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Fly Away Home: A Novel [Paperback]

Jennifer Weiner
3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (151 customer reviews)

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Book Description

April 26, 2011

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 ruefully acknowledges that her job is staying twenty pounds thinner than she was in her twenties and tending to her husband, the senator.

Lizzie, the Woodruffs’ younger daughter, is at twenty-four a recovering addict, whose mantra HALT (Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired?) helps her keep her life under control. Still, trouble always seems to find her. Her older sister, Diana, an emergency room physician, has everything Lizzie failed to achieve—a husband, a young son, the perfect home—and yet she’s trapped in a loveless marriage. With temptation waiting in one of the ER’s exam rooms, she finds herself craving more.

After Richard’s extramarital affair makes headlines, the three women are drawn into the painful glare of the national spotlight. Once the press conference is over, each is forced to reconsider her life, who she is and who she is meant to be.

Written with an irresistible blend of heartbreak and hilarity, Fly Away Home is an unforgettable story of a mother and two daughters who after a lifetime of distance finally learn to find refuge in one another.


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Editorial Reviews

From Bookmarks Magazine

The Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Weiner "transcends her own fiercely defended chick-lit author status by running her highlighter across a hot-button question of the zeitgeist: What do public marriages mean in the era of Tiger, Eliot, John, and Billary?" Other critics, however, aren't quite so sure that Fly Away Home rises above Weiner's usual fare. After all, it's the compulsively likable, if somewhat clichéd, women and their issues that take center stage; the less-developed male characters fall by the wayside. Still, as she does in previous novels, Weiner successfully excavates complex relationships. In the end, if not one of Weiner's best, Fly Away Home "is a well-tuned hymn to the resilience of women in the wake of heartache, regret, and the failed promises of Botox" (Philadelphia Inquirer). --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Sylvie Serfer Woodruff is stunned when her husband, Senator Richard Woodruff, is exposed by the press for having an affair with a staffer. Though Sylvie is humiliated, she agrees to stand by Richard’s side during his mea culpa press conference. As soon as it’s over, she heads to a house in Connecticut owned by her family, not sure whether she wants to end her marriage or not. The Woodruffs’ two daughters are at similar crossroads in their lives. Diana, a physician with a young son, is carrying on an affair with a younger man after growing weary of her marriage, while her younger sister, Lizzie, a recovering addict, is trying to rebuild her life after a stint in rehab. Realizing she has always put Richard first before her children, Sylvie makes a bid to have her daughters join her out at the Connecticut house and is surprised to find their lives as tumultuous as hers has become. Weiner’s trademark blend of wit and sensitivity distinguishes this timely tale about a family in crisis. --Kristine Huntley --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Washington Square Press; Reprint edition (April 26, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0743294289
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743294287
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (151 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,584 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

This one the story links seemed weak, the characters lacked development. Nauticow  |  20 reviewers made a similar statement
I highly recommend this as a great beach read, or a rainy day on the couch. SP  |  11 reviewers made a similar statement
I could relate so well with the characters. SparkleMe2  |  18 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
74 of 76 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars One of my favorite Weiner Novels July 13, 2010
Format:Hardcover
Fly away home is the beautifully written story of Sylvie, a politicians wife, and her two daughters Diana and Lizzie. In the wake and aftermath of scandal these three women are forced to face the truth about themselves including who they are, who they want to be and what they want out of life. The women deal with past issues as well as present. Weiner does a wonderful job of taking the serious issues of commitment, self-esteem, identity and choices and mixing them with comical moments.

Meet the women of Fly Away Home:

Sylvie: Wife of Senator Richard Woodruff. Sylvie has spent her life in her husbands service, helping him, guiding him and focusing on him. After his affair is brought into the open, Sylvie must re-evaluate who she is and who she wants to be. She must make the biggest decision of all. Will she be able to trust and forgive?

Diana: The eldest daughter of Sylvie and Richard Woodruff. After watching her parents marriage, Diana has a very clear path for her life and how she wants it to be. While everything makes sense on paper, Diana forgets about the heart and love. When she is reminded her world is turned upside down and she must choose to love or not to love? Will she be happy?

Lizzie: (Elizabeth) The youngest daughter of the Woodruff's and the family screw-up. Returning from rehab, Lizzie is determined to be better, to make something of herself, and to stay clean. It seems the world doesn't want to make this easier for her, and her family isn't in the best state to help. Will she be able to overcome of one the hardest parts of her life? Will she learn from the rehab and will she survive the shock and surprises she will encounter along the way?

The novel is divided into three sections. Each section skillfully sets up the next and smoothly transitions into it. Each section is divided into chapters, entitled by the woman who narrates the chapter. The first section focuses on past memories as well as current happenings. The second section dives deeper into the issues of the women, each leading to the point of no return. The third and final section brings the three women together. They face the past, present and future together and discover where home truly is.

