Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: April 19, 2022
Taylor Brown, of “Gods of Hollow Mountain” fame, returns with a story based on events that happened to author, William Faulkner, during the 1930s. A pilot, Zeno, and his daredevil wife travel the countryside in a small plane, persuading spectators to view their dangerous, death-defying aeronautics. As Zeno and his wife travel, young Bill Faulkner grows up with a desire to be a pilot, convincing his younger brothers to build and fly airplanes with him. When their paths cross at an airshow in New Orleans, the three become fast friends and bond over their love of aircrafts and flying.
Brown can sure write a pretty piece. He is the only author I’ve read in the modern era who can wax poetic on drinking a bottle of Coke in a diner. The characters Brown creates are admirable and charming, and his plot has some good bones to it, but most of the novel itself is filled with fluff and flowery prose. The novel is told from the perspective of Della and Zeno in the 1930s era, and from the perspective of Bill Faulkner, as he grows up, until he meets Della and Zeno in their time period. Although the true identity of “Bill” is not known until the juxtaposition of time periods, it is hinted at throughout the plot, and it adds a nice twist when this truth is revealed.
I enjoyed the travels of Della and Zeno, and although their relationship was passionate and powerful, their love of airplanes and air travel seemed to overshadow any other romantic plots. Of course, Zeno and Della’s beloved terrier stole my heart, and he, by far, was my favourite “character” of the novel.
Brown has the writing ability to be memorable, and he uses the pretty words that you expect when you read a classic novelist. The plot in “Wingwalkers” is death-defying and romantic, yet slow in spots. I loved the characters and their travels together, but the detail could’ve been toned down in some areas (for example, the details of Zena, Della and Bill’s extensive trips to bars and pubs through Louisiana, including the drinks they consumed, was more than I wanted to know). Overall, “Wingwalkers” is a great novel for anyone interested in William Faulkner (even though the novel is loosely based on one event in his life) or has a passion for flying machines, piloting, and its extensive history.

I thought this book was going to be something else entirely. I’m not sure why but I thought this was going to be about a group of awesome wingwalking women. There is the one woman and her husband and random other people doing things. Some of the book pulled me in, but most of it I didn’t care for and I dnfed it at one point.

There will be a lot of people that love this book so you can make up your own mind.

*Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital copy of this book.

“Wing-walkers” is a fine literary novel set in the American South during the early 20th century. Fans of depression-era stories, tales about flying and/or being “on the road,” William Faulkner (and maybe John Steinbeck and/or Tennessee Williams and/or F. Scott Fitzgerald), New Orleans, and excellent writing should find much to enjoy.

A dual-plot story, "Wing-walkers" is set mostly in the 1930s. The first plot features Zeno and Della Marigold, a passionate, barnstorming couple who stunt-fly from town to town, passing the hat for money to feed themselves, sleeping under the wing of their dilapidated “Jenny” bi-plane, all the while trying to make it out of the South to a new life in California. The second plot features William Faulkner as he grows to manhood and learns to write and fly in his native Mississippi. Faulkner and the Marigolds are constantly on the move and every move means a new setting, challenge, or adventure. However, it is not until the end of the novel that Faulkner and the Marigolds actually meet.

The most striking aspect of this novel is author Taylor Brown’s prose. It is very, very rich, filled with beautifully crafted imagery and symbolism. It’s the kind of writing that causes other writers to shake their heads and ask: “How did he do that? I wish I could do that!” Those who enjoy fine writing for the sake of fine writing may find themselves in Seventh Heaven.

However, those seeking an exciting, “page-turner” of a story may be disappointed. As other readers have noted, the pace is slow. At times, the characters and their aims and desires—the things that drive them—seem somewhat elusive. And at other times, even though the novel is beautifully written, it can seem over-written. And I came away wondering whether this wasn't really two novellas turned into a novel since the connection between Falkner and the Marigolds is tenuous.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed “Wing-walkers” and would recommend it to others who enjoy literary novels. My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.

This book rates a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10. Fantastic writing, yet sluggish story progression. In a nutshell, that best describes my takeaways from this book. This is my first exposure to Taylor Brown. I am thoroughly impressed, particularly with his rich, vivid, colorful descriptions and characters. The story did seem to drag a bit at times. More than once, I caught myself wondering where it all was going, particularly in the first half of the book. The more I read, the clearer the direction became. Also, I think it helped that I was able to read it relatively nonstop, rather than trying to read it two or three chapters at a time. I’d like to thank Taylor and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book. It was a very satisfying read.

