Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Call number
F DUF
Publication
Bethany House Publishers (2023), 400 pages
Description
"In 1911, Mabel MacGinnis is Europe's strongest woman and has performed beside her father in the Manzo Brothers Circus her entire life. But at his unexpected death, she loses everything she's ever known and sets off in the company of acrobat Jake Cunningham for America in hope of finding the mother she's just discovered is still alive. Isabella Moreau, the nation's most feted aerialist, has given everything to the circus. But age and injury now threaten her security, and Isabella, stalked by old fears, makes a choice that risks everything. When her daughter Mabel appears alongside the man who never wanted to see Isabella again, Isabella is forced to face the truth of where, and in what, she derives her worth. In this evocative novel from Kimberly Duffy, the meaning of strength takes center stage as the lives of three circus performers become entangled beneath the glittering lights and flying trapeze of Madison Square Garden"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member SBMC
"That was the thing about love - the unimaginable became reality, and every dream proved more than possibility."
Set in the circus world of 1910, this book by Kimberly Duffy will completely captivate you with its lyrical voice, glamour and awe, and poignant faith and life lessons. From the first
Mabel, in all her physical strength and emotional naivete and tenderness, was easy to love. Jake, though bitter and disillusioned, was an excellent brooding hero with his noble and loyal heart. Isabella was a bit more difficult to comprehend and understand, but her redemption was made sweeter by the utter brokenness she represented.
It's an unforgettable historical romance. I received the book from the publisher via Interviews & Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
Set in the circus world of 1910, this book by Kimberly Duffy will completely captivate you with its lyrical voice, glamour and awe, and poignant faith and life lessons. From the first
Show More
page of the prologue, the story of Mabel and Isabella will enchant you. Told mostly through third person narratives of these two women, you will laugh, cry, and rejoice as they face their fears, regrets, past and future individually and together. Themes of forgiveness, finding purpose, and not relying on one's own strength ran through all the main characters to bind them in a beautiful tapestry of redemption.Mabel, in all her physical strength and emotional naivete and tenderness, was easy to love. Jake, though bitter and disillusioned, was an excellent brooding hero with his noble and loyal heart. Isabella was a bit more difficult to comprehend and understand, but her redemption was made sweeter by the utter brokenness she represented.
It's an unforgettable historical romance. I received the book from the publisher via Interviews & Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
Show Less
LibraryThing member claudia.castenir
Kimberly Duffy has wrapped some very deep themes in the folds of a beautiful story of two women, mother and daughter, caught between living with fear and with a longing for love and acceptance. Setting their stories within the spectacular, glamorous parts of the circus that the public adored during
Show More
the early twentieth century while not ignoring the blood, sweat, and tears behind the scenes only added to the intensity of the heart of their stories. This multi-themed novel will speak differently to readers whose lenses will be greatly impacted by their own histories, but I can imagine no one left unaffected. I am grateful to Kimberly Duffy for a memorable reading experience that deeply touched my heart, and to Bethany House for providing me with a complementary copy via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. Show Less
LibraryThing member lifeofliterature
This author is one of my favorites because she has such a gift in writing rich characters that become alive in your mind and stay with you long after you have finished the book. I really, really liked Mabel. She is so sweet with such a big heart. I enjoyed reading about her relationship with Jake.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Show More
I liked that the characters are not perfect and have very realistic struggles. This novel handles themes of forgiveness and trust very well, and I loved reading how Mabel and Isabella made peace with their pasts and learned to move forward with hope and love. I was also captivated by the circus life of 1910 and thought the author did a fantastic job describing the scenes such that it was easy to envision the setting. The author’s lyrical writing style flows so well and allows me to effortlessly immerse myself into the story. I have loved every one of her novels and this one was another great book. Highly recommended!I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bettyetters
This is an excellent historical fiction book. I loved the well-developed characters, the historical time period, the uniqueness of the circus setting, and the engaging plot. The story does a great job with issues of mental illness, love, fear, regret, forgiveness, and what strength and weakness
I received this book for free through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. This does not affect my rating or the content of this review.
