Mark White has built a successful company based in his PR expertise. Living close to Washington D.C., he charges a fortune for his services but it’s clear from the early sections that his enthusiasm for the business is waning. He’s tired of the long days, the constant need for international travel but most of all he’s worried about his young son, Colin. Since the loss of his wife, Monica, to a hit-and-run accident he’s been immersing himself in work but his son is struggling and soon Mark realises that Colin’s declining grades represent the visible signs of the strain he is under. How’s he going to get his life, and that of his son, back on an even keel?

There’s quite a bit here about the life of a successful business executive and the perks (and some of the drawbacks) that such a position offers. The heart of this novel is, however, the story of Mark’s continuing battle to deal with the loss of his wife and to fully come to terms with his responsibilities as the sole remaining parent. Of course his money helps, so Colin always has somebody around – the hired help – but it’s now obvious that his struggle to cope with the death of his mother and now the absence of his father has become an acute problem.

For the most part this is a fairly dense literary piece with occasional long rambling passages that could have been penned by Don DeLillo. And because of this I had the creeping feeling that this is a book I’d rather listen to than read, so that some of the more lumbering sections could wash over me. But as I became ever more drawn into the lives of these two floundering people I began to appreciate the quality and truth of some of the writing: I’d stop and re-read a section here and there and highlight a line that particularly resonated. Yes, there was definitely some good stuff here.

It became ever clearer that Mark was in the early stages of a complete breakdown and that this was putting his entire company at risk. He’d developed a self destructive streak that he seemed unable to reverse. Some of his colleagues had determined that it might be better to jump ship now rather than risk down down with it and this death spiral seemed irreversible as one misstep followed another. By now I’d developed huge empathy for Mark and Colin and in the closing sections of the book I was willing them both on, hoping that they’d find some way of squaring the circle.

This book is not perfect, by any means. Apart from the semi-impenetrable sections I’ve already referenced there are some interactions between Mark and Colin that just didn’t quite ring true for me. But, and it’s a big but, I did eventually find myself totally captivated by this story. The good heavily outweighs the not so good here. And there’s enough of the former for me to offer up a four-star rating.

Mark White runs his PR business, as he deals with his wife’s death, and tries to look after his son, though his work keeps him away from home a lot. He’s using caffeine, alcohol and drugs to keep going - and that combination almost guarantees that there will be problems.
I’m not sure how to describe the writing style - not quite stream of consciousness, but pretty close. Honestly not an easy style for me to read, so it was difficult for me to really get invested in the story.

Bovim's novel entertains with humor and insight. The plot moves along nicely while entertaining the reader with numerous twists and turns. The detailed and psychological characterizations resonate with accuracy and realism and help allow the crazy plot to come through effectively. I raced through the pages, and ultimately, isn't that the best evidence of a solid book?

There was much to enjoy in this debut novel. The story revolves around a successful PR executive struggling to deal with the grief of losing his wife and raising his son as a single dad. I felt myself cheering for him, even as he spiraled out of control and lost his grip with important clients of his company. His abuse of drugs and alcohol caused irreparable damage at work and with his son, who couldn't handle his father's constant absences. However, he was a good person, who recognized his faults and eventually tried to overcome them. I liked the first-person narration, although at times keeping track of conversations was difficult. The author had many thoughtful phrases and insights that made you pause and reflect. The business story was at times lengthy but having worked in the corporate world, I enjoyed the details and found them to be quite accurate. I also enjoyed the travelogue of places he visited - New York, DC, San Francisco, Barbados, and Barcelona. The one downside for me is that most of the other characters were not very interesting. I really enjoyed the story when it focused on Mark and his son Colin. I would recommend this book as a hopeful book with good writing.

I am going to give my feedback here, although I have not finished this book. I started reading it, put it away, waited a couple of weeks, took it back out, continued reading and then put it away.
It was well written, but the subject matter just fell flat for me. The corporate business world is light years away from my interests. It just couldn't keep me going.

