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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
This was a great book - great to learn she was a pioneer as a woman in the field of aviation
I struggled with this at first—the story was interesting but Anne just seemed like such a sad sack, and continued to be pretty controlled through most of the book, though she did find her ground at the end. But for being based on actual history, it’s got as much drama as a soap opera, which is fascinating.
This was my pick for book club ( choice theme wives) and I was pleasantly surprised how this book enthralled me from the beginning. I normally am not a big historical fiction reader but the voice of Anne Morrow telling the story of the famed Lindbergh family was so compelling. In the author's note at the end Ms. Benjamin says that if you want to more about the historical characters than she's done her job as a writer. As my google search history can attest- I looked up so many more tidbits about this family and am hooked to know more. Great read!
The author tells in the end that what makes her happy is when the readers wish to know more about the lives of the people she has written about. I think the author has achieved that here, while bringing to life the characters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh and obviously Charles Lindbergh. As much as I was frustrated with both of them, it only shows how well their story was told. Two thumbs up.
The Aviator's wife. It's hard to say anything because I am still in a book hangover from reading the beautifully written piece.
I feel the writer captivated the style and overall feel of the late 1920-1974 (and for the first half of the book I felt the need to read it in a voice I associate with the 1920s and 30's-prudish, with my pinky in the air)
You see how Anne, just like most American women in the late 1920s and early 1930s does what was expected of her: following the lead of her tyrannical husband. She stands by him through thick and through thin. She stands by him, and his thoughts, while knowing she harbors different opinions.
Then comes the infamous story we all know and hate for the Lindbergh's: the abduction of their child (I won't ruin this part for you, if you don't know the history about this)
But that is not the only plot thickening part of this book, which follows the history of Charles Lindberg and Anne Marrow Lindbergh.
We learn the true, deep secrets of their marriage. The ones it took a lifetime of marriage for them to share.
It's a beautiful story about Anne, and he ability to stand outside her husbands shadow, as the beautiful woman she was!
This story captivated me so much, I had to watch a documentary about the Lindbergh's, to see how much the author got correct, as it is a historical fiction.
While this is fiction, she held very true to the events of their lives, and did so with a beautiful finesse! 5 stars from me
I feel the writer captivated the style and overall feel of the late 1920-1974 (and for the first half of the book I felt the need to read it in a voice I associate with the 1920s and 30's-prudish, with my pinky in the air)
You see how Anne, just like most American women in the late 1920s and early 1930s does what was expected of her: following the lead of her tyrannical husband. She stands by him through thick and through thin. She stands by him, and his thoughts, while knowing she harbors different opinions.
Then comes the infamous story we all know and hate for the Lindbergh's: the abduction of their child (I won't ruin this part for you, if you don't know the history about this)
But that is not the only plot thickening part of this book, which follows the history of Charles Lindberg and Anne Marrow Lindbergh.
We learn the true, deep secrets of their marriage. The ones it took a lifetime of marriage for them to share.
It's a beautiful story about Anne, and he ability to stand outside her husbands shadow, as the beautiful woman she was!
This story captivated me so much, I had to watch a documentary about the Lindbergh's, to see how much the author got correct, as it is a historical fiction.
While this is fiction, she held very true to the events of their lives, and did so with a beautiful finesse! 5 stars from me
I enjoy learning more about people (esp women) who are mostly known for one thing and discovering the other layers that make up the whole of their lives and experiences. Melanie Benjamin is becoming one of my favorite authors for historical fiction; her Alice I Have Been was one of my favorites that I read last year.
This profile of Anne Morrow Lindbergh is thorough, moving and very satisfying. She's more than a grieving mother and even more than the Aviator's wife.
For most of her life Anne believed she was "just the wife" and at best "the crew" of Charles Lindbergh. The most powerful part about her journey is just finding out along with Anne how strong and complete she really was without even knowing it.
