Sally didn’t care whether the WASP were civilians or soldiers. Nor was she really concerned about the condition of the planes they flew. WASP got advanced training and were paid to fly; that put being a WASP head and shoulders above anything she’d done so far except barnstorm with Tex. “Not me!” she said. “I won’t quit! Any kind of flying beats anything else, any day of the week.”
(from Wings, page 17)
Karl Friedrich’s novel Wings: A Novel of World War II Flygirls pays homage to the 1,074 women who graduated from the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program, which operated from September 1942 to December 1944. These women were civilians with pilot licenses who volunteered for training to deliver aircraft all over the country. The U.S. Army needed their services because most of its pilots (male, of course) were fighting oversees in Europe and the Pacific. They worked just as hard as any male pilot and oftentimes were better pilots, yet the U.S. government did not grant them the same benefits and did not award the WASP veteran status until 1979.
In Wings, Friedrich tells the story of Sally Ketchum, a young girl hoping to make a career in aviation. Sally is rough around the edges, but it’s easy to understand where her anger and defensiveness come from, given that she grew up the daughter of a poor, alcoholic, and abusive farmer in East Texas. She’s uneducated but bright, and the light of her life was Tex Jones, the boyfriend who taught her how to fly and how to love. In the first chapter of the book, Sally’s life has come apart at the seams; all the fun she had barnstorming with Tex ends in a fiery crash that takes his life and forces her to return home to her father.
After her father’s death, Sally finds the letter inviting her to participate in the WASP program, and she heads to Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, to begin her new life as a pilot. She meets the beautiful, lively, and brusque Dixie, the intelligent Twila, and the snobbish Geri, and even though they see Sally at first as a “ragamuffin,” the girls become reluctant friends. Sally also meets Beau Bayard, a flight instructor who is not nearly as adept as Sally at flying planes. Despite their heated arguments, there is an attraction between them, but Sally doesn’t think she can love anyone like she loved Tex, whom she has placed on a pedestal that no one could ever hope to climb. Meanwhile, she goes toe-to-toe with Ira Waterman, a ruthless attorney sent to Avenger Field by Congress to gather information about the WASP with the intention of disbanding the program.
Wings is a compulsively readable novel, with action in the skies, tension on the ground, a lot of heated dialogue, and a little romance. Friedrich does a great job showing how the women in the WASP program were capable and ambitious and emphasizing the challenges they faced, from being forced to pay for their uniforms and room and board to dealing with men who believed the cockpit was no place for a woman. The Army ordered these women to fly missions in weather that kept male pilots grounded, and there were reports of sabotaged planes and parachutes that kept the WASP on guard. A handful of WASP lost their lives.
I found the story of the WASP program fascinating, and I admire the women who went against what society thought were respectable roles for them to do what they loved. However, the characters lacked depth — the female characters were more stereotypes (the arrogant privileged girl, the flirty model with a big mouth, and the boyish girl with a chip on her shoulder) than real people. I felt it difficult to connect with Sally and invest myself completely in her story. She was always on the defensive in conversation, and she would go from being pleasant to shouting in the blink of an eye. Her attitude got old after awhile, and even though I found the scenes where she was forced to use her natural talent as a pilot to get herself and others out of life-threatening situations entertaining, it seemed a little over-the-top that Sally — out of all the WASP in training — would continually find herself involved in near tragedies and always find a way out. Yet no matter how much Sally and the other girls annoyed me, I found the book hard to put down.
The details of the WASP program and the flying of the aircraft is where Wings really shines. I know nothing about airplanes and am not much interested in aviation; I wanted to read Wings because I had not heard of the WASP and am interested in all-things-WWII. I can’t say whether Friedrich’s descriptions of the planes or Sally’s in-flight maneuvers are accurate, but it seems he has done his homework. He does a good job balancing the technical terms with readability. Overall, I’d recommend Wings for fans of WWII fiction who want to learn more about the contribution of women to the war effort, but they should be ready for more than just a history lesson.
