3 stars Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for allowing me to read this book. Published April 19, 2022.

Although this is not my favorite Taylor Brown book it is still good and very readable. I did not feel that it was written with the detail to story and descriptions as his books Gods of Howl Mountain or Fallen Land were, however.

Wingwalkers is a two story novel. There are the aviator Zeno and his wing walking wife that fly the land giving aerial shows and then there is the young life of Billy Falkner - who changes his last name to read Faulkner. And that is where the story converges - when Zeno and Della put on a sky show for the famous author William Faulkner.

The portion of the story detailing the meeting of Faulkner and the aerial couple is taken from history and based on the truth. Taking a bit of true history, I believe, is something that Brown does in each of his novels. I just did not find the depth of description in this book that I have found in my previous reading of his works.

Seriously well-written: This isn't just a story, this is literature. Wonderful imagery - it leaves you feeling like you really did just travel through the Deep South in the '30's. Definitely an odyssey style tale.

That said, I find I didn't really care for the story. I was expecting more adventure and magic in the form of the wing walking. This was more of hard scrabble struggles during WWI, Prohibition, and the Great Depression. And a bit too gritty for my taste, almost gloomy, and not seldomly bordering on vulgar. (Doesn't pass the "recommend to Mom" test.)

Highly recommended for wonderful prose and historical accuracy. Cautioned for mood and sexuality.

Wing-Walkers by Taylor Brown has a stunning cover. I was unfamiliar with Brown's previous works. As other reviewers note, his writing is beautiful. Though, I also agree the book was not always engaging enough to capture my full attention. I wonder if this was in part the dual timelines dividing the action and plot, along with a focus on a known person during some parts of the book. I find I tend to wonder about the split between fiction and reality. I think I would have preferred more focus on the action and adventure of the wing-walkers themselves. This dangerous profession was very fascinating to read about.

Well written historical fiction is my favorite, and Taylor Brown can certainly write. I enjoyed seeing him at the fabulous Mississippi Book Festival just last Saturday, and it was a treat to be reading this book at that time.

This is a story of barnstormers, a WWI pilot and his daredevil wife. The rich details given by the author were very satisfying, and made the history come alive. The trip along the gulf coast of Mississippi and description of New Orleans was wonderful.

The story was excellent in itself, but the inclusion of a certain very famous literary character was pure brilliance.

I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review. I’m enough of a book nerd to get a real thrill from getting to read a book early, so I deeply appreciate them.

This was a very well plotted book.. I liked the whole premise of it and it was written quite well!! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

Taylor Brown is one of my instant-click writers. You know, the ones where you get the book without really bothering to read the blurb? Yeah, that kind of writer so you can imagine I was over the moon to receive an ARC of Wingwalkers. The cover is gorgeous and the blurb sounded interesting ... and the book was so much better than advertised.

Brown does a masterful job at combining the POV of aerial stuntwoman Della and the world-famous William Faulkner. I learned so much about him that I didn't know before and in a much more personal way than any biography could've done. It isn't always a pretty picture, you see well the alcoholism that will taint his legacy, but William comes across as a fully-realized, fully-relatable character and that's impressive for someone so well-known.

Della though is *everything*. I absolutely loved her. The strength, the brashness, the determination. Granted, she has her moments when those same traits could be bad for her. She's perfectly matched with Zeno, him haunted by the past war and her by her dreams of going west. I don't trust myself to not give things away about them but I will say that their improbable romance was enjoyable and frustrating in all the best ways.

The ending wraps up the novel with a note of true perfection. Once again, I loved a Taylor Brown book and recommend it highly to my fellow readers, especially those with a love for Southern fiction.

Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

I came to read Wingwalker because I read some positive comments from other readers. I haven’t read Taylor Brown before but the subject, barnstorming pilots and wingwalking women traveling the deep South during the middle of the Great Depression, coupled in some way with William Faulkner, was too intriguing to resist. I’m so very glad that I read this book.

In what the author assures is a work of fiction with pieces of fact, he writes an alternating narrative, beginning with Bill Falkner and his brothers in 1908 watching a balloonist in their home town, Oxford, Mississippi. Then we are introduced to Zeno and Della, pilot and wingwalker, also husband and wife, in Georgia in 1933. Over the span of the novel, the Falkner (soon to become Faulkner) narrative moves along in time to join our barnstormers in the 1930s. Along the way we see young Faulkner become a young man, fall in love, decide on a career, become absorbed with flight.

