Circling the Sun

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain

363 Pages

Publisher: Random House Publishing – Ballantine, Ballantine Books

Release Date: July 28, 2015

Fiction (Adult), General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Africa, Horse Racing, Aviation

As a child, Beryl Markham moves from England to Africa with her family. Shortly after their arrival, her mother takes her brother back to England and does not return. She is raised by her father and the local tribes. Her father teaches her the ways of horse training while living on the farm. Marriage at a young age shows her that women have no worth in the 1920s Africa. Her husband is in control of her horses and her life. She realizes this is not the life she wants and flees. She becomes one of the first women horse trainers. She deals with the ups and downs life throws her both professional and personally.

The story has a steady pace, the characters are well developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. After reading so much about this amazing woman, I had to do more research into her life. She was also the first person to fly across the Atlantic from England to North America. If you like encouraging stories of strong women, you will enjoy reading this book.