The other interesting sort of side-story here is the beginnings of the modern-day paparazzi that began in earnest by stalking the Lindberghs relentlessly. First, Charles after his solo flight to Paris and then Anne and the rest of her family upon their marriage. With their baby being kidnapped from his crib in their home it can be said that the Lindberghs were the precursor to the tragedy that was Princess Diana.
Anyway, all of this leads to the cracks growing in the marriage and Anne's isolation which ultimately leads to her growth and strength but you should really read it for yourself!
This profile of Anne Morrow Lindbergh is thorough, moving and very satisfying. She's more than a grieving mother and even more than the Aviator's wife.
For most of her life Anne believed she was "just the wife" and at best "the crew" of Charles Lindbergh. The most powerful part about her journey is just finding out along with Anne how strong and complete she really was without even knowing it.
The other interesting sort of side-story here is the beginnings of the modern-day paparazzi that began in earnest by stalking the Lindberghs relentlessly. First, Charles after his solo flight to Paris and then Anne and the rest of her family upon their marriage. With their baby being kidnapped from his crib in their home it can be said that the Lindberghs were the precursor to the tragedy that was Princess Diana.
Anyway, all of this leads to the cracks growing in the marriage and Anne's isolation which ultimately leads to her growth and strength but you should really read it for yourself!
3.5 stars! This was some very strong historical fiction, and I learned a lot about the Lindberghs. Her character development was solid; I love that we get to see Anne’s transition from the ambassador’s daughter to the aviator’s wife to the kidnapped baby’s mother to her own self in her middle to old age. She took charge of her life and became the heroine of her own story, verses continually overshadowed by a larger figure. I also didn’t know that she was an “aviatrix” in her own right and “the first” to accomplish a few things. AND I didn’t realize how crazy the press was after this couple! It seems like this was the birth of the modern-day paparazzi! I didn’t fully realize how much like royalty Charles was viewed in the public eye and that was fascinating to learn. Charles and Anne were never left alone, and the result was the tragedy of baby Charlie. It was so interesting to read how they processed “the events of ‘32” in the years afterward.
I really enjoyed this book, especially in the second half. I found the frequent reiteration of the way their partnership played out a bit boring, but her life fascinated me. I never knew much about "the Lindbergh baby", aside from as a cultural reference, and found this part horrifying and gripping. It was interesting to look at the media during those times through today's lens. I recommend this book!
***1/2
I enjoyed this book but I did not love this book. I did find that Anne Lindbergh to be an interesting woman in her own right, despite living in the shadow of her superstar husband. I just felt that in this story her characterization seemed a bit flat and dull at times. I think I would prefer to read a nonfictional work about her, or better still, something she has written herself. I do admire her strength and perserverance to have survived some turbulent times. My bookclub overall really enjoyed this.
I enjoyed this book but I did not love this book. I did find that Anne Lindbergh to be an interesting woman in her own right, despite living in the shadow of her superstar husband. I just felt that in this story her characterization seemed a bit flat and dull at times. I think I would prefer to read a nonfictional work about her, or better still, something she has written herself. I do admire her strength and perserverance to have survived some turbulent times. My bookclub overall really enjoyed this.
Benjamin really likes writing books about flawed women in love with impossible men. Here it was Anne Marrow Lindbergh, a shy young woman from a wealthy family who captures the attention of one of the biggest celebrities of his age - the aviator Charles Lindbergh.
This felt very much a combination of [b:The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb|9689093|The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb|Melanie Benjamin|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320416504s/9689093.jpg|14577174] and [b:The Paris Wife|8683812|The Paris Wife|Paula McLain|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320545874s/8683812.jpg|13556031]. I think Hadley (Hemingway’s wife) and Anne Lindbergh would’ve bonded. They were both overlooked girls who got dazzled by these brilliant, arrogant, magnetic but self-absorbed men. And they both got subsumed by their more charismatic husbands.
