Rating: 
Summary: Interesting plot
Review: This novel gripped me from the beginning. Kathryn was a strong character, but I was surprised by the lengths she went to in order to find out the truth about her husband. I'm not sure how many people would have done what she did. The descriptions are vivid, and the characters are interesting, although many of their actions didn't seem believable. The question seemed to remain up in the air as to whether or not Jack loved Kathryn, or which woman he loved more. It seemed unclear to me exactly why he had the affair in the first place. It seemed as though in many ways he loved Kathryn more than Muire. This book is a good read, but it seemed to have too many unanswered flaws.
Rating: 
Summary: CBS Movie of the Week
Review: We've all heard or read about this scenario: pilot with wives in city A, B, C and more. This isn't such a new concept and so I found the plot was a bit borring. Yea, I wish I were a pilot so I could have multiple families, or at least wifes in different cities. But, the "why" - is not fully addressed. She makes an attempt at the end, but give up without really trying, just asking the questions. The book is great in its description of a spouse learning of the sudden death of the other, but lacks in any detail as to why the husband would do what he did. The writing was tight and you moved through the book fast. Maybe no - one knows why this happens but the book makes you think.It's on Oprha's list so read it and you'll have something to talk about at cocktail parties.
Rating: 
Summary: THE PILOT'S WIFE OR THE PILOT'S "REAL LIFE"
Review: When someone says, "it's too good to be true", in my estimation it usually isn't true. So begins the story of Kathryn and Jack Lyons' idyllic life as a married couple, both with jobs they enjoy and a teenage daughter they equally adore. As with anything else that seems to be perfect, something is bound to crack. For Kathryn it begins with that late night knock at her door that is dreaded by every wife and mother alive. Not only does Kathryn find out that her husband, a pilot, has died in an explosion on his aircraft; she also subsequently finds out that he was leading a double life. Shreve then explores the concept of "how well do you know your mate" and the ultimate question of "how well do you know enough of yourself to be able to handle this duplicity". I couldn't put this book down and know that I've found another new author to add to my list of "favorite authors".
Rating:
Summary: Pilot's Wife
Review: An extremely engulfing novel. I could not put down. Haunting in some ways. The only dissapointing part was the unrealistic portrayal of the daughter
Rating:
Summary: The Pilot's Wife
Review: Book Review: The Pilot's Wife The book, The Pilot's Wife, by Anita Shreve, is extremely intriguing and throughout the whole story, asks the question "How well do you really know someone?" The Pilot's Wife was a book that I, personally, could not put down. Every detail was vital to the story as to what was going to happen next. I am generally not big on reading books, but this book; I have to say, is one of the best I have ever read. Even the back of the book was interesting, it made me wonder what was going to happen after Kathryn opened her door to the eerie knock and that is why I chose it. The first page gets you hooked. It starts out with Kathryn waking up at 3:24 in the morning to a knock at her door. As she opens it, a man, Robert Hart, is standing there, asks her name, and right away, she knows her husband has tragically died in a plane crash near the coast of Ireland. From then on, the story is filled with suspense and detailed information. However, as this current story is already taking place, Kathryn's thoughts wander and turn to when her and Jack first met and the special times they had together. That was my favorite part, it was like going on a time travel to the back of Kathryn's mind and she was letting us know exactly what happened and what she was thinking. Then, as the next chapter approached, her mind would shift back into the story and what was happening with her husbands' sudden death. I think that the hardest situation that Kathryn was faced with during this story was the fear and overwhelming sadness of telling her daughter, Mattie. Kathryn states that Mattie and her husband, Jack, were very close and would always go on trips and sports games together. Kathryn was terrified as to what Matties' reaction would be. Kathryn was also afraid that if she saw Matties' pain and suffering that she would loose it, and she didn't want Mattie to see her become weak and helpless, so she remained strong when Mattie was around. However, there is a time when Mattie and Kathryn connect and discuss how they feel and they both let out that they are scared and deeply depressed by these turbulent events. As the book proceeds, Kathryn finds out disturbing facts and clues to her husbands' death. She goes on a journey to find