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Fly Away Home
Fly Away Home
Author: Jennifer Weiner
Sometimes all you can do is fly away home . . . — When Sylvie Serfer met Richard Woodruff in law school, she had wild curls, wide hips, and lots of opinions. Decades later, Sylvie has remade herself as the ideal politician's wife -- her hair dyed and straightened, her hippie-chick wardrobe replaced by tailored knit suits. At fifty-seven, she ...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780743294287
ISBN-10: 0743294289
Publication Date: 5/3/2011
Pages: 401
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 122

3.8 stars, based on 122 ratings
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Fly Away Home on + 109 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 10
This novel by Jennifer Weiner is a "straight from the headlines" story involving a married politician's wife named Sylvie who finds out that her husband has been having an affair with his much younger assistant. The story becomes a scandal and Sylvie is forced to re-examine her life and the years she's dedicated to her husband and his career. The scandal also impacts their grown daughters, Lizzie and Diana. Diana is a married doctor in an unhappy marriage. She also is embroiled in an affair with a much younger man. Lizzie has a troubled past as an addict with an arrest record. For most of her life Lizzie has been a screw up. Finally, she gets a chance to redeem herself and forge a new life. Honestly, I don't think this is Weiner's best effort. The story is interesting, but at times it is slow reading and the characters are somewhat dull. The character of Richard (the politician husbandd) is merely backdrop and it is somewhat startling that his motives, feelings are not explored. The story suffered with it's ending. It was all too predictable. Honestly, I wouldn't rush to read this book. It's average. There was a lot of name dropping in this book about all the various political scandals of the past decade or so...the author would have been better served to have delved into the pain and humiliation aspects of the characters.
reviewed Fly Away Home on + 330 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I'm not a big fan of V.E.R.B. books. Victim, Entitled, Rescue, Blame types of books, or people for that matter. So I surprised myself when I picked up Fly Away Home and read it in two days. This isn't your typical woman trying to find herself type of book, it's more of a woman trying to get back to who she was all along. I know that sounds like a slight twist of words, but all Sylvie Serfer-Woodruff wanted was to go back to the simple girl she was in college before Richard Woodruff swooped into her life and turned her into the perfect political wife.

A fulfilling life should not entail having to stay twenty pounds thinner than when you were twenty and to fix your husband's breakfast plate while he runs off to do important work and you are left to struggle into yet another pair of stocking to give yet another unimportant speech to yet another group of self involved people.

In one quick moment Sylvie's life is changed when Richard's extramarital affair makes headlines and she and her two daughters, Lizzie a recovering addict and Diana an emergency room physician - who is trapped in a loveless marriage, and beginning an affair of her own, all converge and with the strength of family these three women come through their own torment to find a strength and purpose that they didn't know had existed.

Those who say you can never go home again have never had the blessing of actually going home. Going home to a place that is both a sanctuary and a reprieve. This is the gift that Sylvie has given to both her daughters and through them, to herself.

I have never read a Jennifer Weiner book before, I didn't think that an offering like this could actually resonate with me, but I was wrong. I don' t know if all her books will hit me this way, but this was definitely the right book at the right time.
reviewed Fly Away Home on + 47 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
The book was good but not excellent as stars indicate. It is a story of a mother and 2 daughters who after a lifetime of distance finally learn to find refuge in one another. The book is written with many flashbacks and each chapter is about one of the three women. It was somewhat hard to follow.
reviewed Fly Away Home on + 62 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Fans of Jennifer Weiner will love her latest novel, Fly Away Home. I dont know how she continues to do it, time and time again, but Jennifer Weiner can keep you enthralled in a story and engaged in the characters on every single page. She continues to be one of my favorites that Ive also been fortunate enough to meet on two book tours: last summers Best Friends Forever tour as well as this years Fly Away Home tour.

As a Washington, D.C. area local, it seems all too familiar. The tale of the wandering politician. The one who thinks the rules dont apply to him, who indulges in temptation and his selfish desires, and who ultimately ends up making a public statement of apology with his disgraced wife standing by his side. Yet its rare that we get an inside glimpse at the wife and familys views. The ones who were betrayed and shamed in public. The ones who have to figure out what to do with their lives and how to protect each other from public opinion and interest.

Jennifer Weiner does just this in her newest novel. Exploring the family side of the typical political scandal, we follow Sylvie (the scorned wife), Diana (the over-achieving and perfect oldest), and Lizzie (the younger, more rebellious child.) Told from all three points of views (which is one of the things I love most about Weiners novels- you get more than one side of the story!), other trials rise in every characters life. From work to parenting to relationships to family, there is so much going on in Fly Away Home, I never lost interest! (Though to be fair, Ive never lost interest in a Weiner novel.)

