I was looking forward to reading Eric Bovim’s book Around The Sun after reading some very high praise for its “lush graceful prose, a portrait of grief and hope in the age of social media, globalization, and artistic decadence.” I came away with mixed feelings about it, as I appreciate the author’s skill in drawing the reader in to the protagonist’s self-destructive spiraling descent into – what? I’m not sure, but for starters it’s definitely a wild ride.

Mark White is living what seems like a fairly schizo life. On the one hand, he is the wildly successful head of a prestigious PR firm based in Washington, D.C., and he spends his work time trotting the globe, fixing crises and manipulating media (including social) to support his “engagements,” as he calls his client relationships. He is volatile and there is a sense of impending doom in the first of three parts, introducing the idea of a looming meltdown.

Part two feels like a brief respite from the chaos, and a revelation of sorts into the reasons why Mark is reeling. He is the single parent of a young boy, left motherless when Mark’s wife Monica was killed in a hit-and-run accident. The grief is palpable as we learn through flashbacks of the intensity of their relationship and the sudden change in Mark’s life, magnified by his deep desire to be a good father.

In part three, Mark’s jet-setting, globe-trotting, pill popping excesses begin to unravel, and his move toward a more sane life is excruciating…I wanted to yell at him “MARK! WTF? You have more money than you will ever need! GET OFF the merry-go-round!!”

Lots to like and appreciate in this, but it was a bit much for me. Possible quarantine isn’t the time to wallow in a character’s grief, but there was hope at the end and the fact that I came to care so much about Mark and his son is proof of Mr. Bovim’s skill. Four stars, and thanks to Epigraph and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for this honest review.