The Pilot's Wife: A Novel

Honestly, what was all the fuss about over this book? After reading all the raving reviews, I purchased it with high expectations. The idea is compelling, and could have been so much more. But the writing drags and the whole thing felt shallow and deceptive, promising more than it could deliver. There is too much mundane detail, too little character development, too much suspension of disbelief, too many boring chapters about minutiae that just doesn't seem to matter. The author is too coy, planting hints here and there, which worked for the first half but completely fell apart into contivance and implausibility. To explain what I mean would require spoilers, and while I didn't enjoy the book much, some people might. Without giving anything away, I just didn't buy it. Individually, the pieces of the story might add up in some alternate universe, but people who have achieved what these characters did would not throw it away so easily. The relationships and motivations just did not add up. The gambles that were taken were too big to have been risked by a reasonable person with so much at stake. And frankly, if any one character had two licks of sense, they would have seen through this silliness years before the story began. The woman in London in particular, was a huge stretch. There was no valid reason for anything she did, and particularly, no reason for her to make the last minute revelations she made - there was just nothing in it for her to come clean (and every reason not to), except for the author's need to explain things. I didn't buy it at all. And I didn't buy into any of the male protagonists's actions. The author seemed conflicted about him, striving to make him likeable and then make him completely unlikeable and then compelled to somehow let him off the hook in a meh kind of way. I just couldn't tolerate the author's manipulation of the reader - asking me to believe people would do the things they did for the flimsiest of reasons, sometimes not any reason except to fulfill a plot. I could not like the characters, and too much was asked of the reader without any motivation supplied. Maybe our lives are all so dull we are willing to be caught up in anything a book offers, no matter how implausible. Perhaps the story is too dated and the world has been through too much since this was written. I felt manipulated by the book, when I hoped to be surprised and delighted by the weaving together of a fresh story. Particularly after so much praise heaped on it, I expected a great deal more. Bottom line: If you are looking for a lightweight read that and are willing to swallow whatever without question, you could while away a few hours with this book and be mildly satisfied. If you demand more of an author and more from a book, you'll want to look elsewhere.

The book was thoroughly disappointing. I won't get into plot detail so that I don't ruin it for those who still want to read it. However, I found the descriptions and narrative to be basic and emotionless, given the content. Shreve occasionally throws some random dictionary word into the mix in a way that feels like "see! I'm smart!" With this, I flipped back and forth between audio and reading. Do NOT purchase audio on this. The narrator kind of sounds like Jennifer Tilly. She makes no change in voice for the varying characters, so it's hard to follow. Maybe if you're a huge Shreve fan, you'll enjoy this novel. But I don't recommend it.

The Pilot's Wife was a very engrossing novel with well-developed, realistic characters . The story itself was quite haunting and revolved around the tragic in-flight death of Kathryn Lyons' husband, Jack, who was supposedly piloting the plane, when it suddenly disappeared from the radar screen near the coast of Ireland. As his wife, Kathryn's journey is one of self discovery as she deals with the many stages of grief and is forced to confront the possibility that her husband of sixteen years may have been leading a double life. The questions that the author, Anita Shreve, raises time and time again are: how well do we REALLY know the person to whom we are married? ... and how are we ever to know what they are REALLY thinking and feeling? These are complex issues surrounding the mysterious and controversial disappearance of Jack's airliner. Compelled to learn everything she can about her husband and the tragic crash of his plane, Kathryn pushes herself to face all his dark secrets. This is a fast- paced, unforgettable novel with a poignant, yet satisfying, conclusion.

This book was a good read, however, i found the that the author seemed to have rushed the ending, and because it was set in the days of the IRA era, it might not be as topical/or understandable for a reader who had not lived through that erea. Unfortunately as i said i found the ending rushed and a bit confusing.Jane

This is an interesting novel about a wife who discovers that her husband had lived another life away for her and her daughter. It is also a story of a wife dealing with the loss of a loved one and trying to understand what happened to her life with her husband and daughter. This is the first book that I have read by this author. If you like stories that deal with some of the issues that people deal with every day this may be the book for you.

Even when you finish a Shreve book and you realize the plotting was implausible or the characters were undeveloped, you can still find it an enjoyable, often gripping read. I found that to be the case again with "The Pilot's Wife." Shreve is so good at drawing the reader in, at pacing and at building tension and expectations that her books are always compelling reads. It's only later that the reservations hit you. I agree with many others here that in "The Pilot's Wife" most of the characters are underdeveloped and the resolution is too quick. Despite that, sucker that I apparently am, I kept turning the pages to see what was going to happen! Shreve's domestic dramas may not stand up to a deep critical analysis but they are thoroughly absorbing. They are great for reading on vacation or during a long commute to work. Short and accessible, they go down easy. Given those parameters, I recommend "The Pilot's Wife."

