Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Step back into the early 20th century with West with the Night by Beryl Markham. This one is the story of Beryl Markham--aviator, racehorse trainer, beauty--and her life in the Kenya of the 1920s and '30s. Her story is only about 300 pages long.

Any takers? What draws you to read this title? Do you know anything about her going into the memoir?

I have this as an audio and am looking forward to it. I'll probably listen later in the month or in December. I like stories about women breaking barriers.

I read this book shortly after joining goodreads-it's an interesting story and she tells it well.

Her life was full of so many adventures. I read this quote from Ernest Hemingway:

"Did you read Beryl Markham's book, West with the Night? ...She has written so well, and marvelously well, that I was completely ashamed of myself as a writer. I felt that I was simply a carpenter with words, picking up whatever was furnished on the job and nailing them together and sometimes making an okay pig pen. But this girl, who is to my knowledge very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch, can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers ... it really is a bloody wonderful book."

Wow, that’s a very colorful quote from Hemingway about her!

Has anyone gotten very far into this one? How are you enjoying it?

I’m listening to the book and completely enjoying the narration. And Markham’s words are beautiful in describing life and wildlife in Africa.

Markham and Blixen crossed paths during her life in Africa as well. I am intrigued and will look into the read.

Upon further reading, I guess in Out of Africa the movie there was a Tomboy horseman that was based on Markham. So they must of gotten along well.

What a life Markham led! Now I'd like to read a biography of her life. Markham had an adventurous life, not without its dangers. She writes emotionally about her early life with the people of Kenya and about animals. The second half of the book was about her accomplishments as a horse trainer and airplane flyer.

Sounds like she was a colorful character, Kathy.

I found a kindle edition of this book so I can read it online. I wasnt going to until I started reading about her life under Wikipedia.
What Hemingway stated made me more curious and now what Kathy has added!

An interesting tale of a horse that was bought by her father fought Beryl's kindness, he threw her to the ground and another time bit her on the leg. Over time she won him over and he would be like a protector.
She eventually became a horse trainer and won races.
She ran into a lion while running. She slowed down and sung to the lion?
She also did a nonstop flight across the Alantic and crashed on Nova Scotia.
Her life was very adventurous and you could tell she had a great passion and love for Africa, horses and flying!

I'll read this title before the year is out, if I can make the time in my self-imposed packed reading schedule. With this tumultuous year happening, I think reading about someone as accomplished and adventurous as Beryl Markham would feel a little refreshing.

I really enjoyed it. I hope you do get the time to read it!

One of my favorite books of all time. I gave it to my grandmother to read before she passed away many years ago and she always talked about the stories and how much she loved it. I will always cherish those memories. Perhaps it's time to read it again.

What a sweet story, Alicia!