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Circling the Sun

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Circling the Sun

By: Paula McLain
Narrated by: Suzannah Hampton
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About this listen

As a young girl, Beryl Markham was brought to Kenya from Britain by parents dreaming of a new life. For her mother the dream quickly turned sour, and she returned home; Beryl was brought up by her father, who switched between indulgence and heavy-handed authority, allowing her first to run wild on their farm then incarcerating her in the classroom.

The scourge of governesses and a serial absconder from boarding school, by the age of 16 Beryl had been catapulted into a disastrous marriage - but it was in facing up to this reality that she took charge of her own destiny.

Scandalizing high society with her errant behaviour, she left her husband and became the first woman ever to hold a professional racehorse trainer's licence. After falling in with the notoriously hedonistic and gin-soaked Happy Valley set, Beryl soon became embroiled in a complex love triangle with the writer Karen Blixen and big-game hunter Denys Finch Hatton (immortalized in Blixen's memoir Out of Africa).

It was this unhappy affair which set tragedy in motion while awakening Beryl to her truest self and to her fate: to fly.

©2015 Paula McLain (P)2015 Isis Audiobooks Contemporary Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Marriage Africa

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Critic reviews

"Paula McLain cements herself as 'the writer' of historical fictional memoir with Circling the Sun, giving vivid voice to Beryl Markham, a singular, extraordinary woman whose name we all know - and whose story we don't. In a brilliant move, McLain hardly focuses at all on the trans-Atlantic flight that made the aviator so famous, choosing instead to explore what happened before: Markham's unorthodox childhood in Kenya, a failed marriage, and a star-crossed love affair with Denys Finch Hatton. The result? In McLain's confident hands, Markham crackles to life, and we readers truly understand what made a woman so far ahead of her time believe she had the power to soar." (Jodi Picoult)
"Paula McLain has such a gift for bringing characters to life. I loved discovering the singular Beryl Markham, with all her strengths and passions and complexities, a woman who persistently broke the rules, despite the personal cost. She's a rebel in her own time, and a heroine for ours." (Jojo Moyes)
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A well researched tale based on historical facts. It has a bit of everything - really enjoyed it.

Enjoyable

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Since West With The Night by Beryl Markham is my all time favourite book, I didn't expect this to add anything to her story, so I have been more than pleasantly surprised at the rounding out of her character. A wonderful fictionalisation of a very under acknowledged pioneer and a very fine read

A Wonderful Biography

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This is the second Paula McLain novel Ive read and I really enjoyed it. The life of Beryl Markham is the topic of this work.
I got it as recommended by Richard and Judy bookclub.
The narrative was crisp and clear and I felt it added greatly to the story telling.
Beryl was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic from East to West. Gossip and innuendo followed Beryl for most of her life and she allowed it to go unchallenged.
I so enjoyed this book and found Beryl remarkable and full of life and challenge. Beryl had a difficult life being abandoned by her mother at a young age in Kenya. Beryl was then raised by her father and the native Kipsigis tribe from his farm. Beryl developed into an extremely independent fine young person with a love for nature and its creatures.
Beryl was the first woman in Kenya to gain a horse trainer certificate. She married young as wished by her father knowing straight away it was a mistake. Beryl left her husband making her own way training horses. She met Denys Finch Hatton who mainly led safaris. Denys had a long standing relationship with Karen Blixen as detailed in film ‘Out of Africa’. Denys led Beryl to fly but most of the story is taken up with her race horsing days. The beauty of Kenya comes through clearly.
I so loved this book and would highly recommend it

Wonderfully vivid and descriptive

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Narration perfect for the time and place
Content the best. A lot of research has obviously gone into this work. But written so beautifully, I could barely stop listening.

Absolutely the best book I have read

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a unique life. an excellent story wonderfully told. allows you to temporarily shake off the mundane modern world.

excellent

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Don’t miss this one! A true trailblazer, Beryl Markham was born ahead of her time and should be better known.

A beautifully written account of an amazing woman and her life in Africa

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the story was fullyn engrossing to the point i fell in love with the country and the people. beryl is an inspiration and this story does her life a great justice

i wqnt to live in kenya

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I have been to Kenya and this book catches the experience exactly. I loved being taken back of only in spirit.

Africa comes Alive in this book

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There are not many books that are able to accurately describe Kenya but this hits the nail on the head. Having been born in Nairobi and lived within a mile of Karen Blixen’s house, the author manages to draw the very best of what it was like to grow up in this beautiful place. It made me feel homesick and long to be back there.
The only thing I found offputting about this audio book was the narrator’s overly exaggerated cut glass voice.
I would highly recommend this book and felt sad when it came to an end.

Homesick

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I listened to this book straight after I'd finished Beryl Markham's wonderful 'West with the Night'. It is a superb companion piece to Beryl's autobiography and, as well as filling in some of the gaps, it also brings Beryl to life again. It made me feel nostalgic for people and places I've never known. It really is an excellent listen and I thoroughly recommend it.

Beautiful Book

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