This book was very well-written and a wonderful blend of fact and fiction. As I was reading the chapter about Charlie's kidnapping, I had to stop and google it online to see if there were any more details about it. The author did a great job of sticking to the facts and giving us a great overview of what happened. What a tragic event. The author said in her notes that Charles and Anne were hounded by the press much like Princess Diana was - and very few people other than them. What a nightmare life. I actually understand why Charles went to such lengths to protect his family from the world. A side note about Charlie's abduction and murder though: I don't agree AT ALL about Charles' decision to keep Charlie's life and death a secret from their other children!! What was he thinking? They were eventually going to find out - and what an awful way to find out: at school from a history book!! Charles and Anne should have made Charlie a part of their lives from the get-go.
Charles......It seems like he may have had Asperger's. He was a genius about machines and aviation specifically; he could only see things his way; he did not understand "emotion". As far as his upbringing being a part of it too, it probably was. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree..... People that are that focused on something can be so successful at that one thing, yet fail in so many other ways of being "human". I know that Anne loved Charles; I wasn't convinced initially that Charles loved Anne. She was a means to an end. She was his navigator, his wife (at his beck and call), the mother of his children. She completed the picture of 'family" that he envisioned for himself. With that being said, I think he loved Anne the best way that Charles could have ever loved anyone. I just don't believe that Charles could have done any better considering his limitations with emotion, feelings, love, empathy. (Especially since this was the 1920-1960's, when men were expected to be the provider and women the housewife).
I believe that Anne did forgive Charles. I know that she didn't actually say the words at the end when he asked for her forgiveness. I don't think I would have either, in her shoes. Charles simply didn't deserve to hear those exact words. BUT, her last words to Charles were "I love you", which says enough - especially to a man who said and shared so little. They betrayed each other (in their marriage vows) and they each betrayed themselves. Charles never let himself properly grieve the death of their son - and his inability to bring Charlie home to Anne; Anne lived her life for Charles, even though it went against who she was and what she believed. I was very happy that Anne found love and a companion in Dana.
I would have loved to know more about Anne's siblings: Dwight's illness; Elizabeth's relationship with Connie, her illness, her marriage to Aubrey; Con's marriage to Aubrey. As far as that goes, I would like to know more about Charles & Anne's children! I guess including all of that would have made the book triple in size!
My favorite passage in the entire book was something that Anne's mom said to her before she died. "You need to...stop looking for heroes, Anne. Only the weak need...heroes...and heroes need...those around them to remain weak. You're...not weak." What a great summation! I am so glad that in the end, Anne found her strength. She didn't need a hero. She needed to believe in herself.
Great book!
Wendy's Rating: *****
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