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Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History
Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History | Keith O'Brien
51 posts | 29 read | 56 to read
"Riveting." --People "Mr. O'Brien . . . has recovered a fascinating chapter not just in feminism and aviation but in 20th-century American history." --Wall Street JournalThe untold story of five women who fought to compete against men in the high-stakes national air races of the 1920s and 1930s -- and won Between the world wars, no sport was more popular, or more dangerous, than airplane racing. Thousands of fans flocked to multi-day events, and cities vied with one another to host them. The pilots themselves were hailed as dashing heroes who cheerfully stared death in the face. Well, the men were hailed. Female pilots were more often ridiculed than praised for what the press portrayed as silly efforts to horn in on a manly, and deadly, pursuit. Fly Girls recounts how a cadre of women banded together to break the original glass ceiling: the entrenched prejudice that conspired to keep them out of the sky. O'Brien weaves together the stories of five remarkable women: Florence Klingensmith, a high-school dropout who worked for a dry cleaner in Fargo, North Dakota; Ruth Elder, an Alabama divorcee; Amelia Earhart, the most famous, but not necessarily the most skilled; Ruth Nichols, who chafed at the constraints of her blue-blood family's expectations; and Louise Thaden, the mother of two young kids who got her start selling coal in Wichita. Together, they fought for the chance to race against the men -- and in 1936 one of them would triumph in the toughest race of all. Like Hidden Figures and Girls of Atomic City, Fly Girls celebrates a little-known slice of history in which tenacious, trail-blazing women braved all obstacles to achieve greatness.
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Bec_lectic
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Pickpick

Growing up you only hear about Amelia Earhart as one of the first woman aviatrix because her story was so dramatic. This book includes all the other woman that paved women‘s way into the air and into jobs that were normally for men only. Interesting historical non-fiction read ☺️

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LatrelWhite
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This magnificent book! I devoured it in a couple of days. Go women!🥰

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eeclayton
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Pickpick

Although it's nonfiction, this book was like an emotional roller-coaster for me. I felt amazed, thrilled, horrified, devastated, outraged and moved while reading it. To say that the five aviatrices the book focuses on - Ruth Elder, Ruth Nichols, Amelia Earhart, Louise Thaden and Florence Klingensmith - and the many more fly girls who come up in the story were remarkable is a severe understatement. Their stories should be known ... ⬇️

eeclayton ... and their names remembered. An important and fascinating book.

Thank you so much @EadieB for recommending this to me! ❤️

This was my #BookSpin for August @TheAromaofBooks
3y
DivineDiana I enjoyed this book too! 3y
EadieB @DivineDiana Glad to hear that! 3y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y
17 likes1 stack add5 comments
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AnneCecilie
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Pickpick

Florence Klingensmith, Ruth Elder, Amelia Earhart, Ruth Nichols and Louise Thaden. Five names to remember. Five women from different backgrounds, social class and different family lives as adults. All loving to fly and all facing the same discrimination and sexism.

This book finished a lot sooner than I expected and I was really disappointed when I realized we were getting to the end.

I‘m so happy this was on my #NewYearWhoDis list.

52 likes2 stack adds
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AnneCecilie
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It‘s interesting how statistics consisting mostly of men are made as arguments for why women can‘t do something.
For a time the women where banned from competing in the Bendix, flying across country, even if statistics like the above where mostly men. Shouldn‘t that mean that‘s the men that don‘t have the competence to participate?

48 likes1 stack add
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AnneCecilie
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A combined #BookReport and #WeeklyForecast

I finished The Italian #ItalianBuddyRead and the tagged book #NewYearWhoDis

I read Yoko One and Bellman & Black

I‘m currently reading Anne of Windy Willows a chapter a dayish #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

Tomorrow I‘ll start buddy reading both The Ickabog #Ickabogalong and Mansfield Park #PemberLittens a chapter a day

I also want to get to A Secret History #BookSpin for January and The Group #GalsAndPals

Cinfhen Nice!! Lots of group reads ❤️ 4y
Linsy Love it! I‘m starting in to Mansfield Park again too. Love buddy reads! 4y
61 likes2 comments
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AnneCecilie
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In 1931, [...], Earhart was trying to master a new, experimental airship called the autogyro. Part plane, part helicopter, it had both wings and a giant rotor over the cockpit, giving it the appearance of a giant prehistoric insect. [...] Harald Pitchairn, America‘s top builder of these windmill ships, saw a day when people would commute to work in them, as he did from his home near Philadelphia.