Show More
mean. The Bible verse and few mentions of God were not fleshed out at all and I think the book stands best as historical fiction without adding the Christian fiction layer as it would need to be more fully developed in the characters' lives in order to feel real and not just stuck in to have it in there.I received this book for free through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. This does not affect my rating or the content of this review.
Show Less
LibraryThing member janerawoof
1911--story of a strongwoman in the circus, her search for her mother who she believed dead and her moving from fear and depression to self-confidence. She makes a marriage of convenience with a man who accompanies her on her quest. Clean romance figures in the novel along with other adventures. I
Show More
enjoyed best the parts that told of circus life. Show Less
LibraryThing member utacraft
I loved this book and the way the writer describes her characters. I love stories about the circus and found the descriptions of the various acts were well written.
It was a sweet romance between Mabel and Jake, and also the reunion with Mabel's mother was sweet. What gave the book more depth was
This book was given to me by librarything early review and I have given the book 4 stars.
It was a sweet romance between Mabel and Jake, and also the reunion with Mabel's mother was sweet. What gave the book more depth was
Show More
the description of depression and the deep feelings it can invoke.This book was given to me by librarything early review and I have given the book 4 stars.
Show Less
LibraryThing member khoyt
I have long wanted to read books by Kimberly Duffy, but somehow I never reached that goal. Thank you to LibraryThing.com giveaway and Bethany House Publishing for supplying me with this ARC of "The Weight of Air". The opinions expressed in this review are, however, my own.
I found myself wrapped up
Her writing captured my mind. "It was a consuming chaos." "Everything she said seemed to dangle unfinished. She spoke in loose ends." "Spring had come over the city like a tiptoeing child afraid to awaken his father. So quietly, peeking around walls, and crouching on the ground,..." These examples and more seemed to pop up in many different places throughout the book.
The best element of the book was the array of wonderful characters. They all had their foibles and flaws. The main characters' thought processes spoke to me. I could hear those voices in my head also. Once again God has shown that He works all things together for good.
Thank you Ms. Duffy for this inspirational book. I will not miss your next one!
#BethanyHouse, #BHPFiction
I found myself wrapped up
Show More
in this novel of the circus, especially since it was written from a different perspective. That of "The World's Strongest Woman". Mabel was six feet tall. Unusual for a woman, especially during the early 1900s. Her writing captured my mind. "It was a consuming chaos." "Everything she said seemed to dangle unfinished. She spoke in loose ends." "Spring had come over the city like a tiptoeing child afraid to awaken his father. So quietly, peeking around walls, and crouching on the ground,..." These examples and more seemed to pop up in many different places throughout the book.
The best element of the book was the array of wonderful characters. They all had their foibles and flaws. The main characters' thought processes spoke to me. I could hear those voices in my head also. Once again God has shown that He works all things together for good.
Thank you Ms. Duffy for this inspirational book. I will not miss your next one!
#BethanyHouse, #BHPFiction
Show Less
LibraryThing member Carolee888
The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy, is historical fiction about the circus when it was still traveling around for shows. It involves a famous woman trapeze artist, Polly McGinnis, Bram, her husband, a strong man and their baby. The baby took after her father and was a giant, tall and muscular.
Mabel, towers over crowds and feel left out of society. When she left the circus, she happened on a little girl playing hookey from school who had rescued a little dirty gray kitten with part of her ear torn off living in an alley. Immediately accepted by the little girl. I love the part about her friendship with the little girl and the girl’s mother.
Mabel's mother, Polly has living under a different name. The mother-daugther relationship is loaded with troubles. Her mother hamother has living under a different name. Polly, now Isabella had many secrets that kept her from becoming emotionally close to anyone.
It is a page turner but the story but very intense. Mabel in the book, towers over crowds and feel left out of society.People look at her as a curiosity.
