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Crossing the Horizon
Soar back to the fearless 1920s with #1 New York Times bestselling writer Laurie Notaro—beloved author of The Idiot Girls’ Action Adventure Club—in a stunning historical novel that tells the true, little-known story of three aviatrixes in a race to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic.
Ten thousand feet in the sky, flipping and twirling through the air, aviatrixes from London to Paris to New York—fueled by determination and courage—have their eyes on the century’s biggest prize. The year is 1927, and Amelia Earhart has not yet made her record-breaking cross-Atlantic flight. Who will follow in Charles Lindbergh’s footsteps and make her own history?
Three women’s names are splashed daily across the front page: Elsie Mackay, daughter of an Earl, is the first Englishwoman to get her pilot’s license. Mabel Boll, a glamorous society darling and former cigar girl, is ardent to make the historic flight. Beauty pageant contestant Ruth Elder uses her winnings for flying lessons and becomes the preeminent American girl of the sky.
Inspired by true events and real people, Notaro vividly evokes this exciting time as her determined heroines vie for the record. Through striking photos, meticulous research, and atmospheric prose, Notaro brings Elsie, Mabel, and Ruth to life, pulling us back in time as the pilots collide, struggle, and literally crash in the chase for fame and a place in aviation history.
Ten thousand feet in the sky, flipping and twirling through the air, aviatrixes from London to Paris to New York—fueled by determination and courage—have their eyes on the century’s biggest prize. The year is 1927, and Amelia Earhart has not yet made her record-breaking cross-Atlantic flight. Who will follow in Charles Lindbergh’s footsteps and make her own history?
Three women’s names are splashed daily across the front page: Elsie Mackay, daughter of an Earl, is the first Englishwoman to get her pilot’s license. Mabel Boll, a glamorous society darling and former cigar girl, is ardent to make the historic flight. Beauty pageant contestant Ruth Elder uses her winnings for flying lessons and becomes the preeminent American girl of the sky.
Inspired by true events and real people, Notaro vividly evokes this exciting time as her determined heroines vie for the record. Through striking photos, meticulous research, and atmospheric prose, Notaro brings Elsie, Mabel, and Ruth to life, pulling us back in time as the pilots collide, struggle, and literally crash in the chase for fame and a place in aviation history.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2016
67 people are currently reading
3050 people want to read
About the author
Laurie Notaro
23 books2,268 followersLaurie Notaro is a New York Times best-selling American writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
October 14, 2016
#2016-aty-reading-challenge-week-41: a book about a major world event.
The late 1920s are endlessly fascinating to me! I've read One Summer: America, 1927 which was largely about Lindbergh's amazing flight. But what about female flyers? Was Amelia Earhart the only one?
In her work of historical fiction, Laurie Notaro tells the little-known story of three fascinating young aviatrixes who desperately want to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic: Elsie Mackay, daughter of an Earl and first Englishwoman to acquire a pilot's license, who must buck her wealthy father's wishes to follow her own dreams; Mabel Boll, a shallow and comical glamor girl with a hidden past, who is a filthy-rich widow, able to throw money around to buy what she desires; and Ruth Elder, a small-town girl who uses her beauty pageant winnings to pay for flying lessons and will not let a disapproving husband stand in her way.
How exciting to share in their struggles as they compete with each other and other flyers to be 'Queen of the Air.' The one factor no pilot can control is yet another female: Mother Nature! The most exciting parts of the story are when Notaro takes us into the cockpit during two flights. It's 'edge-of-your-seat' writing as she reimagines the desperate life or death battles the pilots wage against the weather. The author has included several historic photos which enhance the stories. Very enjoyable reading!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an arc of this book.
The late 1920s are endlessly fascinating to me! I've read One Summer: America, 1927 which was largely about Lindbergh's amazing flight. But what about female flyers? Was Amelia Earhart the only one?
In her work of historical fiction, Laurie Notaro tells the little-known story of three fascinating young aviatrixes who desperately want to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic: Elsie Mackay, daughter of an Earl and first Englishwoman to acquire a pilot's license, who must buck her wealthy father's wishes to follow her own dreams; Mabel Boll, a shallow and comical glamor girl with a hidden past, who is a filthy-rich widow, able to throw money around to buy what she desires; and Ruth Elder, a small-town girl who uses her beauty pageant winnings to pay for flying lessons and will not let a disapproving husband stand in her way.
How exciting to share in their struggles as they compete with each other and other flyers to be 'Queen of the Air.' The one factor no pilot can control is yet another female: Mother Nature! The most exciting parts of the story are when Notaro takes us into the cockpit during two flights. It's 'edge-of-your-seat' writing as she reimagines the desperate life or death battles the pilots wage against the weather. The author has included several historic photos which enhance the stories. Very enjoyable reading!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an arc of this book.
October 1, 2016
In her new novel Crossing the Horizon, Laura Notaro has cast light on little known stories of real women who entered the race to fly across the Atlantic, before Amelia Earhart ever became famous. Her research focused on Elsie MacKay, Mabel Boll and Ruth Elder, three very different individuals with three very different outcomes.