Meanwhile, we see the poverty in the country as Zeno and Della attempt to survive by selling rides on their airplane or get tips for their daring feats while the people who watch them scrape for coins to enjoy this new “luxury.”

All the while, Brown is writing in a style that evokes Mr. Faulkner at times in its dream-like presentation of this southern world, the descriptions of nature, the descriptions of the people on the land. As I read, I became more and more involved and enamored with this book. It struck chords deep inside and reminds me why I majored in English, why I signed up for a Southern American Lit class in college so many years ago. It’s nice to feel that enthusiasm again. I plan to read more of Brown’s work.

I do recommend this book to anyone interested in southern literature, Faulkner, the depression era, and early flight in the U.S. or who would just like a good story.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

<b>Brown's signature immersive details and wonderfully imagined, rich characters bring Depression-era scenes to life against an irresistible backdrop of swooping, soaring, daring aviation in <i>Wingwalkers.</i></b>
<blockquote>They were over Georgia somewhere, another nameless hamlet whose dusty streets lay flocked and trembling with the pink handbills they’d rained from the sky that morning, the ones that announced the coming of DELLA THE DARING DEVILETTE, who would DEFY THE HEAVENS, shining like a DAYTIME STAR, a WING-WALKING WONDER borne upon the wings of CAPTAIN ZENO MARIGOLD, a DOUBLE ACE of the GREAT WAR, who had ELEVEN AERIAL VICTORIES over the TRENCHES OF FRANCE.</blockquote>
What is it about aviation stories and my being so in love with them?

In Taylor Brown's recently published historical fiction novel <i>Wingwalkers,</i> Zeno, a former World War I ace pilot, and Della, his daring wingwalking wife, travel Depression-era America, wowing audiences and inspiring hope in a dark, sober time.

Zeno and Della are vagabonds, putting on shows for small bills and change, scrambling to make enough to fuel their plane, feed their dog, and to hopefully have enough left over to eat meager meals, just enough to keep them going. They're daring, sometimes haunted, broken, in love, and irresistible to read about.

<blockquote>She wanted to rip the weights from his chest, the heavy stones he carried, blacked by the great fire of his heart.</blockquote>
Brown offers another parallel storyline tracking the frustrated would-be pilot and burgeoning author Bill (William) Faulkner, his three beloved brothers, his lost loves, his torment and motivation, and his struggles and successes. When the characters from the two rich stories that make up <i>Wingwalkers</i> briefly intersect, it's fantastic.

<i>Wingwalkers</i> shines through immersive descriptions offered in signature Taylor Brown style, including glimpses of Depression-era America both from the sky and at close range; vivid moments placing these wonderfully wrought characters solidly in place and time; and various views of a broken landscape that perfectly mirrors the dashed dreams of so many during grim times. The Depression's dark effects on the country contrast dramatically with the majestic, gutsy aviation at the heart of the story, which boosts the stubborn hopes of those who allow themselves to be inspired.
<blockquote>"Stories," she said. Sometimes she could hardly believe her own. Sometimes she wondered if she held the threads of her own story or if there were another hand out there, unseen--god or author or fate--pulling the strings and banshee wires of their world. Or no one, only the wind. Sometimes she wondered if they were not haunted but haints themselves, turning endless circles over the land, performing the same acts over and over, replaying the same deaths--unable to move on.</blockquote>
<i>Wingwalkers</i> swoops and soars yet grounds the reader in wonderfully imagined (and researched) details that bring the story to life. I loved this book!

I received a prepublication digital edition of this book courtesy of St. Martin's Press and NetGalley.

Taylor is also the author of <a href="https://www.bossybookworm.com/post/review-of-the-gods-of-howl-mountain-by-taylor-brown/"><i>Gods of Howl Mountain,</a></i> a book I loved and gave five stars, <i>Pride of Eden</i> (a book still on my to-read list that looks wonderful), and <i>Fallen Land,</i> a title I loved and included in the Greedy Reading List <a href="https://www.bossybookworm.com/six-great-historical-fiction-stories-about-the-civil-war/">Six Great Historical Fiction Stories about the Civil War.</a>

If you’re not on the Taylor Brown train yet, may I strongly suggest you join me?