I did not finish this book. When one sentence is 93 words long this impossible to follow I couldn’t continue reading. It was like a high school student trying to make his word minimum.

“We can know more of something through its absence, for the omissions written into stories or painted into settings all command our imagination.” Mark White, from Part 1 of this novel.

My review focuses on the main character, Mark White, and his 8 yr old son, Colin, without whom there would be no story to tell. Mark is a difficult character for the reader to know, since he no longer knows himself. And since Mark is our first person narrator and trying to fool himself that the busyness of his days has depth, it is detailed paragraphs of busyness we get too much of in both his travel and everyday life: I unpacked; I brushed my teeth; I ordered an espresso; I opened my laptop, etc.

Stripped of this filler, a story of interest does emerge, in Mark’s PR business at the height of its influence through sudden implosion to disgrace, and in his awakening that Colin will no longer suffer in medicated emotional limbo his grief for his mother or the loss of his father to absence and then distraction while at home. Four years have passed since Monica’s accidental death, and although the quote above is uttered by Mark as wisdom learned in his ascension to PR genius, the omission of what has transpired between Monica’s death and the present is a mystery left to the reader’s imagination to unravel. We get no clues as to the arc of Mark’s grief before the present time. I know from personal experience that grieving for a spouse is not a linear process, so I accept that Mark used immersion in work to avoid processing his grief and that his present state of mind is plausible.

What is difficult to accept is that Mark did not choose to scale back on his business commitments earlier in the aftermath of his wife’s death to provide the attention and support Colin needed towards a healthy adjustment to life without his mom. Part 3 of this book gives us Monica remembered through photos, her art and memories of places traveled, a firm foundation upon which Mark and Colin embark to make each other whole again. The ending is not happy, but hopeful.

Recommended, with reservations about substantial filler as described above and for a confusing whiplash of time line in the early business-focused chapters. Also for the overuse in part 1 of obscure words that I was compelled to stop and look up since each seemed to be key to understanding the point being made, thereby interrupting reading flow.
As an editing comment, I would have appreciated that the rapid fire single line business dialogues included an occasional ID of the speaker. More than once I lost track of which person was speaking and had to re-read the passage.

My thanks to Epigraph Publishing and NetGalley for ARC access in return for an honest review.
#netgalley
#aroundthesun

Appreciated the opportunity to read and review this book received from Netgalley. This novel is the story of Mark White, head of the highly successful PR firm that he built in the DC area. Mark has recently lost his much-loved wife Monica to a tragic accident. He and his young son, Colin, are both suffering from the time and travel demands of Mark’s corporate position;
both are taking medications for anxiety and stress while coping less and less well. The first part of the book centers on the work of Mark’s firm, the major characters there, and specifics of his work for a start-up translation app company about to launch an IPO but suddenly beset with devastating publicity. Mark can give only scant attention to Colin, who is struggling, lonely for his remaining parent and largely being raised by their housekeeper.

The second part of the book, when Mark’s psyche begins to unravel and he begins to realize fully how his hectic job is damaging his son, is much better and stunning as regards his emotional growth. He takes steps to remedy the cockeyed work-balance in his life to reflect the love and attention his son needs. The trips he and Colin take to Barbados and Barcelona are well-described and present local color very well down to the finest detail.

While I enjoyed this book very much, I found the beginning regarding the corporate PR world ponderous going in parts and some verbiage and vocabulary overly pedantic. The later parts of the book with father and son drawing closer while spending more time together and traveling moved more quickly, were rich in local color and emotionally touching.

Where do I even start with this book? As a debut author, I'm seriously impressed with Mr. Bovim. This book brought out so many emotions in me - I actually felt like I was living right alongside Mark and his young son, Colin.

Mark married the sweetheart he had since he was 18 years old. She was an artist - he became an entrepreneur. They had a child, Colin. Unfortunately, his wife passed away leaving him to care for his son and his demanding business. Each time he told his son he had to go out of town, he saw the worry and sadness in his son's eyes. Both Mark and Colin were taking pills to help with everything - their anxiety, depression, etc. Until one day Mark just about reached his breaking point - his business went to hell and his son was nearly failing out of school (early years - either kindergarten or 1st grade). He can't keep living like this - he hears his wife talking to him all the time, but he is starting to forget her face. He is driving himself crazy. He knows he needs to do something to save both himself and his son, but does he have the courage to do what it takes?