In the first half of the novel, the lives and loves of the young women are comprehensively described. Who they married, where they married, famous people they met, a variety of mini biographies -financial, piloting, acting, a volume of specificities - of those who would have a significant or minor role in their lives...but gradually, after layers of more exposition on instructors, airplanes, runways and other pilots, an inkling of these women's motivation to fly across the Atlantic began to emerge.
The latter half of the book is much more interesting, though it too is overloaded with superfluous detail. However, the writing is closer to good historical fiction, with a well structured narrative and pertinence to the theme of pioneering female pilots. At this novel's end, though, I remain puzzled why charlatan Mabel Boll was ever included since she was more of an embarrassment than an example of courage.
I am sad to say that although the subject matter is interesting, I found Crossing the Horizon missing a strong cohesiveness between the women pilots thematically and at times the rambling, boring details nearly caused me to close the book long before its end.
ARC via NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Publishers. Pub. Date October4, 2016
In the first half of the novel, the lives and loves of the young women are comprehensively described. Who they married, where they married, famous people they met, a variety of mini biographies -financial, piloting, acting, a volume of specificities - of those who would have a significant or minor role in their lives...but gradually, after layers of more exposition on instructors, airplanes, runways and other pilots, an inkling of these women's motivation to fly across the Atlantic began to emerge.
The latter half of the book is much more interesting, though it too is overloaded with superfluous detail. However, the writing is closer to good historical fiction, with a well structured narrative and pertinence to the theme of pioneering female pilots. At this novel's end, though, I remain puzzled why charlatan Mabel Boll was ever included since she was more of an embarrassment than an example of courage.
I am sad to say that although the subject matter is interesting, I found Crossing the Horizon missing a strong cohesiveness between the women pilots thematically and at times the rambling, boring details nearly caused me to close the book long before its end.
ARC via NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Publishers. Pub. Date October4, 2016
September 9, 2017
What a wonderful and fascinating story. These women were brave and determined to make history. They are the pioneers of our airline industry. Because of their bravery and some of their deaths, flying over the Atlantic became an everyday occurrence. I learned so much about the first women in aviation.
I won this book on Goodreads.
I won this book on Goodreads.
December 5, 2016
Excellent research and historical information on women pilots and the race across the Atlantic. The book is written like fiction as far as dialogue but author stays close to the correct historical information. I wasn't sure if I would like it or not, but I'm very happy to have read it. My Grandmother was one of the First Ladies in the air force as a WAC and I wish she was still living to be able to read this book. Highly Recommend and will warn you, one of the women trying to cross the Atlantic you will hate! Also I felt real respect for the women piloting across and not so much for the ones that were just riding across. I feel you really didn't get across as a woman without joining in on the flight but that's just my opinion.
August 29, 2016
Who will be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic? Will it be Mabel, a glamorous society girl with her head in the clouds, Elsie McKay daughter of the Earl or Ruth Elder "America's girl" and beauty pageant queen? This book starts off exciting and just gets more enthralling as the pages turn.
This story was so well researched and written that I couldn't help but be captivated by each woman's story. The author tells each story with such passion that you can't help but fall in love with all three of them. I will admit to having a favorite and hoping she was the one who ultimately got to fly across the Atlantic but all the characters of this story were charming, well thought out and added something to the plot.
So jump on board and take a chance on this fascinating taste of history!
This story was so well researched and written that I couldn't help but be captivated by each woman's story. The author tells each story with such passion that you can't help but fall in love with all three of them. I will admit to having a favorite and hoping she was the one who ultimately got to fly across the Atlantic but all the characters of this story were charming, well thought out and added something to the plot.
So jump on board and take a chance on this fascinating taste of history!
December 4, 2016
I received a advance copy of "Crossing the Horizon," from Melanie Mitzman at Simon and Schuster. At first I thought this really isn't my cup of tea. But I was very wrong. Meet Mabel, Elisie and Ruth. The famous women all wanting to be the first woman to fly cross the Atlantic. You will fall in love with the characters. Although Mabel drove me crazy at times. Lol. We think of men flying planes across oceans during this time period but I never stopped to think about the women. This is a must read. The author will joining "The Life of a Book Addict," book club on Sunday, December 4th, 2016, at 4:00 PM EST to discuss her book. Please join us.
November 1, 2016
4.5 stars. "Crossing the Horizon" is a historical fiction tale about three women who are vying to be the female follow-up to Charles Lindbergh's crossing of the Atlantic. The book follows also Elsie, a woman from a rich English family who is the first Englishwoman to get her pilot's license. There is Mabel a spoiled rich woman who won't take no for an answer. There is also Ruth, who becomes one of the American women in the race. The book follows these very different women and all that they'll go through in order to try to mark their names on history.
Flying during that time is not something that I would really want to do. After reading some of the descriptions in the book, especially the description of Ruth and her copilot flying through a storm in an open air airplane definitely makes me think that I would not like to fly in one of those planes. The author definitely knows how to write a harrowing scene!
The author does a great job of explaining the circumstances of these women's flight and just how difficult their goal actually was to obtain. I really like the descriptions of each of the women. The author does a really good job of giving each woman her own voice and her own thoughts and feelings. I think aviation history of the early 20th-century is so fascinating. Although I'd never like to fly planes, I'm incredibly interested in them as my husband has his private pilot's license. In fact there were several parts of the book that I had to read out loud to him just because it was so unbelievable all that these women went through as they were still trying to reach the goal of being the first woman across the ocean. The stories were so fascinating that I had to look up some of the true stories of these women after reading this book. That is most definitely a good mark of good historical fiction. I recommend this book to those that like historical fiction with a side of adventure.