I thought this book sounded really interesting. However I found it a bit wordy and just didn’t keep my attention. I guess I was expecting something different. I’m sure they’re will be others who really like it. It just wasn’t for me
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

The novel has, by far, some of the most beautiful prose I’ve read this year. The descriptions of the earth below, the imagery of emotional impact, everything about the book is beautiful and filled with visuals. Unfortunately, I’m now at 70% and giving up, because beautiful imagery only goes so far. I don’t care about a single one of the characters, I’m tired of reading about poverty and dissolution and have no idea where the story is going.

Still, I think the book deserves at least a three for the extraordinary visuals… if only I felt that way about the characters.

Taylor Brown isa wonderful author whose story telling never fails to sweep me away.This books characters daredevils a pilot and his wing walking wife flying across America performing during the depression a real enjoyable adventure.#netgalley #st.Martins press

Taylor Brown is one of my favorite authors. His "Gods of Howl Mountain" and "River of Kings" were masterful. He can spin a phrase better than most, and write so vividly that you feel like you are there. Unfortunately, this particular book just did not do it for me. While the writing is, as always, outstanding, I just could not maintain interest in the plot. I made it through, but it was a struggle. I have found this before with Brown's books. His "Pride of Eden" was another book that I had difficulty engaging with. But....I will continue to read anything he puts out, on the chance that it rises to the level of the two previously mentioned books. And, in his defense, is it not better to have an author branch out to completely different type plots, than to write the same old book, over and over again, with just a few plot differences? I think so!

As a participant in a book group focusing on southern literature, I am probably one of the few members who do not have a deep, abiding passion for the works of William Faulkner. Lord knows I’ve tried. I’ve read Collected Stories of William Faulkner, and he collected a lot of them and a couple of his novels (I won’t say which since this review isn’t about Faulkner’s books) and determined that Uncle Billy will never be my favorite author. That said, I do understand that, with all his run-on sentences and rampant abuse of pronouns, he was able to put his finger on the pulse of Americans in his time and place with unparalleled precision. He also loved flying.

But this isn’t a review of a Faulkner book. It’s a review of a book by an author whose books I find a lot more enjoyable. Taylor Brown has published five novels and a short story collection, all set in the American South. He also loves flying.

Wingwalkers is really two stories in one, weaving their way relentlessly to a common end like planes in a dogfight, alternating focus from one chapter to the next in a way that would have made Melville proud. First is the largely biographical story of Faulkner and his three brothers’ fascination with flight, starting from 1908 when a Balloonitic crashed into their father’s chicken coop.

The rest of the book tells the story of Zeno Marigold, a Great War flying ace, and his wing-walking wife, Della, aka the Daring Devilette, and their Scottish terrier Sark, who travel about the South in a battered biplane hoping to scrounge enough cash to buy gas to make it to the next town. It’s not a glorious life, but it does give them a sense of freedom and a bird’s-eye view of America during the Great Depression. If you have read Faulkner's stories, these characters may seem familiar. Either the story Honor is based on them or Wingwalkers is based on the story Honor. I’d like to think it’s the former but who can be sure?

Brown’s prose gets better with each book and his fascination with flight shines through on every page as the followingdescription of the barnstorming craze demonstrates.
They came storming across the country in the wake of the Armistice, a swarm of mayflies hatched in the aerodromes of France, featherlight fliers buzzing from field to field, town to town, looping and barreling in brainless mania , flying into trees and lakes and fields of cotton and corn, slamming into farmhouses and clocktowers, exploding before the heat-flared faces of the crowds. They died by fire, as they had in the war, or were ripped asunder in the violence of impact, goggled ex-aces who could find no way down from the high of combat save this. They traded enemy guns for hail and downpour, lightning and the crushing winds of anvil-shaped clouds. They died in legion, short-lived, while the cities roared, and when the country crashed, they flew only lower, faster, to draw their pennies from the crowds.


Bottom line: While not every book Brown has written hits it out of the park, enough do to keep me coming back. Wingwalkers takes its readers on a journey back to a challenging time in our country’s history and does it marvelously. I highly recommend this book.


*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.

FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.

I’ve enjoyed Taylor Brown in the past, but this one didn’t quite hit for me. This is more historical romance than literary fiction, I think (in spite of the Faulkner references).

