West with the Night

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One of the most beautifully crafted books I have ever read, with some of the most poetic prose passages I could imagine, such as the following, resonating with a stately and timeless quality so absent in our modern life:

There are all kinds of silences and each of them means a different thing. There is the silence that comes with morning in a forest, and this is different from the silence of a sleeping city. There is silence after a rainstorm, and before a rainstorm, and these are not the same. There is the silence of emptiness, the silence of fear, the silence of doubt. There is a certain silence that can emanate from a lifeless object as from a chair lately used, or from a piano with old dust upon its keys, or from anything that has answered to the need of a man, for pleasure or for work. This kind of silence can speak. Its voice may be melancholy, but it is not always so; for the chair may have been left by a laughing child or the last notes of the piano may have been raucous and gay. Whatever the mood or the circumstance, the essence of its quality may linger in the silence that follows. It is a soundless echo.

Born in England in 1902, Markham was taken by her father to East Africa in 1906. She spent her childhood playing with native Maruni children and apprenticing with her father as a trainer and breeder of racehorses. In the 1930s, she became an African bush pilot, and in September 1936, became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west.

Book Description

West with the Night is the story of Beryl Markham--aviator, racehorse trainer, beauty--and her life in the Kenya of the 1920s and '30s.

Customer Reviews:

Must read for anyone who considers themselves a writer.......2007-10-11

This book is a hidden treasure. Markham offers a rich history of her life and the western influence upon east Africa, the land where she grew into a woman. Her writing style takes descriptive to a new level. This is an excellent book for readers of thirteen to ninety years of age. Enjoy!

A Classic..........2007-07-27

Quite simply one of the best books I've ever read. West with the Night transports readers to a real life era of adventure (the 1930's in particular) in an Eastern Africa that scarcely resembles the region today. Markham's beautifully described tales of her adventures as a bush pilot make this one of those books that is hard to put down at the end of the day. As for her writing style, Ernest Hemingway's comment that she "Can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves writers" sums it up. I highly recommend this novel.

VERY INSPIRING!.......2007-07-05

This is one of the best books I have ever read! The writing is superb and colorful. The author takes you on a journey through Africa. Also, I found this book to be very spiritual. Beryl Markham was an accomplished pilot and very courageous and ahead of her times. I savored every word!

An adventurous life.......2007-07-02

Wonderfully written story of Beryl Markham's life growing up in Kenya East Africa and her career as an aviator. You can almost picture Markham sitting on the veranda at the Muthaiga Country Club telling tales of high adventure. It has been questioned whether she actually wrote the book or whether it was written by her third husband Raoul Schumacher. Either way it is a great story of a fascinating woman. Well worth the read.

MY FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME.......2007-06-30

AFTER READING THIS BOOK THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS SO GOOD I READ IT AGAIN 5 WEEKS LATER. THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME. I READ MORE THAN A BOOK A WEEK PLUS SEVERAL EVERY WEEK ON CD. I HAVE NEVER FOUND ONE TO COMPARE TO THIS.
GREAT

Average customer rating:

WEST WITH THE NIGHT
Beryl Markham
Manufacturer: North Point Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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West with the Night

ASIN: 0965471187

Average customer rating:

Let the Story Take you there.
A beautiful but often fictional account of a great life
A life-changing read-Even better than Out of Africa!

The Illustrated West With the Night
Beryl Markham
Manufacturer: Stewart, Tabori, & Chang
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1556703856

Customer Reviews:

Let the Story Take you there. .......2007-06-14

It is debateable whether or not Beryl's husband helped to write this story. He was a writer and must have inluenced her in some ways. However, there are books other than "The lives of Beryl Markham" that give insight to the depth of his inluences upon her writing and also present Beryl's opinion on this subject. In Beryl's "African Stories" compiled by a woman who interviewed Beryl it becomes clear that Raoul's writing style did not match the writing style of this book. Raoul focused on scandal and tried to write his own story about Beryl in which scandal played a large part to help make the book popular. In Beryl's opinion the scandals of her life were unimportant details. Horses and African life were her truths and the details surrounding these truths were what she wanted to convey to the world. She used artisitc liscence. One surely should be able to to use this skill if one is writing about ones own life. Stories are not required to be as reality shows are today. The book is not titled "West With The Night A True Story". It was not meant to be taken with a grain of salt. It was meant to immerse the reader, take them to a different place if you will and make them feel as though they lived it. Allow the book to be what it is, enjoy the fine writing and let it take you to where you may have never been before. Read further and discover more. It is a facinating mystery touched by so many factors many of which we may never know because the one person who could tell us whether or not she wrote the book is dead and gone.

