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Flying at Night
An emotionally charged debut novel, told through the voices of three family members, who learn that when your world changes, so does your destination....
Stay-at-home mom Piper Whitman Hart is too close to her nine-year-old son Fred to realize that his idiosyncrasies are signs of something more. And just when his diagnosis of autism sends her life reeling, she's dragged back into the orbit of her emotionally abusive father, Lance, after a heart attack leaves him with brain damage.
Fred is in need of a friend. Lance is in need of care. And Piper just wants to feel stable ground beneath her feet. What she never expects is that Fred and Lance--both misunderstood by the world--will start to connect in the most miraculous of ways...
Stay-at-home mom Piper Whitman Hart is too close to her nine-year-old son Fred to realize that his idiosyncrasies are signs of something more. And just when his diagnosis of autism sends her life reeling, she's dragged back into the orbit of her emotionally abusive father, Lance, after a heart attack leaves him with brain damage.
Fred is in need of a friend. Lance is in need of care. And Piper just wants to feel stable ground beneath her feet. What she never expects is that Fred and Lance--both misunderstood by the world--will start to connect in the most miraculous of ways...
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2018
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February 11, 2025
Sometimes, our unseen, unnoticed and unSUNG acts mean the most to others - and, eventually to OURSELVES.
This is the story of one woman’s personal odyssey to finding meaning, purpose - and the key to HERSELF. For Piper takes charge of her life and is saved by her ACTIONS.
Have you ever been stuck, without so much as a breath of fresh air for your soul’s sail, in the dreary Doldrums of a life going NOWHERE?
Piper is like that. And she’s in a hopeless pickle because there is no longer any energy or orientation in her life.
She is drifting, coasting through life with bitter insouciance through the perils ignited by wildly dysfunctional family relationships and fate.
And messing it all up big time!
FIRST, she is trying to remain a neutral three-ring circus ringmaster in her own home with her husband and autistic son.
SECOND, she’s trying to sail the little sailboat of her domestic world on an even keel around the treacherous icebergs of her wider, and even more treacherous family circle - and the outer world.
AND THIRD, by trying to stay ‘safe’ from the icebergs, she’s becoming one big block of ice herself!
SO, she’s Fearful, Shirking her responsibilities - and SADLY LACKING IN COMPASSION.
And when you’re drifting, things can REALLY start to go wrong!
Ugly wrong.
But trust Fate to step in, and show her the EMPTINESS of her own unworkable strategies with a turn of events that WAKES HER UP!
Because whatever is subconsciously bugging you and giving you no gratification is TRYING to wake you up - right out of your shell.
For the first time in her life, Piper learns responsibility - and the commitment to DO SOMETHING to ameliorate the mess that is her life - by sheer gut instinct, AT THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM.
No turning back.
She takes charge of her life. And suddenly realizes that the struggle is REAL, and there’s no longer any escaping from it.
THIS IS IT, KID!
So she takes CHARGE. And - the torpedoes keep coming! And coming. What does she do? Crumple in a heap?
No - she pulls an Admiral Perry. She goes FULL SPEED AHEAD. With blind faith that she’s doing the Right Thing.
But this is a midlife crisis that ends TRIUMPHANTLY - though in a real world like Piper’s that triumphant conclusion must of necessity be Pyrrhic. But she instinctively knows that, because far too much has happened all at once for it to be anything but.
You know, I read how John Steinbeck, in his later years, braved the brunt of a major hurricane to rescue his dear sailboat, which risked getting smashed to splinters.
He swam into the surging seawater and secured the boat’s mooring, grabbed onto a piece of driftwood, and TRUSTED the wind to blow him safely back to shore.
It did.
That’s what Piper does.
She’s got sheer faith in herself - and she RIDES OUT THE STORM!
From a beginning that grabs you right at the start, to a climax that will KNOCK ALL THE STUFFING OUT OF YOU, it’s one DYNAMITE novel.
For, as the great modern composer Alban Berg once so magnificently wrote -
“Oh my Soul, how much more BEAUTIFUL you are after your Snowstorms!”
And thus irrevocably and triumphantly changed, at the end, is Piper’s renewed soul.
This was the best new novel I read last year.
FIVE colossal stars.
This is the story of one woman’s personal odyssey to finding meaning, purpose - and the key to HERSELF. For Piper takes charge of her life and is saved by her ACTIONS.
Have you ever been stuck, without so much as a breath of fresh air for your soul’s sail, in the dreary Doldrums of a life going NOWHERE?
Piper is like that. And she’s in a hopeless pickle because there is no longer any energy or orientation in her life.
She is drifting, coasting through life with bitter insouciance through the perils ignited by wildly dysfunctional family relationships and fate.
And messing it all up big time!
FIRST, she is trying to remain a neutral three-ring circus ringmaster in her own home with her husband and autistic son.
SECOND, she’s trying to sail the little sailboat of her domestic world on an even keel around the treacherous icebergs of her wider, and even more treacherous family circle - and the outer world.
AND THIRD, by trying to stay ‘safe’ from the icebergs, she’s becoming one big block of ice herself!
SO, she’s Fearful, Shirking her responsibilities - and SADLY LACKING IN COMPASSION.
And when you’re drifting, things can REALLY start to go wrong!
Ugly wrong.
But trust Fate to step in, and show her the EMPTINESS of her own unworkable strategies with a turn of events that WAKES HER UP!
Because whatever is subconsciously bugging you and giving you no gratification is TRYING to wake you up - right out of your shell.
For the first time in her life, Piper learns responsibility - and the commitment to DO SOMETHING to ameliorate the mess that is her life - by sheer gut instinct, AT THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM.
No turning back.
She takes charge of her life. And suddenly realizes that the struggle is REAL, and there’s no longer any escaping from it.
THIS IS IT, KID!
So she takes CHARGE. And - the torpedoes keep coming! And coming. What does she do? Crumple in a heap?
No - she pulls an Admiral Perry. She goes FULL SPEED AHEAD. With blind faith that she’s doing the Right Thing.
But this is a midlife crisis that ends TRIUMPHANTLY - though in a real world like Piper’s that triumphant conclusion must of necessity be Pyrrhic. But she instinctively knows that, because far too much has happened all at once for it to be anything but.
You know, I read how John Steinbeck, in his later years, braved the brunt of a major hurricane to rescue his dear sailboat, which risked getting smashed to splinters.
He swam into the surging seawater and secured the boat’s mooring, grabbed onto a piece of driftwood, and TRUSTED the wind to blow him safely back to shore.
It did.
That’s what Piper does.
She’s got sheer faith in herself - and she RIDES OUT THE STORM!
From a beginning that grabs you right at the start, to a climax that will KNOCK ALL THE STUFFING OUT OF YOU, it’s one DYNAMITE novel.
For, as the great modern composer Alban Berg once so magnificently wrote -
“Oh my Soul, how much more BEAUTIFUL you are after your Snowstorms!”
And thus irrevocably and triumphantly changed, at the end, is Piper’s renewed soul.
This was the best new novel I read last year.
FIVE colossal stars.
April 14, 2018
Heartfelt read about a woman struggling to come to terms with her son’s autism diagnosis, while at the same time having to care for her emotionally abusive father.
Piper, a former illustrator, lives in a fragile existence rife with anxiety. She ignores the problems in her marriage and brushes aside her nine-year-old son Fred’s odd behavior. She is aware that Fred isn’t like other children, as he struggles to form connections with people and is more focused on his recent obsession with World War II than making friends at school but she is in denial about why he acts the way he does. She often gets caught up in her anxiety and fear runs rampant in her mind.
Two major incidents bring Piper's fears to the forefront: Her emotionally abusive father has had a massive heart attack and has woken up brain dead resulting in Piper becoming his caretaker. At the same, Fred’s behavior at school results in him being tested for and diagnosed with autism. Her husband is absent the majority of the time, and Piper feels alone and unsupported in her struggle to play mom to both her father and son.
Told from the POV’s of Piper, Fred, and Lance (Piper’s father), Flying at Night is an emotional story about family, parenthood, and unconditional love. I really enjoyed this book, as it felt quite realistic. Piper’s guilt over Fred’s diagnosis, along with the burdensome nature of having to be a caregiver to her father especially rang true. I loved Fred’s character and appreciated the bits of humor his voice added to the novel. This is Rebecca Brown's debut novel and is based on her own experiences raising a child with autism. I look forward to reading more from her in the future. I highly recommend!
