Tag: aviation

Road trip audiobook – Part 1

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  • 51Yb2zZHp+L._SX448_BO1,204,203,200_The Wright Brothers by David McCullough, narration by the author (Simon & Schuster audio, 2015)
  • In 40 words or less: There’s far more to the Wright brothers’ story than the first flight at Kitty Hawk. McCullough brings the family to life and sets them in the context of their times. His narration provides the gravitas the story deserves.
  • Genre: History/Biography
  • Locale: Ohio/NC/Europe
  • Time: Late 19th – Early 20th centuries
  • Read this to understand the genius and persistence of the Wright brothers and the family that inspired and stood behind them in their work.

Several things need to work well for an audiobook to be a good choice – the subject, the reader and the quality of the material. When you are choosing a book for more than one person to listen to on a road trip, the stakes are higher. Knowing that our tastes differ, I had several selections. The Wright Brothers was not the first pick but within minutes we were hooked.

Orville and Wilbur Wright’s successful flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903 is credited with launching the age of flight. The brief paragraphs about this achievement in most history books tell of brothers that began as bicycle builders who parlayed their mechanical knowledge to create the first successful airplane. The brothers and their siblings were raised in a household where reading books on all subjects from classical philosophy to mathematics to contemporary literature was the primary activity. Throughout their lives, Sundays were reserved for reading and contemplation, a tribute to their minister father who instilled in them their love of learning and persistence of purpose.

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The flight at Kitty Hawk was barely heard of beyond those working on the project for more than five years. Politics and scientific jealousies sent the Wrights to Europe looking for support and a market when U.S. government officials created stumbling blocks or ignored them outright for several years.  Throughout it all, the Wrights remained fixtures in their hometown of Dayton, Ohio and maintained their bicycle shop as an ongoing concern. From beginning to end, their sister Katharine provided personal support and business guidance critical to every success they had, often sacrificing her own aspirations.

David McCullough’s deep and expressive voice is perfect for telling the story as he wrote it.  The only downside to listening to the audiobook is the lack of photos and a map. I had given an autographed copy of the book to my father, so upon our arrival at his home, I was able to look at the photos. Having a map handy is a great reminder of the very narrow spit of land that was so important to the birth of modern aviation.

Whether your interest is in history, aviation, the power of genius or just a great story, David McCullough’s The Wright Brothers will fit the bill.

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‘Circling the Sun’ brings colonial Kenya alive

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  • Circling the sunCircling the Sun by Paula McLain (Ballantine Books, 2015)
  • In 40 words or less: A fictional portrayal of a the life and loves of Beryl Markham. In the 1920’s she was an accomplished horse trainer and aviator in Africa, traveling in the same circles as Karen Blixen/Isak Dinesen, of Out of Africa fame.
  • Genre: Historical Fiction
  • Locale: primarily Kenya
  • Time: Early 20th century
  • Read this if you enjoy past eras brought to life and are interested in lesser-known but extraordinary people.

Beryl Markham was a woman well ahead of her times.  In the hands of Paula McLain, already well-known for her fictionalized portrayal of Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, Markham is seen as always meeting a new challenge and seeking true and lasting love.

Born in England just after the start of the 20th century, Beryl’s family moved to Kenya where her father was an acclaimed horse trainer. Her mother didn’t take to life there and deserted the family, returning to England. UnknownBeryl idolized her father and loved spending time with him and the horses.  Her free time was spent with the children of the local Kipsigis tribe, especially the son of one of the tribal leaders. Always competitive, she met challenge for challenge all the early physical tests the tribe set for young males. Her friendship with Kibii was in many ways her touchstone throughout her life.

In the course of describing Beryl’s formative years, McLain reveals aspects of the educational, social and economic life of ex-pats living in Kenya during the colonial period. The parallel lives of the Kips tribe is seen as well, including the interactions and roles of each.

Her father’s economic reversals helped propel Beryl into an early and unfortunate marriage. Truly her father’s daughter, she threw herself into becoming a premier horse trainer, a field unheard of for women. These were just the first of many rollercoaster-like changes in her adult life.

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McLain brings 21st century sensibilities to many events that were scandalous in Beryl Markham’s lifetime. She was attracted to interesting and influential men, and they to her, like fireflies to a flame. Throughout her life, Beryl Markham ignored barriers set before her based on gender or station.  She became an acclaimed aviator, the first female pilot to fly solo east to west across the Atlantic.

The strength of this novel is the vivid pictures Paula McLain paints of Kenya and its people during this period. Having see the movie Out of Africa, based on Isak Dinesen’s memoir, I “saw” the story as I read. McLain’s book leaves me wanting to know more about this extraordinary woman, likely West with the Night, Markham’s 1942 memoir.

This novel would be well-suited for book groups interested in discussing a British feminist in Africa in the early 20th century. For me, it was even more appealing as a long winter afternoon’s read with a blanket and a cup of tea.

 

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