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chelse34's review
3.0
I had first heard about this book while reading "The Aviator's Wife." Finally picked this up out of curiosity. This book was written by Charles Lindbergh, and is his story about how he came up with the plan to fly to Paris, all the planning it took, and finally the flight. The beginning was really interesting to me. He was a complete nobody (just a mail pilot) and there were several other pilots trying to fly to Paris at the same time as he was. It really was a race (especially for the prize money at the end for whoever could do it.) And he wasn't the first to take off for it either. Several other pilots tried and either crashed on takeoff, got lost, were never found, etc.
The flying over the ocean part was a little boring (as I'm sure it was for Lindbergh too). He did a lot of flashbacks to his past during those hours, so it was almost like an autobiography.
The part that gets me is all the sleep he didn't get! He hardly slept the night before the flight because of the press and nerves, he about fell asleep while flying, and then all the wrapping stuff up once he got to Paris! He was awake 63 hours!!! He flew for 34+ of those. I get sleepy just thinking about it.
Anyway, his underdog story is pretty amazing. I loved that he stuck to his guns, and got what he wanted in his plane instead of letting people boss him around. He was certain he wanted to do it solo (everyone else thought he was crazy and were flying with 2 pilots), and all the planning of weight calculations - only taking everything that was purely essential. He left a lot of thinks behind so he could have extra fuel. So many little fun things like that I learned. I could have had the Reader's Digest version of the actual flight. It was a looooong book, and the flying/sleepy parts just added to my sleepy/boredom feelings. But I'm glad I read it. Learned a lot.
The flying over the ocean part was a little boring (as I'm sure it was for Lindbergh too). He did a lot of flashbacks to his past during those hours, so it was almost like an autobiography.
The part that gets me is all the sleep he didn't get! He hardly slept the night before the flight because of the press and nerves, he about fell asleep while flying, and then all the wrapping stuff up once he got to Paris! He was awake 63 hours!!! He flew for 34+ of those. I get sleepy just thinking about it.
Anyway, his underdog story is pretty amazing. I loved that he stuck to his guns, and got what he wanted in his plane instead of letting people boss him around. He was certain he wanted to do it solo (everyone else thought he was crazy and were flying with 2 pilots), and all the planning of weight calculations - only taking everything that was purely essential. He left a lot of thinks behind so he could have extra fuel. So many little fun things like that I learned. I could have had the Reader's Digest version of the actual flight. It was a looooong book, and the flying/sleepy parts just added to my sleepy/boredom feelings. But I'm glad I read it. Learned a lot.
bluenicorn's review
1.0
This was about a million pages too long, and the more I researched the man, the more I disliked him. Seriously- he flew across the Atlantic. But how many pages does it take to say that he did it and that he was really tired?
kayceeskidmore's review
5.0
An incredible adventure. To best describe how I feel about this book, I'll let his wife, Anne do the honors. "There is something, in the directness -- simplicity -- innocence of that boy arriving after that terrific flight -- completely unaware of the world interest -- the wild crowds below. The rush of the crowds to the plane is symbolic of life rushing at him -- a new life -- new responsibilities -- he was completely unaware of and unprepared for. I feel for him -- mingled excitement and apprehension -- a little of what one feels when a child is born and you look as his fresh untouched little face and know he will meet joy -- but sorrow too -- struggle -- pain -- frustration."
bridgetrose89's review
4.0
I can't say I read every word of this book, but some of his stories are just fascinating. I became interested in the Lindbergh family after reading Melanie Benjamin's excellent historical novel The Aviator's Wife. Reading the actual words of Charles was wonderful.
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