The story invaded my dreams!I dreamed about a girl that played with who lived across the street. I remembered her mother who was very tall and large. Not heavy but big. Her mother had a booming voice. A very welcoming personality, smiled and introduced me to my first Oreo cookie. Loved Gershwin music. A book made me think about our neighbor. Did she get teased about her size while growing up. What was her life like
The book was inspired by the then famous aerial artist, Lillian Letzel, who was more famous than the movie stars of that period. I found a book about and want to read it.
Show More
Mabel, their baby was too big, for a while she worked on the trapeze but her mother left the family under a deep mystery that slowly unfolds. Later it is revealed that her mother did not die when she went to New York to take care of her there. When her father died, Mabel lost her confidence and the circus manager thought she was a liability. Mabel finds evidence that her mother was not dead and goes to New York to find her.Mabel, towers over crowds and feel left out of society. When she left the circus, she happened on a little girl playing hookey from school who had rescued a little dirty gray kitten with part of her ear torn off living in an alley. Immediately accepted by the little girl. I love the part about her friendship with the little girl and the girl’s mother.
Mabel's mother, Polly has living under a different name. The mother-daugther relationship is loaded with troubles. Her mother hamother has living under a different name. Polly, now Isabella had many secrets that kept her from becoming emotionally close to anyone.
It is a page turner but the story but very intense. Mabel in the book, towers over crowds and feel left out of society.People look at her as a curiosity.
The story invaded my dreams!I dreamed about a girl that played with who lived across the street. I remembered her mother who was very tall and large. Not heavy but big. Her mother had a booming voice. A very welcoming personality, smiled and introduced me to my first Oreo cookie. Loved Gershwin music. A book made me think about our neighbor. Did she get teased about her size while growing up. What was her life like
The book was inspired by the then famous aerial artist, Lillian Letzel, who was more famous than the movie stars of that period. I found a book about and want to read it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tealadytoo
This is an absorbing and well written novel, told from the dual perspectives of two women of the circus, Isabella/Polly an aging aerialist, and her long-lost daughter Mabel, a strong woman. The story is touching, and heartfelt. However, it has strong themes of clinical depression, post-partum
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Show More
depression, abuse and suicide, which makes it a challenging book to read. The topics are handled sensitively and with hope, but this story is not to be embarked upon for light reading. That being said, it is well worth reading.I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Gingersnap000
Mabel McGinnis was the child of two circus performers whose marriage feel apart due to post partum depression. Her mother disappeared to take care of her Mother in America and her Mother's leaving Mabel bought out a lack of confidence in her life. Mabel grew up believing her Mother died because her
When we met Mabel, her Father has died and so have their circus act. She attempts to do a strong woman act but fails. She and her Father's friend Jake decided to go America so Mabel can start over and Jake wants to rejoin his family in Kansas. Along the way to America, Jake and Mabel marry to secure her good name.
Once the couple are in America, they can not find work until Mabel creates a strong woman act at Museum of sorts. The circus which Jake worked for previously hears about the act and hires them. The circus is Mabel's whole life but for Jake it is his worst memory. This circus had ended his first wife life. The woman his blames is Mabel's Mother. Mabel discovers her Mother is alive!
This book maybe based on the circus life but it is only the background for a lives changed by mental illness. It is a truly a sad story of not understanding the facts over fear.
Show More
Dad told her.When we met Mabel, her Father has died and so have their circus act. She attempts to do a strong woman act but fails. She and her Father's friend Jake decided to go America so Mabel can start over and Jake wants to rejoin his family in Kansas. Along the way to America, Jake and Mabel marry to secure her good name.
Once the couple are in America, they can not find work until Mabel creates a strong woman act at Museum of sorts. The circus which Jake worked for previously hears about the act and hires them. The circus is Mabel's whole life but for Jake it is his worst memory. This circus had ended his first wife life. The woman his blames is Mabel's Mother. Mabel discovers her Mother is alive!
