Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I really knew nothing about the wife of Charles Lindbergh and only the basics of the Spirit of St. Louis flight and the kidnapping of their first child, but this author has seemingly provided me with a novel that fills in all the gaps in my awareness. I do not recall ever seeing the movie with Jimmy Stewart and not really aware that Charles Lindbergh was a celebrity active in the post war era, the 1950's, aviation advancement, Earth orbiting techniques, etc.!
The novel is not convincing that the kidnappers were actually captured, much like the continuing mystery surrounding the Jon Benet Ramsey of our era. and the death of the baby was a tragic accident from the collapse of the ladder used in the felony. Obviously both Charles and Ann never reconciled from the loss and were dogged by unrelenting paparazzi!
Readers seem to be encouraged to experience the schadenfreude enjoyment of the misfortune of the family of an ambassador and the hero aviator adventurer, and like all humans this family is seriously flawed and not to be envied!
The novel is not convincing that the kidnappers were actually captured, much like the continuing mystery surrounding the Jon Benet Ramsey of our era. and the death of the baby was a tragic accident from the collapse of the ladder used in the felony. Obviously both Charles and Ann never reconciled from the loss and were dogged by unrelenting paparazzi!
Readers seem to be encouraged to experience the schadenfreude enjoyment of the misfortune of the family of an ambassador and the hero aviator adventurer, and like all humans this family is seriously flawed and not to be envied!
"We were always at out best, together, when we were looking at the sky."
Being an Ambassador's daughter, Christmas break is not the simple family affair Anne Morrow remembers. Instead, she is introduced to the great aviator Charles Lindbergh. Star struck beyond belief Anne is fascinated by this quiet hero and is shocked when he notices her instead of her beautiful and outgoing sister. What is it like to be married to such a huge icon of American life?
This was a tough book for me to read. Charles Lindbergh was a very domineering and controlling man. He expected perfection from himself and also from his family. Yet, Anne fell just as hard for this American Icon as she did the man. Her personal beliefs seem to evaporate as soon as she looks upon his face. I suppose we've all been in relationships like that-where you are so emotionally wrapped up in the idea of someone that you forget who you are-but I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for her backbone to show up. It didn't when her son was kidnapped and killed. It didn't when it appeared that Charles was pro-Nazi and an anti-Semite. It didn't when she spent years not knowing where her husband even was until he showed up at her door. Thank goodness it eventually did. Sorta. I wanted to punch him in the face a lot. I'm not sure that was the message I was supposed to get but, there you go.
A well-researched and lyrical read. Benjamin did a great job of painting the tense atmosphere of an America that desperately needed a hero even if it was at the expense of Charles, Anne and their children's lives. We forget that they were constantly under attack from the press and fans not unlike Princess Di.
Being an Ambassador's daughter, Christmas break is not the simple family affair Anne Morrow remembers. Instead, she is introduced to the great aviator Charles Lindbergh. Star struck beyond belief Anne is fascinated by this quiet hero and is shocked when he notices her instead of her beautiful and outgoing sister. What is it like to be married to such a huge icon of American life?
This was a tough book for me to read. Charles Lindbergh was a very domineering and controlling man. He expected perfection from himself and also from his family. Yet, Anne fell just as hard for this American Icon as she did the man. Her personal beliefs seem to evaporate as soon as she looks upon his face. I suppose we've all been in relationships like that-where you are so emotionally wrapped up in the idea of someone that you forget who you are-but I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for her backbone to show up. It didn't when her son was kidnapped and killed. It didn't when it appeared that Charles was pro-Nazi and an anti-Semite. It didn't when she spent years not knowing where her husband even was until he showed up at her door. Thank goodness it eventually did. Sorta. I wanted to punch him in the face a lot. I'm not sure that was the message I was supposed to get but, there you go.
A well-researched and lyrical read. Benjamin did a great job of painting the tense atmosphere of an America that desperately needed a hero even if it was at the expense of Charles, Anne and their children's lives. We forget that they were constantly under attack from the press and fans not unlike Princess Di.
Fictionalized account of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's married life. Well written and interesting.
3.5 stars. Really enjoyed learning about the Lindberg/Morrow history, but the writing was a bit overdone. I got tired of hearing about how Anne felt overpowered and dominated by her bigger than life husband. It was an important part of her experience, but just was noted too many times.