A beautiful but often fictional account of a great life.......1999-05-17

I've recently read the "autobiography" "West With The Night" for a Hight School history class. While I found Markham's book to be a beautifuly spun story of growing up in colonial Kenya and life in the early 1900s, this book left me with more questions than answers. On digging deeper, I found that this book was written by her third husband, Raoul Schumacher. Also, I found that many interesting and scandalous parts of her life had been omitted from this historical tale. However, these things do not change the fact the "West With the Night" is a completly enrapturing tale of a very strong, determined woman. I only advise that you take this story with a grain of salt; and then go read the book "The lives of Beryl Markham" by Errol Trzebinski to get the real deal.

A life-changing read-Even better than Out of Africa!.......1998-08-08

Beryl Markam's controversial "West with the Night" gives a vivid, personal view of life in colonial Kenya. A geat aviator and race horse trainer, Beryl Markham gives new life to women everywhere.

The Saturday night special: And other guns with which Americans won the West, protected bootleg franchises, slew wildlife, robbed countless banks, shot ... with the debate over continuing same

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The Saturday night special: And other guns with which Americans won the West, protected bootleg franchises, slew wildlife, robbed countless banks, shot ... with the debate over continuing same
Robert Sherrill
Manufacturer: Penguin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Fodor's Pocket Aspen and Snowmass, 1st Edition: The All-in-One Guide to Fun-Filled Days and Nights Packed with Places to Eat, Sl eep, Play and Relax (Pocket Guides)

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Fodor's Pocket Aspen and Snowmass, 1st Edition: The All-in-One Guide to Fun-Filled Days and Nights Packed with Places to Eat, Sl eep, Play and Relax (Pocket Guides)
Fodor's
Manufacturer: Fodor's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Best Easy Day Hikes Aspen (Best Easy Day Hikes Series)

ASIN: 0679007741
Release Date: 2000-11-14

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"An excellent choice for people who want everything under one cover." - Washington Post

When you're headed to a resort destination, you need different information than most travel guides can provide. Sure, you want to know about all the sights, great restaurants, and cool places to stay--but you also need detailed information on activities and sports, how to rent a condo, and which is the best grocery store to stock up on picnic supplies. Fodor's Pocket guides delivers all this and more in a convenient pocket-size book.

All the basics you need to help you decide what to see and do.

Smart contacts and detailed practical information, including the scoop on public transportation, local holidays, what to pack and more.

Great choices for dining and lodging in every price range.

Great recommendations for shopping nightlife, outdoor, activities, and essential side trips.

Up-to-the-minute info on local celebrities and traditions make you feel like an insider.

"Perfect Days and Nights" itineraries make planning (even a rainy day) fun.

Detailed maps with sights, restaurants, night spots, and hotels clearly marked.

West with the night: And related readings (Literature connections)

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West with the night: And related readings (Literature connections)
Beryl Markham
Manufacturer: McDougal Littell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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West with the Night

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Fodor's Pocket Phoenix & Scottsdale 2001: The All-in-One Guide to Fun-Filled Days and Nights Packed with Places to Eat, Sl eep, Shop, and Explore (Pocket Guides)

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Fodor's Pocket Phoenix & Scottsdale 2001: The All-in-One Guide to Fun-Filled Days and Nights Packed with Places to Eat, Sl eep, Shop, and Explore (Pocket Guides)
Fodor's
Manufacturer: Fodor's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0679007199
Release Date: 2001-03-13

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"An excellent choice for people who want everything under one cover." - Washington Post

Fodor's Pocket Guides are designed for people who just want the highlights. They contain full, rich descriptions of major cities around the globe including the most worthy sights, the best restaurants and lodging, plus shopping, nightlife, and outdoors highlights - all in a new trim, petit package.

All the basics you need to help you decide what to see and do in the time you have.

Smart contacts and detailed practical information, including the scoop on public transportation, local holidays, what to pack, and more.

The very best dining and lodging in every price range.

Great recommendations for shopping nightlife, outdoor, activities, and essential side trips.

Detailed maps with sights, restaurants, nightspots, and hotels clearly marked.

Easy-to-use new interior design with blue ink and fun graphics.