<b>To see my full review on The Bossy Bookworm, or to find out about Bossy reviews and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see <a href="https://www.bossybookworm.com/post/review-of-wingwalkers-by-taylor-brown/"><i>Wingwalkers.</a></i></b>

Find hundreds of reviews and lots of roundups of my favorite books on the blog: <a href="https://www.bossybookworm.com/"><b>Bossy Bookworm</a></b>
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I learned so much about Depression era, small town America from this book! Read about the death defying stunts "Wingwalkers" did and their lives and romance. Especially good read if you like this time in American history.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press Publishing, as well as to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Wingwalkers.

I'm sorry. I tried. I really did. The storyline just didn't grab me. I went into this book believing it would be more about wing-walking and less about sex and men falling down drunk and snoring. (Or to put it more gently, too much ROMANCE and IMBIBING.) At 29% I gave up and DNF.

On the positive side, I loved Della the Daring!

Such a pretty cover. I love the colors and the view from the sky. But somehow, this story just never grabbed me. I think there was more partying and romance than storyline of the actual wingwalkers. I wanted to feel the pull of the characters and the wind in my hair. But I did enjoy the story, it was just not what I thought it would be.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This was not what I expected and was very different from the last Taylor Brown book I read: Pride of Eden. An encounter by author William Faulkner with barnstorming couple in New Orleans is the basis for this new historical fiction title. There is a story line following Faulkner from his boyhood and aspiring pilot days as well as one for Della and Zino Marigold. Della wants to make it big in Hollywood, but the 1930's is a tough time to travel cross-country. Along with the nuggets from Faulkner's life are the slice of life moments from the Depression in the South and the exotic pull of New Orleans. A fascinating read.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I was provided a free copy of this book from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book is half fictionalized biography of William Faulkner, and half historical fiction about barnstormers (pilots who performed stunts and gave rides as a way of living). It was interesting learning about William Faulker's early years and his love of flying, which I knew nothing about. Although the chapters telling his story started to get a bit more cerebral as the story continued, which turned me off some. I haven't read any of his work, so it may have been trying to impersonate his writing style, assuming that's the way he thought as well. I enjoyed the chapters about Della and Zeno more. Their crazy lifestyle was hard to imagine, flying from place to place doing stunts and selling rides.
This was an interesting story the whole way through, although I did struggle a bit with an overall purpose/connection. It was definitely a slice of life that we don't hear too much about, and is pretty different than life now.
Luckily for you, this was published today! So if it sounds like something you would be interested in, go ahead and check it out from your favorite book spot!
#NetGalley #Wingwalkers

I enjoyed this dual perspective historical fiction book. A new to me author, this dual timeline story kept me entertained from start to finish. I loved getting an insight into the wingwalkers who flew around performing during the Great Depression. We also get to learn more about Enzo's past in flashbacks to his life during WWI. This was an original and thoroughly enjoyable read. Perfect for fans of The last dance on the Starlight pier or The four winds by Kristin Hannah. Much thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my advance review copy!

Real Rating: 3.5* of five, rounded up for the sonority of the sentences

As fictional Della and Zeno Marigold make their way through this story, on the way to meeting up with Billy Falkner, I came to appreciate the readerly stance one of my sisters expressed to me: "Leave famous people out of it. Just makes things harder to buy into."

The story Author Brown (<I>In the Season of Blood and Gold</i>, <I>Gods of Howl Mountain</i>) tells here uses the Marigolds and their barnstorming to illuminate a facet of William Faulkner (fancied-up Billy) that isn't much discussed: His fascination with aviation. It's beautifully written, glacially slow of pace, and not quite up to the task of convincing me that these two stories belonged together. If your reading led you to love <I>Last Dance on the Starlight Pier</i> for Depression stories, or <I>Cloud Cuckoo Land</i>'s multi-stranded take on intertwined fates told over time, then this book will get more stars from you than me. If you've grooved to <I>Sea of Tranquility</i> or <I>Unlikely Animals</i> for their gorgeously wrought images and smoothly set sentences, this book will give you happy hours.

This book was a pleasant reading experience"… a love story of two unique souls, who actually loved flying more than each other, combined with a concurrent story of Billy Faulkner, whom we know as William Faulkner. Set mostly in the 1930’s, I so appreciated the depictions of small town life which helped me understand the exuberance of townspeople wanting to have excitement in their lives.
Della and Zeno were the perfect partners, but my favorite character was Sark, the terrier who traveled with them.
I love descriptive prose, but at times I felt like it weighed down the plot line and tampered with the flow of the storyline. The meeting between Della, Zeno, and Faulkner was pure magic. This is my second read in a row set in rural America during the depression. Both have opened my eyes to what my grandparents actually lived through. Love to read books that are so enjoyable yet educate me as well.
Many thanks to Taylor Brown, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for affording me the pleasure of reading an arc of this thought provoking book, to be published on 4-19. Three and a half stars!