Flying during that time is not something that I would really want to do. After reading some of the descriptions in the book, especially the description of Ruth and her copilot flying through a storm in an open air airplane definitely makes me think that I would not like to fly in one of those planes. The author definitely knows how to write a harrowing scene!
The author does a great job of explaining the circumstances of these women's flight and just how difficult their goal actually was to obtain. I really like the descriptions of each of the women. The author does a really good job of giving each woman her own voice and her own thoughts and feelings. I think aviation history of the early 20th-century is so fascinating. Although I'd never like to fly planes, I'm incredibly interested in them as my husband has his private pilot's license. In fact there were several parts of the book that I had to read out loud to him just because it was so unbelievable all that these women went through as they were still trying to reach the goal of being the first woman across the ocean. The stories were so fascinating that I had to look up some of the true stories of these women after reading this book. That is most definitely a good mark of good historical fiction. I recommend this book to those that like historical fiction with a side of adventure.
August 1, 2016
Long before Amelia Earhart, Anne Lindbergh, and Beryl Markham burst upon the aviation scene, three other women were vying to be the first to fly across the Atlantic, and I was transfixed by this novel about their personal lives and exploits. This well-written and well researched story is a must for anyone who loves historical fiction, especially for readers of Paula McLain's CIRCLING THE SUN, the novel about Beryl Markham. Also recommended for readers of Melanie Benjamin's THE AVIATOR'S WIFE, and for the same kind of compelling historical fiction and appealing characters, Sara Gruen's WATER FOR ELEPHANTS.
Thanks to Edelweiss and S&S/Gallery books for an advance digital review copy.
Thanks to Edelweiss and S&S/Gallery books for an advance digital review copy.
September 22, 2016
NOTE: Received as an ARC from Netgalley.
Before reading this novel, I had no idea so many women were vying for the title "Queen of the Air," as Mabel Boll put it--heiresses, gold diggers, beauty queens, and even a princess. Of the three women, I found Mabel the hardest to like, Elsie the most serious about flying, and Ruth deceptively ditzy.
The book started off a bit slow for me, but then I got caught up in the fates of the aviatrixes, the pilots that flew with them, and their families (and pets). The inclusion of historical photos was an especially nice touch.
Before reading this novel, I had no idea so many women were vying for the title "Queen of the Air," as Mabel Boll put it--heiresses, gold diggers, beauty queens, and even a princess. Of the three women, I found Mabel the hardest to like, Elsie the most serious about flying, and Ruth deceptively ditzy.
The book started off a bit slow for me, but then I got caught up in the fates of the aviatrixes, the pilots that flew with them, and their families (and pets). The inclusion of historical photos was an especially nice touch.
February 6, 2017
Since my husband is an aviation fanatic, I thought I had heard all about the early days of flying. But as so often happens, most of the history dwells on the successes of those who set the records, and these were mostly men. I enjoyed hearing the stories of the three women who were in the news when flying was in its infancy. First I need to say that I was privileged to receive a copy of CROSSING THE HORIZON from the publisher, Gallery Books, through Goodreads.
Laurie Notaro weaves the stories of Elsie Mackay, Mabel Boll, and Ruth Elder early aviatrices--even before Amelia Earhart made her name in aviation. I learned that the entire world was so excited about flight, and there were many records just waiting to be broken. It took me a little while to get into the book because Notaro introduces each woman in a chapter along with other people that were associated with them. As I became to know each woman, I became interested in their attempts to be taken seriously in aviation. That is, two of them-- Elsie Mackay and Ruth Elder were serious aviators. Mostly what Mabel Boll wanted was to get her picture in the papers and become know as the first female passenger to cross the Atlantic. Notaro does an excellent job of building suspense with each flyer as they have to overcome obstacles such as family objections, financing, finding the best plane and the frustrations of watching and waiting for the best weather to beat the competition. I recommend this book if you like reading about the daring culture of the twenties, the early days of aviation, or reading about women who stretch the norms of the day to achieve an intense dream.
Laurie Notaro weaves the stories of Elsie Mackay, Mabel Boll, and Ruth Elder early aviatrices--even before Amelia Earhart made her name in aviation. I learned that the entire world was so excited about flight, and there were many records just waiting to be broken. It took me a little while to get into the book because Notaro introduces each woman in a chapter along with other people that were associated with them. As I became to know each woman, I became interested in their attempts to be taken seriously in aviation. That is, two of them-- Elsie Mackay and Ruth Elder were serious aviators. Mostly what Mabel Boll wanted was to get her picture in the papers and become know as the first female passenger to cross the Atlantic. Notaro does an excellent job of building suspense with each flyer as they have to overcome obstacles such as family objections, financing, finding the best plane and the frustrations of watching and waiting for the best weather to beat the competition. I recommend this book if you like reading about the daring culture of the twenties, the early days of aviation, or reading about women who stretch the norms of the day to achieve an intense dream.