Jennifer Weiner did a wonderful job with this novel. Fly away home quickly moved its way up the list of my favorite novels by Weiner. She encompasses so many relationships and focuses on them throughout the book. It is skillfully written and will make you laugh as well as feel the emotions of each character. You will find yourself relating to each character in your own way and rooting for them to find comfort and happiness. Fly Away Home is a heartbreaking, insightful novel, full of humor and interpersonal relationships. It will easily become a novel you will not want to put down, a novel that will carry you through many emotions, a novel you simply wont want to end.

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50 of 57 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Too Much Anticipation? July 14, 2010
By Zee
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Maybe I was expecting too much? I have enjoyed Jennifer Weiner's works in the past. I really wanted to like this book, but I just finished and found myself saying... "blah."
Nothing happens. And at the same time, everything seems sadly predictable. Reading this is like eating cotton candy -- pretty promises but empty.
Maybe the point is that these scandals are commonplace now and the story is "no story." Because really, now that I'm done, I feel so let down and like I wasted time.
Sylvie continues to go through the motions the entire book. No wonder her husband sought somebody else. She's on autopilot and things don't seem to change. First she takes a swing at her philandering spouse. Then she says she'll be on t.v. She didn't even have a conversation (argument, conflict, upset) about the whole "stand by your man" bit -- in fact her man didn't even ask her to stand by him. Next she's hiding (in Connecticut?? ) and grocery shopping as therapy? She learns to cook overnight, a sensation on her first try. And that's the extent of her growth?
Some of this is rehashed headlines with bits and pieces of Grey's Anatomy, The Good Wife, and an after school special on what not to do when your kid is addicted (I can't believe her father asked her to make him a drink). Every daughter plot point was telegraphed in advance. I knew exactly what was going to happen (and it did). But I won't say what -- no spoilers (well, not much) on my watch.
So, yeah. This could be a beach read. Just don't get your hopes up. I'm still searching for the book of the summer.
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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars not her best book July 20, 2010
By Ashley
Format:Hardcover
I'm a big fan of Jennifer Weiner, and thoroughly enjoyed her past work. But this novel just didn't do it for me. I've read and reread her past books, so maybe this bothered me more than it would other people. But some of the scenes/lines in this book are too reminiscent of past books. For example, the scene in which Diana meets her husband is quite similar to the way Kelly (in Little Earthquakes) meets hers. Both women go out to get drunk immediately after being dumped, and then meet a sweet man in that bar who later becomes her future husband. Before they have sex, Jeff asks Lizzie "Is it safe?", the same exact line that Sam says to Lia (also in Little Earthquakes). There are about a thousand more ways a man could ask a woman if she's using some kind of birth control, no? I don't know, these examples just stood out and irked me.

The characters weren't easy to care about, either. For instance, I wanted to like the character of Lizzie, but she was too nonchalant about Jeff and about her pregnancy. I wanted to like Diana, but there were few and far between moments in the book where I could tell that she actually cared about her son. It seems like we were just told towards the end how much she loves him, but throughout the book the majority of her scenes she is not around him nor thinking of him. Maybe if there were more past scenes showing the characters' history, they would've been better developed and more likeable. And I won't even go in to Sylvie, who has a change of heart toward the end that seemingly came out of nowhere.

Finally, the book had its funny moments, but was not nearly as funny as her past efforts. Despite the criticisms above, I will continue to read Jennifer Weiner, books like In Her Shoes and Little Earthquakes were funny, fun, and hard to put down.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites
I love Jennifer Weiner's novels. This story was so relavent and her characters so believable.

He is powerful, he is male and he cheats because he can. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Patricia Sullivan
4.0 out of 5 stars Fly Away Home
An interesting view of life in the political circuit. Good chaaracter development. I will always recomment Jennifer Weiner to my freinds and book group members.
Published 1 month ago by Patricia Hunnicutt
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
I love all of her books and she didn't disappoint in this one either. It's definitely worth the read, and it goes fast
Published 2 months ago by citypreppy
5.0 out of 5 stars Love
Jennifer Weiner is my number one favorite author. I have read all of her books and enjoy reading them. Its hard to put one of her books down once you get started.
Published 3 months ago by Margaret Schlorman
5.0 out of 5 stars Fell in love all over again!
I fell in love with Jennifer Weiner all over again. It was one of the best books I've read in a very long time!
Published 4 months ago by R. Bradley
3.0 out of 5 stars ok
it was a very soft story, very little detail of of the girls background. did not like the ending arlene
Published 4 months ago by Arlene Doman
4.0 out of 5 stars A good enough read, but not particularly memorable...
It's a daunting task, taking on a subject that has been done numerous times in recent years, both in real life and fiction. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Joanna Mechlinski
4.0 out of 5 stars One of Weiner's best...
Jennifer Weiner is one of the funniest writers around, although her novels always have a message. Fly Away Home is more serious than her previous works, but I also think it's one... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Cynthia K. Robertson
3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty ok
A good beach type read...not one that you couldn't put down but decent enough...Wiener is a good writer, the plot just wasn't that dazzling
Published 5 months ago by Sue Whitley
1.0 out of 5 stars Drama Personified
If you're looking for everyone to trump each other's bad situations, this is the book for you. This book put me in a bad mood. Disfunctional, selfish family literature.
Published 5 months ago by onthevine
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