McBooks Press would like to offer a copy of Wings to one lucky reader. To enter, simply let me know in your comment that you are interested in reading the book. Because the publisher is shipping the book, entries must be from readers with addresses in the U.S. or Canada. This giveaway will close at 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, October 23, 2011.
**Please note that this giveaway is now closed**
Thanks to TLC Book Tours for having me on the blog tour for Wings. To follow the tour, click here.
Disclosure: I received a copy of Wings from McBooks Press for review purposes. I am an IndieBound affiliate and an Amazon associate.
© 2011 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
I have the feeling I’d really like this book; everything about it sounds fascinating. Terrific review, Anna! I’m adding it to my list.
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Thanks! Hope you enjoy it!
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I love historical fiction but haven’t read anything about these fly girls before. I would love to win a copy to learn more about them!
Thanks!
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That’s why I love reading historical fiction; I always learn something new!
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This sounds interesting, and not a subject I know anything about. I would love to win this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
kessna6(at)yahoo(dot)com
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With all the reading I do about WWII, I’m surprised I hadn’t heard of them either!
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I learned about WASP some time ago and remember seeing a big exhibition at Arlington Cemetery the year my parents came to see JFK’s grave for the first time (that was before Ted Kennedy had passed). It was such an interesting story how these women were recruited and got involved. Very brave, especially in the face of so much sexism. I’ll have to borrow your copy of this one.
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Friedrich does a great job showing how much sexism they endured. I think you’d like this book.
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[…] Tuesday, October 11th: Diary of an Eccentric […]
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This DEFINITELY sounds like something I’d enjoy! Thanks for the great review Anna. I’m featuring it on TLC’s Facebook page today.
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Thanks, Heather! I know how you “enjoy” reading about WWII, so this is one you should definitely check out.
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I loved reading your thoughts on this — I thought of you immediately when I saw it was on tour. I’m reading this next week — I suspect the flat characterizations will bug me but I’m really looking forward to the details — the geek in me can’t wait! (My brother is a pilot, so I’ll be bugging him to see if those deets are accurate!)
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I can’t wait to see what you think of it and whether the pilot jargon is accurate.
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I have this one on my Kindle, so don’t enter me for the giveaway. I’m interested in reading Wings. Many years ago (had to look back so probably 1984), I read a book by Janet Dailey called SILVER WINGS, SANTIAGO BLUE. It was a romance of sorts, but would probably be termed more women’s fiction now. Anyway, it was about the women who ferried the planes in WWII. I loved it as I recall. This one is very appealing to me as well.
Oh, plus, I have another book on my shelves which talks about the women who ferried planes in Britain during WWII. I’ve been meaning to read it for several months. Maybe I’ll do a duo read. It’s written by Kate Lord Brown and is called THE BEAUTY CHORUS.
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I’ll have to check out those titles. Thanks!
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I don’t know much about the fly girls. I think it would make for a fascinating read. I’d love to learn more of what it was like for these women. It wasn’t an easy time for anyone but I think it was particularly difficult for women. I’d love a chance to win a copy! Thank for the giveaway and the review!
bthgordon(at)yahoo(dot)com
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After reading this book, I have a lot of respect and admiration for the fly girls. They were ambitious and brave and deserved more credit for how they served their country during wartime.
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Anna: Thanks for the review. I am a career Air Force brat whose dad flew in WWII (and way beyond…) and I had never heard of the WASP program before! Wings sounds like an interesting read–I’ll have to check it out. Cheers! BCC
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Then this is a must-read for you!
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I think I need to read this one. I didn’t know that women served in the airforce during that time. I will have to check this one out. Great review!
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Thanks! The WASP was part of the Army, not the Air Force. I think this was before the Air Force was created.
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This sounds very interesting. Great review!
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Thanks, Mary!
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Thanks for this fascinating novel. I have read about these amazing women in wartime. This book would be memorable.
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If the characters aren’t memorable, then the information about the WASP surely is!
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I am captivated with novels of this era and the challenges that were faced. This one sounds great. Many thanks.
