Circling the Sun in Around the World in 80 Books

Jul 28, 2015 Stacey rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book on audio. The English accent of the narrator added authenticity. The story was well told, very descriptive. That said, I didn't really like the main character, she lacked empathy perhaps as a result of her rather wild upbringing. She was selfish throughout much of the book. However, in spite of that, it was very interesting and believable. It has inspired me to read the book written by the real person depicted, Beryl Markham. The author did a great job pulling me in, m ...more

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Oct 17, 2015 Nancy H rated it really liked it

I enjoyed The Paris Wife, and this book is just as good. It tells the novelized story of the famous Beryl Markham, abandoned by her mother to live on a farm in Kenya with her father. Her tumultuous early years set her life on a unique path that left her feeling unlike a normal woman. Her success with training race horses, and later on her aviation successes, provided the bright spots in an otherwise unsettled life. Her involvement in a love triangle made things even worse. Definitely a woman ahe ...more

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Dec 15, 2017 Missyjohnson1 rated it really liked it

I enjoy books about women ahead of their time and willing to step outside the norms. Beryl Markham is one of those women. I now plan to read her autobiography. My friend Kelly reminded me of Beryl's connection in the film Out of Africa. I think that I will watch that again. I will see it differently this time I am sure. My only frustration in the book was a few places where the multiple names/nicknames for people was a bit confusing. Karen/Tania/Isak or Blix/Bror or Denys/Finch Hatton etc. The P ...more

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Feb 19, 2019 Mike rated it it was ok

I read this book after finishing both of her other novels written from the point of view of Hemingway’s wives. In those, Miss McLean made a very compelling attempt to get inside the mind of both women with reasonable views that fit the facts of their lives.

Even though Beryl Markham is a very compelling historical figure, Miss McClean’s way of getting inside her mind and thought process was far too simplistic and came off like a romance novel rather than believable well researched historical fic ...more

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Jul 17, 2015 Georgia Carvalho rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is a beautifully written book about the childhood and early adulthood of Beryl Markham, an English expat in Kenya. The descriptions of Kenya and life in Kenya in the early 20th Century have an almost Proustian quality to them--her descriptions of Karen Blixen's state and the farm where she grew up make you feel like you could just close your eye and be there. The first person POV really helps you understand and sympathize with Beryl and her less than orthodox choices.
My only issue with the ...more

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