After I finished this book, I told my husband I thought he would like it more than I did. Don't get me wrong - I really liked the book, but it also left me exhausted. The book is SO detailed with descriptions for everything - at times I felt I couldn't breathe. I swear a few times one sentence lasted for an entire page. But the writing is beautiful and his use of words are eloquent. I probably should have paced my reading to where I had more breaks to let my brain recover. But I do recommend this book - it still has me thinking about it nonstop.

I was provided this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are mine without biases.

I enjoyed this very different book. The detailed and intimate details of the main character's life came through in the phenomenal writing. What a heartening story about the journey through heartbreak to optimism.

This book started off very slow and I almost gave up. However, since I received a free copy to review, I forged on as it is unfair to review a book I did not complete. A little over have way, the story and, in my opinion the writing got better. At the beginning, the story is very bogged down in the particulars of Mark’s life as CEO of a PR firm and the various events that eventually lead to the firm’s downfall. All of this is happening against the backdrop of the fact that Mark is grappling with the untimely, accidental death of his wife and raising his young son, Colin. In the end, Mark comes to terms with his wife’s death and raising his son on his own.

Around the Sun follows Mark White as he deals with his clients, his employees, his depression after the death of his wife, his son, and the list goes on. My point is that while mulltiple plots can be interesting, the abrupt ending and starting of those plots, and some of the inconsequential detail detracts from the reading experience. I found myself considering putting down the book before I finished.
Having said that, it did hold my interest. Highly recommend tightening up the writing and focusing on fewer subplots.

New voice in fiction delivers a compelling tale of naked ambition, business crises, moving grief and the path to redemption.

Reading Around the Sun, was not an easy task at first. The stream of conscious narration in the beginning of the book was rather long-winded and confusing; and, I had trouble staying focused and vested in the characters. Some of the vocabulary felt unnatural and stilted. But the description of the book was intriguing, so I plowed ahead and ended up liking the characters and enjoying the book. The relatable and modern setting along with the realistic social media tensions, made the last 90% of the book engaging. The authenticity of Mark White’s distracted parenting accurately reflects what I have experienced as a teacher because, parents are human and sometimes life is messy. I found myself reading late at night as Mark White’s world unraveled because I ended up liking him and wanted to see him rebound and regain control of his life.

This is the story of Mark, the head of a firm of consultants, who travels around the world pretty much nonstop. He is also dealing with the death of his wife and trying to raise his son, Colin. The writing was choppy like bursts of thoughts that Mark is having. Part 1 dealt with his business deals and I found that boring. Part 2 was more interesting as Mark makes some colossal mistakes and on one hand is trying to save the business but on the other seems to be doing what he can to make it tank. I didn't like Mark very much. He seems to feel sorry for himself. He has created this business that makes him a lot of money but now seems to hate every minute of the responsibility. Instead of getting out and selling the business he sabotages the future of the company but I don't think it was intentional. He takes pills, drinks and keeps himself highly caffeinated.

Colin seems like a normal little boy, missing his mother but Mark has him on a regimen of pills for supposed anxiety. All I saw was a kid looking for some stability. Colin was nine and I thought that his mom died about a year before but it turns out it was four years. It seems like a long time for Mark to be getting his act together. I felt like he keeps Colin medicated so he doesn't ask questions.

This was the kind of book that can't be read for short periods and picked up later. I found once I could sit and absorb it I liked it much better. The writing seemed to flow better. There was no big ending because this wasn't that kind of story. A lot of character study so if you are looking for action this isn't the book.

