Rodrigo Varej Varej থেকে Valdese, NC, USA
I came to this book with a long-standing appreciation for Earhart's basic character and role in women's history, but with little knowledge about the details of her life. Therefore I gained a lot from diving into such a thorough study of the the people and events that made her into the legend she has become. The author parallels the life story of Amelia with that of George Putnam, her husband and publicist--demonstrating how integral he was to her success. While there are those who think of AE as "Saint Amelia" and also those who downplay her achievements and criticize her husband's business motives, I thought the author did a good job of balancing both perspectives and leaving it to the reader to draw their own conclusions. Clearly Amelia and George led an unconventional and very public life, and some of their decisions had to have been based on financial and career opportunities (including aspects of the fateful trip around the world), but as the author reminds us--we might not know Amelia's name today if not for the publicity machine she had behind her in George Putnam. If you're looking for more than just a quick read, this gives the very detailed but interesting story behind one of the leading ladies of the 20th Century. I walked away from it appreciating both the grandeur and the flaws of Amelia and George, all the while admiring their willingness to take risks, defy conventions, and live large.
I agree with prior reviews that this book did hit a little too close to home. I'm a little angry right now at the way it ended because I feel it was just a little bit too easy for her to run to LA. All the pieces just happened to come together - I don't buy it. It also bothers me to read/see women like her. Women who are so weak and stay in a friendship/relationship because that's all they know. Like I said, I'm a little angry! But overall, quick and fun read.
For people who often don’t seem to belong in each other’s lives, the characters in A Scattered Life find themselves mattering greatly to one another in unpredictable ways. The bonds they form are so unlikely that at times it almost seems up to the reader to will them into existence. And like the characters themselves, as they learn about each other, the more that is revealed about them, the less judgmental the reader is allowed to be. This is the great lesson of this simple novel about a small circle of family and friends in small town Wisconsin.