The Astronaut Wives Club
There are plenty of books about the remarkable men of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs, but this is the first dedicated to the equally remarkable women who stood behind them: the wives who held down the home front and kept up appearances, conforming to unbending expectations without any of the training and support given to their men. Lily Koppel spoke with surviving wives and their families, allowing them to tell their stories in their own voices, then used those stories to construct this dishy, irreverent, bittersweet, poignant memoir. For those new to space history, a handy list is provided to keep track of who’s who; for space buffs, old stories are given new life with fascinating details never revealed before. Readers looking for a scholarly text may find the casual style lacking, but readers who want to experience what these women’s lives were actually like – the pressure and perfection, infidelity and resilience, Jell-O recipes and perfect hair – will be absorbed by this heartfelt and inspiring book. For those readers, The Astronaut Wives Club is highly recommended.