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of this book.
Piper, a former illustrator, lives in a fragile existence rife with anxiety. She ignores the problems in her marriage and brushes aside her nine-year-old son Fred’s odd behavior. She is aware that Fred isn’t like other children, as he struggles to form connections with people and is more focused on his recent obsession with World War II than making friends at school but she is in denial about why he acts the way he does. She often gets caught up in her anxiety and fear runs rampant in her mind.
Two major incidents bring Piper's fears to the forefront: Her emotionally abusive father has had a massive heart attack and has woken up brain dead resulting in Piper becoming his caretaker. At the same, Fred’s behavior at school results in him being tested for and diagnosed with autism. Her husband is absent the majority of the time, and Piper feels alone and unsupported in her struggle to play mom to both her father and son.
Told from the POV’s of Piper, Fred, and Lance (Piper’s father), Flying at Night is an emotional story about family, parenthood, and unconditional love. I really enjoyed this book, as it felt quite realistic. Piper’s guilt over Fred’s diagnosis, along with the burdensome nature of having to be a caregiver to her father especially rang true. I loved Fred’s character and appreciated the bits of humor his voice added to the novel. This is Rebecca Brown's debut novel and is based on her own experiences raising a child with autism. I look forward to reading more from her in the future. I highly recommend!
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of this book.
April 14, 2018
This is a well told debut novel about a family with issues. Piper is the mother of an autistic son. She’s still trying to adjust to that diagnosis when her father suffers a heart attack that leaves him with brain damage.
The book is told from three perspectives, Piper, her father and her son, Fred. You see right away that Piper doesn’t recognize her son’s idiosyncrasies for what they are. And her father is a real piece of work; an asshole of the first order. Fred’s sections are told from his nine year old perspective. The use of the different perspectives work beautifully. It makes you realize the power that your words have on others.
Brown gets the whole thing about emotional abuse exactly right. Folks outside the family never see the person behind the facade that’s presented to the outside world.
This book really grabbed me. The way Piper and Isaac’s marriage works, dealing with an autistic child, being the one left holding the bag when everyone else vanishes, the guilt, the anger and the depression, the trying to make peace with what is happening. It’s all spot on.
Lots about this book hit home for me. And I think it will resonate for a lot of folks that are caregivers or part of the sandwich generation.
This is a powerful book. I highly recommend it. It would be the perfect choice for a book club.
My thanks to netgalley and Berkeley Publishing for an advance copy of this book.
The book is told from three perspectives, Piper, her father and her son, Fred. You see right away that Piper doesn’t recognize her son’s idiosyncrasies for what they are. And her father is a real piece of work; an asshole of the first order. Fred’s sections are told from his nine year old perspective. The use of the different perspectives work beautifully. It makes you realize the power that your words have on others.
Brown gets the whole thing about emotional abuse exactly right. Folks outside the family never see the person behind the facade that’s presented to the outside world.
This book really grabbed me. The way Piper and Isaac’s marriage works, dealing with an autistic child, being the one left holding the bag when everyone else vanishes, the guilt, the anger and the depression, the trying to make peace with what is happening. It’s all spot on.
Lots about this book hit home for me. And I think it will resonate for a lot of folks that are caregivers or part of the sandwich generation.
This is a powerful book. I highly recommend it. It would be the perfect choice for a book club.
My thanks to netgalley and Berkeley Publishing for an advance copy of this book.
April 10, 2018
None of us are perfect and the things that happen to us aren’t always fair. This is precisely why this novel felt so real. The characters are flawed, their relationships are imperfect and life doles out some things that are difficult to accept and deal with. There are dysfunctional relationships between a father and his children and between a man and his wife. A devoted mother is in denial about her nine year old son who is diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum and her sometimes wallowing in self pity affects her relationship with her husband who is also flawed. I can’t easily review this without giving away more of the plot than I should so this will be short.
There are three alternating narratives : Piper, a stay at home mom who gave up her career to care for her child, her father Lance who was so miserable to his family that they find it difficult to feel for him after his heart attack and my favorite, nine year old Fred. He’s my favorite because he tells the reader the truth, perceives the truth in ways that the adults are unable to do. He’s my favorite because on his 10th birthday his wish is “that I could find a way to show people what I am all about.” The novel reflects on things that are familiar to many of us, things that we may experience in our family relationships - guilt, blame, acceptance, forgiveness, love and finding a way to show people what we are all about. A solid 4 stars,
I received an advanced copy of this book from Berkley through NetGalley.
There are three alternating narratives : Piper, a stay at home mom who gave up her career to care for her child, her father Lance who was so miserable to his family that they find it difficult to feel for him after his heart attack and my favorite, nine year old Fred. He’s my favorite because he tells the reader the truth, perceives the truth in ways that the adults are unable to do. He’s my favorite because on his 10th birthday his wish is “that I could find a way to show people what I am all about.” The novel reflects on things that are familiar to many of us, things that we may experience in our family relationships - guilt, blame, acceptance, forgiveness, love and finding a way to show people what we are all about. A solid 4 stars,
I received an advanced copy of this book from Berkley through NetGalley.
January 8, 2020
Flying at Night is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. It's realistic and heartbreaking; the kind of book that you wouldn't want to finish in one sitting because you wish to fully and slowly experience the emotions you feel as you read it.
The story follows the lives of Piper, a stay-at-home mom; her nine-year-old son, Fred, who doesn't make friends easily and obsesses over subjects like planes and World War II for extended periods of time before something else grabs his attention; and Piper's emotionally abusive father, Lance, who is a pilot. He is also known as The Silver Eagle, a name that was given to him after he made an emergency landing that saved the lives of all the passengers aboard.
Piper remembers her childhood as a living hell. Her father constantly yelled at everyone in the house—berating them for their mistakes, never applauding or rewarding them for their achievements, just expressing his disappointment any chance that he got. She remembers the relief they would all feel when he was flying and wasn't at home. There were times they wished he was dead but they never dared to say that out loud. Piper always wondered why her mother didn't just leave him but she never found an answer.
When Lance gets a heart attack after a game of squash, due to the lack of oxygen to his brain, he is declared brain dead. But when his brain starts to show some activity, the doctors deem it a miracle and he lives. Piper's mother confesses that she was relieved at the thought of him dying but now that he didn't, she can't look after him anymore. So Piper is left to tend to her father who has lost all his memories and has become a shell of his former self.
"…all I could think about was how this meek creature beside me felt little like the monster I had grown up with."
Lance is like a child. He can't tie his shoe laces and he doesn't recognize his own dog. When he questions Piper about things that happened in the past, Piper answers honestly and he can't bring himself to imagine he would have done such cruel things. The memories come back slowly and with each one, he doesn't recognize the man that he was.
"The doctor told me once that my memory would come back in pieces, but maybe not all of it. I hope the good parts come back last because I am still waiting."
While Piper is left to take care of her father, she is informed by her son's psychologist that Fred has high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. She blames herself for not having realized it sooner and struggles to work through the myriad of her thoughts and emotions. During this time, Fred and Lance develop an adorable friendship that helps them both fight their loneliness.
Piper worries about the kind of life that lies ahead for Fred, whether he could ever have a normal one. She dreads the day her father would regain all his memories and turn back into the monster that he once was. Flying at Night tells the story of this trio in the most beautiful way possible.
A majority of the PoVs are Piper's with the occasional ones belonging to Fred and Lance. The immediate switch in narration is utterly remarkable, a testament to Rebecca Brown's magnificent writing skills. She has managed to capture the complexity of human emotions with astonishing accuracy. The characters are flawed, making them realistic. There are things you hate and love about each of them but you empathize all the same.
Brown has shared in her author's note that, just like Piper, she too had a hard time when her son was diagnosed with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder.
Flying at Night is an ode to mothers who fight impossible battles for their children every day without blinking, go to sleep and get up and do the same again. We never know the hidden struggles that others are waging unless we bring our own pain and heartache out of the darkness and share it. We share it for one reason: so others know they are not alone.
I am surprised that this book hasn't gotten the recognition it deserves because this one's a masterpiece. I highly recommend it.
[Thank you Fergus for recommending this one!]
The story follows the lives of Piper, a stay-at-home mom; her nine-year-old son, Fred, who doesn't make friends easily and obsesses over subjects like planes and World War II for extended periods of time before something else grabs his attention; and Piper's emotionally abusive father, Lance, who is a pilot. He is also known as The Silver Eagle, a name that was given to him after he made an emergency landing that saved the lives of all the passengers aboard.