This book was well written for the most part, and a very easy and thrilling read. It was also mind-opening. I didn't know much, if anything, about the Lindberghs before reading this book and now I can say that I am absolutely horrified learning about Charles. He dominated over everybody in his life including his wife and his children. I honestly can't believe how horrific some of his actions are. It was tough to get through at some points with how submissive Anne acts. But I'm glad that she finally found herself in the end and didn't let him continue to have such a strong and negative hold on her life.
I was so disappointed in this book. The writing was good, but Benjamin imposes 21st century sensibilities on an early 20th century woman. I had a really hard time believing that her Anne Lindbergh was the voice of the real Anne Lindbergh.
I thought this book was incredible. This is the story of the relationship between Anne and Charles Lindberg told from her perspective. It's historical fiction and I gained so much insight from reading this book.
UPDATE: I wanted to add a more thoughtful review because I have been thinking about this book so much since I read it. This book is told from the perspective of Anne Morrow Lindberg, beginning when she is a daughter of the US Ambassador to Mexico. She meets Charles Lindberg and they marry (his interest really surprised her, but their courtship is described mostly through how much she loved flying with him). Their partnership was unique and intriguing. Charles Lindberg was so famous and, even though he considered her his co-pilot, her dreams and goals became completely wrapped up in his goals. I thought it was brilliant how the author showed her feelings about this - she was obviously a talented writer and was not able to pursue all that she wanted as a mother and wife of Charles.
As she ages, she gains momentum in pursuing her interests. Her actions are independent and strong, even for this time period, so I can only imagine how "different" it was for then. At one point, she leaves to write "Gift from the Sea", which becomes an acclaimed and popular book. While I have not read this book, it's amazing that it's about love, marriage, and aging. I read the reviews about it and people say "this is still relevant". It just goes to show how forward thinking she was and how brilliant she was.
Some people would read this and just focus on all you can learn from the historical aspect of their lives. Certainly, that was also an amazing part of this book - to have their perspective of the world at that time, both personally and internationally. But I relished the opportunity to learn about a woman's navigation of her marriage through decades of "standing by her man".
If I were an English lit professor, I might pair this book with Loving Frank and compare/contrast the role of women/wives as they are portrayed. That would be a really fun conversation!
UPDATE: I wanted to add a more thoughtful review because I have been thinking about this book so much since I read it. This book is told from the perspective of Anne Morrow Lindberg, beginning when she is a daughter of the US Ambassador to Mexico. She meets Charles Lindberg and they marry (his interest really surprised her, but their courtship is described mostly through how much she loved flying with him). Their partnership was unique and intriguing. Charles Lindberg was so famous and, even though he considered her his co-pilot, her dreams and goals became completely wrapped up in his goals. I thought it was brilliant how the author showed her feelings about this - she was obviously a talented writer and was not able to pursue all that she wanted as a mother and wife of Charles.
As she ages, she gains momentum in pursuing her interests. Her actions are independent and strong, even for this time period, so I can only imagine how "different" it was for then. At one point, she leaves to write "Gift from the Sea", which becomes an acclaimed and popular book. While I have not read this book, it's amazing that it's about love, marriage, and aging. I read the reviews about it and people say "this is still relevant". It just goes to show how forward thinking she was and how brilliant she was.
Some people would read this and just focus on all you can learn from the historical aspect of their lives. Certainly, that was also an amazing part of this book - to have their perspective of the world at that time, both personally and internationally. But I relished the opportunity to learn about a woman's navigation of her marriage through decades of "standing by her man".
If I were an English lit professor, I might pair this book with Loving Frank and compare/contrast the role of women/wives as they are portrayed. That would be a really fun conversation!
I really enjoyed this historical fiction book about the author of one of my favorite all-time books, "Gift From the Sea." The author has done her research on Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and this book was a really interesting and insightful look at her life.
My feelings for the book could be slightly jaded as I listened to it rather than read it and the readers voice annoyed me. I believe it was intended to have it sound like an old woman looking back on her past telling the story, but it was hard to get through until the voice came closer to matching the current age of the narrator. Interesting story, though. I had no idea about their life aside from the kidnapping.
I, like so many others, knew very little about the Lindbergh family, especially Anne. While it isn't surprising that her husband's life overshadowed hers, it was revealing to journey with her as she came into her own acknowledgment of her own strength outside of being his wife. Her life is one that I do believe many women can relate to especially for that generation.