chocolate.
After thing didn’t go well in the meeting when he got home and realisers is son need him more his nanny told him he not coping when you not here he goes two cbs and buys a load of stationary supplies and a new bag for him and they have a chat. He then takes him two the doctors and he gets the cream for his rash and mouth put it on him and they spend a couple of days together in the snow storm has his company shut for a couple of day. They go two the museum Together and they happy they go two the bakery now and have pastry coffee and watch the snow for a while. Then that night mark takes him two Barbados for a couple of days they arrive the next day they have a nice house they love the beach they go on a boat trip together and when Mark discovers his son Colin says his mother on Facebook and there loads of photos of them together and they look through them.They have a lovely trip it was worth’s it.
The next days he decides thing are not going well in work or his business and he sells the business and walk away a free man and spend more time with his son and takes him on another hoiliday again and realisers it’s all about him.
I love the characters in this book I loved the writing the plot was good I love how mark white dealt with things I give this 4 stars rating.
July 1, 2020
Around the Sun follows Mark White as he deals with his clients, his employees, his depression after the death of his wife, his son, and the list goes on. My point is that while mulltiple plots can be interesting, the abrupt ending and starting of those plots, and some of the inconsequential detail detracts from the reading experience. I found myself considering putting down the book before I finished.
Having said that, it did hold my interest. Highly recommend tightening up the writing and focusing on fewer subplots.
Having said that, it did hold my interest. Highly recommend tightening up the writing and focusing on fewer subplots.
June 26, 2020
If you're a reader who highlights beautifully-written passages just to go back and savor them, Around the Sun will be a goldmine for you. This book was the most staggering display of virtuosity with words that I've come across in -- I can't remember how long.
It's written in first person, with a wealthy man as the point of view character, so perhaps it's unfair of me to grumble that there was solely a male frame of reference and that it felt felt more than a bit elitist. Because none of the secondary characters really came alive for me, my irritation with the entitled, self-absorbed protagonist was amplified.
Despite the frequent pauses to delight in (yet another) astonishing phrase, I flew through this book. At the end, though, I was left with the afterglow of a glamorous travelogue punctuated by first-world problems. So -- I guess my summary is "style over substance."
Thanks to NetGalley and Epigraph for an advance readers copy.
It's written in first person, with a wealthy man as the point of view character, so perhaps it's unfair of me to grumble that there was solely a male frame of reference and that it felt felt more than a bit elitist. Because none of the secondary characters really came alive for me, my irritation with the entitled, self-absorbed protagonist was amplified.
Despite the frequent pauses to delight in (yet another) astonishing phrase, I flew through this book. At the end, though, I was left with the afterglow of a glamorous travelogue punctuated by first-world problems. So -- I guess my summary is "style over substance."
Thanks to NetGalley and Epigraph for an advance readers copy.
June 13, 2020
Around The Sun has a lot of emotion in how Mark handles the sudden loss of his wife – raising his son Colin and running his successful business. He is not sure which direction to turn to accomplish this feat.
His business takes him all over the world and he sees and does things that make him wonder about his life’s choices he is making.
The author has taken us all over the world in this book and as I was reading, I could almost feel I was right there with Mark.
I could feel the connection he wanted with his son and could also feel Mark knew he had to do something or everything important to him in life was going to be gone.
As a debut novel Eric Michael Bovim hit every emotion a reader could have while turning the pages of this novel.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Eric Michael Bovim for this ARC.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
His business takes him all over the world and he sees and does things that make him wonder about his life’s choices he is making.
The author has taken us all over the world in this book and as I was reading, I could almost feel I was right there with Mark.
I could feel the connection he wanted with his son and could also feel Mark knew he had to do something or everything important to him in life was going to be gone.
As a debut novel Eric Michael Bovim hit every emotion a reader could have while turning the pages of this novel.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Eric Michael Bovim for this ARC.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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