Piper remembers her childhood as a living hell. Her father constantly yelled at everyone in the house—berating them for their mistakes, never applauding or rewarding them for their achievements, just expressing his disappointment any chance that he got. She remembers the relief they would all feel when he was flying and wasn't at home. There were times they wished he was dead but they never dared to say that out loud. Piper always wondered why her mother didn't just leave him but she never found an answer.
When Lance gets a heart attack after a game of squash, due to the lack of oxygen to his brain, he is declared brain dead. But when his brain starts to show some activity, the doctors deem it a miracle and he lives. Piper's mother confesses that she was relieved at the thought of him dying but now that he didn't, she can't look after him anymore. So Piper is left to tend to her father who has lost all his memories and has become a shell of his former self.
"…all I could think about was how this meek creature beside me felt little like the monster I had grown up with."
Lance is like a child. He can't tie his shoe laces and he doesn't recognize his own dog. When he questions Piper about things that happened in the past, Piper answers honestly and he can't bring himself to imagine he would have done such cruel things. The memories come back slowly and with each one, he doesn't recognize the man that he was.
"The doctor told me once that my memory would come back in pieces, but maybe not all of it. I hope the good parts come back last because I am still waiting."
While Piper is left to take care of her father, she is informed by her son's psychologist that Fred has high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. She blames herself for not having realized it sooner and struggles to work through the myriad of her thoughts and emotions. During this time, Fred and Lance develop an adorable friendship that helps them both fight their loneliness.
Piper worries about the kind of life that lies ahead for Fred, whether he could ever have a normal one. She dreads the day her father would regain all his memories and turn back into the monster that he once was. Flying at Night tells the story of this trio in the most beautiful way possible.
A majority of the PoVs are Piper's with the occasional ones belonging to Fred and Lance. The immediate switch in narration is utterly remarkable, a testament to Rebecca Brown's magnificent writing skills. She has managed to capture the complexity of human emotions with astonishing accuracy. The characters are flawed, making them realistic. There are things you hate and love about each of them but you empathize all the same.
Brown has shared in her author's note that, just like Piper, she too had a hard time when her son was diagnosed with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder.
Flying at Night is an ode to mothers who fight impossible battles for their children every day without blinking, go to sleep and get up and do the same again. We never know the hidden struggles that others are waging unless we bring our own pain and heartache out of the darkness and share it. We share it for one reason: so others know they are not alone.
I am surprised that this book hasn't gotten the recognition it deserves because this one's a masterpiece. I highly recommend it.
[Thank you Fergus for recommending this one!]
May 29, 2018
Sweet mercy is nobility’s true badge. William Shakespeare
Touching and deeply affecting, I was unexpectedly taken with how much I enjoyed this book and how so much of the story resonated on a personal level. This was as much due to the insights into what it truly means to summon mercy and grant forgiveness as with the humanity of the characters which were so beautifully drawn.
Fred, the heart, soul and humor of the story, endearing and as authentic a characterization of an autistic child as I’ve read.
Lance, a domineering man who once controlled his family and now finds himself adrift and in need of benevolence.
And Piper, flawed, complex and finding herself at a crossroads between the life she tried so hard to erect and the one with which she ended up.
Deftly moving between these three perspectives, this is a story rich with emotion, rife with life lessons and exuding a warmth that endeared all of these characters to me. I turned the last page and wish I didn’t have to say goodbye. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much to Berkley Books for the ARC, especially Elisha for her personal connection which made me want to read this lovely story all the more.
I wanted to add a footnote, an excerpt from the author's note to the book's readers, because it will shed a little light on the kindness that she shares in these pages and why this story should resonate with so many...Flying at Night is an ode to mothers, who fight impossible battles for their children every day without blinking, go to sleep and get up and do the same again. We never know the hidden struggles that others are waging unless we bring our own pain and heartache out of the darkness and share it. We share it for one reason: so others know they are not alone. Thank you for everything that you do to make books like mine, experiences like mine, come into people's lives.
Touching and deeply affecting, I was unexpectedly taken with how much I enjoyed this book and how so much of the story resonated on a personal level. This was as much due to the insights into what it truly means to summon mercy and grant forgiveness as with the humanity of the characters which were so beautifully drawn.
Fred, the heart, soul and humor of the story, endearing and as authentic a characterization of an autistic child as I’ve read.
Lance, a domineering man who once controlled his family and now finds himself adrift and in need of benevolence.
And Piper, flawed, complex and finding herself at a crossroads between the life she tried so hard to erect and the one with which she ended up.
Deftly moving between these three perspectives, this is a story rich with emotion, rife with life lessons and exuding a warmth that endeared all of these characters to me. I turned the last page and wish I didn’t have to say goodbye. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much to Berkley Books for the ARC, especially Elisha for her personal connection which made me want to read this lovely story all the more.
I wanted to add a footnote, an excerpt from the author's note to the book's readers, because it will shed a little light on the kindness that she shares in these pages and why this story should resonate with so many...Flying at Night is an ode to mothers, who fight impossible battles for their children every day without blinking, go to sleep and get up and do the same again. We never know the hidden struggles that others are waging unless we bring our own pain and heartache out of the darkness and share it. We share it for one reason: so others know they are not alone. Thank you for everything that you do to make books like mine, experiences like mine, come into people's lives.
April 10, 2018
”Heaven bless the one who flies
A pioneer on frontier skies
The world was dark and your only mark
Was the light of the northern star
I imagine what was in your eyes
The seeds of rust and days gone by
Your wings hang in a gallery sky
I wonder how you're flying”
-- Heroes and Heroines , Mary Chapin Carpenter, Songwriters: Mary Chapin Carpenter
This begins in autumn, with Piper Whitman-Hart - named for the plane, mom to son Fred, as our first narrator. Fred follows as the second narrator, with ‘The Silver Eagle’ as the third.
Fred is an inquisitive nine-year-old boy, who idiosyncratic behavior waves a flag to others that perhaps autism is something that should be looked into. Special programs. From Piper’s perspective, he’s bright, focused and she looks right through the signs without seeing a need for, perhaps, some outside assistance. As this begins, Fred’s focus, of late, has been World War II, including the number of deaths, how long it lasted and you can see in the way he views this that there is need for concern.
‘The Silver Eagle’, Lance, was not an emotionally demonstrative father when Piper was growing up, which was compounded by the fact that, as a pilot, he was often gone for longer stretches of time than a father who works in an office in town. When his emotions came to the surface, it was usually out of anger, or disgust that his family didn’t turn out to be quite the way he wanted.
When Piper finds out that the school wants to look into the possibility of Fred being autistic, she’s devastated, but she doesn’t have long to digest this turn of events before she finds out that her father has had a heart attack, and is on life support. Days pass while her mother eventually decides to take him off life support.
The thing is, this doesn’t go according to plan at all.
Winter’s arrival brings with it more worry, Piper is unraveling, worrying about everyone, and everything that is happening. Every time she tries to make sure that Fred is not having problems, she is faced with more issues to contemplate. Then there’s her mother, her mother, her Aunt, her husband… the list goes on.
This is an emotionally moving story that is shared in a realistic, but sweet way. I really enjoyed reading this. My father was a pilot for most of his life, so I could relate to some of the family frustrations of having a father who was gone so much of the time. I could relate to having a father in that arena that was well known. Every once in a while I will still run into a pilot that trained under him, and invariably will hear them say some tales of gratitude for what he taught them.
I enjoyed each perspective as I was reading them, but Fred was the one who really stole my heart. The bonds he tries to build with his various family members, the other students in his class, the mistakes that are made, and some of those ‘out of the mouths of babes’ words of wisdom that come from Fred are alternately heartbreaking and humorous. He’s a bit like a young boy version of Eleanor Oliphant, or Ginny Moon, - quirky, wondering, and wonderful, but filled with compassion for those around him.
There’s a lot to this story, but this is really more about the way each of these characters process the change in their lives. There’s a strong theme of survival, and an emphasis on forgiveness. There’s another on the bond of a mother and child. Seeing things through another’s eyes. Maybe even seeing someone outside of the way you’ve always them, with fresh eyes.
Oh, yes, and there’s love.