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AnneCecilie
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They were upset over rules that prevented women from competing in any race against men. They were also frustrated over new proposals requiring a doctor and two US Army planes escort the women in the female derby across the country and about new restrictions limiting the power of their engines. “They naturally dislike the idea of going back to kindergarten,” a race official said in a statement about the women. (Cont. in comments)

AnneCecilie (Cont.) But the reason for the rule was simple. “Without power restrictions,” officials noted, “the prettiest flier would probably get the biggest plane of the best manufacturer, and if her luck and her flying skill held out she would probably reach Chicago first.” The implication: men with powerful planes had them because they new what they were doing. Women with powerful planes had them because they knew how to flirt. 4y
44 likes1 comment
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AnneCecilie
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#BookReport

Finished Anne of the Island and started Anne of Windy Willows #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

I read both K and A Breath of Life for #foodandlit #Brazil

Still reading a chapter a day of The Italian #ItalianBuddyRead

I have also started on the tagged book from my #NewYearWhoDis list

Cinfhen Excellent week 💚😊 4y
68 likes1 comment
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AnneCecilie
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#WeeklyForecast

Finish Anne of the Island and hopefully get the next book from the library #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

Read K #foodandlit #Brazil

Continue The Italian #ItalianBuddyRead

Start Fly Girls from my #NewYearWhoDis list

Cinfhen Sounds great 😊 4y
55 likes1 comment
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AnneCecilie
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#WeeklyForecast

This week I plan on continue my chapter a day reading of both Anne of the Island #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead and The Italian #ItalianBuddyRead

I want to reread the Saga series and start on the tagged book from my #NewYearWhoDis list

Cinfhen @britt_brooke you still reading the Saga series??? I know you loved it 4y
Kalalalatja Love Saga ❤️ 4y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen Yes! I‘m anxiously awaiting them to come off hiatus and continue the story. Such a fantastic series! (edited) 4y
64 likes3 comments
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Nitpickyabouttrains
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Pickpick

Nonfiction about women plane flyers at the time when planes where still fairly new and records were constantly being set.

19 likes1 stack add
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EadieB
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Day 12 - #Women #ForeverNovember
#FlyGirls #KeithOBrien

I listened to this audio and enjoyed it very much.

OriginalCyn620 📚👍🏻📚 4y
37 likes1 stack add1 comment
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mrsmarch

Someone noted and asked, “what‘s the difference between beef tea and broth or soup?” So I looked it up. Beef tea is made from actual boiled and steeped beef, or a concentrate such as Bovril; broth is made from the bony pieces and scraps; stock and broth are made similarly, but stock is an unseasoned ingredient in a dish whereas broth is usually seasoned and can be a meal in itself. https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/beef-tea-395253

18 likes2 comments
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bibliobard
Pickpick

This was such a great read! I learned so much and it renewed my fascination with early flight. Women had to put up with SO MUCH BULL 💩 in order to fly.

I will be taking it to the post office later to send back to you @mrsmarch and officially ending #LMPBC #Round009

+6 points to #TeamHarkness #Scarathlon2020

suvata Perfectly stated 4y
15 likes1 comment
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Kaila-ann
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Couldn‘t pass this up while in Fargo-Moorhead. The way the race organizers treated her after her death broke my heart. When I found out she was from this area, I decided to pay my respects while visiting my family. She‘s buried about 15-20 minutes from this mural.

suvata Awww. That is so cool. I‘m really glad you got a chance to see it. 4y
Kaila-ann @suvata thanks! I thought she was fascinating after reading the book and I couldn‘t resist. 4y
bibliobard Very cool! I am finishing up Murder City and it makes me want to watch the film Chicago...not quite the same thing, but it‘s funny how our books inspire decisions like this. 4y
Kaila-ann @Shakespearience I still want to watch Chicago since I‘ve never seen it. Yes, it kind of tells me it‘s a good book of it makes you want to go out and explore the world a little bit or expand your horizons 😉. 4y
15 likes4 comments
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Texreader
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On sale today! It‘s been on my tbr list for awhile so I didn‘t pass this one up.