It has all the disappointments of womanhood coiled in it's pages. And so, I cannot say I enjoyed it. But the writing was seductive. The mystery reeled out at just the right pace...until the end. And then it seems to come in a jumble, stumbling over itself awkwardly. And I could never really accept the untimely attraction to Robert or imagine its resolution.

Such a waste - the book started really well, with lots of hints about the hidden life, good descriptions of grief and shock, lots of little threads that were going to be pulled. And then, reading it on my Kindle, I noticed that I was 65% through and only just starting to unravel some of the threads. Sure enough, the promise of twist and turns and complexities was abandoned in favour of a pretty ludicrous explanation of the main theme and what seemed to be a completely unbelievable set of human reactions, not to mention a criminally simplistic view of Irish politics that seemed to be used as what felt like a really immature answer to the main question of the book.I'm quite annoyed that I invested the time in this book. I read the reviews here and to be honest, I had to come back and double-check them because I was so disappointed in it. The reviews on Goodreads are a little more akin to my experience. It gets two stars from me on the basis of the first half of the book, although I am tempted to only give it one because starting it well and then finishing it badly is kind off worse - if it had started badly, I could have stopped reading it!

The plot and ordeal is of tragedy - you really feel for Kathryn and Mattie. The loss is then compounded with new angles as the story twists and turns making you question character loyalties. I felt the story ended short with only a glimpse of Kathryn reconciling her future. The character Robert was also lacking somehow. I found his choices and intentions questionable. What the book beautifully conveys is one’s inner observations and questions during times of the heart be it grief, stress or love. That kind of out of body state where mundane details are the point of focus. Innate objects, smells or sounds that transport you to a memory or feeling and the bustle of normal life when you yourself are immobilised, only able to watch from a distance.

"The Pilot's Wife" is an amazing and poignant book which gripped me from beginning to end. How well to any of us really know the other people in our lives and how would we react when faced with the results of another person's actions.This is a book well worth reading, although make sure you have the time to settle into a gripping read as you will not want to put it down!

So many books promise to be "unputdownable" with an unexpected twist at the end which you didn't see coming etc. etc. but this book, I felt, did actually turn out to be different from expected. It must have been even more shocking at the time it was written, bearing in mind how modern history has turned out since the late 1990s. Can't say any more or I will spoil the surprise ! Anyway, I would describe it as an extremely interesting story line as it gives an insight into a world we all hope we will never become involved in.

Loved the way this book unpacked, it kept you wanting to turn the next page. Never liked in any book where it jumped back and forward in time. However, it was well done as memories. The storyline was very believable as are the characters. All in all a well written book

Wonderful story. It opens with a knock on the door in the early hours from someone coming to inform woman her husband's plane Has exploded somewhere near Ireland. Set largely on the NewHampshire coast and in Ms. Shreve’s favourite house, inNew England,Irelandand London.

A very slow starting story which has failed to hod my attention. Up to page 30 and they are still making sweet cups of tea and asking the same things. Just one samey on going conversation, not as interesting as you would think when you read the book description so not one for me on this occasion.

Took me a while to get into as I thought it a bit slow but I stayed with it and then found i couldn't put it down. A lovely, but sad story t.hat really gripped me. It's left me with an ache in my heart.....this story has really touched my emotions. A must read.

I loved this book! Anita Shreve writes in a distinct style that is a joy to read. The characters in this story are superbly written and the story itself is really intriguing and surprising with quite a shocker towards the end.I would highly recommend this to anyone. It is a surprising delight!

Interesting book but it never really took off so ultimately it was a bit disappointing, although well-written

This is a good storyline. Kathryn married Jack when she was 18, he being 15 years older than her. Jack was a pilot, and it was not until a disaster happens does Kathryn realise he was living two lives.

Gently unfolding story of grief, disillusion and reconciliation. Intelligent and evocative prose, which captivates and evokes empathy and shared feeling.

I was constantly waiting for the next development in this story. It unravelled slowly but in a very satisfying way. Do we ever get to know Jack? I think not. There is something pleasing about that too. Looking forward to my next book by m/s Shreve.

Anita Shreve has the ability to hold your attention within novels that are always intriguing. The Pilot's Wife does just that with the action starting from the first page. I thought her use of the troubles in Northern Ireland was balanced and reflects the naievity of many American's who fail to understand the true nature and history of the problem. The husband falling for the romantic notions so frequently found among many Americans. The tension was mantained throughout and the novel was well constructed, it falls easily into the category of an 'easy read' but one of high quality. Anita Shreve has a wonderful grasp of prose and human nature.

This was my introduction to Anita Shreve's books. I certainly loved it and went on to buy others. This is the gripping story of that infamous "knock at the door" and what happens next, after Kathryn, Jack's devoted wife, opens it. Could the unthinkable have happened? Her life changes dramatically and everything she has ever believed in starts changing shape. Kathryn starts digging for answers. It's an emotional roller coaster all the way through.The plot is masterful and absorbing, the emotions rendered vividly. An entertaining book indeed, with a truly unexpected end.