Pub Date: 10 APR 2018
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Berkley Publishing Group / Penguin Random House
April 29, 2018
Piper Hart has a nine-year-old boy named Fred. She is a stay at home mom and her lawyer husband Isaac works long hours. Piper is very close to her son and overlooks his obsessive peculiarities and deficient social skills. After a conference at Fred’s school, she realizes that Fred’s issues could be serious. She will put him through a series of tests to see if he is on the autism spectrum.
At the same time Piper’s father, Lance, suffers a massive heart attack. He survives but has severe memory loss and occupational issues. Piper and the rest of her family do not have fond memories of their abusive and domineering father. Lance was a commercial pilot and everyone was happiest when he was off traveling. After his heart attack, it is clear that Lance cannot live on his own, and no family member wants the role of caregiver. Piper reluctantly finds herself providing care to her father after he moves into her house. At the same time, she works to adapt to a child on the autism spectrum while maintaining a healthy relationship with her husband.
This is a thoughtful debut novel by Rebecca L. Brown. Flying At Night provides interesting insights into family dynamics and the emotions encountered raising children. I look forward to more novels by the author.
At the same time Piper’s father, Lance, suffers a massive heart attack. He survives but has severe memory loss and occupational issues. Piper and the rest of her family do not have fond memories of their abusive and domineering father. Lance was a commercial pilot and everyone was happiest when he was off traveling. After his heart attack, it is clear that Lance cannot live on his own, and no family member wants the role of caregiver. Piper reluctantly finds herself providing care to her father after he moves into her house. At the same time, she works to adapt to a child on the autism spectrum while maintaining a healthy relationship with her husband.
This is a thoughtful debut novel by Rebecca L. Brown. Flying At Night provides interesting insights into family dynamics and the emotions encountered raising children. I look forward to more novels by the author.
May 21, 2018
Piper Whitman is a stay-at-home mother devoted to raising her 9-year old son, Fred. When circumstances force her to face the reality that her son’s “quirkiness” may be something more, Piper has to come to terms with him being on the autism spectrum. Soon after, her emotionally abusive father suffers a debilitating heart attack that leaves him brain damaged, requiring care in her home for the unforseeable future.
Piper’s world seemed to have changed in an instant but the truth is her experiences as a child growing up with an emotionally cruel father shaped a lot of the decisions she made as an adult, including her overcompensation for her son and her communication issues with her husband. This could be anyone’s story and the author skillfully provides an insightful narrative that is at times highly relatable and vexing at others. Piper is the main voice with points of view provided at key moments from Fred and her father, Lance. While I learned a lot about higher functioning autistic behavior, that wasn’t the gist of the story. How Piper evolves is enlightening as she’s forced to do so when the father who raised her wasn’t the man she brought home to care. The bond that developed between him and her son created a chance for forgiveness and self awareness.
This is a tough, interesting and relevant story that I had to absorb in small bits. I experienced a range of emotions, often empathizing with Piper but also being highly annoyed with her behavior at times. She’s so very real, reacting true to character at all times. It doesn’t have the traditional perfect ending but it was perfect for the characters and the story. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read this book, one that was not on my radar and might not have selected on my own. It changed my thinking in so many ways.
(I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)
Piper’s world seemed to have changed in an instant but the truth is her experiences as a child growing up with an emotionally cruel father shaped a lot of the decisions she made as an adult, including her overcompensation for her son and her communication issues with her husband. This could be anyone’s story and the author skillfully provides an insightful narrative that is at times highly relatable and vexing at others. Piper is the main voice with points of view provided at key moments from Fred and her father, Lance. While I learned a lot about higher functioning autistic behavior, that wasn’t the gist of the story. How Piper evolves is enlightening as she’s forced to do so when the father who raised her wasn’t the man she brought home to care. The bond that developed between him and her son created a chance for forgiveness and self awareness.
This is a tough, interesting and relevant story that I had to absorb in small bits. I experienced a range of emotions, often empathizing with Piper but also being highly annoyed with her behavior at times. She’s so very real, reacting true to character at all times. It doesn’t have the traditional perfect ending but it was perfect for the characters and the story. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read this book, one that was not on my radar and might not have selected on my own. It changed my thinking in so many ways.
(I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)
April 9, 2018
When Piper Whitman Hart received the call from her mother to say her father had had a massive heart attack, her feelings were of quiet relief – she knew her mother would feel the same, as would her brother Curtiss. Lance was a well-respected pilot but at home was an emotionally abusive man and had been all their childhood – all their mother’s marriage. He wasn’t expected to live – but he did; his brain damage was severe.
Piper’s son Fred was nine years old and her and husband Isaac’s only child. Fred had just been diagnosed as autistic – a diagnosis Piper was having trouble coming to terms with. With her life suddenly out of control, her father’s heart attack added a pressure she didn’t know if she could handle. But life wasn’t meant to be easy – and theirs had certainly gone off the rails. What would happen in the next few months to both Fred and his grandpa?
Debut novel Flying at Night by Rebecca L. Brown was both heartbreaking and heartwarming! So much emotion – from Fred (I adored Fred) with his ability to speak only the truth, to not limit his words for fear of hurting someone’s feelings as he didn’t know how. To Lance, who started off as a person to dislike intensely, until I felt a deep empathy for him. And Piper; her stress and anxiety; her deep love for her child; her determination to do her best. Told in the voices of Piper, Fred and Lance, the story was incredibly well done – it’s hard to believe it’s a debut. I have no hesitation in recommending Flying at Night highly.
With thanks to Elisha Katz at Berkley US - Penguin Random House, New York via NetGalley for my digital ARC to read and review.
Piper’s son Fred was nine years old and her and husband Isaac’s only child. Fred had just been diagnosed as autistic – a diagnosis Piper was having trouble coming to terms with. With her life suddenly out of control, her father’s heart attack added a pressure she didn’t know if she could handle. But life wasn’t meant to be easy – and theirs had certainly gone off the rails. What would happen in the next few months to both Fred and his grandpa?
Debut novel Flying at Night by Rebecca L. Brown was both heartbreaking and heartwarming! So much emotion – from Fred (I adored Fred) with his ability to speak only the truth, to not limit his words for fear of hurting someone’s feelings as he didn’t know how. To Lance, who started off as a person to dislike intensely, until I felt a deep empathy for him. And Piper; her stress and anxiety; her deep love for her child; her determination to do her best. Told in the voices of Piper, Fred and Lance, the story was incredibly well done – it’s hard to believe it’s a debut. I have no hesitation in recommending Flying at Night highly.
With thanks to Elisha Katz at Berkley US - Penguin Random House, New York via NetGalley for my digital ARC to read and review.
April 15, 2018
Thoughtful and poignant, this is an impressive debut from author Rebecca L. Brown. I do not have much experience with autism, but I am an aunt and caregiver to a child with special needs. My situation has not been completely similar to that of the main character, but there were moments I found myself identifying with her anyway. I think that'll happen to a lot of readers, caregivers or not. It's brutally honest - though Piper is certainly a good and decent person, she is not perfect. The book had moments that filled me with sadness and moments that made me laugh.
Piper has been experiencing an uneventful period in her life for some time. She's drifting apart from her husband, who seems to place his Very Important Job above his wife and child. Though she once thought she'd return to work when Fred started school, he's now nine and it seems out of the question. She's rocked when her son Fred faces a looming autism diagnosis. It seems what Piper thinks of as his quirks are something more to others. His lack of eye contact, discomfort at being touched, social awkwardness, and fixations that becomes complete obsessions point firmly in the direction of autism. At the same time, her father suffers a heart attack that leads him with brain damage and very little in the way of life skills and memory. He was a fairly well-known pilot that planned to fly until he couldn't anymore, but he had no idea that day would come so soon. He had never been a loving father, and all Piper sees when she looks at him is the larger than life man who emotionally abused her whole family... but now he's more vulnerable than she's ever seen him. Above all else, Piper is a fiercely devoted mother... and now her father needs care too.
The book is mostly from the perspective of Piper, but includes shorter chapters from Fred and Lance, Piper's father. This certainly added something to the story and gave me a whole new understanding of what they're both thinking and feeling. Just as it's hard for Piper to stop looking at her father as the harsh man he once was, it's hard for the reader as well... until the story gets going and you start to feel for the man who has lost everything. I grew very attached to these realistic characters and thought they were all well-developed. I even loved Chuck Yeager... the Border Collie belonging to Lance named after the famous pilot. I had my own BC mix as a teenager, and I definitely understand those expressive eyes!
