Review: The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin

Publication Date: January 15th 2013

Format: Hardcover 416pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"For much of her life, Anne Morrow, the shy daughter of the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, has stood in the shadows of those around her, including her millionaire father and vibrant older sister, who often steals the spotlight. Then Anne, a college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family. There she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charles’s assurance and fame, Anne is certain the celebrated aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong. 

Charles sees in Anne a kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, and her world will be changed forever. The two marry in a headline-making wedding. Hounded by adoring crowds and hunted by an insatiable press, Charles shields himself and his new bride from prying eyes, leaving Anne to feel her life falling back into the shadows. In the years that follow, despite her own major achievements—she becomes the first licensed female glider pilot in the United States—Anne is viewed merely as the aviator’s wife. The fairy-tale life she once longed for will bring heartbreak and hardships, ultimately pushing her to reconcile her need for love and her desire for independence, and to embrace, at last, life’s infinite possibilities for change and happiness. 

Drawing on the rich history of the twentieth century—from the late twenties to the mid-sixties—and featuring cameos from such notable characters as Joseph Kennedy and Amelia Earhart, The Aviator’s Wife is a vividly imagined novel of a complicated marriage—revealing both its dizzying highs and its devastating lows. With stunning power and grace, Melanie Benjamin provides new insight into what made this remarkable relationship endure."

My Thoughts:

There isn't much I can add to the synopsis above, so I will just jump right into my thoughts of The Aviator's Wife. When I first picked up Melanie Benjamin's latest novel, I was excited to learn about the famous Lindbergh family on a more personal level, especially since the family has been romanticized by many throughout history. There is no doubt that Melanie did a wonderful job removing the romantic layer, justly exposing the human side of the Lindbergh's. I could vividly imagine the personalities of each character and how they interacted with others on a daily basis. 

Despite the vivid portray of human characteristics, throughout the novel I was constantly trying to find a way to connect with the characters. Unfortunately I never succeeded in doing so, not even with Anne, despite all the turmoil surrounding the family. Perhaps this was the intended portrayal of these characters, especially the cold unfeeling Charles, but still, it made the novel read as a history lesson instead of a engrossing story. 

Overall, The Aviator's Wife is a great novel for someone unfamiliar with the history of the Lindbergh family, and wanting to learn about their lives beyond the moments highlighted by history. 

Copyright © 2013 Svea Love. All Rights Reserved.
FTC: I received this book from the publisher. As always these are my own honest opinions