February 16

The Aviator's Wife
By Melanie Benjamin

Anne Morrow was the well-bred but quiet daughter of an ambassador at the time she met Charles Lindbergh, who had just completed his solo flight over the Atlantic.  They had a brief courtship followed by a small wedding but were mobbed by fans and the press on their honeymoon, and everyday thereafter.  The Lindberghs were possibly the first superstars, and ultimately decided to live out of the country to avoid being hounded.

Anne learned to fly, too, and was the first woman licensed to fly a glider plane but got none of the praise her famous husband did.  Charles may have been a hero, but this historic novel, based on her diaries, makes him out to be a real bully and his poor wife really suffered.  He was gone for months at a time, paying little attention to her or their children, as if they were merely born to create his legacy.

Before they had children, the two seemed happy flying all over the place.  They provided some of the first ever aerial photos of many sites around the world.  Can you imagine circling Mayan ruins from above, taking photos, and then landing to camp among the ruins?  That's the stuff of dreams.

A good read for the adventure and history of aviation, but not for their family life.  Bless her heart, Anne had a tough time being the Aviator's Wife.  Just at the end of his life, she discovered Charles had children with several other women, insuring that his perfect genes would pass on to future generations.  Sounds like he was full of himself.

Thanks to Jean Warneke, my travel agent sister, for this guest book review!