I received an ARC of this novel from Elisha at Berkley Publishing, thank you! My opinion is honest and unbiased.
Piper has been experiencing an uneventful period in her life for some time. She's drifting apart from her husband, who seems to place his Very Important Job above his wife and child. Though she once thought she'd return to work when Fred started school, he's now nine and it seems out of the question. She's rocked when her son Fred faces a looming autism diagnosis. It seems what Piper thinks of as his quirks are something more to others. His lack of eye contact, discomfort at being touched, social awkwardness, and fixations that becomes complete obsessions point firmly in the direction of autism. At the same time, her father suffers a heart attack that leads him with brain damage and very little in the way of life skills and memory. He was a fairly well-known pilot that planned to fly until he couldn't anymore, but he had no idea that day would come so soon. He had never been a loving father, and all Piper sees when she looks at him is the larger than life man who emotionally abused her whole family... but now he's more vulnerable than she's ever seen him. Above all else, Piper is a fiercely devoted mother... and now her father needs care too.
The book is mostly from the perspective of Piper, but includes shorter chapters from Fred and Lance, Piper's father. This certainly added something to the story and gave me a whole new understanding of what they're both thinking and feeling. Just as it's hard for Piper to stop looking at her father as the harsh man he once was, it's hard for the reader as well... until the story gets going and you start to feel for the man who has lost everything. I grew very attached to these realistic characters and thought they were all well-developed. I even loved Chuck Yeager... the Border Collie belonging to Lance named after the famous pilot. I had my own BC mix as a teenager, and I definitely understand those expressive eyes!
I received an ARC of this novel from Elisha at Berkley Publishing, thank you! My opinion is honest and unbiased.
January 15, 2020
A delectable surprise. "Flying by Night" portrays three generations marked decidedly by their respective ages. The middle figure is dab in the middle, at times trapped between, bookmarked, by the younger & older. She finds out much about them both, & in doing so finds herself.
Although it must be so convenient to have a protagonist that has a job that allows her to remain at home--ergo the problems in her life. That of overthinking her child' prognosis of early autism because it is privilege to do so. It still does not belittle the predicament. So realistic, this middle(wo)man. She is in a place where she can perfectly describe her child's plight. & then there's the father...
The story is simple but robust with feeling. & it's not a bad debut novel in the least.
Although it must be so convenient to have a protagonist that has a job that allows her to remain at home--ergo the problems in her life. That of overthinking her child' prognosis of early autism because it is privilege to do so. It still does not belittle the predicament. So realistic, this middle(wo)man. She is in a place where she can perfectly describe her child's plight. & then there's the father...
The story is simple but robust with feeling. & it's not a bad debut novel in the least.
April 15, 2018
This extremely poignant and well-written debut novel is told from three points of view--that of Piper, a young wife and mother living in Wisconsin; Fred, her nine-year-old son; and Lance, Piper's father, a commercial airline pilot.
Fred has recently been tested and diagnosed as being on the high end of the autism spectrum. Piper is devastated, wondering if something she might have done could have caused this to happen. And why wasn't it noticed earlier?
On top of this stressful news, Lance, Piper's mentally abusive and narcissistic father, suffers a near-fatal heart attack that causes brain damage. He is taken off life support but shocks everyone, including most of his doctors, by surviving. When he is well enough to leave the hospital, his long-suffering wife throws in the towel and refuses to have anything to do with his care, leaving it all up to Piper.
Can Piper find a way to forgive her father, come to terms with her lovable son's differences and keep her marriage together? It's very interesting to watch this story unfold from each of these perspectives. How would you deal with things if you were in Piper's shoes?
It's interesting to note that the title 'Flying at Night' comes from Lance's memories of his favorite experiences as a pilot and are particularly moving. How could a man who is capable of feeling so deeply have been so cruel to his family?
But most importantly, as the author says in note to her readers, this "is an ode to mothers, who fight impossible battles for their children every day without blinking, go to sleep and get up and do the same again." In this touching novel, we share in one such mother's struggles.
Thank you to Berkley for providing me with a paper arc of this novel for an honest review.
Fred has recently been tested and diagnosed as being on the high end of the autism spectrum. Piper is devastated, wondering if something she might have done could have caused this to happen. And why wasn't it noticed earlier?
On top of this stressful news, Lance, Piper's mentally abusive and narcissistic father, suffers a near-fatal heart attack that causes brain damage. He is taken off life support but shocks everyone, including most of his doctors, by surviving. When he is well enough to leave the hospital, his long-suffering wife throws in the towel and refuses to have anything to do with his care, leaving it all up to Piper.
Can Piper find a way to forgive her father, come to terms with her lovable son's differences and keep her marriage together? It's very interesting to watch this story unfold from each of these perspectives. How would you deal with things if you were in Piper's shoes?
It's interesting to note that the title 'Flying at Night' comes from Lance's memories of his favorite experiences as a pilot and are particularly moving. How could a man who is capable of feeling so deeply have been so cruel to his family?
But most importantly, as the author says in note to her readers, this "is an ode to mothers, who fight impossible battles for their children every day without blinking, go to sleep and get up and do the same again." In this touching novel, we share in one such mother's struggles.
Thank you to Berkley for providing me with a paper arc of this novel for an honest review.
March 31, 2018
Three voices, three stories, three generations, all woven within the fabric of “family.” Witness the good, the bad and the love in a family riddled with flaws, yet in the end has the glue that gives strength and teaches lessons on life.
Piper couldn’t see that her young son, Fred had a disability. He was serious, quiet and would zero in on his current interests with an obsessive enthusiasm to the exclusion of all else, including the social and curricular requirements of school. The diagnosis of autism sent her spiraling into a world of depression and desperation as she isolated her grief.
When Piper’s overbearing and uncompromising father suffers a severe heart attack that left him damaged and unable to rationalize on his own, she takes on the burden of caring for him. Was it to prove to herself that she was a better person than he?
FLYING AT NIGHT by Rebecca L. Brown is an emotionally taut tale of a woman floundering in the turmoil that has become her life. As she struggles like an island against a tsunami of events that threaten to pull her under, she will find salvation and hope in the most unexpected places as both her son and her father make a connection that is both beautiful, unique and healing.
Certainly not an upbeat tale, I did struggle at times with the darkness that shrouded Piper, some self-imposed, some blamed on her “past,” leaving her future looking as black as a thunder cloud. I wanted Pipe to own her feelings, to recognize her more than her weaknesses, but I was captivated by her love for her son, even if she failed to see or act on his problems until long after she should have.
The true beauty of this tale was in the sincere and honest actions and emotions from both Fred and Lance. Take a chance on this story, once it blossoms, it becomes a bouquet of emotion and growth in a garden called family.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley!
Publisher: Berkley (April 10, 2018)
Publication Date: April 10, 2018
Genre: Women's Fiction
Print Length: 334 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Piper couldn’t see that her young son, Fred had a disability. He was serious, quiet and would zero in on his current interests with an obsessive enthusiasm to the exclusion of all else, including the social and curricular requirements of school. The diagnosis of autism sent her spiraling into a world of depression and desperation as she isolated her grief.
When Piper’s overbearing and uncompromising father suffers a severe heart attack that left him damaged and unable to rationalize on his own, she takes on the burden of caring for him. Was it to prove to herself that she was a better person than he?
FLYING AT NIGHT by Rebecca L. Brown is an emotionally taut tale of a woman floundering in the turmoil that has become her life. As she struggles like an island against a tsunami of events that threaten to pull her under, she will find salvation and hope in the most unexpected places as both her son and her father make a connection that is both beautiful, unique and healing.
Certainly not an upbeat tale, I did struggle at times with the darkness that shrouded Piper, some self-imposed, some blamed on her “past,” leaving her future looking as black as a thunder cloud. I wanted Pipe to own her feelings, to recognize her more than her weaknesses, but I was captivated by her love for her son, even if she failed to see or act on his problems until long after she should have.
The true beauty of this tale was in the sincere and honest actions and emotions from both Fred and Lance. Take a chance on this story, once it blossoms, it becomes a bouquet of emotion and growth in a garden called family.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley!
