Dance With Wings

by Amelia Carr

A heart-warming family drama spanning three generations, with an unforgettable love story at its heart. When the telegram arrives on a bright sunny day in 1942, Nancy feels sick with dread. But instead of wartime bad news it's from the legendary Jackie Cochran, asking Nancy to fly for Great Britain. For Nancy, a girl with flying in her blood, it's an opportunity she simply can't turn down. But that fateful decision is to trigger a series of events, with consequences that will reverberate through the generations. In summer 2006, Sarah is at a crossroads in her life when her adored grandmother Nancy asks her to help lay the ghosts of her past to rest. Sarah agrees, little suspecting the long-buried and shocking secrets that will be dragged to the surface. From the tension of World War Two right up to the present day, this is a sweeping family story that is both moving and unforgettable.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, War, Fiction, Romance

576 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[SANDRA GARNER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the book, always a good sign when I pick it up to read at every possible chance. It spans 3 generations and covers the work of the Women's Auxiliary pilots in the war (Nancy) up to family and Nancy's granddaughter. Family secrets, love, guilt and twists in the story, definitely one to keep and read again.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good plot, fast moving and enjoyable reading.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the telegram arrives on a bright sunny day in 1942, Nancy feels sick with dread. But instead of wartime bad news, it's from the legendary Jackie Cochran, asking Nancy to fly for Great Britain. For Nancy, a girl with flying in her blood, it's an opportunity she simply can't turn down. But that fateful decision is to trigger a series of events, with consequences that will reverberate through the generations.
In summer 2006, Sarah is at a crossroads in her life when her adored grandmother Nancy asks her to help lay the ghosts of her past to rest. Sarah agrees, little suspecting the long-buried and shocking secrets that will be dragged to the surface.
While British women pilots were already ferrying aircraft to and from bases in Britain, the ATA desperately needed qualified pilot recruits from neutral countries. There was also a problem in finding fliers willing to make the hazardous Atlantic crossing. Jacqueline Cochran knew that there was a large, untapped reservoir of female talent available, experienced fliers like herself and also young women.General Arnold believed that, in an emergency, female fliers could best serve the country by becoming copilots on domestic airliners, thus freeing male pilots for war duty. America was not yet facing an emergency, so Arnold suggested to Jackie in the summer of 1941 that she recruit American women for the British ATA. She jumped at the idea.Jackie picked 40 candidates from her files, deliberately keeping the detachment small so as not to deplete the reserve of women fliers in case they were needed later. After interviewing the 40 women in New York, she took them to Montreal, where they were screened by ATA officials. The group was whittled to 25 women, and they headed for England.Regardless of experience, the American women underwent three months of ATA training at the Luton (Bedfordshire) Airfield. The Americans joined their female British counterparts in ferrying all types of aircraft—fighters, bombers, transports, and trainers—around the British Isles. The women displayed skill and fortitude and earned the respect of all who came in contact with them.

[happy_reading_life · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eine Familie voller Geheimnisse
Das Buch handelt von einer Familie und ihren Geheimnissen. Dabei stehen vor allem die mittlerweile 84-jährige Nancy und ihre Enkelin Sarah im Mittelpunkt. Es gibt zwei Perspektiven im Buch, einmal die Gegenwart (2006) und die Vergangenheit zur Zeit des 2. Weltkriegs. Nancy war Pilotin im 2. Weltkrieg und bittet gleich zu Beginn des Buches ihre Enkelin nach ihrer großen Liebe von damals - Mac - zu suchen. Im Verlauf der Geschichte erfährt man von verschiedene Geheimnissen in der Familie, die nach und nach Vergangenheit und Gegenwart miteinander verbinden.

Insgesamt ist "Die Pilotin" von Amelia Carr aus meiner Sicht ein sehr gelungener Roman. Mich hat er zum Nachdenken angeregt und ich musste auch die ein oder andere Träne verdrücken, aber ich hatte auch viele Stellen an den ich geschmunzelt habe.

Es gibt inhaltlich eine Szene am Ende, die ich nicht so gut umgesetzt fand, aber das ist ja immer Ansichtssache.

[Vickie Taylor-Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, I wouldn’t say I loved it as I felt it dragged on a little too long but it was still quite enjoyable for all that. I particularly liked the character of Monica but the blossoming romance between Sarah & Chris was too much for me.

[Ana Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It’s fast passed and well written. At least for me it feels like a comfort book. I cried, I smiled, I felt every single emotion there is to feel. One of my favorite books I’ve read this year, for sure.
I must confess, romance is my guilty pleasure.

[Carolyn Fitzmaurice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story spanning generations with an outcome that Idid not expect.

[Bookdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Die Pilotin“ von Amelia Carr ist ein sehr schöner Roman, welcher in verschiedenen Zeitebenen spielt. Wir lernen Nancy kennen, die 1942 während des Krieges als Pilotin arbeitet und nicht nur ihre Liebe zum fliegen, sondern auch ihre Liebe zu einem anderen Menschen auslebt. Ebenso ihre Tochter Ellen, die mit dem Fliegen nichts zutun haben möchte und ihre Tochter (Nancys Enkelin) Sarah, die genauso flugverrückt ist, wie ihre Großmutter.

Der Schreibstil ist sehr locker und gut zu lesen, dennoch ist die Sprache angemessen und auch bildlich genug, um sich alles gut vorstellen zu können. Vor allem die Gefühlswelten der einzelnen Protagonisten kamen sehr gut rüber!

Ich fand die Unterteilung in die verschiedenen Zeiten sehr spannend, weil man dadurch ganz andere Eindrücke vermittelt bekommt und sich neue Blickwinkel ergeben.

Die Charaktere sind sehr authentisch geschrieben, sodass man sich die Geschichte genau vorstellen kann, als wäre man selbst dabei gewesen.

Zum Plot möchte ich gar nicht gerne viel vorwegnehmen. Das Buch ist definitiv eine Hommage an das Fliegen, aber dennoch verstehen es auch Laien (wie ich) sehr gut. Im Vordergrund der Geschichte steht aber die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Nancy und Mac, die auch in der Gegenwart der Geschichte noch so einiges aufwühlt.
Bis auf ein paar kleine Längen, habe ich mich in der Geschichte wirklich sehr wohlgefühlt und mochte die einzelnen Charaktere sehr. Vor allem das Ende hat es noch einmal in sich!

Ich kann dieses Buch deshalb mit gutem Gewissen weiterempfehlen! :-)

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I liked the combination of American and British English since the American woman had lived in England for quite a while, and her daughter had made England her home. It was interesting to learn about the American women who helped the war effort by transporting planes during the war. Since my son-in-law was stationed in England for 3 years, and we visited two of the nearby RAF bases, it was interesting to "see" this during the war years.

I also loved the twists and turns; about the time I thought I knew what was going on, the plot took a very believable twist that caught me up in the action and resolution.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

The rather poorly written American dialogue got to me first, then when the "action" moved to wartime England it was like being on the set of Battle of Britain complete with frightfully English actors. Don't like giving up, and I'm sure this book would be enjoyed by some, but not my kind of read at all I'm afraid.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it twists and turns and I really couldn't put it down. Excellent

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous - difficult to put down

[Chefalan30 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching !!!!

[Fahima · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing story in war times

[Pat Stearman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one, maybe it was a bit contrived and there were a couple of seeming anachronisms but still a very enjoyable romp.

[Alice Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was touching and I couldn't put it down

[Kgaiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

very much enjoyable and worth reading. Although I prefer more contemporary books:)

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldnt get into this book. I read it through to the end though but found it slow.