Fodor's Pocket Aruba, 1st Edition: The All-in-One Guide to Fun-Filled Days and Nights Packed with Places to Eat, Sl eep, Play and Relax (Pocket Guides)

Average customer rating:

Good book--could use photos, though
Slim Pickins on Aruba Books for Info
Hits the mark
Nothing new

Fodor's Pocket Aruba, 1st Edition: The All-in-One Guide to Fun-Filled Days and Nights Packed with Places to Eat, Sl eep, Play and Relax (Pocket Guides)
Karen W. Bressler , and Elise Rosen
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ASIN: 067900775X
Release Date: 2000-11-14

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Good book--could use photos, though.......2005-02-09

I checked this book out at the library and brought it with me to Aruba recently. I did not notice any inaccuracies in its information. A few photos (color or b/w) would make the book a tad more interesting. Otherwise, it's solid.

Slim Pickins on Aruba Books for Info.......2001-12-31

I've been to Aruba twice in 2 years, and it is REALLY difficult finding any type of a resource manual for the island, so I was happy when this one came out.

However, since it came out between my two visits, i was a bit disappointed with several inaccuracies in the book.

There is a wealth of good information in this book, but I would definitely not use it to choose accomodations, where I saw the largest amount of inaccuracies.

A person may feel a bit upset if they booked a resort based on this book, and found out for example that it did NOT have windsurfing as an inclusive. And a resort would be equally upset in knowing one of it's better attractions were not mentioned at all, and thus could possibly cause them a loss of a sale.

It had good descriptions of the beaches, and adequate descriptions of the restaurants. But, by all means find a second opinion regarding accomodations!

Hits the mark.......2001-08-09

You are going to Aruba. You want some reference material. Let's face it, your choices for books are limited. For the price, the book does what it promises. It provides a great overview of where to stay, where to eat, where to beach, where to gamble and what to do while you are on the island. And this thing is compact, it will easily fit in your back pocket. Four stars because I feel they are missing some of the better places to eat on the island (Madame Jeanette's, Flying Fishbone). Bon Bini!

Nothing new.......2001-05-03

I have read Fodor's books in the past and found them to be more informative than this book on Aruba. Not many travel books on Aruba exist so that's why I chose this one. However, it did not really contain any so-called "secrets" that I hadn't already found out from surfing on the internet.

There were some things that I liked about this book. It would probably be a good source if you are not an avid internet surfer (like myself who reads every website that I can find on Aruba). If you did not have any previous knowledge & wanted a short, quick book to just give the basics, then this book is probably for you. If you want a small guidebook to carry along on your trip (like I do) then it's worth the price.

Book Description

Fodor's new Pocket series gives you trusted coverage of major cities and resort areas around the globe - all in a trim, petit package. These are the ultimate all-in-one guides to fun-filled days and nights, packed with places to eat, sleep, play, and relax.

Fodor's Pocket Bermuda 2002 gives you: All the basics you need to help you decide what to see and do in the time you have; smart contacts and detailed practical information, including the scoop on public transportation, local holidays, what to pack and more; the very best dining and lodging in every price range; great recommendations for shopping nightlife, outdoor, activities, and essential side trips; and detailed maps with sights, restaurants, night spots, and hotels clearly marked.

"An excellent choice for people who want everything under one cover." - Washington Post

Customer Reviews:

Handy, Compact and Fun!.......2007-07-16

My husband and I used this travel sized book for our first trip to Bermuda and found it very useful! It seems to be difficult to find any travel book or publication that has every detail completely acurate and perfect due to how quickly some things change. We travel quite oftena nd to various locations and found this one to be as reliable as any Auto Club or other Fodor's publication. SInce it can be very frustrating to plan an activity based on a travel book and then find it unavailable, we've found that a good rule of thumb is to always, always phone ahead to make sure of availability.

INACCURATE, OUTDATED, and FULL OF WILD-GOOSE CHASES.......2002-06-09

This book is composed of listings from businesses who have CLEARLY paid off Fodor's editors. Every single establishment that it recommended was described inacurrately, in an obvious attempt to make restaurants and hotels sound better than they are. This book RUINED our vacation, because I was stupid enough to trust it. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY.

