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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Overall this was a quick and good read. My biggest problem is that I felt like the way Anne Lindbergh was portrayed was as a character who didn't know what she wanted - was a bit all over the place, and I found her a bit annoying- which made it hard to love this book.
4.5 stars! I loved learning about the incredible Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I can’t wait to read more from her and her daughters.
Historical fiction told from the perspective of Anne (Spencer) Lindberg. How many liberties/embellishments were made? I don't know, but it did make for a compelling read. The pacing was great - you meet Anne pre Charles and then end the story after his passing. She travels around the world, her child is kidnapped, her marriage to Charles is strained and she raises 6 children practically on her own. Good for a book club.
This was a novel that I simply couldn't put down and found myself halfway through researching these people, dying to know more. Truly a fascinating historical novel---if you have read and liked the Paris Wife, you will love this novel equally as much IMO. Charles was a truly insufferable person. He had what I perceived as Asperger's Syndrome mixed with OCD. The constant lists he made Anne and the children make would have driven me absolutely bonkers! He is my idea of an absolute nightmare of a husband and anyone who knows me well knows that I could not spend one month with this man much less 45 years! I realize it was an altogether different time period, but good gracious the amount of stuff that woman put up with! Her children too, I could just see the amounts of money they must have spent in therapy discussing their absent, obsessive father!
I was pleased to hear that Anne managed to find love in middle age (sadly not with her husband), but saddened that it didn't carry on into her later years (I am a sucker for a happy ending, what can I say)? I was left with some questions though (having researched far too much into this family). One was there seemed to be a question on who really killed little Charlie, was it possible it was Charles himself? Another is was Anne's sister truly happy marrying that man before her death or did she long for her lesbian long-time lover?
I also was blown away by the amount of mistresses/extra children Charles had. He truly was a man who wanted to spread his seed quite a lot so to speak. Did his estate support all those children? The author's notes were very helpful in clearing up some other questions I had and very interesting how Anne was not buried with her husband (she MUST have known).
I was disappointed in Anne's acquiesce to her husband throughout the novel. I know it was a different time period and not everyone can be like me, but she clearly had a voice but was so scared to use it for so long! I felt bad for her and her children because looking back on her life, it was quite lonely/sad throughout most of it. She quite simply was stifled. I hope she was at peace at least with her life before she died without too many regrets. Truly a fascinating read and one I will recommend to a lot of others.
I was pleased to hear that Anne managed to find love in middle age (sadly not with her husband), but saddened that it didn't carry on into her later years (I am a sucker for a happy ending, what can I say)? I was left with some questions though (having researched far too much into this family). One was there seemed to be a question on who really killed little Charlie, was it possible it was Charles himself? Another is was Anne's sister truly happy marrying that man before her death or did she long for her lesbian long-time lover?
I also was blown away by the amount of mistresses/extra children Charles had. He truly was a man who wanted to spread his seed quite a lot so to speak. Did his estate support all those children? The author's notes were very helpful in clearing up some other questions I had and very interesting how Anne was not buried with her husband (she MUST have known).
I was disappointed in Anne's acquiesce to her husband throughout the novel. I know it was a different time period and not everyone can be like me, but she clearly had a voice but was so scared to use it for so long! I felt bad for her and her children because looking back on her life, it was quite lonely/sad throughout most of it. She quite simply was stifled. I hope she was at peace at least with her life before she died without too many regrets. Truly a fascinating read and one I will recommend to a lot of others.
Although I was frustrated with both of the main characters for a good portion of the book, I still wanted to pick the book up and read. I found the idea of writing a fictionalized story about a real person interesting.
I enjoyed listening to this one after reading Candice Fleming's Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh.
The life and marriage of the Lindberghs is more complicated than the headlines we most know. This was Melanie Benjamin's best writing and best story.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Melanie Benjamin can write. Her characters come alive and her atmosphere is superb. Unfortunately, I found her main characters to be wretched people and resented spending time with them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Minor: Child death
I went into this book not really knowing anything about the Lindbergh family. It hooked me right in, and I cried and cheered Anne on the whole way. It is realistic and well-written.