The South is a destination I’d only consider literary and even then, not always. And yet there was something about this book that spoke to me. The impossible daredevilish freedom of its characters, their wild disregard for gravity and insistence at defying it, defying the odds.
Wingwalkers, barnstormers, the early aviators of the 1900s, were a breed onto themselves. Some people, it seems, have waited so long to take flight and once such a possibility presented itself, they simply were unable to resist it. Such was the case for the Falkner boys, the oldest of whom, Bill, would grow up to add a U to his name and become a giant of Southern literature. Although, somewhat ironically, in real life a man was so short in stature that he had to lie, beg and plead to get into the air force.
Not being a huge fan of The South, I’ve actually never read Faulkner, but now I can say I read a lot about him, he’s one of the major characters here and the novel uses a lot of biographical information to present a life that was larger and stranger than fiction.
The other two protagonists are a couple madly in love, he’s a war veteran and an aviator, she a much younger woman who joins him on his adventures falling in love with both him and the flight itself. Della dreams of going west, being in the movies, doing stunts, but Zeno is reluctant to venture out that far and odds are their old beat-up place won’t make it that far either. So, they are flying around the south along with their adorably pup Sark in his own pair of aviator goggles, entertaining the locals for pittance, until the famous exposition with flying stunts that seems to be a catalyst for their relationship, while also presenting their possibly one and only chance at getting enough money to buy their own plane.
It is there that they meet Faulkner. Quite late in the story. Otherwise, the two narratives travel on separate paths, united mainly by their passion for flying.
It’s a lovely story, a lovely work of literary fiction. Every so often there’s just a turn pf phrase that makes you go, wow, that’s how it’s done. The characters are terrific, likable, charming, engaging. And from a historical fiction perspective, the novel does an excellent and credible job of representing depression-era America at its dustiest and daring. Great book. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

Brown's novel sweeps across a canvas of the skies of the Great Depression and the new age of flight. This tale of lovers of flight weaves two stories into one, as fictional barnstormers briefly connect southern author William Faulkner. The prose is lyrical; the tale both informative and enticing.

This is truly an amazing book based on the encounter of William Faulkner and two barnstormers, Zeno and Della. It’s two stories that come together for a moment, yet both stories separately are captivating and fantastic. The language alone in this book is beautiful, the descriptions of places and people are so compelling I was able to clear “see” everything as I read. I felt the pain of Zeno, a war veteran who tries to drink away his memories. I fell in love with Della who risked her life for her man and the free life that he gave to her. I never knew how colorful Faulkner’s life was, and how his frustration at his failure to be a hero war pilot led him to write some of the greatest novels ever written, I’m sad to see it end

St. Martin's Press 😘 thank you for this approved eARC!
NetGalley thank you as well!.

This story grips you right from the start, and before I knew it.... I was more than half way through!
Brown writes so passionately and eloquently in this latest work. It really is amazing.
The descriptions are palpable. Interesting, wonderfully done.
The characters are remarkable.... Della and Zeno Marigold.....simply put outstanding!
It’s a memorable story, exciting, most exquisitely written, with glorious storytelling. This is the type of book that reminds me why I read!
I really enjoyed this story and now I'm looking into more of Taylor Browns books

I tried to enjoy this book but unfortunately it just wasn't for me. I thought the author did a good job with descriptions and the historical setting though. The plotline itself didn't captivate me enough and I felt like it dragged.

I tried to read this book several times but I just couldn’t get into it. There was no excitement and none of the characters appealed to me. The setting as also boring. It sounded like it would be an appealing book but sadly it wasn’t.

Each Taylor Brown novel is a unique piece of art. He has a gift for plucking the reader out of their chair and depositing them fully into the American landscape. Wingwalkers is no exception. The reader hears the thrum of biplane engines, smells the fields of the American South where barnstormers earn their living, and holds her breath as Della the Daring walks on the wings of the Jenny.

There are two storylines that intertwine briefly then break apart again. The characters in each are brilliant, fully realized people. Della & Zeno have a love story for the ages and there’s a special treat for fans of William Faulkner.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s, and NetGalley for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review. The opinions here are entirely my own.

Another five-star read from Taylor Brown, WINGWALKERS is a well-crafted epic adventure story. The time period is conveyed beautifully and with such spirit and energy. The braided narrative is populated by complex, genuine characters and the plot moves along at a nice clip. Brown excels at incorporating period detail and a sense of history without overwhelming the reader. The love story angle is also nicely done.

Well-researched novel provides outstanding settings into which totally-realistic characters live out thrilling lives in an important era of America’s past. Their spirit, their energy, and their determination kept America driving forward in a time where many could have given up.