August 11, 2016
Crossing the Horizon is humorist Laurie Notaro's first foray into historical fiction and it's amazing! It's the story of 3 women and their attempt to be the first to cross the Atlantic after Lindbergh's historical flight in 1927. The race was on to see who would be the first. We've all heard of Amelia Earhart's solo flight but was she really the first? Did you know her first flight was as a passenger who slept most of the way? She never touched the controls of the plane.
Who were Elsie MacKay, Mabel Boll and Ruth Elder and what were their places in the history of aviation? Were they married, pilots, mothers? Who were their families and what challenges did they face as women in aviation? Crossing the Horizon wonderfully informs and entertains us with the facts of their lives. Read about their persistence and courage as they race for the title and their lives!
Through newspaper clippings and photos, Notaro weaves their story with an expert hand. Sometimes tragic, sometimes hysterical but always exciting. Laurie Notaro proves she has what it takes to be a successful novelist. I say...show me more!
Crossing the Horizon is available for preorder now. Published by Simon and Schuster, it will be available October 2016
Who were Elsie MacKay, Mabel Boll and Ruth Elder and what were their places in the history of aviation? Were they married, pilots, mothers? Who were their families and what challenges did they face as women in aviation? Crossing the Horizon wonderfully informs and entertains us with the facts of their lives. Read about their persistence and courage as they race for the title and their lives!
Through newspaper clippings and photos, Notaro weaves their story with an expert hand. Sometimes tragic, sometimes hysterical but always exciting. Laurie Notaro proves she has what it takes to be a successful novelist. I say...show me more!
Crossing the Horizon is available for preorder now. Published by Simon and Schuster, it will be available October 2016
March 11, 2018
My thanks to Gallery Books for this copy of Crossing the Horizon! I won this in a Goodreads giveaway!
Absolutely captivating! The best book Ms. Notaro has written thus far, in my opinion. There is much more than historical accuracy here. Filled with equal parts beautiful prose and inspiring moments of human achievement, Notaro has captured the transatlantic fever of the 1920's.
Notaro takes the headline grabbing events of aviation history and recreates the great rivalries of the time focusing on three determined women who struggled to claim their place in history. Intelligent, witty, and thrilling, this forgotten story was begging to be told.
Mabel Boll, Elsie Mackay and Ruth Elder were caught up in the afterglow of Lindbergh's successful non-stop flight to Paris. Notaro brings their story to light in this impossible to put down account of all they endured. It is very well written - Notaro sets a scene and enables you to step back through time. This would be great as a group read for any book club. And there is an excellent bibliography at the end in case you get interested in the race to see which woman will be the first to fly across the Atlantic. Highly recommend!
Absolutely captivating! The best book Ms. Notaro has written thus far, in my opinion. There is much more than historical accuracy here. Filled with equal parts beautiful prose and inspiring moments of human achievement, Notaro has captured the transatlantic fever of the 1920's.
Notaro takes the headline grabbing events of aviation history and recreates the great rivalries of the time focusing on three determined women who struggled to claim their place in history. Intelligent, witty, and thrilling, this forgotten story was begging to be told.
Mabel Boll, Elsie Mackay and Ruth Elder were caught up in the afterglow of Lindbergh's successful non-stop flight to Paris. Notaro brings their story to light in this impossible to put down account of all they endured. It is very well written - Notaro sets a scene and enables you to step back through time. This would be great as a group read for any book club. And there is an excellent bibliography at the end in case you get interested in the race to see which woman will be the first to fly across the Atlantic. Highly recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2019
Your cook is not very good, and I am honestly struggling through this meal. It is a shame that a baby (lamb/veal) had to die for this. You should apologize to its mother, several times.
No matter what they say, if you feel right and now you are right, pay off all knocks with a smile.
Come on, fellas! Let's ankle it outta here! We've got our fans to meet!
Good Lord, Lyle. Whose pants are you wearing now? Because they are clearly too big for you.
She felt that she had closed the door to a room she no longer wanted to be in.
Burns are unimaginable suffering.
She realized, after many years, that you cannot manufacture the courage of a lion and a heart full of tenderness. That sort of being is only born.
No matter what they say, if you feel right and now you are right, pay off all knocks with a smile.
Come on, fellas! Let's ankle it outta here! We've got our fans to meet!
Good Lord, Lyle. Whose pants are you wearing now? Because they are clearly too big for you.
She felt that she had closed the door to a room she no longer wanted to be in.
Burns are unimaginable suffering.
She realized, after many years, that you cannot manufacture the courage of a lion and a heart full of tenderness. That sort of being is only born.
January 10, 2017
This is the true story of three women attempting to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic. It is 1927 and Charles Lindbergh has made his historic trip across the Atlantic. Now it is time for a woman to do it - but who?
Elsie Mackay is the third and favorite daughter of Lord Inchcape. Stubborn, thrill-seeking, and utterly fearless just like her father (which is what concerns him), she worries her family with her wild, free ways.
Mabel Boll is a true character - an American socialite of rather dubious origins. She has a hard time keeping track of just what those origins are:
Finally, there is Ruth Elder of Anniston, Alabama:
All three women defy the expectations of their time to attempt to fly across the Atlantic. For Elsie and Ruth, it is not only to prove to themselves and everyone else they can do it, but also because of their sheer love of flight. Mabel has other reasons - she wants to be as famous as Lindbergh. Her life is all about glamour, fame, and wealth.