GingerAntics Neither did I! This looks so good! 4y
catebutler Ooh! This looks good! 4y
sharread I have to get this! Thank you for the heads up! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 4y
58 likes4 comments
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suvata
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Pickpick

#LMPBC Round 9 - #GroupH
@mrsmarch @Kaila-Ann @suvata

FLY GIRLS Will be mailed out tomorrow to @Shakespearience — I hope you find it as fascinating and I did

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suvata
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Pickpick

• Read in Sept. 2020 for Litsy Markup Postal Book Club #LMPBC Round 9 - #GroupH

Between WWI and WWII there weren‘t a lot of organized sports taking place. To fill the gap, “airplane racing“ enthralled spectators everywhere. This book focuses on five brave “Fly Girls“: Ruth Elder, Amelia Earhart, Ruth Nichols, Louise Thaden and Florence Klingensmith. These women, coming from all walks of life, showed the world women what suffragette heroes are.

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Morr_Books
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Book #2 for the readathon. Audiobooks and puzzles! @DeweysReadathon #readathon

tracey38 Love the puzzle! 5y
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wanderinglynn
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Pickpick

A great book about female aviators. #TIL about the 5 women, including Amelia Earhart, who pushed boundaries and helped propel women in the skies. Emilia Earhart might be the most well-known, but she was not the only one, and arguably not even the best female pilot in the late 1920s-1930s.

#nfNov 9pts for post/169 total

Velvetfur Oohh is Beryl Markham in it? 😊 5y
wanderinglynn @Velvetfur She‘s mentioned for being the first person to fly solo, non-stop across the Atlantic from east to west, but this is about American female pilots. 5y
Clwojick 9 pt 5y
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wanderinglynn
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Trying to finish up one last book for #nfNov.

#TIL Amelia Earhart was a social worker in Boston during a time of anti-immigration policies (1920s). Congress & the White House set immigration quotas that favored white Christian nations and broke up families of Jews, Italians, Mexicans, Poles, Russians, and Asians, so immigrant smuggling became big business. Earhart organized English classes for immigrants.

4pts for the post/151 total

alisiakae I did not know that about her! 💙 I am also trying to finish up one more NF book before the end of the month. 5y
ChaoticMissAdventures I am reading Isabel Allende's new book and found Pablo Neruda was instrumental in bring Spanish refugees to Chile in the 30's. It is great that we are starting to see more historical discussion on immigration. 5y
wanderinglynn @4thhouseontheleft it‘s an interesting book. Earhart was the most well-known but was not the best of the female aviators. 5y
wanderinglynn @ChaoticMissAdventures This was really just a minor point in the part about Earhart, but I thought it was interesting & relevant to what‘s been currently going on. 5y
Clwojick 4 pt 5y
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CampbellTaraL
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Pickpick

The golden age of flight included amazing women who put their lives on the line and proved gender wasn't the obstacle when it came to piloting aircraft.

Also, I don't want to take away from Earhart in anyway, but other women did even greater feats, gave up a lot more too, and yet she's the only one recognized. Louise Thaden was a friggin hero with her contributions, IMO.

Well written for the most part, did get a little slow in some spots.

