The astronaut wives club was an informal support group of women, sometimes called astrowives, whose husbands were members of the mercury 7 group of astronauts. Cant wait to debrief after listening to the latest episode of your favorite audio series. Discussion questions for the astronaut wives club by lily koppel. In many ways, the astronaut wives club is about what it meant to be a good wife in the 1950s and 1960s, and how that role changed over the course of the space program.
Discussion questions for the astronaut wives club by lily. In the astronaut wives club, lily koppel reveals the pressures of the women behind the astronauts. An awardwinning team of journalists, designers, and videographers who tell brand stories through fast companys distinctive lens whats next for hardware, software, and services our annual guide to the bus. The better than therapy book club meets on the last wednesday of each month at 2. See more ideas about recipes, vintage recipes, the astronaut wives club. They can be checked out for a maximum of 2 months at a time.
A new growing crop of podcast conversation clubs on and offline can connect you with other eager fans, book clubstyle. Together with the other wives they formed the astronaut wives club, meeting regularly to provide support and friendship. The astronaut wives club is an excellent companion to hidden. Reclaiming a life through the pages of a lost journal 2008. Jun 1, 2015 as americas mercury seven astronauts were launched on deathdefying missions, television cameras focused on the brave smiles of their young wives. Start a book club discussion and challenge your group to deepen their analysis of the reading material with this set of sample book club questions.
The 3rd monday book club meets the third monday of each month at 2. Much attention is given to mercury seven, the first mission and possibly the best known. One person may check out a book bag with 10 copies of the book and a study guide to use with a book discussion group. Buzz, neil and michael werent the only ones to complete at trip to the moon that summer. Politics played an important role in space exploration back in the 1950s. Get to know the first ladies of space with the astronaut wives club, premiering thursday june 18 at 87c on abc. The astronaut wives club by lily koppel smart bitches, trashy. Michener and the right stuff 1979 by tom wolfe, then watch two movies, the right stuff 1983 and apollo 1995, and then two great tv miniseries, from the earth to the moon 1998 and the astronauts wives.
The astronaut wives club show is based on a book of the same name that claims to be a true story written with the input of many of the wives, but its really just a gossipy beach read. The astronaut wives club is a clever and engaging book celebrating a group of women who, today, are often overlooked if not forgotten. The washington post the ny times goodreads book companion as americas mercury seven astronauts were launched on deathdefying missions, television cameras focused on the brave smiles of their young wives. Sep 05, 20 while nasa astronauts were lauded as american heroes, it was up to their wives to present the facade of a perfect family life. The wives were completely shocked, worrying about how america would judge them. The astronaut wives club a true story book chatter.
Author bio birth1981 wherechicago, illinois, usa educationb. The astronaut wives club by lily koppel everyday reading. As americas mercury seven astronauts were launched on deathdefying missions, television cameras focused on the brave smiles of their young wives. How to find your local book club in the uk, because sometimes you need to discuss that ending. How abcs the astronaut wives club shamefully sends america. For more, visit see more ideas about the astronaut wives club, astronaut. It was first published on june 11, 20 through the hachette book group and provided the basis for the 2015 television series of the same name. Books similar to the astronaut wives club goodreads. The series tells the story of the wives of the mercury seven americas first group of astronauts who together formed the astronaut wives club. Jun 14, 20 as lily koppel writes in the astronaut wives club, a book whose cover image is the life photo in question. Based on lily koppels bestselling titular novel, which tells the real story of the women who stood beside some of the biggest heroes in american history during the height of the space race.
Astronaut wives traces the lives and marriages of the wives. And now, in the era of donald trump, its important to consider whether or not the books you read are working to dismantle structures of inequalit. Actresses dominique mcelligott, yvonne strahovski, joanna garcia, erin cummings, azure parsons, zoe boyle, and odette annable play the roles of the astronauts wives. Book links to discussion questions are alphabetically listed. Lily koppel talked about her book, the astronaut wives club. There were many negative and positive aspects of life for the wives and families of the first astronauts and this book does not leave anything out. She is known for her books, the astronaut wives club 20 and the red leather diary.