Around the Sun is that book you have to make yourself comfortable so you don't miss anything. Personally i found the first chapters a little bit slow but it started to pick up in subsequent chapters now that's said let's analyze the book
I loved how descriptive the plot was, it wasn't rushed but just right for me at least or if you're someone that needs to know everything like I am
Reading this book like i was fully in the mind of Mike , each blending perfectly with the story coming together nicely even if there were some parts i confess i skipped

Mark White is the founder and owner of a very successful Washington, DC public relations company. His stream of conscious narration takes you through his memories of his recently deceased wife, his efforts to provide stability for his son, and his own unraveling.

If you're a reader who highlights beautifully-written passages just to go back and savor them, Around the Sun will be a goldmine for you. This book was the most staggering display of virtuosity with words that I've come across in -- I can't remember how long.

It's written in first person, with a wealthy man as the point of view character, so perhaps it's unfair of me to grumble that there was solely a male frame of reference and that it felt felt more than a bit elitist. Because none of the secondary characters really came alive for me, my irritation with the entitled, self-absorbed protagonist was amplified.

Despite the frequent pauses to delight in (yet another) astonishing phrase, I flew through this book. At the end, though, I was left with the afterglow of a glamorous travelogue punctuated by first-world problems. So -- I guess my summary is "style over substance."

Thanks to NetGalley and Epigraph for an advance readers copy.

Bovim's debut novel "Around the Sun" packs quite a punch in its 288 pages! Told in three distinctive parts, the reader is introduced immersively to our protagonist Mark White, the powerful CEO of an elite Washington, DC Public Relations firm. His client list includes DC movers and shakers, heads of international Fortune 500 firms, and heads of state in foreign lands. He mans the helm of the DC based, yet internationally connected firm with style, confidence, and ego to spare.

In Part One we join Mark as he jet sets (at the drop of a dime) around the world, troubleshooting and providing damage control for his elite clientele, the picture of cool, calm and commanding, he quite literally has the world by the tail! Or so he would have everyone think. Told in rapid, scattershot, frenetic language and almost stream of consciousness prose, Mark would have everyone (himself included) believe there is no problem, no situation that he CAN. NOT. HANDLE. Bada bing, bada boom! Dash here, dash there! Fix it, fix it, FIX IT!

Part One ends, however, with a devastating professional crash for Mark. His armor has chinks and his "I Can Handle Anything" mask has slipped. In Part Two, we find that the Prince of PR has a few unresolved and seriously troubling problems. While not a surprise, for these problems were cleverly "hidden in plain sight" within the novel's first section, we discover the true extent of Mark's attempts at self-deception and avoidance. For you see, Mark's beloved wife Monica was killed in a hit-and-run accident months before. Monica, a successful artist, has always provided Mark with context and grounding. With the sudden removal of the connecting "color" in the portrait of his life, Mark has tried, unsuccessfully, to bury his deeply devastating grief in booze, pills, and business. With his mantra of "I'm fine," he has neglected to see that his young son, Colin, is far from fine. Slowly realizing that he is all Colin has in the world, a devastated Mark in the third and final part of this excellent story is led on yet another round of soul searching "turns around the sun" hopefully coming to terms with his struggle between ambition and life without, like Icarus, flying too close to the scorching rays of the sun.

Eric Michael Bovim's writing is not for those who want an "easy read" in either topic or prose. I will not lie, I consider myself a "word nerd" and his vernacular of choice had me reaching often for my dictionary! So too did I Google with frequency the world that Bovim's characters inhabit. As my career path did not lead me through the halls of high power, high energy public relations agencies or make me privy to the ins and outs of the corporate financial world, I definitely sought edification a time or two or three! But what I did recognize early on, and quite clearly, was the very real and oh so human pain of grief and loss that he so successfully wove throughout the pages of his book. Mission accomplished Mr. Bovim! I look forward to sharing many more of your turns around the sun as written in your distinctive voice!
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I'd like to express my thanks to NetGalley and to the author, Eric Michael Bovim, for the opportunity to receive an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

#NetGalley
#Eric Michael Bovim

DNF. Tried several times to get into this and simply couldn't. This is painfully boring and not a novel.