I found the book to be eye opening in that it clearly chronicles what life was like for women in the 50’s and 60’s. I loved the peek behind the scenes of the astronauts' lives and the women who supported them. These women were supposed to be role models…the perfect American housewife. They were to smile, keep their house spotless, cook delicious meals, be perfectly poised at all times even as their husbands were partying and cheating.
I was born in the 50’s and was in my teens in the 60’s and early 70’s. I remember many of the incidents that occurred in the book. Who doesn’t remember exactly where they were when man first set foot on the moon? I loved seeing the events through the eyes of the wives.
Life was so stressful for these women that they formed a club to give each other support. They still meet today, even though all but seven of the marriages ended in divorce.
The author tried to cover almost thirty years and so was not able to give enough detail on anyone. I would have enjoyed the book a bit more had she concentrated on the Mercury wives. That being said, this is still a book worth reading.
- Judith Zerulik
Publisher - Grand Central Publishing
Date of Publication - June 3, 2014