She first hit the bestsellers list with the red leather diary, and her newest book, the astronaut wives club grand central publishing. The astronaut wives club by lily koppel about the book as americas mercury seven astronauts were launched on deathdefying missions, television cameras focused on the brave smiles of their young wives. Use these book club discussion questions on the thirteenth tale to delve into diane setterfields magical world. Everyone is welcome for a lively book discussion, and a rollicking good time. Lily koppel talks about her book, the astronaut wives club.
How abcs the astronaut wives club shamefully sends. Makes for a good beach read as it was pretty hard to put down. Get exclusive videos, blogs, photos, cast bios, free episodes. It includes book club questions and an author conversation, and also about half a dozen more photos. The astronaut wives club is an abc miniseries that aired ten episodes in the summer of 2015. The astronaut wives club is spectacular, both in its intimacy and its reach. The astronaut wives club covers the first several space missions and the astronauts families. Jun, 2014 lily koppel is a bestselling author and journalist. Overnight, these women were transformed from military spouses into american royalty. This week we have lots of vintage holiday goodies, including the infamous bon appetit shrimp christmas tree. The astronaut wives club comprehension questions answer key.
A true story by lily koppel grand central publishing, hardcover, 9781455503254, june 20, 288pp. Taken from extensive interviews with the wives of the mercury through apollo astronauts most of whom are still alive the book gives the reader a mostly horrifying look at these womens lives. Jun 17, 2016 annie glenn, with her pictureperfect marriage, was the envy of the other wives. Shepard was nicknamed saint louise for putting up with her chronically philandering husband. With joanna garcia swisher, yvonne strahovski, dominique mcelligott, odette annable. What did you think of the astronaut wives club by lily koppel overall thoughts about the book, the author, the topic, the writing style, etc. I like the tv miniseries better than the book, but without the book there wouldnt have been the miniseries, so theres that. In october and november we choose the books for the coming year. Available in trade paperback, hardcover, large print, and e book formats and from hachette audio. It is a fictionalized adaptation of the book of the same name in april 1959, nasa introduced the world to the mercury seven.
Chicago tribune the men catapulted into space in the 20th century were interesting, sort of. The seven wives hosted their ghostwriters at their homes and let them tag along as they went about their daily routines. In her book the astronaut wives club, which was released last week by grand central publishing, author lily koppel tells the real back story of the women who became known as astrowives. The astronaut wives club this new drama series is almost a literal blast from the past based on the book by lily koppel about the seven young wives of american astronauts. Greensboro high point, nc mcallen edinburg mission, tx new havenmilford, ct st. Astronaut wives author marks books first year with new. Koppel does an excellent job of capturing a group portrait with enough highlights, low points, sunny spots and shadows for individual features to emerge the astronaut wives club is wholly and consistently in koppels voice. Find books like the astronaut wives club from the worlds largest community of readers. The astronaut wives club by lily koppel book club discussion. A true story, in which she tells the story of the wives of the mercury seven astronauts, who became media sensations in the 1960s. As a member or leader of a book club, you are likely to be reading books on a wide variety o. Also i wrote a postscript essay on reconnecting with many of the wives and their children following the publication of the book.
With the endless supply of literature both online and in shops, it comes as no surprise that finding the perfect book can be a big challenge and thats one of the reasons why book clubs are so great. Aug 27, 2015 welcome back to another week of food from behind the scenes of astronauts wives club this is part ii of episode 9 you can see part i here, which was an episode so jampacked with vintage food i had to split it into two huge posts. In her new book, the astronaut wives club, author lily koppel tells the story of the dozens of women who tried to maintain normalcy as the nation scrutinized their every move. It is reasonable to claim that these women held the space program together in its early years. Theres no better way to introduce yourself and others to new books than through a book club. Lily koppel pulls out delicious behind the scenes details of the stresses, formalities, pleasures and travails of being the women behind the men on the moon. Karen abbott, bestselling author of american rose and sin in the second city. Landing landing on the moon means an end to their husbands space journeys, but not the wives club.
