Scan barcode
reganbee05's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kiminindy's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent! I truly enjoy her books and loved that this tied in quite a bit of "Indiana"....
mary_rozendal's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
janewhitehurst's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great book to listen to on audio. I felt the plot moved at a nice pace and kept my interest. I felt the "mystery" to the book was very predictable (and I don't even read mysteries), and the characters could be a tiny bit flat at times, but I liked the historical fiction element to the writing. Set after WWI, the novel follows Henry, an eighteen year old with a past that has him fleeing his hometown. He meets up with Gil, a war pilot with PTSD who makes his living by barn-storming with his airplane. The pair soon meet Cora, a daredevil of a girl who is running from an arranged marriage. The three embark on a trip across America. There are elements of PTSD, poverty, America after the war, a love triangle, and early feminism in this novel and all are handled pretty well. I would recommend it.
kristi518's review
4.0
I enjoy books that take place in the 1920's and can easily add this book to the list. Susan Crandall has crafted a well-written story about three people who are in search of a life of their own and in search of themselves.
I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were all authentic and genuine. They each come from different backgrounds and have secrets they are keeping from each other. Differences aside though they soon become a family and learn what being a family truly is about.
I loved the fact the book's main setting is Indiana. Susan Crandall, a fellow Hoosier, does a great job in writing about the state. Susan also did a wonderful job in describing the planes and techniques used in the flying circuses of the day.
I think fans of the '20s will enjoy this book as well as anyone who is interested in aviation and the high-flying adventures of the flying circus!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were all authentic and genuine. They each come from different backgrounds and have secrets they are keeping from each other. Differences aside though they soon become a family and learn what being a family truly is about.
I loved the fact the book's main setting is Indiana. Susan Crandall, a fellow Hoosier, does a great job in writing about the state. Susan also did a wonderful job in describing the planes and techniques used in the flying circuses of the day.
I think fans of the '20s will enjoy this book as well as anyone who is interested in aviation and the high-flying adventures of the flying circus!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
literarylover37's review against another edition
3.0
I received an advanced copy of this book from Gallery Books Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Henry Schuler, aka Henry Jefferson, runs away from his adopted parents home after something terrible happens to one of his adopted sisters. Something he may or may not have been involved with. Shortly after fleeing, he meets Charlie Gilchrist, a pilot who is badly haunted by the events of the war, and Cora Haviland, a young socialite, daredevil who yearns to break free of her mother's expectations. These three and a stray dog, dubbed Mercury, create a traveling show as they roam throughout the heartland of America performing stunts. The past is bound to catch up with all of them though and when it does, the true test of their friendship begins.
I wanted so badly to like this book more than I did. Whistling Past the Graveyard was one of my favorite books last year. Unfortunately, that book had the plucky young Starla to root for. This book had Henry. It's not that Henry was a bad character, it just was that he was so consumed with the awfulness of everything that had happened to him and the worry about the future that it was hard to enjoy what was happening in the story. Henry was a worrier for sure.
I also felt like the story dragged considerably in the middle. I couldn't see a way forward in the plot and at times I just wished Henry, Cora, and Gil would've confessed about their pasts earlier. It just seemed to bog the story down as they bounced from one random town to another before meeting up with the Flying Circus.
In general, I thought this was a pretty good book. I enjoyed the glimpse of the time period and the greater character development. I just wished it had some of the hopeful joy that her first book did.
Henry Schuler, aka Henry Jefferson, runs away from his adopted parents home after something terrible happens to one of his adopted sisters. Something he may or may not have been involved with. Shortly after fleeing, he meets Charlie Gilchrist, a pilot who is badly haunted by the events of the war, and Cora Haviland, a young socialite, daredevil who yearns to break free of her mother's expectations. These three and a stray dog, dubbed Mercury, create a traveling show as they roam throughout the heartland of America performing stunts. The past is bound to catch up with all of them though and when it does, the true test of their friendship begins.
I wanted so badly to like this book more than I did. Whistling Past the Graveyard was one of my favorite books last year. Unfortunately, that book had the plucky young Starla to root for. This book had Henry. It's not that Henry was a bad character, it just was that he was so consumed with the awfulness of everything that had happened to him and the worry about the future that it was hard to enjoy what was happening in the story. Henry was a worrier for sure.
I also felt like the story dragged considerably in the middle. I couldn't see a way forward in the plot and at times I just wished Henry, Cora, and Gil would've confessed about their pasts earlier. It just seemed to bog the story down as they bounced from one random town to another before meeting up with the Flying Circus.
In general, I thought this was a pretty good book. I enjoyed the glimpse of the time period and the greater character development. I just wished it had some of the hopeful joy that her first book did.
lyrareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Entertaining period piece that pulls together a lot of the sweeping social changes in 1920's America. Think women's rights, early flight, rise of technology, fear of foreigners (or perceived foreigners), urban/rural divide and entertainment. WWI flier Gil makes a living doing aerial stunts. Henry, on the run from his past, crosses Gil's path as both end up in a tumble with Cora, a crazy motorcyclist. The end runs out of steam a bit, but those who take this thrill ride with Mercury's Daredevils will enjoy a good show.
bibliopage's review against another edition
5.0
Set in the Midwest during the Great Depression1920s, this novel has a ton of heart and is very thrilling to read. It's perfect for fans of Water for Elephants!
teriboop's review against another edition
5.0
Once again, I am gushing over the latest Susan Crandall book. Like Whistling Past the Graveyard, Crandall tells a story of unlikely characters that come together through unlikely events to build an unlikely family bond. The Flying Circus finds Henry, Cora, and Gil, all running from their past and a broken family life. It is 1920s in America, a time when hucksters go from town to town making a living by entertaining the crowds. Henry is a mechanic, Gil a pilot, and Cora is a daring stunt woman on a motorcycle. They reluctantly form a barnstorming "flying circus" in order to make ends meet and survive another day. In a matter of a few months, they become a strong team and a close family. But they each hold a secret that rocked their past and if exposed, threaten to tear apart the family they have created. This book is a reminder that friends are often the family you pick and also that you really can never run from the past. At some point, it will catch up to you.
I really enjoyed this book and the colorful characters that Crandall paints. The middle of the book started to wane a bit for me, but it was needed story to help the reader understand the true spirit of each of the characters. For those that like a tidy ending, this has one. It will certainly make you go "Awww" at the end.
I really enjoyed this book and the colorful characters that Crandall paints. The middle of the book started to wane a bit for me, but it was needed story to help the reader understand the true spirit of each of the characters. For those that like a tidy ending, this has one. It will certainly make you go "Awww" at the end.
csemanek's review against another edition
4.0
This was more of a 3 1/2 stars than 4, but I did enjoy it. I'm not sure I can put my finger on what it lacked. I think the middle section just didn't move along well. It was all important for the storyline and character development, so it couldn't be cut. I think I just didn't like any of the characters very much in the middle. As we learned more about them, they became more sympathetic. Bottom-line, I did enjoy the story and would recommend the book.