Official Review: Around the Sun by Eric Bovim

[mmm17]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Around the Sun" by Eric Bovim.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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In Around the Sun, a novel written by Eric Bovim, the protagonist, Mark White, narrates the story using the first person. He is a rich and successful man, CEO of White & Partners, a DC-based consulting behemoth. As one of the top media firms in the world, with eleven thousand square feet of office space on the top floor of a high-end building in the commercial district of DC, it employs 150 people and represents seventeen foreign governments.

Mark is the quintessential business executive; he travels abundantly, drinks Macallan 18, drives a Maserati and stays in five-star hotels. However, after the loss of his wife, Monica, in a tragic accident, Mark started having panic attacks, and a month later, full depression set in. As the story unfolds, Mark’s existential crisis spills over to the firm; during a rough couple of weeks, several failures and breakthroughs happen. But no spoilers are allowed!

This novel is one of the best I’ve read recently. There is much action, but there are also several passages in which the protagonist’s stream of consciousness becomes the primary focus. As his mental state deteriorates, a tumultuous and often sarcastic interior monologue stands out. Although the plot revolves around sadness, trauma, and loss, the author manages to soften this heaviness by making Mark a multidimensional character who can make funny comments about his predicament. There’s a particularly amusing part involving an encounter with a woman in a hotel.

Above all, I appreciated the author’s elegant and almost poetic writing style; this aspect was what I liked the most about the novel. The portrayal of Marks’s breakdowns is marvelously done. The author conveys the protagonist’s conflicts and desperation vividly and profoundly. For instance, Mark feels that he makes “$2 million a year to play the solitary man at the diner counter in a real-life Edward Hopper painting.” Moreover, I enjoyed how the author repeatedly mentions art throughout the book. One of the scenes, a moment he has with his eight-year-old son, Colin, reminds the protagonist of a Norman Rockwell painting.

The only negative I would mention is that the book lacked a strong female character. This overly masculine perspective was what I disliked the most. However, it didn’t prevent me from enjoying this superb novel.

Therefore, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. It seems professionally edited, for I only noticed a few minor mishaps that did not detract from the reading experience. Due to the difficult themes and use of profanity, it is a book for adults. If you enjoy realistic drama, you will surely like it.

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Around the Sun
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[Phelicia Gloria]

I love such motivational memoirs, I would like to know how the protagonist became so successful, thanks for the great review.

[Khalifa jaymore]

There is much action, but there are also several passages in which the protagonist’s stream of consciousness becomes the primary focus. I appreciate the author’s elegant and almost poetic writing style; this aspect was what I liked the most about the novel.

[Elvis Best]

Sounds like Mark is a really funny guy. Amidst all his misfortune, he manages to see a lighter side. I'd love to read this book in the near future.

[book_fanatic_]

I love novels that have poetic writing style. This one seems to be a good, motivational read. Thank you for the detailed and honest review.

[Harty Muli]

I like Mark's strength and the discussion on living after a tragic loss. This is what life is all about. Nice review.

[Samgum50]

Great review! I'm definitely going to add this book to my shelves, it seems very gripping and interesting to read.

[Damis Seres Rodriguez]

To be quite honest, I don't really enjoy first-person narrative, so I don't think I would enjoy this book at all. However, you made it sound quite interesting. Might be worth giving it a try. Great review!