herself, independence, and recovery. There is a huge amount of symbolism that is used in this book. For one example, Kathryn talks about seeing her husbands' old jeans on the back hook of the bathroom door, the sheets, and his other clothes strewn across the bed. Kathryn, was drinking in the scent of her husbands belongings trying to trace her husbands smell. These clothes, I think, represent Kathryn's life. Like the sheets and Jacks' clothes, her life was crumpled, old, lifeless, and fragrantless. Now that Jack, her beloved husband, was gone, what would she do? Where could she go from here? She was so filled with fear of being alone and the overwhelming thought of knowing that she would never see Jacks face again. As I continued reading this book, I felt like I was living this tragedy. It was amazing because I could actually feel Kathryn's pain and loss that she felt that morning when she woke up. Her heart beating fast, thoughts, memories racing through her mind, and not knowing what to think of this strange knock. I became absorbed in this story and every word, every second gripped and prepared you for what was going to come next. This is definitely a book that you should put on your list to read because you will certainly enjoy every minute of it. You will remember this book, this story, forever; I know I certainly will.
Rating:
Summary: The Pilot's Wife
Review: Book Review: The Pilot's Wife The book, The Pilot'sWife,by Anita Shreve, is extremely intriguing and throughout the wholestory, asks the question "How well do you really know someone?" The Pilot's Wife was a book that I, personally, could not put down. Every detail was vital to the story as to what was going to happen next. I am generally not big on reading books, but this book; I have to say, is one of the best I have ever read. Even the back of the book was interesting, it made me wonder what was going to happen after Kathryn opened her door to the eerie knock and that is why I chose it. The first page gets you hooked. It starts out with Kathryn waking up at 3:24 in the morning to a knock at her door. As she opens it, a man, Robert Hart, is standing there, asks her name, and right away, she knows her husband has tragically died in a plane crash near the coast of Ireland. From then on, the story is filled with suspense and detailed information. However, as this current story is already taking place, Kathryn's thoughts wander and turn to when her and Jack first met and the special times they had together. That was my favorite part, it was like going on a time travel to the back of Kathryn's mind and she was letting us know exactly what happened and what she was thinking. Then, as the next chapter approached, her mind would shift back into the story and what was happening with her husbands' sudden death. I think that the hardest situation that Kathryn was faced with during this story was the fear and overwhelming sadness of telling her daughter, Mattie. Kathryn states that Mattie and her husband, Jack, were very close and would always go on trips and sports games together. Kathryn was terrified as to what Matties' reaction would be. Kathryn was also afraid that if she saw Matties' pain and suffering that she would loose it, and she didn't want Mattie to see her become weak and helpless, so she remained strong when Mattie was around. However, there is a time when Mattie and Kathryn connect and discuss how they feel and they both let out that they are scared and deeply depressed by these turbulent events. As the book proceeds, Kathryn finds out disturbing facts and clues to her husbands' death. She goes on a journey to find herself, independence, and recovery. There is a huge amount of symbolism that is used in this book. For one example, Kathryn talks about seeing her husbands' old jeans on the back hook of the bathroom door, the sheets, and his other clothes strewn across the bed. Kathryn, was drinking in the scent of her husbands belongings trying to trace her husbands smell. These clothes, I think, represent Kathryn's life. Like the sheets and Jacks' clothes, her life was crumpled, old, lifeless, and fragrantless. Now that Jack, her beloved husband, was gone, what would she do? Where could she go from here? She was so filled with fear of being alone and the overwhelming thought of knowing that she would never see Jacks face again. As I continued reading this book, I felt like I was living this tragedy. It was amazing because I could actually feel Kathryn's pain and loss that she felt that morning when she woke up. Her heart beating fast, thoughts, memories racing through her mind, and not knowing what to think of this strange knock. I became absorbed in this story and every word, every second gripped and prepared you for what was going to come next. This is definitely a book that you should put on your list to read because you will certainly enjoy every minute of it. You will remember this book, this story, forever; I know I certainly will.