Elsie and Ruth are interesting characters and I came to care about both them (especially Elsie). Elsie's love of life and flying is contagious. Ruth shares that spirit and a desire for freedom. I found myself rooting for both of them. It's not often that you want two competitors to win, but that's what happened for me in this case.
However, Mabel can get tiresome. She is totally self-centered and just wants to be the center of attention. She actually calls her self "Queen of Diamonds." While Elsie and Ruth are actual pilots, Mabel knows little about planes. She knows that planes take off and land, and that's about it. Notaro said that Mabel was included to lighten up a story that can get quite serious at times. However, comic relief shouldn't last so long - and be so annoying. I kept hoping her plane would crash.
Otherwise, Notaro does an excellent job of portraying the times and people. After I finished the book, I looked up the various characters and found she was very accurate. I had never heard of any of these women until I read this book, and I feel I have learned a great deal. I recommend it to anyone interested in women's history, the history of aviation, or the 1920s.
I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Elsie Mackay is the third and favorite daughter of Lord Inchcape. Stubborn, thrill-seeking, and utterly fearless just like her father (which is what concerns him), she worries her family with her wild, free ways.
"Elsie had failed at nothing. Whatever she set her sights to, she was almost always a quick, blooming success. He [her father] was always proud of her for that, but it was also what terrified him the most. Whatever his daughter desired, wanted, pined for, all she had to do was take a step toward it. It was delivered."
Mabel Boll is a true character - an American socialite of rather dubious origins. She has a hard time keeping track of just what those origins are:
"And make sure he knows I'm an American. From New York." [Mabel]
"I always thought you were from Connecticut," Jenny or Rose remarked.
"Born in Connecticut," Mabel replied scrambling. "But raised on Park Avenue. By my millionaire father."
Finally, there is Ruth Elder of Anniston, Alabama:
"She loved being in the air, the thrill of having no ties to the earth, nothing to keep her tethered. She understood Lindbergh's desire to fly across the ocean: no experience on the ground could compare to gliding across clouds and seeing everything from above. No one else up there, just her and the steady buzz of the engine. Above, there were no strings to get herself tangled up in, no dishes to wash or laundry to boil and roll."
All three women defy the expectations of their time to attempt to fly across the Atlantic. For Elsie and Ruth, it is not only to prove to themselves and everyone else they can do it, but also because of their sheer love of flight. Mabel has other reasons - she wants to be as famous as Lindbergh. Her life is all about glamour, fame, and wealth.
Elsie and Ruth are interesting characters and I came to care about both them (especially Elsie). Elsie's love of life and flying is contagious. Ruth shares that spirit and a desire for freedom. I found myself rooting for both of them. It's not often that you want two competitors to win, but that's what happened for me in this case.
However, Mabel can get tiresome. She is totally self-centered and just wants to be the center of attention. She actually calls her self "Queen of Diamonds." While Elsie and Ruth are actual pilots, Mabel knows little about planes. She knows that planes take off and land, and that's about it. Notaro said that Mabel was included to lighten up a story that can get quite serious at times. However, comic relief shouldn't last so long - and be so annoying. I kept hoping her plane would crash.
Otherwise, Notaro does an excellent job of portraying the times and people. After I finished the book, I looked up the various characters and found she was very accurate. I had never heard of any of these women until I read this book, and I feel I have learned a great deal. I recommend it to anyone interested in women's history, the history of aviation, or the 1920s.
I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2017
I've read pretty much everything by Laurie Notaro, so I was of course interested in reading Crossing the Horizon even though I'm not always wild about historical fiction. I knew hardly anything about this period of time in the late 1920s (which is almost one hundred years ago now), following Charles Lindbergh's successful transatlantic flight.
I think the fact that struck me the most about the reflection on this period of time, was that a person's entire future could be changed by their involvement in even an unsuccessful (but not fatal) attempt at an historic flight. In today's post-Andy Warhol "fifteen minutes of fame" era, I can't imagine someone building an actual successful film career or any other type of life-alter circumstance by something so trivial. And then I remember that the Kardashians exist, and I realize that I'm wrong, and really, it's just my sense of justice and the value of hard work paying that's off, not the apparent long-standing phenomena of insta-fame for no good reason.
I liked the focus on the three main women, none of whom I'd ever heard of before. But I did think that something was amiss in the very few and sideways comments about Amelia Earhart, the actual first woman to fly across the Atlantic. I know, there are tons of other books about Earhart. I could read them. This isn't about her. But, to only have her mentioned by Mabel Boll, and not even the other two ladies, and to have Boll be such a catty witch. Well, that was annoying.
The paranormal aspect near the end was a little odd. If it was historically based, then why not. I've read Spooky Little Girl, so the paranormal isn't putting me off. If it wasn't historically based though, that was truly an odd thing to add into this story. I could look up the sources cited in the back, but that seems like work. I'm going with the assumption that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was the member of the Society for Psychical Research and this wasn't just a wild hair.