Publisher: Berkley (April 10, 2018)
Publication Date: April 10, 2018
Genre: Women's Fiction
Print Length: 334 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
December 26, 2020
What a delightful surprise! I received this book in my first box from Bookcase.Clubt (#notspon) and had heard nothing about it before. Maybe going in with few expectations was good, but I also think this book is strong in many aspects which ultimately led to my great enjoyment of it.
The novel follows Piper, the mom of Fred and daughter of Lance, as she navigates a particularly difficult year in her life. We read from all three characters' perspectives throughout the novel, though mainly from Piper's POV. Through these narratives, Rebecca L. Brown explores the truth and what we choose to see, struggles with empathy and re-building human connections, and much more.
It's a tender, beautiful novel that had my heart racing at times and my eyes welling with tears at others. I grew to love Fred and even reluctantly felt for Lance, who isn't very likable at the start. Piper's actions are at times frustrating and understandable, which makes this novel very real. You can tell the author poured her heart into this book, and it shows. I'd highly recommend this book for fans of Fredrik Backman. Anyone looking for a novel on a small scope but big in heart and grappling with tough themes with empathy will surely find something to like about this one.
The novel follows Piper, the mom of Fred and daughter of Lance, as she navigates a particularly difficult year in her life. We read from all three characters' perspectives throughout the novel, though mainly from Piper's POV. Through these narratives, Rebecca L. Brown explores the truth and what we choose to see, struggles with empathy and re-building human connections, and much more.
It's a tender, beautiful novel that had my heart racing at times and my eyes welling with tears at others. I grew to love Fred and even reluctantly felt for Lance, who isn't very likable at the start. Piper's actions are at times frustrating and understandable, which makes this novel very real. You can tell the author poured her heart into this book, and it shows. I'd highly recommend this book for fans of Fredrik Backman. Anyone looking for a novel on a small scope but big in heart and grappling with tough themes with empathy will surely find something to like about this one.
July 16, 2021
Can't see through my tears...
"I am seeing so many things now, so many pictures in my head of things I wish would have stayed away. But I see flying too. I see the view from the cockpit, the blue sky and white clouds and sometimes the grids of cities below me. I see the whole world spread out in front of me and I am in control and I am good at it. I see the world around me and like God I am flying. I feel the peace of wide-open sky and the calm of being in control. If I remember flying before I fall asleep, I can fly in my dreams. I can fly anywhere…"
"I am seeing so many things now, so many pictures in my head of things I wish would have stayed away. But I see flying too. I see the view from the cockpit, the blue sky and white clouds and sometimes the grids of cities below me. I see the whole world spread out in front of me and I am in control and I am good at it. I see the world around me and like God I am flying. I feel the peace of wide-open sky and the calm of being in control. If I remember flying before I fall asleep, I can fly in my dreams. I can fly anywhere…"
August 12, 2018
5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️PLUS 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ . I just think this might be my FAVORITE book of 2018!!!! Thanks to the publisher for an early release of this book. Absolutely fantastic! Beautifully written and this is her debut novel. Wow!!!!
April 6, 2018
Novel read upon request of publisher
I wish I could give this novel 10 stars! Rebecca Brown will hit close to home with many different readers: Mothers with autistic kids, women taking care of older parents, adult children survivors of abusive parents, husbands and wives who've disconnected. The scope of this novel is incredible!
Piper has spent years in therapy learning to deal with the verbal abuse heaped on her and her brother by her father. Her father, a pilot, suffers a massive heart attack and, according to the doctors, is brain-dead. She and her mother await his death with an eye toward freedom from his awful words. When he doesn't die, Piper's mother leaves town because she cannot bare the thought of nursing him back to health.
During this time, Piper and Isaac's son, Fred, is being diagnosed as on the autism spectrum. Piper always knew he was different but didn't want to admit to herself that he was probably autistic. After an incident at school, his diagnosis becomes more important.
This novel is told from three points of view: Piper's, Fred's and her father Lance's. Each is written in exactly the right voice for that character. I can picture them in my mind. Lance describes flying at night as magical. A time when the world is quiet beneath the wings of the plane. It's a time when all is right with the world. Each character strives for that time, heartbreakingly for each in different ways.
This is a must-read! Perfect for book clubs or individual reading. If you read it on your own, you'll be making a list of friends who must read it next!
I wish I could give this novel 10 stars! Rebecca Brown will hit close to home with many different readers: Mothers with autistic kids, women taking care of older parents, adult children survivors of abusive parents, husbands and wives who've disconnected. The scope of this novel is incredible!
Piper has spent years in therapy learning to deal with the verbal abuse heaped on her and her brother by her father. Her father, a pilot, suffers a massive heart attack and, according to the doctors, is brain-dead. She and her mother await his death with an eye toward freedom from his awful words. When he doesn't die, Piper's mother leaves town because she cannot bare the thought of nursing him back to health.
During this time, Piper and Isaac's son, Fred, is being diagnosed as on the autism spectrum. Piper always knew he was different but didn't want to admit to herself that he was probably autistic. After an incident at school, his diagnosis becomes more important.
This novel is told from three points of view: Piper's, Fred's and her father Lance's. Each is written in exactly the right voice for that character. I can picture them in my mind. Lance describes flying at night as magical. A time when the world is quiet beneath the wings of the plane. It's a time when all is right with the world. Each character strives for that time, heartbreakingly for each in different ways.
This is a must-read! Perfect for book clubs or individual reading. If you read it on your own, you'll be making a list of friends who must read it next!
May 22, 2018
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.A beautifully written, emotionally charged novel about family.
Piper is a stay at home mom, who is very close to her son that she does not realize that his idiosyncrasies could be a sign of something more. Dealing with her own family drama, Piper's world is thrown into a spin when her son is identified with Autism around the same time her emotionally abusive father, suffers a heart attack. When her father survives the heart attack, but is left with brain damage, Piper is left to take care of him after her mother bails out completely. Unable to leave him in a home, Piper ends up not only dealing with her father and his new state of being as well as with Fred.
This was a beautiful debut. I found the story for myself, extremely relatable, emotionally driven, raw, with wonderful writing and memorable characters. You can feel for Piper and all the stress she is under, the unfairness of it all. I found myself angry for Piper because of how her mother just unloaded everything on her at such a critical time in Piper's life. This book deals with autism, it deals with family and depression, the struggles of ups and downs and it just flows so well.
I both read the book and listened to this on Audio. The audio was fantastic. There was a chapter for Piper, Fred and Lance (the father) read by three different narrators and they did a truly wonderful job, it made the emotions and the characters in this book that much more real. The narrators really gave these characters both personality and life.
The ending was just a tearjerker, I really did not see that coming. It was so heartbreaking, but the author still did such a wonderful job. She even used her own life experience with her son as an influence for her novel and you could tell that through the way she crafted her story. As someone who has Autism in the family, this book really hit close to home and something I was able to identify with. Just thinking about this book right now is making my eye water, it was great and if you have not heard of it I do recommend you give this one a shot.This review was originally posted on Night Owl Book Cafe
Piper is a stay at home mom, who is very close to her son that she does not realize that his idiosyncrasies could be a sign of something more. Dealing with her own family drama, Piper's world is thrown into a spin when her son is identified with Autism around the same time her emotionally abusive father, suffers a heart attack. When her father survives the heart attack, but is left with brain damage, Piper is left to take care of him after her mother bails out completely. Unable to leave him in a home, Piper ends up not only dealing with her father and his new state of being as well as with Fred.
This was a beautiful debut. I found the story for myself, extremely relatable, emotionally driven, raw, with wonderful writing and memorable characters. You can feel for Piper and all the stress she is under, the unfairness of it all. I found myself angry for Piper because of how her mother just unloaded everything on her at such a critical time in Piper's life. This book deals with autism, it deals with family and depression, the struggles of ups and downs and it just flows so well.
I both read the book and listened to this on Audio. The audio was fantastic. There was a chapter for Piper, Fred and Lance (the father) read by three different narrators and they did a truly wonderful job, it made the emotions and the characters in this book that much more real. The narrators really gave these characters both personality and life.
The ending was just a tearjerker, I really did not see that coming. It was so heartbreaking, but the author still did such a wonderful job. She even used her own life experience with her son as an influence for her novel and you could tell that through the way she crafted her story. As someone who has Autism in the family, this book really hit close to home and something I was able to identify with. Just thinking about this book right now is making my eye water, it was great and if you have not heard of it I do recommend you give this one a shot.This review was originally posted on Night Owl Book Cafe
September 27, 2017
This is a lovely novel. Wonderful characterizations, believable situations, terrific tension. A great read.