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I can’t get enough of WWII novels, so I know what you mean.
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I really. Enjoyed reading your review of this one and shining the light on a subject that hasn’t really received any attention. I think I would love to read it just for the WASP info alone. The way you write about the female lead makes me think I would have a connection problem too, but I would be willing to give it a go!
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Even though it’s difficult to connect with the characters, the book is still informative and entertaining.
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Thanks for the informative review. I do want to read this one soon. I enjoy stories about aviation and especially ones concerning women who rose to a challenge like that of WWII. No need to enter me, I have a copy already.
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I’ll keep an eye out for your thoughts!
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I actually wanted to read this book, but I had all ready read The Beauty Chorus and I wasn’t sure about the fact that both books imagine relationships for Beau Bayard. I will probably still read it at some point, but I wanted to wait for a bit between.
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Was Beau Bayard a real person? I can’t find any information about him. I’ll have to check out The Beauty Chorus.
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I love to read about women facing and living up to challenges like that. This book sounds fantastic!
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Hope you give it a try at some point!
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This book reminds me of Janet Dailey’s SILVER WINGS, SANTIAGO BLUE, which introduced me to women who flew in the 1940s. It was fascinating to me back then and I can see how this book too is interesting from a historical perspective. Great review!
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Thanks! I haven’t read anything by Janet Dailey, but I will have to check out that book.
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Dont count me in as I am overseas – this sounds such a good book. I have so many books right now either WWI or WWII vintage and all are gorgeous reads.
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WWI and WWII are such fascinating periods in history. I can’t help but be drawn to novels set during those times.
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No need to enter me in the giveaway but just stopping by that I agree that anything about the WASPs is something I always find captivating. Sounds like a great read!
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I enjoyed it, mainly because I had never heard of these women before.
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Sounds good and again something I did not know about. Honestlty those women should have had the credit they deserved at once
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I couldn’t agree more!
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Okay, now I regret not signing up to review this one. But, you can make up for that by drawing my name. Then, the world will keep turning (because I won’t stomp my feet so hard I send it off-axis). Great review, Anna!
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Thanks, Nancy! 😉
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I love the stories from this time period and would love to read this novel.
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I can’t get enough of books set during this era. It was such a fascinating time and I have so much left to learn about it.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this review, Anna. Wings sounds like a really interesting book. I haven’t started it yet but will be reading it soon for my review in early November. It’s a little disappointing to me that Sally and the other characters aren’t more three-dimesional but I’m still looking forward to learning about the WASP program which I know nothing about!
Thank you for a captivating review and a taste of what I have to look forward too. My fingers are itching tio crack open the book now!
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I’m looking forward to your review!
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Sounds like a fascinating subject. Thanks for the giveaway.
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Thanks for stopping by, Margie!
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I am very interested in reading this book, it sounds like an amazing read 🙂
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!!
Renee
fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com
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Thanks for stopping by, Renee!
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Do sign me up for this please. Have you read The Beauty Chorus?
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No, I haven’t, but it’s been recommended by a few commenters already. I’ll have to check it out.
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Would very much like to have this book. Thanks for the chance.
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Thanks for stopping by, Liz!
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This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered. The winner will be chosen via Randomizer.org, e-mailed, and announced shortly.
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[…] 5: Acting Balanced October 10: The Life (and Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object October 11: Diary of an Eccentric October 12: “That’s Swell!” October 13: Man of La Book (with author Q&A) October 18: […]
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[…] Simonsen has won a copy of Wings by Karl […]
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[…] 33. Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer (WWII) 34. The Lost Wife by Alison Richman (WWII) 35. Wings by Karl Friedrich (WWII) 36. Numbering All the Bones by Ann Rinaldi (American Civil War) 37. Lily […]
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[…] Life (and lies) of an inanimate flying object – guest post Tuesday, October 11th: Diary of an Eccentric Wednesday, October 12th: “That’s Swell!” Thursday, October 13th: Man of La Book […]
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