Leaving Earth

by Helen Humphreys

Book Overview

Leaving Earth was Helen Humphreys's debut, and it brought the beauty of her poetry into the story of two women's love of flight and dream to excel, even if it took all their courage and strength and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312255004
• ISBN13: 9780312255008
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Picador USA
• Length: 242 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.1"

Customer Reviews

Leaving Earth

'Leaving Earth' by Helen Humphreys is an engaging story of two women aviators from the 1930s in Canada. It's a tale of two women Air Ace Grace O'Gorman and Willa Briggs defying convention and other odds, taking to the skies in their Moth for an endurance test to break the record of non-stop flight of 25 days. The book captures the exhilaration of flight itself and reminded me of the reasons why I love flying so much. The story moves with the pilots circling endlessly over Toronto Bay, inventing a new sign language to communicate when their paper and pencil flies away in a storm. It tells us of Maddy, a 12 year old girl who idolizes them and who would trade in her own mother for Air Ace Grace, not least because Maddy fears the prejudice against her mother's Jewishness as Canadian anti-Semitism gathers momentum. A lovely book, very evocative and draws us into the flight with a profound sense of aviation and a passion for leaving earth. Recommended reading for anyone who loves the thrill of taking off and staying in the air. Never mind Jet lag.

In flight

In August 1933, the famous aviatrix Grace O'Gorman recruits the inexperienced Willa Briggs to accompany her in breaking the world flight endurance record. While circling Toronto, the women must deal with fatigue, the weather, and the sabotaging efforts of Grace's husband. Meanwhile, on the ground, anti-Semitism erupts and affects some of those connected with the women. Unable to communicate with words in the sky, Grace and Willa find new ways of communicating that change their views of the world, and Willa, with this new awareness, finds her feelings for Grace becoming more complicated. "Leaving Earth" is a magical and adventurous story, based on some true events, about women challenging the often-stifling roles of the 1930s. The book glimmers and comes alive, showcasing Humphrey's lush style in her first novel.

Glad I found this one.

I liked everything about this book. It is like a strange dream you have one night and wake up not knowing how things are really going to turn out. If you like books you can feel and smell, you will like this great little read.

This book revels the intimacy of women.

This is a lovely book. Grace and Willa learn how to deal with discomfort in order to break the distance record. They learn that they do not have to speak in order to communicate. Maddy is a young girl at the age where girls fall in love with "stars" and she falls in love with Grace. this novel is about women and their connection to other women. It tells how women are able to adapt to any situation and work to make the best of it. It is the connection, that Grace and Willa learn that they cannot live without. I wanted more and Helen Humphreys leaves the reader wanting more.