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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I was disappointed with how long this book took to get through. I was ready to read a book about Amelia Earhart the person - not just the aviator, and hoped it would include as much detail as exists on her disappearance. What I read instead was a book that felt it was out to prove how meticulously researched a book could be. I get it, you read every single journal even remotely related to Earhart's life. But I don't need to know that her grandparents wrote her parents out of their will - at least I don't need to read (listen) about it for over an hour.
The book has interesting information, just hidden in a densely written overdetailed slog. I would have given up if not for a strong interest in her disappearance - I was let down at the end. I understand that the nature of a disappearance means there isn't as much to know as you want to, but I thought there was more story to tell.
The book has interesting information, just hidden in a densely written overdetailed slog. I would have given up if not for a strong interest in her disappearance - I was let down at the end. I understand that the nature of a disappearance means there isn't as much to know as you want to, but I thought there was more story to tell.
I thought this was an excellent, well written, thoroughly engrossing biography of an extraordinary woman who led a fascinating life. Albeit her life was brief and her disappearance more than 80 years ago still appears from time to time in an attempt to solve this mystery, she would become the heroine to young women everywhere to be all they can be, dare to dream and make the most of their lives. I highly recommend.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
An engaging book about a interesting and admirable woman -- although the author's determination to spin everything in a way to assure readers that Amelia had no flaws was at times obvious and tedious.
DNF. Much too much like a history text book for my liking.
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Excellent biography-maybe a little too heavy on early years. Also, I would have liked to see some information on the aftermath of her disappearance. The book ended abruptly. Nothing on how the world reacted. Also, I understand the factual nature of biographies but would love to see some personality analysis of the subject. The decision to fly around the world was an ego trip. There was no reason for this flight. Why did she go?
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
East to the Dawn by Susan Butler 4/5 🛩️s
As a work of nonfiction, it is expertly researched: covering the entire life of Amelia Earhart, this book spares no expense covering her family history, childhood, early adult hood, all the way up to her final flight at the age of 39. It doesn't entertain wild theories about her either: it is upfront about her extra-marital affair, her less-than- reputable professional relations, and the role luck (as well as wealth and connections) played in her rise to fame.
As a lesbian, I can say I always *hoped* Amelia was too. But based on this text, it isn't likely. With how well documented her life is (through her own extensive letter writing), I must concede her short hair and masculine fashion reflect the practicality of her profession. Alas.
I will admit, this book is slow and long. It will often linger too long on people only tangentially related to Amelia (was a whole chapter dedicated to her great grandmother and grandmother necessary? Unlikely), but overall a solid biography with riveting details I never knew about her life and career.
How sad it is we live in a world where Amelia is perpetually 39, lost to sea, and not in one where she finally got to publish her poetry or books.
As a work of nonfiction, it is expertly researched: covering the entire life of Amelia Earhart, this book spares no expense covering her family history, childhood, early adult hood, all the way up to her final flight at the age of 39. It doesn't entertain wild theories about her either: it is upfront about her extra-marital affair, her less-than- reputable professional relations, and the role luck (as well as wealth and connections) played in her rise to fame.
As a lesbian, I can say I always *hoped* Amelia was too. But based on this text, it isn't likely. With how well documented her life is (through her own extensive letter writing), I must concede her short hair and masculine fashion reflect the practicality of her profession. Alas.
I will admit, this book is slow and long. It will often linger too long on people only tangentially related to Amelia (was a whole chapter dedicated to her great grandmother and grandmother necessary? Unlikely), but overall a solid biography with riveting details I never knew about her life and career.
How sad it is we live in a world where Amelia is perpetually 39, lost to sea, and not in one where she finally got to publish her poetry or books.
This was excellent. I didn't know a lot about Earhart and so this was a great read, very detailed without being dull. Seriously, what a tragedy. I so wish there could be some for-sure closure to what actually happened to her and Noonan. That being said, though, she lived a full, productive, and busy life before she died, and her life though short was certainly not a waste. Highly recommend.
Minor note about the audio version, which was what I listened to: it was not pristinely edited from the cassette tape version. There are random repeats of sentences, which halfway through I realised were from "This is the end of Cassette X" that they had edited out, because once they didn't actually edit out "This is the end of Cassette X". There was also one section where they repeated a huge chunk of the book! Not that it's a huge problem, but just to make future listeners aware they're not going crazy. :-D
Minor note about the audio version, which was what I listened to: it was not pristinely edited from the cassette tape version. There are random repeats of sentences, which halfway through I realised were from "This is the end of Cassette X" that they had edited out, because once they didn't actually edit out "This is the end of Cassette X". There was also one section where they repeated a huge chunk of the book! Not that it's a huge problem, but just to make future listeners aware they're not going crazy. :-D