Benjamin tends to over-rely on the repetition of one or two images. It's like in [b:The Iliad|1371|The Iliad|Homer|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388188509s/1371.jpg|3293141], where Homer kept repeating descriptions in true epic-prose style("swift-footed Achilles"), except here it is Charles Lindbergh, the Lone Eagle, the golden boy, the dashing aviator, the young light-haired boy. We get it! He was super attractive and young and dazzling when he crossed the ocean in ’27 (and I remember that date because it is REPEATED SO OFTEN).
I don’t know if Anne Morrow Lindbergh really saw her husband as the hero she thought he was for so long – you’d think the shine would wear off that when he turned out to be so domineering, strict and controlling. On the other hand, the real Anne Lindbergh really did go along with him on a lot of stupid stuff (his isolationist agenda) so there has to be some explanation for that.
Benjamin also has a habit of just abruptly jumping ahead several years and then kind of recapping what has happened. But sometimes she misses major things! Like Anne’s sister dying! And what happened to her brother? We know when her dad died, when her mom died, when her sister died. Did her brother survive? The suicide of the servant over the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby is also just an aside several chapters after it happened. I know there’s a lot of ground to cover, but seriously! I liked this book but didn’t love it – I worry that Benjamin is getting a little too formulaic.
Benjamin does do a good job of peaking interest in historical figures I hadn’t really thought about – now I really want to read a biography of the Lindberghs! And learn more about the Morrows! They are very fascinating and Benjamin’s take on Anne is a plausible one but I hope to learn more about the facts.
Benjamin also takes on very unlikeable characters – Vinnie (Mrs. Tom Thumb) was arrogant and naïve, Anne was passive and often weak. It is very hard to make these women into classic heroines. I guess most real people are simply too messy.
This felt very much a combination of [b:The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb|9689093|The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb|Melanie Benjamin|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320416504s/9689093.jpg|14577174] and [b:The Paris Wife|8683812|The Paris Wife|Paula McLain|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320545874s/8683812.jpg|13556031]. I think Hadley (Hemingway’s wife) and Anne Lindbergh would’ve bonded. They were both overlooked girls who got dazzled by these brilliant, arrogant, magnetic but self-absorbed men. And they both got subsumed by their more charismatic husbands.
Benjamin tends to over-rely on the repetition of one or two images. It's like in [b:The Iliad|1371|The Iliad|Homer|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388188509s/1371.jpg|3293141], where Homer kept repeating descriptions in true epic-prose style("swift-footed Achilles"), except here it is Charles Lindbergh, the Lone Eagle, the golden boy, the dashing aviator, the young light-haired boy. We get it! He was super attractive and young and dazzling when he crossed the ocean in ’27 (and I remember that date because it is REPEATED SO OFTEN).
I don’t know if Anne Morrow Lindbergh really saw her husband as the hero she thought he was for so long – you’d think the shine would wear off that when he turned out to be so domineering, strict and controlling. On the other hand, the real Anne Lindbergh really did go along with him on a lot of stupid stuff (his isolationist agenda) so there has to be some explanation for that.
Benjamin also has a habit of just abruptly jumping ahead several years and then kind of recapping what has happened. But sometimes she misses major things! Like Anne’s sister dying! And what happened to her brother? We know when her dad died, when her mom died, when her sister died. Did her brother survive? The suicide of the servant over the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby is also just an aside several chapters after it happened. I know there’s a lot of ground to cover, but seriously! I liked this book but didn’t love it – I worry that Benjamin is getting a little too formulaic.
Benjamin does do a good job of peaking interest in historical figures I hadn’t really thought about – now I really want to read a biography of the Lindberghs! And learn more about the Morrows! They are very fascinating and Benjamin’s take on Anne is a plausible one but I hope to learn more about the facts.
Benjamin also takes on very unlikeable characters – Vinnie (Mrs. Tom Thumb) was arrogant and naïve, Anne was passive and often weak. It is very hard to make these women into classic heroines. I guess most real people are simply too messy.