For some reason I thought I had already posted in this thread. Lots of things to deal with irl this month so that's my excuse.
I enjoyed the book, especially the beginning and the end. I do feel the narrative was obviously embellished here and there, almost shamelessly so in a few points, but it still presented a vivid and if not completely real then at least mostly- or semi-real portrait of Africa at the time. I love the adventurous feel to it and Markham’s adventurous spirit. I could just imagine the thrill of flying a plane solo over the unknown and mysterious Africa of the time.
I didn't mind most of the horse parts as some of you did. I like horses and rode some when I was young and would love to again some day, but the horse race description I didn't much care for. It was overdone and there was no suspense because the outcome was obvious, when the entire point was to be suspenseful. I prefer say the writing of the horse race in Anna Karenina. Overall though, West with the Night was a fun and vibrant glimpse of an exciting time and place gone by.