I have mixed feelings about the inclusion of Mabel Boll, a non-pilot, in this group. I did love the comic relief she brought to this otherwise heavy read. I didn't like that she seemed to get more attention than the other two ladies though. Or maybe it just felt that way, because she was so annoying. Holy cow, her claim to fame was being equivalent to luggage. But I did love her claim to be the "Queen of the air" whatever that is.
Elsie Mackay's family was a self-absorbed nightmare. Poor Elsie. They were the original helicopter parents. Apparently that isn't just a recent thing ever. The whole lot of them. Blarg. The build up in the beginning actually seemed like a slog to get through. I see after finishing that it was there to establish her lifelong habit of having her ideas squashed by her family, but man that was not a real fun couple of chapters to read.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I continue to be stunned by the amount of attention that these various flight attempts generated, but then, what constitutes "news" these days isn't any more worthy either.
Note - I received a free copy of this book from a Goodreads online book club giveaway. Thanks "Life of a Reading Addict" group, can't wait for the discussion with the author.
I think the fact that struck me the most about the reflection on this period of time, was that a person's entire future could be changed by their involvement in even an unsuccessful (but not fatal) attempt at an historic flight. In today's post-Andy Warhol "fifteen minutes of fame" era, I can't imagine someone building an actual successful film career or any other type of life-alter circumstance by something so trivial. And then I remember that the Kardashians exist, and I realize that I'm wrong, and really, it's just my sense of justice and the value of hard work paying that's off, not the apparent long-standing phenomena of insta-fame for no good reason.
I liked the focus on the three main women, none of whom I'd ever heard of before. But I did think that something was amiss in the very few and sideways comments about Amelia Earhart, the actual first woman to fly across the Atlantic. I know, there are tons of other books about Earhart. I could read them. This isn't about her. But, to only have her mentioned by Mabel Boll, and not even the other two ladies, and to have Boll be such a catty witch. Well, that was annoying.
The paranormal aspect near the end was a little odd. If it was historically based, then why not. I've read Spooky Little Girl, so the paranormal isn't putting me off. If it wasn't historically based though, that was truly an odd thing to add into this story. I could look up the sources cited in the back, but that seems like work. I'm going with the assumption that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was the member of the Society for Psychical Research and this wasn't just a wild hair.
I have mixed feelings about the inclusion of Mabel Boll, a non-pilot, in this group. I did love the comic relief she brought to this otherwise heavy read. I didn't like that she seemed to get more attention than the other two ladies though. Or maybe it just felt that way, because she was so annoying. Holy cow, her claim to fame was being equivalent to luggage. But I did love her claim to be the "Queen of the air" whatever that is.
Elsie Mackay's family was a self-absorbed nightmare. Poor Elsie. They were the original helicopter parents. Apparently that isn't just a recent thing ever. The whole lot of them. Blarg. The build up in the beginning actually seemed like a slog to get through. I see after finishing that it was there to establish her lifelong habit of having her ideas squashed by her family, but man that was not a real fun couple of chapters to read.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I continue to be stunned by the amount of attention that these various flight attempts generated, but then, what constitutes "news" these days isn't any more worthy either.
Note - I received a free copy of this book from a Goodreads online book club giveaway. Thanks "Life of a Reading Addict" group, can't wait for the discussion with the author.
February 9, 2017
Review to follow.
Review
Last updated on 28 Oct 2016
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is getting a barely there 3-star review. I wavered on what my final rating would be as I hovered between 2 and 3 stars throughout the book. I was excited to read this book as I was interested in a part of history that I did not really know~ like everyone, I had heard of Amelia Earhart, but did not know about anyone else who attempted to fly across the Atlantic. We are introduced to three women~ all vying to be the first one to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane. I had a lot of issues with the way the story was told~ the first part came across as biographical, and with facts just regurgitated. The flow was poor and it just seemed like choppy writing.
As the book moves along, we get into the lives of the ladies who wanted to be the first, I found each of their stories way too long. There was often so much unnecessary detail and the story would go off on a tangent, describing events that had nothing to do with the matter at hand.
Like many other reviews, the story of Mabel Boll was too much to take. She should have been mentioned, but in my opinion she did not warrant much of an appearance in the story. She was a screeching windbag in every scene.
The story, as far as what happened to each of these ladies attempts to fly across the ocean was interesting, but the book was too long. Unfortunately, not on my highly recommend list.
Review
Last updated on 28 Oct 2016
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is getting a barely there 3-star review. I wavered on what my final rating would be as I hovered between 2 and 3 stars throughout the book. I was excited to read this book as I was interested in a part of history that I did not really know~ like everyone, I had heard of Amelia Earhart, but did not know about anyone else who attempted to fly across the Atlantic. We are introduced to three women~ all vying to be the first one to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane. I had a lot of issues with the way the story was told~ the first part came across as biographical, and with facts just regurgitated. The flow was poor and it just seemed like choppy writing.
As the book moves along, we get into the lives of the ladies who wanted to be the first, I found each of their stories way too long. There was often so much unnecessary detail and the story would go off on a tangent, describing events that had nothing to do with the matter at hand.
Like many other reviews, the story of Mabel Boll was too much to take. She should have been mentioned, but in my opinion she did not warrant much of an appearance in the story. She was a screeching windbag in every scene.
