Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Picador (2000), Edition: First Edition, 256 pages
Description
Set in 1930s Canada, this novel tells the story of Willa and Grace, two female pilots attempting to break the world record for non-stop flight.
Media reviews
Ein Roman ohne jede Effekthascherei, sachlich und doch gefühlvoll, sinnlich und präzise.
Helen Humphreys writes remarkably spare, uncluttered prose; she has a great knack for evoking unspoken love and finding stark beauty in matters as diverse as the sight of a burning ship at night or the creation of a silent language.
Ultimately, Leaving Earth is a perfectly good snack of a book – well-written enough to be intellectually satisfying, interesting enough to keep the reader’s attention, salty, and sweet – yet light enough that few readers will feel full when they’re done.
User reviews
LibraryThing member redheadish
Just like the Aviatrix's Air Ace Grace and Willa in this book who are perpetually flying in the air to beat an endurance record so will you be as you fly through these pages of "Leaving Earth".
LibraryThing member lkernagh
Humphreys tends to gravitate towards writing historical period pieces so I was no surprise to discover that her debut novel depicts a portrayal of Depression-era Toronto. What was surprising - don't ask me why - was how Humphreys' took a theme like aviation and managed to write about the endurance
Humphreys' approaches her story from a number of different perspectives: Flashy and confident Grace who is used to the world being her stage; the younger and more inexperienced Willa who is lacking in confidence but eager to please; Grace's older, wiser and somewhat jealous husband Jack who holds the current endurance record his wife is determined to break and young 12-year old Maddy, one of Grace's biggest fan. These character dynamics and differing points of view are enough to create an interesting story but Humphreys goes one further by adding in the growing tide of antisemitism, giving us two stories: one story playing out in the sky, with spectators watching from the ground and a second story focused firmly on the ground, trying to see into the future. Ambitious undertakings for a debut novel but Humphreys doesn't stop there. Oh no, she proceeds to add an examination of language in a visual tactile form (as opposed to our usual spoken or written form) to the mix as well as an examination of love. In the end, this ambitious first novel has a lot going for it, including Humphreys wonderful prose but its a bit too much crammed into one package, and at the expense of any solid character development. I am also annoyed that some of the story lines just 'end', leaving me hanging.
Overall, a good female aviation story with great depiction of Depression-era Toronto.
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flight in a way that allows the reader to experience the grueling endurance along side the two fictional female pilots. Grace O'Gorman and Willa Briggs are composite characters of the amazing female pilots of the 1930's... Louise Thaden, Ruth Nichols, Bobbi Trout, Amelia Earhart, Frances Harrell Marsalis and Helen Richey. All amazing women who would not let society's perceptions confine and restrict them from chasing their dreams. Humphreys' approaches her story from a number of different perspectives: Flashy and confident Grace who is used to the world being her stage; the younger and more inexperienced Willa who is lacking in confidence but eager to please; Grace's older, wiser and somewhat jealous husband Jack who holds the current endurance record his wife is determined to break and young 12-year old Maddy, one of Grace's biggest fan. These character dynamics and differing points of view are enough to create an interesting story but Humphreys goes one further by adding in the growing tide of antisemitism, giving us two stories: one story playing out in the sky, with spectators watching from the ground and a second story focused firmly on the ground, trying to see into the future. Ambitious undertakings for a debut novel but Humphreys doesn't stop there. Oh no, she proceeds to add an examination of language in a visual tactile form (as opposed to our usual spoken or written form) to the mix as well as an examination of love. In the end, this ambitious first novel has a lot going for it, including Humphreys wonderful prose but its a bit too much crammed into one package, and at the expense of any solid character development. I am also annoyed that some of the story lines just 'end', leaving me hanging.
Overall, a good female aviation story with great depiction of Depression-era Toronto.
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Awards
Toronto Book Award (Winner — 1998)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1997
ISBN
0312255004 / 9780312255008