Rating:
Summary: THE PILOT'S WIFE
Review: Life is good or so thought high school teacher Kathryn Lyons. Her beloved husband Jack, a trans-Atlantic pilot, and Kathryn have shared a strong relationship over the years they have been together. Her happy family lifestyle explodes into pieces when Jack's plane blows up while in the air ten miles from Ireland, then she discovers bit by bit how little she knew Jack Lyons. First, she faces a media frenzy when the flight recorder makes clear that Jack was carrying a bomb in his flight bag. Her illusions of a her so-called good marriage crumble, despite her belief in the love she and Jack had and the need to keep Jack's memory pure for teenage daughter Mattie. As she navigates the dark days with the priest-like assistance of Robert, the pilot union's grievance expert, Kathryn increasingly feels compelled to come to grips with Jack's hidden life. Following up on a phone number she discovers among his papers, she and Robert go to London, where she finds Jack's other family: Muire, an unrepentant Irish beauty and former flight attendant, and her two young children. By now the plot is fairly screaming IRA bombers! but instead of guns and M15 surveillance teams we get Kathryn's long, sad walk in the rain and an attempt at consolation by a now-doting Robert. The next morning, Kathryn, still lagging two beats behind the reader, has the whole thing explained to her at breakfast by a remorseful Muire, who's now forced to go on the run. Already struggling with grief, Kathryn is stunned by the incessant questions about Jack, their marriage, and even Mattie's personal life. Rumors abound that Jack lived a secret life. Soon the media accuses Jack of pilot error and the flight investigators believe he committed suicide. After finding some inexplicable notes in their home, Kathryn is unable to sit idle as her past and her spouse seem to have their history rewritten so she begins her own inquiries. As she searches into Jack's past with the help of union official Robert Hart, Kathryn wonders exactly who her husband truly was? Kathryn is an interesting character struggling with what she learns about the husband she never knew. Robert adds little to the plot beyond informing the widow of the tragedy. He adds an unnecessary betrayal and romantic subplot that takes the audience on a inclement weather detour. Their teenage daughter Mattie is intelligent and loving though a bit too independent as fifteen-year old girls seem to be, at least with their moms. I recommend this book for anyone that is interested in reading about a story that keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. This book kept me wondering the whole time, what the next step or event that was going to happen.
Rating:
Summary: Where The Heart Is
Review: The enjoyable novel Where The Heart Is take you through parts of the life of Novalee Nation. We first meet Novalee as a seventeen year old young woman who is seven months pregnant. She is traveling with her boyfriend Willy Jack to California. On the way, they stop at a Wal-Mart and Willy Jack abandons Novalee. Novalee lives a secret life inside the Wal-Mart for the next two months and befriends the librarian of the small town, Forney Hull. After Novalee's daughter Americus is born, the two go to live in a trailer home with Sister Husband, a very compassionate older woman who enjoyed their company. Novalee becomes friends with all of their neighbors including Dixie Mullins, the Ortiz family, Lexie Coop and her children, and also Sister's lover Mr. Sprock. Novalee grows particularly closer to Forney Hull who is very eager to supply Novalee with more than enough reading materials. After Sister Husband dies in a tornado and the trailer is demolished,Americus and Novalee go to live with Mr. and Mrs. Whitecotton, and older couple who lost their only child when she was very young. Mr. Whitecotton helps Novalee develop her love for photography. Novalee learns of her inheritance from Sister Husband and has her ideal home built on their old property in their previous neighborhood where her and Americus eventually move. We experience various conflicts concerning each of the different characters throughout the course of the novel including Americus's kidnapping and Lexie's men troubles. Although the reader can see the relationship between Novalee and Forney develop from friendship to romance, their love is never requited until the end. Tied into the main story, we also are taken through the events of Willy Jack's life after he leaves Novalee. He finds himself