The story, as far as what happened to each of these ladies attempts to fly across the ocean was interesting, but the book was too long. Unfortunately, not on my highly recommend list.
December 30, 2016
A well crafted historical novel about three women, aviatrixes, each with a burning desire to be the first woman to travel across the Atlantic Ocean by plane. Mabel, Ruth and Elsie competed with each other, the harsh and unrelenting elements, and the limits of technology in the 1920's.
As each woman reached for the sky, they dealt with risks, dangers, sacrifices and alienation from family members. They fueled their quests with hopes, dreams, determination, courage and fortitude.
While attempting to set world records, the ladies broke down barriers, walls and limits that had been keeping women in traditional roles and living more sedate and dependent lives.
I loved the vintage photographs at the beginning of each chapter. This historical novel was filled with suspense, complicated and interesting relationships, historical facts and details, and of course, adventure and hope.
As each woman reached for the sky, they dealt with risks, dangers, sacrifices and alienation from family members. They fueled their quests with hopes, dreams, determination, courage and fortitude.
While attempting to set world records, the ladies broke down barriers, walls and limits that had been keeping women in traditional roles and living more sedate and dependent lives.
I loved the vintage photographs at the beginning of each chapter. This historical novel was filled with suspense, complicated and interesting relationships, historical facts and details, and of course, adventure and hope.
February 2, 2017
Great book for our daughters to read. Determined women who want to achieve their dreams
October 13, 2016
It is clear from reading this book that author Laurie Notaro has done exhaustive research into the lives of these three women.
Elsie McKay is the first English woman to get her pilot’s license. Ruth Elder, a beauty contest winner decides to use her winnings for flying lessons. I’m not sure why Mabel Boll was even included in this book as she was a society girl who wanted to be the first passenger to fly across the Atlantic but wasn’t interested in flying herself or really anything about the planes.
There was so much time spent on the women’s back stories and very little about their actual flying. Most of the book is actually spent talking about every detail of these women’s lives, their financial situations, the men that they loved and wed, their friends and their hopes for climbing the social ladder.
This was a disappointing read for me. I love stories about early aviation and have read many. This novel about 3 women vying for the title of crossing the Atlantic first sounded interesting. I had never heard of them.
This book was so full of details that it was really an excruciatingly slow read for me and I was flipping pages to get to the end. There is some good writing here but I didn’t feel a sense of cohesiveness in the story and only the last third of the book was really interesting to me.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.
January 4, 2017
As a person who got her pilot license in Feb 1964, then flew for several years until my instructor who had more than 14,000 flight hours made a mistake with a plane that was new to him and flew into a hill with 6 people on board.
I love it when a book revives that love of flying, bravery and fear. I had never heard of the rivalry among women before reading this book. Although the characters may be a bit overdrawn, it is interesting to see how different each was as each insisted on being first woman to fly across the Atlantic. Amazing the different ways they hooked up with male pilots, got funding for planes and flight costs, and; how much credit went to the one who had the least money available.
Nature is the leading reason for everyone's trials; it foils each potential flight time after time. I suppose what is surprising is how much we now take for granted flights at 30,000 feet above the earth when their struggle was so strong to stay at 300 feet above water.
My main regret was that Amelia Earhart arrives at the end of the book as a passenger with so little background story as to why she is a passenger or what lead her to want to be one.
I love it when a book revives that love of flying, bravery and fear. I had never heard of the rivalry among women before reading this book. Although the characters may be a bit overdrawn, it is interesting to see how different each was as each insisted on being first woman to fly across the Atlantic. Amazing the different ways they hooked up with male pilots, got funding for planes and flight costs, and; how much credit went to the one who had the least money available.
Nature is the leading reason for everyone's trials; it foils each potential flight time after time. I suppose what is surprising is how much we now take for granted flights at 30,000 feet above the earth when their struggle was so strong to stay at 300 feet above water.
My main regret was that Amelia Earhart arrives at the end of the book as a passenger with so little background story as to why she is a passenger or what lead her to want to be one.
February 10, 2017
HILARIOUS and BRILLIANT!
I had my doubts, mostly due to the fact that i'ma voracious reader of everything the funniest women writing memoirs have to offer these days Laurie Notaro is in that group of painfully honest and excruciatingly funny women we need MORE of (Jen Lancaster, Negin Farsad, Jenny Lawson, Allie Brosh, Lisa Lampanelli, Monique Marvez).
When a writer - who is a brilliant memoirist - writes fiction - often the results are clunky. And I've been disappointed several times (not naming names).
HOWEVER - THIS book is fan - freakingly - tan - fastic. Really really really fun, a great ride and just awesome. A mix of truth, fiction, (chocolate, cold medicine, way too many carbs, caffeine) real, imagined, it reads like very very good fiction. I'm impressed and I while I'm bookloose and will read anything by this author, it's nice to have something to shout about. Significant progress was made between fiction titles preceding this and this one (sounded very judgie mcBossy pants there, sorry) but LOVED the book! MORE PLEASE!
I had my doubts, mostly due to the fact that i'ma voracious reader of everything the funniest women writing memoirs have to offer these days Laurie Notaro is in that group of painfully honest and excruciatingly funny women we need MORE of (Jen Lancaster, Negin Farsad, Jenny Lawson, Allie Brosh, Lisa Lampanelli, Monique Marvez).