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Samplergal
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Pickpick

Well researched and well written, the author tries to do too much in this book. I enjoyed it, but wouldn‘t recommend it unless you are very interested in this topic. I was and learned a lot about these bad ass women. 3 ⭐️

88 likes1 stack add
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crazyspine
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Week 4 ✔ in #bfcr2
Steps: 3/7
Yoga:4/7
Books 5/7
I still plan on getting in my steps and yoga today. It's been soo hot, so haven't been working out much, but I've done pretty well food wise. @BookBridget @BookishBelle @Econaghan @jmtrivera @laurar311 @mc916 @Honeybeegirl @WriterAtHeart @wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn First I‘m going to point out that you had a good week—made your steps 3 days and did yoga 4 days! 🙌🏻 Celebrate that! 🎉 Be proud of what you accomplished! Second, weather, like life, happens, so we adapt. What can you do that doesn‘t involve going outside in the heat? 5y
crazyspine @wanderinglynn good point/perspective. I ended up swimming laps, so outside but refreshing 5y
BookishBelle Great job!! 🎉 5y
45 likes3 comments
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crazyspine
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Bailedbailed

Unpopular opinion, but I thought this was very boring.

Samplergal No. I get it. I finished, but it wasn‘t that great. 5y
51 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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crazyspine
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#BFCR2 week 3 ✔ in
Steps 3/7 days; I was really close over 9,000 all the other days. Haven't been working out, but I'm a house painter and getting a lot of "steps" that way.
For me I'm having a difficult time balancing being active/working and resting/ being kind to myself on treatment days,
Meditation: 4/7
Books 4/7
@wanderinglynn @BookBridget @WriterAtHeart @Econaghan @BookishBelle @jmtrivera @Honeybeegirl @laurar311 @mc916

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 You‘re making great progress! 🎉 So definitely celebrate what you accomplished! Remember, we need rest (and sleep) to recover, rejuvenate, revitalize our bodies, minds, & spirits. Is there anything we can do to help you find some balance? 💜 5y
crazyspine @wanderinglynn today was a treatment day, and I had off work, so I did accupuncture, and I'm going to sushi for dinner. 5y
wanderinglynn Sushi for dinner sounds awesome! Enjoy! 5y
BookishBelle Over 9,000 is still a lot of steps! Great job! 🎉 I have trouble resting too bc I‘m worried I won‘t catch up to my weekly step goal but I just trust that I‘ll make it and if I don‘t, it‘s okay. There‘s always next week. 5y
50 likes1 stack add5 comments
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litenthusiast
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#LetsTravelJuly Another book in my TBR pile, but one I hope to get to soon. #airplane @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Looks good!! ✈️ 5y
OriginalCyn620 😊👌🏻✈️ 5y
34 likes2 comments
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Kpiper
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I am enjoying this spontaneous airport purchase.

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DivineDiana
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Pickpick

The Fly Girls (a term coined by a man who promoted flying competitions) were fearless women who were passionate about piloting planes. Often shunned or denigrated for wanting to fly, they persisted. Many lost their lives as safety issues were rampant. I was humbled by the bravery of these women (and the men) during the early days of the aviation industry. Interesting that now our biggest concern is getting the best price! #nonfiction

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DivineDiana
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I misjudged the dates for Book Club. This one is due this Wednesday, whereas “First Mothers”, which I have only one chapter to go isn‘t due to the following week! Fast and furious reading to follow! #nonfiction

Catt If you like this, check out “Happy Bottom Riding Club” by Lauren Kessler. Tells story of one particularly fascinating woman Pancho Barnes who was in early flying (compatriot of Amelia Earheart) and who opened a dude ranch that became like the frat house for the supersonic pilots and future astronauts you see in “The Right Stuff.” (edited) 6y
DivineDiana Thanks for the recommendation, @Catt ! I did like the book! 6y
71 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Aims42
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I am so excited, one of my Christmas gifts from my mama-in-law arrived on Saturday (my first issue of Bookmarks magazine, she got me a year subscription 😍). I also got a birthday gift from my mom that arrived on Thursday (custom pillow with our wedding year on it 🥰). Good reading material with a comfy pillow for the mess Mother Nature is sending our way this week LOL

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heikemarie
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I might actually make it! I have been listening to this while grocery shopping, braving Costco on a Sunday, and meal prepping for the week. I‘m almost done, and it will be my first completed book of #24in48 since I‘ve been flipping around so much!

