The Astronaut Wives Club

The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel, 272 pages

We've all remember stories about the first astronauts, those brave and crazy men who agreed to strap themselves to rockets and shoot off into the heavens. But we haven't heard as much about their wives, who required just as much courage, determination, and fortitude as their better-known spouses. The Astronaut Wives Club tells their story, starting with the wives of the original Mercury Seven and continuing through the Apollo missions. As their husbands were shot into space, these women were thrust into the spotlight, forced to put on a brave face and not let any cracks (in their marriages or in their own composure) show through.

This was a fascinating story, and showed just how difficult it was to keep up with the Ozzie-and-Harriet facade expected of these women. However, this also shows the bond that formed between these women, who would drop everything and show up at one of their compatriots' homes for a "deathwatch," as the woman's husband was shot into space. Usually, after I read a book, I switch to a different genre or topic. But this book has made me even more curious about the Space Race. That's high praise for this book.