Book of the week: The Aviator's Wife

Happy Thursday, everybody! It's time for a book recommendation. I'm so happy to share The Aviator's Wife, by Melanie Benjamin. I found this book in a tiny bookshop with an overstuffed couch in the Garden District of New Orleans. I brought it with me on a work trip to Toronto this week and I couldn't put it down: I read it during my flight and while waiting for my luggage at the baggage carousel, I stayed up past my bedtime two nights in a row, and I snuck in a few pages before each of my shows this week. This is a fictional account of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of the man who first flew across the ocean from New York to Paris. Benjamin breathes life into historical facts and paints a heroine who feels real and close to the reader--so that we relate to this woman who, indeed, lived a very unique life! 

The story begins in Mexico City, where a young college student, Anne Morrow, first meets Charles Lindbergh, a real American Hero. He's just completed the infamous solo flight across the Atlantic and is balancing his thirst for achievement and adventure with a need to escape the relentless hounding of the press. He chooses Anne as a companion, someone whom he can trust and rely upon. Anne thrills at this unexpected, exciting twist of events in her quiet life. But she soon realizes Charles has high expectations for her role not only as his wife, but also as his only crew on his many expeditions and missions. Set in Anne's voice, the novel explores the couple's tumultuous relationship, adhering accurately to historical fact. 

I learned a lot from Anne's journey. Her desire to please her husband pushes her to do amazing things: she learns Morse code, how to navigate using the stars, and earns her pilot license. And yet, she's always left yearning for validation--love--from Charles. The epigraph at the beginning of the book is a quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupery, "But the eyes are blind. One must look with the heart." I found myself pondering this concept as Anne, an author and an artist, struggles to align her beliefs and world-view with those of her husband, a scientist (really). You can see her desires being molded throughout their marriage. I just want to share two excerpts.

This first one is when Anne is trying to decide what to do after college, professing to want more than just becoming a housewife and an entertainer: 

"'But what about love? What about passion? What about--more?' I flung my pencil down with a dramatic gesture that surprised both of us...'I don't know about you, but I don't want to be one of those dried-up matrons you see at bridge parties, scowling at the younger generation. I want to be one of those marvelous old ladies covered in scarves who rock in their chairs with mysterious smiles, remembering the scandalous affairs of their youth!'

"'Why, Ann Morrow!' My roommate's green eyes deepened. 'You sly creature! I guess still waters really do run deep!' (pg. 53)"

In this next passage, you can see Anne begin to understand what she has ahead of her at the beginning of her marriage:

"'Are you sure?' I asked anxiously, twisting the tie of my robe in knots. 'Are you sure you want me?'

"'Of course. Who else would I want? Who else would I trust but you, my wife? I would like my eggs now, if you please.'

I could only stare at him, overwhelmed by all that was expected of me. Last night, I realized suddenly, had only just been the beginning. Charles Lindbergh had chosen me; that, in itself, had been enormous enough to absorb, and I hadn't quite finished doing so. But now I began to understand what that really meant. I would be not only his wife but his copilot. I would not only make his eggs but steer his course to the Orient.

"I started to say, 'I'll try,' but stopped myself just in time. I understood that 'try' would not be an acceptable answer.

"Instead I said, 'Of course. How do you like them?'

"'Over easy.'

"'Perfect. That's just how I like my own eggs.'

"I did not like my eggs over easy. But it would be simpler, I knew, to pretend that I did(pg. 97)."

Of course, I'll leave the conclusion and the plot points undisclosed. It was so interesting to discover this famous couple that captured America's attention for so long (I hadn't known anything about Charles Lindbergh beyond his initial solo flight). Benjamin's writing masterfully drew me in--I felt invested in Anne and found her transformation throughout the novel satisfying. 

After completing the book, this story sent me to Google, researching more about the fascinating Mrs. Lindbergh, a symptom of what historical fiction at its best can accomplish. That should make the author happy, as she herself wrote: "As a historical novelist, the most gratifying thing I hear is that the reader was inspired, after reading my work of fiction, to research these remarkable people's lives further." 

Next, I think I may have to read some of the books Anne wrote and get to know her a little better!