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heikemarie
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I have lots of errands to run so right now it‘s #audiobook reading - #24in48 is trucking along. Not sure if I‘ll finish because I super need a nap after these errands 🥺

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Aims42
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This has been my day so far. Zero complaints from me 😉😍

Libby1 Perfect. 6y
32 likes1 comment
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Aims42
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Sun & blue skies today, with a temperature of 12 degrees. The hubs dug us out this morning so I could do a grocery run. But now I‘m happy to sit with my martini (cheers, Grandpa! I made it your way ☺️) and my newest read. Happy Sunday!!!

39 likes2 stack adds
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Amiable
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Book 2 for the #nonfiction2019 challenge. A book about the first female aviators seemed appropriate for "Something with travel."

@Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Very appropriate! 6y
Kaye Good morning Amy. How goes it ? 6y
Amiable @kaye Morning, @kaye ! It's going. Getting dressed now to head out for my volunteer gig as a patient escort at Planned Parenthood. How are things in Hillbilly Village? 6y
Kaye Exciting as watching a one man parade. Good for you for working at Planned Parenthood. Enjoy your weekend. 6y
57 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Amiable
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When she was taking flying lessons, Amelia Earhart carried makeup with her so she could quickly apply it after a crash to "look nice when the reporters come." ?

Lindy What??? 6y
64 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Amiable
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Sunday morning = book + tea. (That's the kind of math I like. 👍🏼)

Sad, though--I'm almost out of my current favorite tea, which I got last summer while visiting Seattle. I contacted the tea shop via email to see if I could order another tin, and they said they are having trouble sourcing this tea with their supplier. Guess I'll have to find a new favorite in the meantime. 😕

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Amiable
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Library #bookhaul

Aims42 I got ‘Fly Girls‘ for Christmas, haven‘t read it yet but it sounds very interesting 🤞🏼 6y
lahousewyfe Looks like an amazing book. Stacked it! 6y
83 likes2 comments
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Aims42
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First round of books from Santa 🎄📚

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a.bookish.byrd
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Pickpick

Incredible women. Unbelievable odds. They sacrificed so much to pave the way for female pilots.

55 likes2 stack adds
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WanderingBookaneer
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Every so often I come across weirdly specific Amazon categories. For example, tagged book is a bestseller in “Air Sports.” #WTAmazon

In fact, many of Today‘s #KindleDailyDeals (US) are bestsellers in their very specific categories.

Share some of the weirdly specific categories you‘ve encountered here or take a screenshot and share it using #WTAmazon

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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

Loved this nonfiction account of women aviators in the ‘20s. There was such camaraderie between the women. They had wonderful sportsmanship when they were competing and they developed friendships because they were the only ones who understood each other‘s passion for flying.

They were all fighting an uphill battle against prejudice both in the media and general public against women flying. They were wives, mothers, & more & they all loved to fly.

22 likes1 stack add
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erinjohns
Pickpick

Exceptional...brought that era and struggle to life.

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Amie
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Pickpick

Just finished listening to this audiobook via Hoopla. I enjoyed learning about these women aviators. I rolled my eyes more than once at the ridiculous sexism these women faced - like a man saying one pilot was pretty so she should stay home and have babies instead of doing something dangerous like flying 🙄🙄🙄

51 likes1 stack add
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EadieB
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Pickpick

Finished this audiobook that I received from LibraryThing early reviewer and Houston Mifflin Harcourt for an honest review. I enjoyed learning about all the women and men aviators who were very courageous during the 20‘s and 30‘s and even lost their lives while promoting aviation. This book mainly focuses on 5 women; Florence Klingensmith, Ruth Elder, Amelia Earhart, Ruth Nichols and Louise Thaden. Listen and hear how they raced against the men.

76 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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EadieB
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I just got this audio book from Library Thing and Tantor Media. Looking forward to listening to this for an honest review. Love these brave women!

#flygirls #keithobrien

68 likes1 stack add
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rabbitprincess
Pickpick

A must-read for anyone interested in the early days of aviation and women doing awesome things.

27 likes2 stack adds
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rabbitprincess
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On the Women's Air Derby. RAAAAAGE because these unreasonable expectations still crop up today.