Find resources for your book club, whether it meets in your living room or across cyberspace. For readers in this millennium, i recommend the astronaut wives club. Doyouthinkbettygrissomhadgoodgroundsforherlackofconfidenceinnasa,going sofarastosue. Pick up a book at the circulation desk prior to our gathering. The astronaut wives club quotes showing 118 of 18 royal youngs memoir is about a dreamer, set in the post apocalyptic celebrity world of today, and young, who grew up in new york like holden caulfield if he wanted to be famous is looking for adventure and action and becomes entangled in all sorts of romantic and sordid. Openended questions help ignite discussions involving the whole group. Goodreads members who liked the astronaut wives club also liked.
Discussion questions for the astronaut wives club are listed 1. Kids across seattle joined in the astronaut s reading club. Whip up some launch party fare for your book club s a. Also, consider these litlovers talking points to help get a discussion started for the astronaut wives club. Does the sudden celebrity around the astronauts and their families depicted in this book remind you of todays celebrity culture in any way. Book club bags contain 8 10 print copies of a title and discussion questions, with some also containing large print andor sound recording copies. Astronaut wives club chronicles stories of the first. The astronaut wives club tells the real story of the women who stood beside some of the biggest heroes in american history. General book club questions for study and discussion. A true story, in which she tells the story of the wives of the mercury 7 astronauts, who became media sensations in the 1960s. Actresses dominique mcelligott, yvonne strahovski, joanna garcia, erin cummings, azure. Discussion questions for the astronaut wives club are listed. Watch the official the astronaut wives club online at. It is based on lily koppel s book of the same name.
A behind the scenes, not so pleasant look at the women behind the mercury seven astronauts. Taken from extensive interviews with the wives of the mercury through apollo astronauts most of whom are still alive the book gives the. The astronaut wives club is a 20 new york times bestselling book by the american author lily koppel based on the experiences of the astronaut wives club, who were wives of us astronauts. Delve deeper into the books making the charts, and get tips for keeping your reading group engaged. There are many political issues that are covered in the astronaut wives club. The book followed the women from the mercury program through the apollo missions.
Talk about the lives of the different women covered in the book. The astronaut wives club by lily koppel lily koppels the astronaut wives club recounts the true story of a group of women who, in the throes of americas space program, lived lives unimaginable to the rest of america. The group included annie glenn, betty grissom, louise shepard, trudy cooper, marge slayton, rene carpenter, and jo schirra. One way to include all members is to write questions on an index card for e. May 30, 2015 you are invited to join the exclusive astronaut wives club. Shop and save on gifts for everyone on your list sections show more follow today setting up a book club for your children will no.
Stories about gus grissom, john glenn and scott carpenter whom americans think they know populate the book and bring history to life. However, the book does not delve deeply into any of the issues it mentions. Koppel possesses a journalistic panache for mainstreaming nonfiction, and this book is. The astronaut wives club clearly portrays the discrepancy between the hypotheticalperfectfamily of yore and the actual reality that each wife lived. The series tells the story of the wives of the mercury sevenamericas first group of astronautswho together formed the astronaut wives club. Join us for a discussion of the astronaut wives club. Koppel possesses a journalistic panache for mainstreaming nonfiction, and this book is no exception. The astronaut wives club is wholly and consistently in koppels voice. The myth of the perfect family was thrust upon each astrofamily and each wife had to deal with this myth in her own way. More questions about the astronaut wives club goodreads. Book club discussions are great conversations based on a common book that everyone has read. The astronaut wives club is an american period drama television series developed by stephanie savage for abc. Available in trade paperback, hardcover, large print, and ebook formats and from hachette audio. History has typically told the story of the astronauts, but not much is known about the wives and children until now.
The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield is a rich story about secrets, ghosts, winter, books and family. I got hooked on the astronaut wives club tv series this summer, so when i came across this book, i just had to read it. Jun 17, 2015 stephanie savage gossip girl created the astronaut wives club from the nonfiction book of the same title by lily koppel, a former reporter for the new york times. The astronaut wives club is a book club pick, so theres an expanded reading group guide for the paperback.
Aug 21, 2015 the astronaut wives club finale recap. Reading groups for children and parents can bring families closer. Whom did you most sympathize with, admire, or dislike. Topic frequency nasa 8, apollo 4, aldrin 3, mercury 3, houston 2, renee 2, scott carpenter 2, pete conrad 2, joan 2, florida 2, apollo levon 1, longwould 1, virginia 1, jo 1, new york 1, etc.
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