Fodor's Pocket Honolulu and Waikiki, 2nd Edition: The All-in-One Guide to Fun-Filled Days and Nights Packed with Places to Eat, Sl eep, Play, and Relax (Pocket Guides)

Average customer rating:

Fodor's Pocket Honolulu and Waikiki, 2nd Edition: The All-in-One Guide to Fun-Filled Days and Nights Packed with Places to Eat, Sl eep, Play, and Relax (Pocket Guides)
Fodor's
Manufacturer: Fodor's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679006877
Release Date: 2000-12-12

Book Description

Book Description

Twice-jailed scoundrel and the people's champion, builder of hospitals and schools and shameless grafter, compelling orator and master of political farce, James Michael Curley was the stuff of legend long before his life became fiction in Edwin O'Connor's classic novel The Last Hurrah. As mayor of Boston, as congressman, as governor of Massachusetts, Curley rose from the Irish slums in a career extending from the Progressive Era of Teddy Roosevelt to the ascendancy of JFK. Beatty's spellbinding story of this remarkable man-and of his city, his people, and his times-is biography at its best.

Customer Reviews:

Good Research, Flawed and Stilted Journalism.......2005-07-20

For a journalist, author Beatty, doesn't seem to care about balance. His historical research is great and filled in some gaps for me, but his personal spin is not objective and anti-Curley. The author wonders what Curley's son Francis would think of the author's use of the information and perspectives he provided. Easy answer, Jack, he'd be spinning in his grave. You've done a good man a great disservice. My advice for those who wonder whether to buy this book - pass, read it at the library.

Flawed.......2002-04-06

As a life long Massachusetts resident born after Curley's death, I have heard antidotes about James M Curley for years and hoped this book would provide the details of this interesting character. But I have to agree with a couple of the previous reviewers, the author's handing of this subject is a bit weak. The early childhood section was the worst, just a string of antidotes that bounce back and forth thru time becoming almost impossible to follow. The author also apparently brought into this work his own personal political agenda. Written in 1992, the author 'liberally' inserts poor and in some cases run on analogies to the Reagan - Bush administrations. I can still recommend this book to those interested in Curley, the books coverage of his career is excellent, just be prepared to skim through the sections where the author vents his political beliefs.

The subject is great but the book isn't.......2002-02-27

I read "The Rascal King" after reading Edwin O'Connor's great "The Last Hurrah," a barely fictional account of Curley's reign over Boston. I have to say that O'Connor achieved with fiction what Beatty failed to do with biography... paint a realistic picture of the fascinating life and times of James M. Curley.

Beatty's work, while greatly researched, was extremely choppy and amateurishly written. His timeline is vague and, at points, difficult to follow. He feels it necessary to interject into Curley's story several times with poorly made comparisons to present day political situations, as well very annoying literary references. (He consistently refers to Curley's arrogance of power as Massachusetts governor as a "Xanadu complex." Why not just call him arrogant?). Overall, it felt like Beatty was trying too hard.

Structural and literay problems aside, James Curley has one of the most interesting stories in 20th century American history. His use of "race baiting" against Boston's old Yankee elite (although "nationality baiting" may be more appropriate a term), his questionable campaign tactics, his dubious financial activities as an elected official, and his compassion and kindnes towards the forgotten common man make him one of the great populist leaders of our history. He was the quintessential campaigner and politician. It's too bad Beatty couldn't do him justice.

Comprehensive, with one missing aspect.......2000-12-15

Having been only two years old at Curley's death in 1858, Jack Beatty's book got me up to speed in a hurry. It details not only his life story, but of all of the maneuvering going on behind the scenes" - shrewd is not the half of it. It mentions some principled stands that Curley took, offset by some rapacious greed. And, Beatty suggests that Curley invented modern-day "race-baiting" long ahead of the George Wallaces and Al Sharptons of this world.

For all of its detail, the book is lacking a conclusionary chapter at the end. Jack Beatty has given us all of the pieces (in, once again, comprehensive detail) but doesn't sum them up. For all of his strengths, did James Curley set back the cause of Irish-American politics? For all of his faults, was the average citizen of Boston better off with him (a la George Bailey)? We may need another source for this - for now, Jack Beatty has given us the building blocks.

Excellent work marred by personal opinion.......1999-07-19

I read this book once and very much want to read it a second time. The historical accuracy is great and the writing style flows nicely. The only drawback I found was the author's propensity to interject his personal opinions as the situation of interest to him arose. If you do what I did, and skip over these "soapbox" opines, you will find this a most satisfying book.

The Rascal King The Life and Times of James Michael Curley (1874-1958)

Average customer rating:

The Rascal King The Life and Times of James Michael Curley (1874-1958)
Jack Beatty
Manufacturer: Addison-Wesley Pub'g. Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J0PQFK

Average customer rating:

The Rascal King: The Life and Times of James Michael Curley (1874-1958)
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Manufacturer: Da Capo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The Rascal King: The Life and Times of James Michael Curley 1874-1958
JACK BEATTY
Manufacturer: William Patrick Book
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