This book maybe based on the circus life but it is only the background for a lives changed by mental illness. It is a truly a sad story of not understanding the facts over fear.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Eamace
How can something so weightless as air be so heavy at times?
Running away to the circus is likely the dream of many children, but imagine growing up in that world. For Mable, it was all she knew - working together with her father who was the strongest man in Europe in 1891. Her mother, Polly, was an
This well researched book will keep you entranced as the wonderful characters learn how to deal with the bitterness and melancholy. But all is not lost as they learn that they CAN do all things through Christ.
An ebook was received through NetGalley, Baker Publishing Group and Bethany House Publishers. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited.
Running away to the circus is likely the dream of many children, but imagine growing up in that world. For Mable, it was all she knew - working together with her father who was the strongest man in Europe in 1891. Her mother, Polly, was an
Show More
aerialist, flying through the rafters to the oohs and awes of the audience. But life wasn’t always so rosy. Dark days would cloud the flying angel’s mind - anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress led to her leaving to never return.This well researched book will keep you entranced as the wonderful characters learn how to deal with the bitterness and melancholy. But all is not lost as they learn that they CAN do all things through Christ.
An ebook was received through NetGalley, Baker Publishing Group and Bethany House Publishers. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited.
Show Less
LibraryThing member BeautyintheBinding
I loved The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy far more than I expected to. The prologue hooked my attention, and I would have read the story in one sitting if I had that luxury. As it happened, I delighted in returning to this novel night after night. The plot never dragged, the characters felt
Kimberly Duffy, author of The Weight of Air, wove hard topics into the stories of Mabel, Jake, and Isabella. Each character had their own brokenness and each issue was portrayed with authenticity. Insecurity, female objectification, loss of a spouse, depression, aging, and financial insecurity were some of the subjects addressed within the pages. Only a handful of spiritual moments occurred amid the adversity, which may disappoint readers that favor a strong, stated Christian message. I appreciated how each character grew towards healing as well as the theme about personal empowerment. Ultimately, The Weight of Air is a story that recognizes the importance of what parents do (or do not) pass down to children.
The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy will be on my list of favorite books read in 2023. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with unique settings. Five stars!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
Show More
original, and the slow burn romance unfolded beautifully. Kimberly Duffy, author of The Weight of Air, wove hard topics into the stories of Mabel, Jake, and Isabella. Each character had their own brokenness and each issue was portrayed with authenticity. Insecurity, female objectification, loss of a spouse, depression, aging, and financial insecurity were some of the subjects addressed within the pages. Only a handful of spiritual moments occurred amid the adversity, which may disappoint readers that favor a strong, stated Christian message. I appreciated how each character grew towards healing as well as the theme about personal empowerment. Ultimately, The Weight of Air is a story that recognizes the importance of what parents do (or do not) pass down to children.
The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy will be on my list of favorite books read in 2023. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with unique settings. Five stars!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
Show Less
LibraryThing member JanaRose1
Mabel performs as a strong woman with her father in a European circus. When her father dies, her stage fright overcomes and she is unable to perform. Across the sea, Isabella, an aging aerialist, fights her body in order to continue performing. When Mabel was a toddler, her mother left her to care
This book was pretty depressing and nostalgic. I suppose that is often the case in life, but I don't generally enjoy those types of books. The characters definitely felt realistic and well developed. Although the book wasn't for me, it was well written and well paced. 4 out of 5 stars.
Show More
for her aging parent. She never returned. Now, Mabel leaves the circus with Jake, an acrobat, and travels to America to find herself, and possibly her mom. This book was pretty depressing and nostalgic. I suppose that is often the case in life, but I don't generally enjoy those types of books. The characters definitely felt realistic and well developed. Although the book wasn't for me, it was well written and well paced. 4 out of 5 stars.
Show Less
Language
Physical description
400 p.; 8.5 inches
Pages
400
ISBN
0764240382 / 9780764240386