Book Title: FlightLog: The Novel Adventures of a Stewardess Wannabe Who Becomes a Flight Attendant by Susan Humphrey
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 338 pages
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Chick Lit, Memoir(ish), Coming-of-age
Publisher: Majuscule Press
Release date: August, 2022
Content Rating: PG. A few romantic encounters but light on the details. Reference to tobacco use.
“It was 1978. People didn’t have home computers, video players, or answering machines. We rented our telephones from local phone companies and hand-wrote letters. The terms ‘politically correct’ and ‘African-American’ had not been coined. ‘Eating disorders’ and ‘alternate lifestyles’ were not yet common household phrases. Only strippers wore thongs, which made perfect sense to me, as they only caused one to gyrate their hynie in a desperate attempt to dislodge the bothersome wedgie.”
So writes Sherri Van Ness, an unassuming girl from the burbs of Kansas who’s about to embark on the adventure of her life when she signs up to become a stewardess. But it’s much more turbulent than this doughy-eyed 19-year-old ever imagined as she tries to navigate past grouchy passengers, fly-by-night relationships and the unforgiving, relentless, humiliating, monthly weigh-ins. Some dreams come true. Others require a vomit bag.
That’s not to say Sherri doesn’t enjoy herself. Au contraire! There are friends to be made and men to be made and the maid who made up her room in New York is so nice!
Yes, the work is difficult at times and the money isn’t always good, but there are perks: free flights and an endless supply of tiny vodka bottles and salted peanuts (peanut allergies hadn’t been invented yet.)
Like Dorothy Gale sans Toto, Sherri leaves Kansas and finds herself amidst a cast of characters as strange to her as the Scarecrow and the Munchkins were to Dorothy. Her whirlwind journey takes her from innocent, insecure stewardess to mature and confident flight attendant. Or does she?
Book your flight now with this very enjoyable read, put your seat back in the upright position, and enjoy the ride!
My Thoughts:
The job of a flight attendant has always seemed so fun yet so elusive to me. They travel for a living and always look professional and put together. I have often thought about what life as a flight attendant would be like so this book was an exciting read for me.
The author shares the story of Sherri Van Ness, a small town young girl who chases her dreams of becoming a flight attendant in the late 1970s. The reader follows her through the training as well as her first year of working. She experiences lots of highs and lows (no pun intended).
I loved learning about the grueling training that is required to become a flight attendant and was sad and frustrated to learn about some of the rules that were in place in the late 70s/early 80s to stay employed. I also experienced secondhand stress during some of Sherri’s flights as they were extremely difficult and intense…I always assumed that this was an easy job and realized quickly while reading this book that it is extremely challenging in many ways. I have gained a lot more admiration and appreciation for these professionals in the sky (this is not to mention the added stress that has come post 9/11.)
The story was a lot of fun and a very quick read. I did find the fact that every man that crossed Sherri’s path was head over heels in love with her a bit ridiculous and annoying. I also was frustrated with the ending, it left off on a huge cliff-hanger so I’m hopeful that there will be more books, I’d love to see Sherri grow and continue in her career.
Overall, this was a fun story that really shows the day to day life of a flight attendant and I definitely recommend it.
I received a copy of this book from the author to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My Rating
Susan Jo Humphrey, the daughter of a diplomat, was born in Izmir, Turkey where she lived for three years. She also lived in Korea and Thailand, before returning home to the US with her family as a teenager. She has traveled all over the United States, and has called several parts of this country ‘home.’ Her many airplane rides as a child convinced her she must one day become a stewardess. Suz was a flight attendant for thirteen of her twenty-five years with UAL. She began penning FlightLog with the help of the Naperville Writer’s Group, outside of Chicago. There, she published in their annual pamphlet, had a humor piece printed in an online magazine, and contributed many articles to local newspapers. At the time of publication, she is busy working on FlightLog II.
Away from the keyboard, Suz loves yoga, reading, cooking, listening to music and playing her guitar. She still enjoys mapping out travel to faraway places she’s never seen, as well as planning return trips to her favorite spots.
She currently lives in Southern California and has two grown children. Today, she’s in healthcare, where she’s worked since 2014. Suz was the ‘baby’ of her flight attendant classes – and the ‘senior’ student in her nursing classes. She’s eager to write that story as well: a novice baby-boomer RN begins her dream career as a travel nurse – just as a pandemic breaks out!
connect with the author: website
FLIGHTLOG by Susan Humphrey Book Tour Giveaway
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