The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story - Hardcover

Koppel, Lily

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1455503258 ISBN 13: 9781455503254

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2013

Synopsis

Discover the true story of the women who stood beside some of the greatest heroes of American space travel in this New York Times bestseller that delivers "a truly great snapshot of the times" (Publishers Weekly)--now a limited TV series on ABC!

As America's Mercury Seven astronauts were launched on death-defying missions, television cameras focused on the brave smiles of their young wives. Overnight, these women were transformed from military spouses into American royalty. They had tea with Jackie Kennedy, appeared on the cover of Life magazine, and quickly grew into fashion icons.

Annie Glenn, with her picture-perfect marriage, was the envy of the other wives; JFK made it clear that platinum-blonde Rene Carpenter was his favorite; and licensed pilot Trudy Cooper arrived with a secret that needed to stay hidden from NASA. Together with the other wives they formed the Astronaut Wives Club, providing one another with support and friendship, coffee and cocktails.

As their celebrity rose--and as divorce and tragedy began to touch their lives--the wives continued to rally together, forming bonds that would withstand the test of time, and they have stayed friends for over half a century.

*Includes reading group guide*

About this title

About the Author

Lily Koppel is the bestselling author of The Red Leather Diary. She has written for The New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, Huffington Post, and Glamour.

Review

"The men catapulted into space in the 20th century were interesting, sort of. The women they left back on earth were fascinating. . . . A lively account of how the wives coped with fame, fear, [and] loneliness."―People (A "Great Summer Read" selection)

"This is one of those light, tasty summer reads you'll guzzle down like a milk shake."―Entertainment Weekly (grade: B+)

"[A] perfect beach read."―Entertainment Weekly's "Must List"

"Breezy and entertaining. . . [Koppel] deserves credit for recognizing the richness of the subject matter. More than 50 years after its inception, many of us now take the space program for granted, but Koppel reminds readers just how bold and innovative it felt in the Sputnik era, and how mysterious the wilderness of space remains. . . Koppel is chronicling a cultural moment more than any particular person, and in this she excels. The details are superb, from the ham loaves the women cooked to the Virginia Slims they chain-smoked, the fur hot pants and the Pucci dresses they wore, the luaus and shrimp-boil parties they threw, and the Mercury-capsule-shaped community swimming pool they shared."―Curtis Sittenfeld, Washington Post

"A remarkable story of perseverance and friendship in a time when women had few rights."―The Daily Beast (A "Hot Read" selection)

"A fair and accomplished reporter. . . . Lily Koppel offers a grounded, irresistible and sociable social history. . . . Koppel's book deftly delivers The Wife Stuff. . . . Koppel does an excellent job of capturing a group portrait with enough highlights, low points, sunny spots and shadows for individual features to emerge. . . . The Astronaut Wives Club is wholly and consistently in Koppel's voice: smart, evocative, informed and warm-an electric fireside chat with the women who put men on the moon."―Chicago Tribune

"[A] true (juicy) story. Gotta love non-fiction that feels like a beach read: Lily Koppel's The Astronaut Wives Club chronicles the wives of 1960s astronauts. . . . Put down that mystery and pick up some history!"―Redbook

"[A] fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the women married to the astronauts...Impressive."―The Dallas Morning News

"Intriguing, pleasantly gossipy and often-touching. . . . in its light and engaging way, The Astronaut Wives Club is a reflection on the gap between image and reality, and a glimpse of an unstable time when "good wives" were reckoning the cost of that role."―Columbus Dispatch

"[An] entertaining and quirky throwback...This is truly a great snapshot of the times."―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

About this edition

• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1455503258
• ISBN 13: 9781455503254
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288