October 2, 2018
5 enthusiastic stars! Only rarely does a book resonate with me down to my core. This is one of those rare occasions. The plot, characters & themes all struck a chord. This would be a fantastic book club choice. So many discussions could be had! I look forward to more of her writing!
April 4, 2018
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Berkley, and Rebecca Brown for the opportunity to read and review her debut novel - I loved it. I think I'm a sucker for books that really delve into characters and quirky characters to boot - this one was all that and more.
Piper was raised by a strict, controlling, verbally abusive father, Lance. Her brother left at the earliest opportunity and has very little to do with the family. Piper was always mad at her mom for not leaving her dad and putting up with and excusing his behavior.
Piper went away for college but ended up married and back in the same town as she grew up, which means right back into her parents' world too. But Piper quit her career and devoted herself to her son, Fred, who was difficult, quirky and all-consuming. When a diagnosis comes to her, it throws her for a loop. Then her father has a heart attack and is left brain damaged. All these events and characters come together for a great read.
The best part of this book is that it is told in chapters voiced by Piper, Lance and Fred. Each voice is so spot on that we really get to delve into their feelings.
Piper was raised by a strict, controlling, verbally abusive father, Lance. Her brother left at the earliest opportunity and has very little to do with the family. Piper was always mad at her mom for not leaving her dad and putting up with and excusing his behavior.
Piper went away for college but ended up married and back in the same town as she grew up, which means right back into her parents' world too. But Piper quit her career and devoted herself to her son, Fred, who was difficult, quirky and all-consuming. When a diagnosis comes to her, it throws her for a loop. Then her father has a heart attack and is left brain damaged. All these events and characters come together for a great read.
The best part of this book is that it is told in chapters voiced by Piper, Lance and Fred. Each voice is so spot on that we really get to delve into their feelings.
May 10, 2019
I found Rebecca Brown’s debut novel to be very different from my usual read. Different but quite good. Flying at Night is the story of a woman, Piper, caring for a son recently diagnosed with autism and a father who recently experienced brain damage. The story is told from the point of view of not just Piper, but also her son, Fred, and her father, Lance. The emotional state and interpersonal relationships of all three main characters are beautifully presented. Brown also brilliantly weaves Piper’s husband, mother and brother into the narrative. The story never loses focus and held my rapt attention from start to finish. I was chosen to read an advance copy of this book as part of Penguin's First to Read program. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
April 11, 2018
Four plus stars. This debut novel, Flying at Night, by Rebecca L. Brown had me a little nervous because expectations. And fears. I pretty much review all my reading but with a formal request to read and review came an added sense of responsibility to do right by the author and I will straight up admit that I was afraid of too much cheese filling. I am relieved to report this deserves the praise it has received and after a slow start I grew to appreciate each character, in all their glorious imperfections as they struggle along doing the best that they can in a far from ideal situation.
The story is told in three voices, Piper, wife of Isaac an attorney out to save the world's innocents.
A SAHM who has given up her own career in order to be totally present for their quirky, wonderful, demanding child. Fred, that child, whose voice is delightful and so honest, a voice that to me clearly revealed his diagnosis on the autism spectrum, right there with his obsessions and behavior issues. Lance, aka the Silver Eagle, former pilot, hero, and also emotionally and psychologically abusive spouse to Judy, father to Piper and Curtiss, master to Chuck Yeager, the dog who has received more love and dedication than the rest of his family combined Lance is suffering from a TBI following a cardiac event that left him technically dead for a bit too long with subsequent memory issues.
NONE of these characters are Hallmark movie perfect (zero cheese filling); they are just trying their best or at least their half best to navigate the difficulties of concurrent earth shaking news. Fred is not only "on the spectrum," he seems to be acting out at school and the Silver Eagle may have been brain dead but he isn't dead any more and all the complications that follow, the memories and family issues that start to surface as he faces his past and his future make for quite a bit of family drama.
There were times I wanted to scream at Piper, Cut Isaac some slack, he's trying, you've been dealing with all things Fred for years but he's trying to be more present, he's trying to catch up. Sometimes I wanted to yell at Isaac, show up dependably, maybe it's time to rethink how you are handling your career, maybe something can wait! Lance, oh Lance, you didn't really do that did you? Curtiss, Judy, Oy, the wounds you carry but Piper needs some support!
As the mom of an non verbal, pretty profoundly impacted autistic young man, or young man with autism if you prefer, some things resonated powerfully with me. My boy's obsessions are different, he doesn't absorb endless facts about a topic, he gets stuck watching a favorite movie 892 times if we let him or running beads through his hands until we have to take them away because he is giving himself blisters, or he may become fixated on his lava lamp or some little fidget toy. We have to hide all string and yarn because he will wrap it around his fingers so tightly they turn purple. So much more. Those calls from the school that cause your heart to seize up. "There's a problem," which may be as simple as he needs more clean clothes, or the more dreaded, "There's been an incident," which usually means we'll be bringing him home for a day or two while we conference feverishly with staff to figure out what caused it and is there a way to head it off or what consequence might actually work in this particular case verses becoming part of the behavior? The difficulty of finding friends for your child and the precious gift they are when they appear. The huge difference the right teacher or counselor or even caseworker can make as you navigate the bureaucratic nightmare of social services. The author captures so much of this realistically and poignantly from both Piper and Fred's thoughts.
Piper and her husband are obviously comfortably off but Snarky Me couldn't help but think a time or two, yes, it's hard, now imagine having to do this on a very limited income. I recall the first appointment we had with a developmental pediatrician, waaaay back in late 90s cost us more than $700, money we could ill afford but counted well spent as it pointed us towards help. Having a special needs child is so expensive! I have seldom been able to work more than part time because I really do need to be here at home. I serve as the moon, not often particularly noticed, just dependably present, keeping the tides of life flowing as they should. I need to be available to run into the classroom, to be home when he's been kicked out of the classroom, to walk him through his basic chores over and over and over again until suddenly after 16 years he starts making his bed every morning. Without prompting! Because once he decides that this is the right way to do a thing, that's it, he will be as dependable as the day is long.
Well, I've waxed on long enough on a personal note and as to the book I will say no more to avoid spoilerism. I found Flying by Night to be so much more than a story about a child with autism but rather a satisfying and, to quote the back flap blurb, "emotionally charged" read about families, the sacrifices we make, the mistakes we make, the unexpected detours we take, healing and forgiveness we may or may not be able to give or receive, as we muddle through this crazy adventure called life.
I received my copy of Flying at Night as an ARC from Penguin. Thank you!
The story is told in three voices, Piper, wife of Isaac an attorney out to save the world's innocents.
A SAHM who has given up her own career in order to be totally present for their quirky, wonderful, demanding child. Fred, that child, whose voice is delightful and so honest, a voice that to me clearly revealed his diagnosis on the autism spectrum, right there with his obsessions and behavior issues. Lance, aka the Silver Eagle, former pilot, hero, and also emotionally and psychologically abusive spouse to Judy, father to Piper and Curtiss, master to Chuck Yeager, the dog who has received more love and dedication than the rest of his family combined Lance is suffering from a TBI following a cardiac event that left him technically dead for a bit too long with subsequent memory issues.
NONE of these characters are Hallmark movie perfect (zero cheese filling); they are just trying their best or at least their half best to navigate the difficulties of concurrent earth shaking news. Fred is not only "on the spectrum," he seems to be acting out at school and the Silver Eagle may have been brain dead but he isn't dead any more and all the complications that follow, the memories and family issues that start to surface as he faces his past and his future make for quite a bit of family drama.
There were times I wanted to scream at Piper, Cut Isaac some slack, he's trying, you've been dealing with all things Fred for years but he's trying to be more present, he's trying to catch up. Sometimes I wanted to yell at Isaac, show up dependably, maybe it's time to rethink how you are handling your career, maybe something can wait! Lance, oh Lance, you didn't really do that did you? Curtiss, Judy, Oy, the wounds you carry but Piper needs some support!
