Review – The Aviator’s Wife

The Aviator’s Wife

by Melanie Benjamin

Told from Anne Morrow’s fictional first person POV, you learn about her life as Charles Lindbergh’s co-pilot and wife.

I cracked open this book thinking I would read a chapter to see how it was and allow myself to set it down it if didn’t grab me.  I had a hard time setting it down!  If you enjoy historical fiction and books like The Paris Wife where a famous figure is “seen” through the eyes of their less famous wives, you should check it out.

The Lindbergh’s truly paid the price of fame.  He flew across the Atlantic before the Depression and then during and after they were the couple of the air. Everyone knew them, knew what they looked like, thought they were good luck, Lucky Lindy ya know…and expected them to bring about good times. The way Benjamin wrote it, I can completely see how their child was kidnapped. They were the Blarney Stone of America. And these two did not like the fame, they just wanted to do what they were good at, fly and live a normal life.  Well, Charles especially.  Women really had a short stick and were ruled by their husbands, but Anne as depicted by Benjamin, really had to choose between being co-pilot and being a mother.  Charles is not much of a sympathetic character except that my grandpa was a little like that, a silent generation guy, interested in accomplishments.  Everyone’s family lives were messed up then.  The Depression made so many people suffer, and here this family was with plenty of money, seemingly blessed.  People wanted a little of that.

Anyway, reading about how Anne justified doing what she did was interesting. This book for me, felt long a history lesson to finally understand Gift from the Sea, which I read a long time ago.  I was too young and knew too little about Anne Lindbergh to appreciate it.  I need to find that and reread it.  I remember enjoying it, but now I think I might actually understand it a bit more.

Anyway, it was well done. How accurate I couldn’t say because I learned tons of stuff that I didn’t know about their lives.  Benjamin added the emotional element and chose a reason for the way Charles’ behaved with his family, she says she also streamlined some events, especially the kidnapping.  The end is a bit sad because it is reflective on their lives and all the wrapping up.  I give it 3.5 or 4 metallic gray stars, Charles would NEVER have allow Anne to be so wishy-washy, which is exactly why I am being that way.

I have The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb to read by Melanie Benjamin, I am excited now.  🙂  Though honestly, I did to read a few paranormals before I go there…