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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Again, I love historical fiction so this was right up my alley. The story of Charles Lindbergh's wife and what happens to their family was completely interesting. I found myself lost in the world but then wondering if it was real or part of the fiction which was great.
I wish I could give half stars because this book's really 4.5 stars for me. It started a little slow but ended up wowing me!
Whoof. I disliked Charles Lindbergh before beginning this novel, and I really hated him by the end. This story is well-written and evocative, but it never really captures why Anne, an intelligent and talented woman in her own right, stays under his coldness (and patronizing condescension, which she reads as love) for SO LONG. It’s only in the final 30ish pages that she finally grasps for some joy of her own, but by then, I was too exasperated to care. Lindbergh sucks. The end.
I've been vaguely interested in Anne Morrow Lindbergh's story since she was my assigned Halloween historical figure in 4th grade - my school had a tradition where you researched a historical figure in October, then dressed as them for the school Halloween celebration and gave a brief report on them to the school when everyone gathered to show off their costumes. 20-ish years later, all I remembered was that she was married to Charles Lindbergh, was an accomplished pilot in her own right, and that their son had been kidnapped and killed. That and that I'd tripped walking across the stage to give my report, since I was wearing a pair of my mom's knee-high boots as part of the aviator costume...
This fictionalized account of Anne's life, from meeting Charles in Mexico, where she was the ambassador's daughter, through Charles's death, accounts for her time as "The Aviator's Wife". It was interesting learning the details of her life, and how she reacted to the events of her life. While obviously the inner monologue cannot be known by others, the story put together here makes historical details that seem contradictory make sense in context.
This fictionalized account of Anne's life, from meeting Charles in Mexico, where she was the ambassador's daughter, through Charles's death, accounts for her time as "The Aviator's Wife". It was interesting learning the details of her life, and how she reacted to the events of her life. While obviously the inner monologue cannot be known by others, the story put together here makes historical details that seem contradictory make sense in context.
Even though this was written as a fictional tale, there was a lot of truth to the story. I am embarrassed to say I did not know much about the Lindberghs aside from what I learned in high school. History books focus on the trans-Atlantic flight and the kidnapping. The couple did so much more within aviation and literature.
The historical components were educative. The emotional and interactive aspects displayed a writer's creativity while answering the question "What if...?" The private moments we imagine or what we may have heard. Melanie Benjamin did well describing those intimate moments and what might have been. We can think what we will but the truth will remain with the Linberghs.
The historical components were educative. The emotional and interactive aspects displayed a writer's creativity while answering the question "What if...?" The private moments we imagine or what we may have heard. Melanie Benjamin did well describing those intimate moments and what might have been. We can think what we will but the truth will remain with the Linberghs.
I listened to the audio version and thought it was great.
Slow start turned into a gripping read
One of my book club's picks, I wasn't too excited about starting this one. But after the first couple of chapters, I was hooked. Loved this imaging of the life of a woman I'd never given much thought. There were plenty of times I wanted to shake her--& him--but the ending manager to satisfy. Now I'm curious to check out Anne's books.
One of my book club's picks, I wasn't too excited about starting this one. But after the first couple of chapters, I was hooked. Loved this imaging of the life of a woman I'd never given much thought. There were plenty of times I wanted to shake her--& him--but the ending manager to satisfy. Now I'm curious to check out Anne's books.
This book had me weeping! I'm now motivated to scour my library for everything I can find written by AML; to get a feeling of who Anne was behind the flash was wonderful. To know we learn so little about her when her contributions to much of Charles' feats after Paris were integral to his success is shameful.
This book started slow, but all of a sudden I couldn't put it down and when I did I kept thinking about Anne. I didn't know much about the legacy beyond the Lindbergh name and as the author hoped, I wanted to find out more often putting the book down to Google the couple. Anne was such a complex character, constantly having to navigate not only the constant media, but her overwhelming, overbearing husband.
For my first time flying with my 8-month old baby (and husband and dog) I was so panicked leaving the house I forgot to bring a book with me for the weekend at my inlaws'! Thankfully my mother-in-law had a copy of The Aviators Wife and recommended it.
While reading this book I kept thinking about how it reminded me of The Paris Wife and Loving Frank - other novels I enjoyed based on the lives of the wives of famous men, in those cases Ernest Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright, respectively. I was both happy and disappointed to see the Goodreads review say the same thing. This book was about Charles Lindbergh's wife Anne, told from her point of view. I really enjoyed learning more about Lindbergh and his accomplishments, while also appreciating how difficult a person he was in his private life.
I thought this book did a pretty good job of capturing the time-and-place of the story (the US in the 1920's through the 1950's). The kidnapping of their child played a prominent role in the story, as did Lindbergh's skilled piloting and right-wing politics. The relationship the Lindberghs had with the media was also interesting - they were victimized by the paparazzi as badly as any of today's celebrities are. I was sad for Anne through most of the book, as Lindbergh was not a warm or kind husband or father. She saw some of his weaknesses but also supported him blindly it seemed, even when he was demanding, unfair, or bordering on abusive.
Benjamin (the author) says in her afterword that the best way for her to feel like she's succeeded in writing a compelling historical novel is when her readers want to learn more about the actual history. She definitely succeeded with me.
While reading this book I kept thinking about how it reminded me of The Paris Wife and Loving Frank - other novels I enjoyed based on the lives of the wives of famous men, in those cases Ernest Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright, respectively. I was both happy and disappointed to see the Goodreads review say the same thing. This book was about Charles Lindbergh's wife Anne, told from her point of view. I really enjoyed learning more about Lindbergh and his accomplishments, while also appreciating how difficult a person he was in his private life.
I thought this book did a pretty good job of capturing the time-and-place of the story (the US in the 1920's through the 1950's). The kidnapping of their child played a prominent role in the story, as did Lindbergh's skilled piloting and right-wing politics. The relationship the Lindberghs had with the media was also interesting - they were victimized by the paparazzi as badly as any of today's celebrities are. I was sad for Anne through most of the book, as Lindbergh was not a warm or kind husband or father. She saw some of his weaknesses but also supported him blindly it seemed, even when he was demanding, unfair, or bordering on abusive.
Benjamin (the author) says in her afterword that the best way for her to feel like she's succeeded in writing a compelling historical novel is when her readers want to learn more about the actual history. She definitely succeeded with me.