As the mom of an non verbal, pretty profoundly impacted autistic young man, or young man with autism if you prefer, some things resonated powerfully with me. My boy's obsessions are different, he doesn't absorb endless facts about a topic, he gets stuck watching a favorite movie 892 times if we let him or running beads through his hands until we have to take them away because he is giving himself blisters, or he may become fixated on his lava lamp or some little fidget toy. We have to hide all string and yarn because he will wrap it around his fingers so tightly they turn purple. So much more. Those calls from the school that cause your heart to seize up. "There's a problem," which may be as simple as he needs more clean clothes, or the more dreaded, "There's been an incident," which usually means we'll be bringing him home for a day or two while we conference feverishly with staff to figure out what caused it and is there a way to head it off or what consequence might actually work in this particular case verses becoming part of the behavior? The difficulty of finding friends for your child and the precious gift they are when they appear. The huge difference the right teacher or counselor or even caseworker can make as you navigate the bureaucratic nightmare of social services. The author captures so much of this realistically and poignantly from both Piper and Fred's thoughts.
Piper and her husband are obviously comfortably off but Snarky Me couldn't help but think a time or two, yes, it's hard, now imagine having to do this on a very limited income. I recall the first appointment we had with a developmental pediatrician, waaaay back in late 90s cost us more than $700, money we could ill afford but counted well spent as it pointed us towards help. Having a special needs child is so expensive! I have seldom been able to work more than part time because I really do need to be here at home. I serve as the moon, not often particularly noticed, just dependably present, keeping the tides of life flowing as they should. I need to be available to run into the classroom, to be home when he's been kicked out of the classroom, to walk him through his basic chores over and over and over again until suddenly after 16 years he starts making his bed every morning. Without prompting! Because once he decides that this is the right way to do a thing, that's it, he will be as dependable as the day is long.
Well, I've waxed on long enough on a personal note and as to the book I will say no more to avoid spoilerism. I found Flying by Night to be so much more than a story about a child with autism but rather a satisfying and, to quote the back flap blurb, "emotionally charged" read about families, the sacrifices we make, the mistakes we make, the unexpected detours we take, healing and forgiveness we may or may not be able to give or receive, as we muddle through this crazy adventure called life.
I received my copy of Flying at Night as an ARC from Penguin. Thank you!
August 12, 2022
3.5 stars ⭐️ It’s difficult to condense how this book made me feel. The health issues with her father were personally very triggering for me. I had to set down the book and walk away for a bit reading those portions. The author definitely poured her heart into this book. The family drama pulls you in, the familial loyalty & love keep you there. I loved her father’s character development. My favorite chapters were from her autistic son’s perspective. There is disconnect with the ending for me. It was an emotional, engaging, and kind of horrible read.
March 30, 2018
When I first started this book, I thought this is going to be cheesy exaggerated characters and they will do heartwarming things like a Hallmark movie. But once I gave it a chance past the first few chapters, I could not put it down. I was absorbed in the story, and loved how each characters flaws came out in a real way. At times I just wanted to grab Piper and say "Why can't you just forgive your father?!?" or "Stop yelling at Isaac, he's doing then best he can." But it gave the early, what felt like a rushed history of her childhood, meaning and authenticity. On top of that none of the characters acted perfectly in all the situations, but they acted naturally. This book was far from the cheesy Hallmark movie I originally pegged it to be, but there were parts I just couldn't get through with a dry eye. I would recommend reading this with some tissues nearby.
I received an advanced copy through Penguin's First to Read program.
I received an advanced copy through Penguin's First to Read program.
March 9, 2018
The world seemed to love Piper's father Lance when she was growing up, and why not? They called him a hero. She had to admit he was a fantastic pilot, deserving of the nickname "The Silver Eagle". It was his expert piloting that allowed him to successfuly take a plane through a horrific emergency landing.
At home, though, Piper's dad was not exactly a hero. Away from the spotlight, he was overbearing, bossy, a man of very few kind words, and a micro-manager.
When Piper grows up and has a family of her own, she is the opposite of her father. Loving, kind and a wonderful mother to her little son, Fred.
An aging Lance suffers a major heart attack leaves Lance with brain deficits. To top it off, little Fred is diagnosed with autism. Lance needs his daughter to be his caregiver; Fred needs his mom much more, but in other ways.
The book weaves a story of a "hero" who is much less than that to his family, a son with autism, and a daughter and mom on whom they both come to depend.
At home, though, Piper's dad was not exactly a hero. Away from the spotlight, he was overbearing, bossy, a man of very few kind words, and a micro-manager.
When Piper grows up and has a family of her own, she is the opposite of her father. Loving, kind and a wonderful mother to her little son, Fred.
An aging Lance suffers a major heart attack leaves Lance with brain deficits. To top it off, little Fred is diagnosed with autism. Lance needs his daughter to be his caregiver; Fred needs his mom much more, but in other ways.
The book weaves a story of a "hero" who is much less than that to his family, a son with autism, and a daughter and mom on whom they both come to depend.
August 30, 2018
This is a well written debut novel about a family with issues. Piper is the mother of an autistic son. She’s still trying to adjust to this new diagnosis as well as deal with her absent husband. While all this is going on, her father suffers a severe heart attack that leaves him with brain damage. When his wife can not longer cope with her husband, and does not want to take care of him, Piper moves him into her home to care for him.
This story is told from the POVs of Piper, Fred, and Lance (Piper’s father). Flying at Night is an emotional story about family, parenthood, guilt, and unconditional love. None of us are perfect and the things that happen to us aren’t always fair. This is precisely why this novel felt so real. The characters are flawed, their relationships are imperfect and life doles out some things that are difficult to accept and deal with. Piper’s guilt over Fred’s diagnosis, along with the burdensome nature of having to be a caregiver to her father especially rang true. I loved Fred’s character and appreciated the bits of humor his voice added to the novel. The narrative moved smoothly between these three perspectives. This was a very emotional story, with a lot of life lessons, truth and anguish. I felt close to all the characters and my heart ached for them. I turned the last page and wish I didn’t have to say goodbye. This is Rebecca Brown's debut novel and is loosely based on her own experiences raising a child with autism. I look forward to reading more from her in the future. I highly recommend! The publisher, Penguin Publishing Group - Berkley, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions are my own.
This story is told from the POVs of Piper, Fred, and Lance (Piper’s father). Flying at Night is an emotional story about family, parenthood, guilt, and unconditional love. None of us are perfect and the things that happen to us aren’t always fair. This is precisely why this novel felt so real. The characters are flawed, their relationships are imperfect and life doles out some things that are difficult to accept and deal with. Piper’s guilt over Fred’s diagnosis, along with the burdensome nature of having to be a caregiver to her father especially rang true. I loved Fred’s character and appreciated the bits of humor his voice added to the novel. The narrative moved smoothly between these three perspectives. This was a very emotional story, with a lot of life lessons, truth and anguish. I felt close to all the characters and my heart ached for them. I turned the last page and wish I didn’t have to say goodbye. This is Rebecca Brown's debut novel and is loosely based on her own experiences raising a child with autism. I look forward to reading more from her in the future. I highly recommend! The publisher, Penguin Publishing Group - Berkley, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions are my own.
January 29, 2018
This was a GoodReads giveaway win.
Definitely an emotionally charged book. Lance "Silver Eagle" Whitman has a wife, a daughter (Piper), and a son (Curtis). He had a hard life with an abusive father. Lance turned out to be verbally and emotionally abusive to his family. His wife never intervened for the children or herself. Curtis left after college and cut ties. Piper married and had a son, but still lives close.
This story tell about the different relationships between the members of this family, before and after the emergency. Ms. Brown show Piper's struggle with her own depression along with everything else happening her life.
The book was well written.
Definitely an emotionally charged book. Lance "Silver Eagle" Whitman has a wife, a daughter (Piper), and a son (Curtis). He had a hard life with an abusive father. Lance turned out to be verbally and emotionally abusive to his family. His wife never intervened for the children or herself. Curtis left after college and cut ties. Piper married and had a son, but still lives close.
This story tell about the different relationships between the members of this family, before and after the emergency. Ms. Brown show Piper's struggle with her own depression along with everything else happening her life.
The book was well written.
February 22, 2018
I received this ARC in a Goodreads giveaway.
I am sorry to say that this book was not for me. The writing style was too detailed and over dramatized. Yes, there were difficult things going on in the lives of the characters of the book, but I especially could not believe how the primary voice in the story dealt with it all.
I am sorry to say that this book was not for me. The writing style was too detailed and over dramatized. Yes, there were difficult things going on in the lives of the characters of the book, but I especially could not believe how the primary voice in the story dealt with it all.
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