Written with the authors usual humor and wit, youll laugh out loud with these women. Youll root for them as individuals and as a family as they try to piece back together their lives after their world(s) are turned upside down. Each one has her own desires, her own passions, and her own relationships to reconcile. And I think this book definitely leaves some doors open for a sequel.

I can say Im happy with the ending, however I do find myself wondering what happens next for Diana and Lizzie! Particularly Diana. Both of their stories and lives were so interesting and, a couple of times, unpredictable. (Maybe we will find out in an upcoming sequel?) Either way, Fly Away Home, is another fantastic Jennifer Weiner novel that will leave you considering your family and appreciating them all the more. After all, isnt family what its all about?

Congrats to Jen on signing a four year-four book deal with her publisher! Im looking forward to meeting new characters and seeing you on tour again! Thanks for supporting our blog after your stop in the D.C.-area. Enjoy the rest of those cupcakes this summer!
isitfriday avatar reviewed Fly Away Home on + 170 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I liked this book. typical chick-lit the sisters were well drawn, and the mother Sylvie was too. I loved her mother the Judge, wanted more of her wit and wisdom. seemed a bit 'ripped from the headlines' but that is okay. Nice peek into the poloticians family. Good read, love Jennifer Weiner.
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reviewed Fly Away Home on + 1450 more book reviews
What happens to a family when a political figure has an affair? We often see the public side of such actions but do not understand how it affects the family. This author tells a story through their eyes, three women who must continue their lives and protect each other from media exposure. When Senator Richard Woodruff makes the news with a pretty young woman on his arm, his wife and daughters can scarcely believe what they see.

Sylvie, his wife of thirty years, has loved her husband since they met in law school. How can he betray her and their daughters? Diana, the oldest and most determined to succeed, is trapped in a loveless marriage. When a young medical assistant comes on to her, she welcomes the "love" and escape he offers. Lizzie, younger, never met the standards her sister set, has made mistake after mistake including drug use that led to rehabilitation. Now recovered her family members view her actions with doubt.

Each woman views Richard's actions differently. Sylvie needs to think about it. How did she fail when she devoted years to helping achieve his political ambitions? She is strong and finds comfort in living alone and doing things for herself. Diana has her own issues and thus ignores her father. Lizzie is hurt but wants to help him.

This well written tale explores how a seemingly simple public action can damage a family. These interesting women from Richard's family have complex personalities and lives. Even Sylvie's mother, a retired judge, adds much to the story with her crytic takes on the situation.
reviewed Fly Away Home on + 2 more book reviews
I had never read anything by Jennifer Weiner prior to this book, but I will do so in the future. I enjoyed the book and its premise. I enjoyed the transformation of the main character back to someone who could enjoy her life after the tragic circumstances of finding out of her husband's infidelity.
mygraymorning avatar reviewed Fly Away Home on + 62 more book reviews
Fly Away Home was surprisingly sad but entertaining. It is the story of three women (a mother and her two daughters) at three different crossroads; Sylvie- the politician's wife, Diana - the overachieving (super freaky) older daughter, and Lizzie- a recovering addict with good intention.

I got a little bored with Sylvie about half way through; however, Diana and Lizzie more than made up for that. On the surface, this will remind you of several scandalized politicians, their fractured home lives, and their public humiliation. But underneath you will find an emotional story of longing, lust and self-discovery
lisa4u avatar reviewed Fly Away Home on + 8 more book reviews
I was bored through the entire book. I kept thinking it would get better so I finished it. What a waste of time. Nothing the least bit interesting about it.
jazzysmom avatar reviewed Fly Away Home on + 907 more book reviews
I bought this book new because i did not want to wait on the wish list. I am so glad i did. This was a wonderfully written book. This story was never a messy feel sorry for myself story. Three women, mother and daughters all going thru trials in life. Ms. Weiner actually started this book 10 years before all the cheating on wives in polititical circles became "popular". It was so well written i found myself believeing everything i read as truth & had to keep reminding myself this is fiction. The stories of these women were so well blended that i could not put the book down, honestly. There is alot to learn and alot to love with this novel and in a heart beat i'd read it again, but my rule is "trade" not save, "share" the good things in life and this novel was one of my more enjoyable finds i have found in life.


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