Taylor Brown imagines the personal life of the wingwalker, a daredevil stunt in the aerial barnstorming shows of the 1920s. Della and Zeno Marigold are quite the uncommon wingwalking couple; sleeping under the stars, willing to risk death for a meal or gas, and both fond of their old dog Sark (who actually plays into your heart the most). Della is deeply in love with Zeno. Zeno is good to her but deeply in love with…alcohol.
They rough and tumble across the South, with Della’s eventual goal being the West Coast. Meandering in completely unique patterns is the young boy Billy, growing up with his brothers in Mississippi. We flash back and forth between the two, and this may seem a bit confusing, but be patient and read on.
Part fact, part fiction, but all truly reminiscent of an older, sadder era of the Great Depression, Taylor Brown brings us close to the people who survived the time, sitting around the campfire, drinking rotgut, with none of the common benefits of life we take for granted today. This is another thoroughly captivating and entertaining read by the modern master of Southern storytelling.
Sincere thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is April 19, 2022.

Once again, Taylor Brown writes an exquisitely descriptive novel of historical fiction, this time dealing with the early days of flight in the American south, where two young men who love to fly will eventually meet in New Orleans during Mardi Gras in 1934 at a celebrated flying festival.

The entertainers: 'See Captain Zeno Marigold, double ace of the Great War! See Della the Daring Devilette, who defies death, walking on wing and wind!'

Then there's the young man from Oxford, Mississippi, William Faulkner: 'His imagination seems too big to be grounded, his ambitions too lofty for gravity. His mind seeks truth far larger than points of fact. Perhaps he'll find something true after all, scratching away with his pen.'

I was surprised to find the novelist Faulkner and his brothers in this novel, having previously known nothing about their interest in flight. I found that aspect of this story fascinating.

Zeno and Della, the husband and wife team, seem so desperate to me in those early days of the Great Depression when they entertained to earn a few bucks just to eat and keep flying. They are the embodiment of the desire 'to live free or die!' Della always dreams of heading to California to try their luck, but Zeno just keeps them circling around the south.

I received an arc of this entertaining, character-driven novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

Balancing life while on the ground while balancing life on the edge of a wing.........

Taylor Brown creates stories from so many aspects in this world. He takes us on horseback through Fallen Land during the Civil War and to North Carolina with bootleggers in Gods of Howl Mountain. We traveled with two brothers down Georgia's "Little Amazon" in The River of Kings and once again to the Georgia coast in Pride of Eden.

Brown's writing is filled with ribbons of atmospheric descriptors. He makes us feel and live what is at the core of his novels. It's simply human beings caught up and entangled in just the right spot at just the right time. Their stories reach us because of his light finger on the pulse of what constitutes good, evil, and everything inbetween.

We'll meet Della and Zeno Marigold. Zeno happens to be a World War I ace pilot with incredible time in the air under the most dire of circumstances. His wife Della is more the light-hearted spirit who feels alive when her feet aren't necessarily touching solid ground. It's now the Great Depression where livelihood is carved out of anything and everything. People were desperate for something that would take their eyes from life's current deadpan situations. Looking up featured a welcomed diversion even if it meant parting with precious pennies.

Taylor Brown switches gears and we come face-to-face with "Billy" who will later find success as one of the greatest American writers: William Faulkner. Della and Zeno will be drawing near as they arrive in New Orleans for one of their stunt air shows. Brown accomplishes his split storyline as he reaches back to these beginnings.

Wingwalkers is an engaging story. It is certainly well-written and laid out with the surprise element of Faulkner. But it's not my favorite of Taylor Brown's novels (and I've read them all). The thread of the William Faulkner storyline could have been a tremendous novel unto itself. I would gauge this one at 3.5 Stars kicked up to 4 Stars because of Brown's writing alone. Just say the name Taylor Brown and I'm there for the next one.......absolutely absolute.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to the talented Taylor Brown for the opportunity.

I was really excited to receive a copy of this book as I've heard such great things about the Taylor Brown; but unfortunately, I just couldn't get into the book at all. I found that I could not relate to the characters and couldn't get into the story. I'm sure there are many others out there that will love this book though.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to Netgalley though for giving me the chance to read the book in advance.