When a writer - who is a brilliant memoirist - writes fiction - often the results are clunky. And I've been disappointed several times (not naming names).
HOWEVER - THIS book is fan - freakingly - tan - fastic. Really really really fun, a great ride and just awesome. A mix of truth, fiction, (chocolate, cold medicine, way too many carbs, caffeine) real, imagined, it reads like very very good fiction. I'm impressed and I while I'm bookloose and will read anything by this author, it's nice to have something to shout about. Significant progress was made between fiction titles preceding this and this one (sounded very judgie mcBossy pants there, sorry) but LOVED the book! MORE PLEASE!
January 3, 2017
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
An interesting cross between fiction and non fiction with most of the content of the story being true, but told in a fictional way - I enjoyed reading the ups and downs of the first women to try to cross the Atlantic by plane and all of the hoops they had to jump through just to potentially get the plane in the air.
The cast of characters was massive and with the common goal in mind it was hard at times to remember who was who and who they were working with. This was definitely a notepad kind of book and at times I was a little frustrated. In the first few chapters the ladies had their own chapters, but once they were all introduced their stories intermingled in each chapter, I am not sure I liked that. Only as an editing opinion, I would have liked shorter chapters with each of their stories more defined than having them weave in and out.
An interesting cross between fiction and non fiction with most of the content of the story being true, but told in a fictional way - I enjoyed reading the ups and downs of the first women to try to cross the Atlantic by plane and all of the hoops they had to jump through just to potentially get the plane in the air.
The cast of characters was massive and with the common goal in mind it was hard at times to remember who was who and who they were working with. This was definitely a notepad kind of book and at times I was a little frustrated. In the first few chapters the ladies had their own chapters, but once they were all introduced their stories intermingled in each chapter, I am not sure I liked that. Only as an editing opinion, I would have liked shorter chapters with each of their stories more defined than having them weave in and out.
April 28, 2017
If you think you know everything there is to know about Laurie Notaro from reading her humorous autobiographies, think again. This book was so different from anything else of hers I've read. Crossing the Horizon follows the lives of three very different women: Elsie MacKay, Mabel Boll and Ruth Elder in the race to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. It's historical fiction, but Notaro has done her research. She does a fantastic job of painting the picture of those flights. I knew early flight was dangerous, but I had no idea about the amount of labor involved to keep planes in the 1920s in the air for that length of time. Educational and exciting...and
*I received an advanced copy of this book from Simon and Schuster.
*I received an advanced copy of this book from Simon and Schuster.
December 17, 2016
This book took me a little longer than my usual reading speed, but it definitely helped me absorb what I was reading. Elsie, Ruth, and Mabel are three women all in a race to be the first to cross the Atlantic by plane, but then that Amelia Earhart is around too. It was very interesting learning about these three women that I had never heard of before, and learning how each woman's adventure and life turned out. Who will be the first and get the ticker tape parade?! There was one woman that I definitely was not cheering on, but you decide for yourself! Growing up I only ever feel Amelia was talked about in school so this was definitely a fascinating read that will stay with me!
November 15, 2016
What a tour de force! This is the real deal, literally. Herein lies the story of the actual first woman(women) to fly over the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane; and actually man the controls, as opposed to Amelia Earheart-- who indeed, ' made it all the way' but didn't fly the plane once. This is a story about brave maverick women who broke society's rules of the time and did as they pleased, and did it with panache. It's a truly wonderful tale , I finished it at just the right time for me... It helped my heart a little.
January 18, 2017
I loved this book! I am a *bit* biased, as one of its' three subjects is my great-aunt Ruth Elder. I met the author Laurie Notaro at the Birmingham signing event, and we'd talked prior to that about all her research on Ruth. I loved Laurie's various turns of phrase, and the way she captures the characters' personalities on the page. The writing moves along at a nice clip, never slow, and as always in real life, there are plenty of entertaining and intriguing characters all around. This is for anyone interested in aviation history, women's history, the 1920's, and the like!
December 12, 2016
This was close to a 1 star, because the writing is just painfully bad. However, despite this, I did find myself interested enough in the story to root for my favorites and discover their fates. Also, the photographs are really good. So, I'll bump up to 2 stars, but I really don't recommend this book to anyone.
December 27, 2016
I stayed up three hours past my bedtime on a work night to finish devouring this book.
January 7, 2017
This book is beautifully written. I have long been a fan of LN, but this book is just fantastic. I think everyone should read it AT LEAST once.
August 8, 2020
Great adventure story (based on fact) of women vying to be the first woman in history to make the transatlantic flight to Europe after Charles Lindbergh completed his 1927 flight. A Southern belle beauty queen, a glamorous madcap socialite from New York, and an unconventional English heiress are in the race (along with others like Amelia Earhart and Woodrow Wilson's niece Frances Grayson), determined at all costs to be first. Competition is fierce: for planes, for pilots, for sponsors. Well written, historically accurate, with plenty of drama, a few giggles, determined characters, lots of flying, and suspense, I found this an absorbing and compelling story--a little slow in places because of a wealth of information, but mostly it moved at a good pace. I cared about the characters, learned something about aviation history, and I wanted to find out who would win the prize!
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