Saturday, November 17, 2012

The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin

 
Anne Morrow the quiet, unassuming daughter.  Anne Morrow the shy sister of Elisabeth Morrow who hid in Elisabeth's shadow.  Anne Morrow the woman no one thought would marry before her beautiful sister, Elisabeth married.  Anne Morrow.....who did marry and who married a famous man....Charles Lindbergh, behind whom she continued to be a shadow.

Anne's life was beautifully detailed by Ms. Benjamin in terms of Anne's feelings and personality especially during the kidnapping. The era was nicely portrayed as well.  It covered how women from wealthy families went to prestigious schools and never used their education, but were expected to be the perfect wife and mother.  Ms. Benjamin will definitely get you involved in the story through her outstanding, exceptional, in-depth writing style.

I enjoyed reading about the era and about Anne Morrow and Charles Lindbergh.  I would not have wanted to live Anne's life, though...she had no life of her own per say.  She had to follow Charles on his adventures, be his wife, be in the public eye, and heartbreakingly leave her children.  Despite all of this, she willingly allowed him to control her and willingly backed him no matter what. Anne did come out of the shadows as she aged and was actually a very strong woman.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but don't think a man would enjoy it simply because of the domestic factors and the details of Anne Morrow's family and all of their lives.  It is more geared toward women and the feelings and beliefs we as women share and that we like to know about other women's lives....especially famous ones.  Anne, Charles, and the Morrow family led very interesting lives. I, as I am sure you will do, found myself looking up information on the life of the Morrows and Lindberghs just as the author said we would.  :)  ENJOY!!!  5/5 

I won this book in a giveaway on LibraryThing with no compensation and simply a request for an honest review.

29 comments:

  1. Very good book. Great research....great writing.

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  2. Glad to hear this. I got this one on my tbr pile and I can't wait to get to it. Great review.

    Kimberlee
    http://girllostinabook.blogspot.com

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  3. Thanks, Kimberlee. It was a very compelling novel.

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  4. I've seen this book pop up recently and after reading your review, I think I'll get it. Thank you!

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  5. I have a feeling I'd love it and my mom would too. Hm, maybe I'll get it for her for Christmas.

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    1. I think you would love the book.

      I hope you got to read it, Kathy.

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  6. I read this book some time ago and thoroughly enjoyed it!

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    1. Good to hear, Karen.

      Thanks for stopping, Karen.

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  7. Glad you loved this book - I have a review copy of it and now I can't wait to start :)

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    1. I hope you liked the book.

      Thanks for stopping, Sam.

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  8. This one sounds really good; thanks for sharing with us.

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    1. You are welcome. I hope you have been able to read the book.

      Thanks for stopping, Diane.

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  9. Great review! It sounds like a wonderful book! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving week! I have a giveaway going on if you'd like to enter.

    Leigh Ann
    MaMa's Book Corner

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    1. Thanks, Leigh Ann. I appreciate your comment about my review.

      Thanks for stopping.

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  10. Oh, you liked this book much better than I did. I mostly found it tedious and very nearly stopped reading at several points but I wanted to see how my limited knowledge of her life matched up with how it would be presented in the book. Before I realized it, I'd reached the end.

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    1. I hope you were able to read the book Shaz.

      Thanks for stopping.

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  12. Just pinned this book to my "Books I Want To Read" board.

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  13. GREAT, Vicki. Hope you get it soon.


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  14. Elizabeth, have you read either of Melanie Benjamin's two previous novels, Alice I Have Been or The Autobiography of Mrs Tom Thumb? And if so, how did this one compare? Thanks, Karen

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  15. Karen O...no I have not read any of Melanie's other books so I won't be able to answer your question.

    Thanks so much for stopping by.

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  16. I'm reading this in February and I can't wait. Anne was also a writer and author and I have read one of her books, Gifts from the Sea, I think it's called. It's a timeless book filled with wisdom.

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  17. I loved it. THANKS for commenting.

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  18. Carmen sent me over here to read your review of this one. I recently read and reviewed Anne Lindbergh's book Dearly Beloved and asked if anyone had read The Aviator's Wife. Based on your review I am going to read it also. Maybe men wouldn't like it but they should probably read it. Ha Ha. My review of Dearly Beloved is here: http://www.keepthewisdom.blogspot.com/2016/03/dearly-beloved.html

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    1. Great to hear you are going to give it a try.

      LOL On the men should be reading the book. :)

      Thanks for stopping, Judy.

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    2. How lovely of Carmen to direct you to my blog.

      Thanks, Carmen.

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  19. I loved her Gift From the Sea ......so sad about her marriage.

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    1. I haven’t read GIFT FROM THE SEA, but I did hear about her marriage. Yes...sad.

      Thanks for commenting, Reading Ladies Book Club.

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