in jail, and then traveling around the country as a guitar player who eventually fails miserably. Novalee and Willy Jack meet again in the final chapter and seem to develop a friendship again. These sections of the story are not keys to the main plot; I do not find the tale of Willy Jack incredibly interesting and it didn't affect my interest in the central story. The main theme of the story is the idea of "home." Novalee had lived most of her life without a stable home or guardian; her mother abandoned her when she was just seven years old. Novalee enjoyed looking through decorating magazines, create an image in her mind of the perfect home in which she wanted to live. She always had a vision of the ideal family, living in the ideal, large home, who lived happily ever after. The story explores the different sizes and shapes that families come in, and none of the families in the book would attest to society's idea of a "normal" family. Billie Letts's novel's social significance includes an unrealistic glimpse into the life of a pregnant teenager. Some details to the novel are not conceivable to the reader especially Novalee's secret life in Wal-Mart; it just doesn't seem like that could happen in non-fictional life. The tone Letts takes is warm, light-hearted, and "fresh." The book as a whole is very entertaining to read and left myself, as the reader, satisfied with the ending. I highly recommend the novel to anyone, although I think it would be most enjoyed by a female.
Rating:
Summary: The Pilot's Wife
Review: The Pilot's Wife, by Anita Shreeve, was an eye-popping, hair raising, and exhilarating book. This is a kind of book that you never put down. Even just on the first page, it lures you in and you just read and read. On the first page, I could feel the pain that Kathryn was feeling. It was like I was right next to her living her life. The book starts off very intense. The first thing that happens is the knock on the door. The knock on the door is what Kathryn dreaded her whole life. She dreaded that knock because that knock meant her husbands death. Her husband was a pilot and Kathryn had prepared for that moment every day, but it was too soon. A man named Robert Hart broke the news to her. The time was exactly 3:24 A.M. The first thing she thought about was Mattie. She couldn't brake the news to her, not yet. The two of them had such a strong bond that she didn't want to break it. Kathryn would think back to the time that she met Jack. How he came in and was looking at a painting and how they left the store and went to the beach. At this beach they talked for hours and made love. Then the story would come back and she realized that Jack's death was not a dream........it was a reality. When she was in the bathroom, she discovered a pair of old blue jeans of Jacks. She was cleaning out the pockets when she found a little piece of paper. On the paper was a number. Following up on the phone number, she and Robert go to London, where she finds Jack's other family: Muire, an unrepentant Irish beauty and former flight attendant, and her two young children. Then Kathryn takes a long, sad walk in the rain. The next morning, Kathryn, still lagging two beats behind the reader, has the whole thing explained to her at breakfast by a remorseful Muire, who's now forced to go on the run. Then Kathryn's staggered by Robert's revelation that he didn't come along just to keep her company but that he's part of the investigation (though he makes no move to detain Muire). Kathryn sulks, but by the end of the story, Robert is back in her good graces, his seeming betrayal well on its way to being forgotten. This story is very symbolic. The one thing that stood out to me the most was her walk in the rain. This walk in the rain was just like her life. I think that since the beginning of the story her life was like a rainy day. Everything was going wrong for her. Her husband dies, and then she finds out he has a secret life. What else could go wrong? I think that it was better for her to find out her husbands true identity. I mean, we think we know someone one day and then next, who knows? So the question we have to ask ourselves is "How well do you really know someone?"
Rating:
Summary: Pilots wife
Review: EXCELLENT ! I could not put it down. What an absolute great book. I passed it along to everyone in my family-they all give this book a five star rating! I love Anita Shreve I think she is a fabulous writer-easy to read ,easy to follow, excellent stories!
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