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lmgestes's review against another edition
3.0
3.8– I was a little underwhelmed at the parts focusing on Alfred, however, MKB knows how to tie everything together. Enjoyable read!
suvata's review against another edition
3.0
Fictionalized story of the Irish immigrant woman, Mary Mallon, who came to be called “Typhoid Mary“ in the early 1900s.
christinede3e1's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
raeanne's review
4.0
I won a copy through a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.
Recommend: For historical fiction fans, those interested in the human side of science and disease and contemporary fans may find something here to like as well
I remember learning about Typhoid Mary in school. We learned about Typhoid, asymptomatic carriers and the victims of renegade, heartless Mary. When I made the mistake of commenting on how awful it must have been for Mary, the room sat in silence and everyone stared at me. Like something was wrong with me for thinking about Mary as a person, for thinking I could sympathize with Typhoid victims and with the carrier too. After a beat, the teacher picked up with, "Well, yes...The Department of Health handles things differently now, but you must understand what they were dealing with."
All I can think of was, "Don't you mean who?"
That moment cemented the story of Typhoid Mary in my mind.
This book, this story, this Mary makes me want to track down those in my class and send them a copy of this book to say, "SEE, I wasn't stupid.".
I think starting with Mary's first experience in confinement was smart.
After all that's where her story starts, where she becomes more than just one of the thousands of nameless, faceless immigrant women. Plus I think it sets up the story well so people understand just why she wasn't especially willing to be receptive or friendly to the doctors.
I like this portrayal of Mary. She is a no nonsense, hard working independent woman that didn't back down. She's uppity and she doesn't care what other people think. She wasn't all smiles and sunshine normally because her life wasn't all smiles and sunshine. And there's nothing wrong with that.
From beginning to end, I was rooting for her. I wanted her to find a way to live her life happily and without risk to others. I wasn't frustrated with her. I just wanted to re-write history for her (and the people she ended up hurting) but that's not possible. I didn't have a negative reaction to her. I just kept saying, "oh, no." I was completely wrapped up in Mary's tale and the descriptive, flowing writing. Even without knowing the story of Typhoid Mary, it's obvious how it is going to end. The story weaved is still entrancing.
The key to understanding Mary is common. It's easy to see in others but hard to see ourselves doing it. The illuminating quote,
Ah, cognitive dissonance. Of course it's possible. Everybody does it. Cognitive dissonance wasn't even theorized until 20 years after Mary's death.
For more understanding Mary and as far as her fury is concerned...
Recommend: For historical fiction fans, those interested in the human side of science and disease and contemporary fans may find something here to like as well
I remember learning about Typhoid Mary in school. We learned about Typhoid, asymptomatic carriers and the victims of renegade, heartless Mary. When I made the mistake of commenting on how awful it must have been for Mary, the room sat in silence and everyone stared at me. Like something was wrong with me for thinking about Mary as a person, for thinking I could sympathize with Typhoid victims and with the carrier too. After a beat, the teacher picked up with, "Well, yes...The Department of Health handles things differently now, but you must understand what they were dealing with."
All I can think of was, "Don't you mean who?"
That moment cemented the story of Typhoid Mary in my mind.
This book, this story, this Mary makes me want to track down those in my class and send them a copy of this book to say, "SEE, I wasn't stupid.".
I think starting with Mary's first experience in confinement was smart.
After all that's where her story starts, where she becomes more than just one of the thousands of nameless, faceless immigrant women. Plus I think it sets up the story well so people understand just why she wasn't especially willing to be receptive or friendly to the doctors.
I like this portrayal of Mary. She is a no nonsense, hard working independent woman that didn't back down. She's uppity and she doesn't care what other people think. She wasn't all smiles and sunshine normally because her life wasn't all smiles and sunshine. And there's nothing wrong with that.
From beginning to end, I was rooting for her. I wanted her to find a way to live her life happily and without risk to others. I wasn't frustrated with her. I just wanted to re-write history for her (and the people she ended up hurting) but that's not possible. I didn't have a negative reaction to her. I just kept saying, "oh, no." I was completely wrapped up in Mary's tale and the descriptive, flowing writing. Even without knowing the story of Typhoid Mary, it's obvious how it is going to end. The story weaved is still entrancing.
The key to understanding Mary is common. It's easy to see in others but hard to see ourselves doing it. The illuminating quote,
"she wondered whether it was possible for a person to know something and to not know something at the same time."
Ah, cognitive dissonance. Of course it's possible. Everybody does it. Cognitive dissonance wasn't even theorized until 20 years after Mary's death.
For more understanding Mary and as far as her fury is concerned...
Spoiler
I must say I'm with Mary that a man would've been treated much differently as the first carrier and much, if not all, of her poor treatment comes from what she was (single immigrant non religious woman) than her actual personality. I totally understand that being infuriating. I felt fury for her. It’s absolutely chilling to be put in her shoes.kbcollinskai's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
snowymiya's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lindasdarby's review
2.0
I disliked this book because "Typhoid Mary" was an unsympathetic and fairly horrible. It is hard to root for a character or in this case a person who behaves as she did. I don't think isolating her on that island was fair but I also don't think that a Person who refuses to stop cooking and start washing their hands when they are spreading disease and death in their wake deserves much fairness. The story is kind of interesting but the person miss the book unreadable.
obscuredbyclouds's review against another edition
3.0
I chose to read this for my "book club" (aka me and two friends) because I really enjoyed Mary Beth Keane's second novel "Ask Again, Yes" but didn't think I would pick her earlier novel on my own; I just didn't think a story told from Typhoid Mary's perspective sounded very interesting. So it was a "I oughta read this but I dont want to" pick.
The writing is once again pretty good and easy to read, but not as strong or interesting. I also thought there were parts that were written too simplistic and at least quite cheesy too. But overall the novel easily held my attention and entertained me. Keane tries to make the reader sympathize with Mary, but it never really worked for me. It was strange coming to this book in the middle of a pandemic because Mary's - and some other characters' - reasoning for why she couldn't have been the cause of death for so many people and why it was really unfair for her to have to stop cooking reminded me of so many "why should I have to change my life in any way when I'm not worried about being sick" types of people. In Mary's defense, germ theory of disease was not as well-established back in 1907 and asymptomatic carriers were something newly discovered. Still, Mary's stance was irritating, even though I felt for her when she was quarantined for the first time, and then later a second time when she broke the agreement not to cook. Although the novel is centered around Mary's struggle with accepting her disease and the damage she's caused, a large part of the book is about her and her partner. Their love story or rather the tragedy of it was, although entertaining, a little obvious.
I think the novel was hindered by it being about a real historic person and trying to include all the real parameters and names, but trying to turn around the perception a reader would have of the events and characters. It's a very obvious "You thought Typhoid Mary was bad? But have you ever looked at it from her POV?!" both-siding attempt, which I found a little irritating. As a stand alone story it was an entertaining and easy read, but not definitely not as good as "Ask Again, Yes". I haven't read her debut yet but I'm still curious.
The writing is once again pretty good and easy to read, but not as strong or interesting. I also thought there were parts that were written too simplistic and at least quite cheesy too. But overall the novel easily held my attention and entertained me. Keane tries to make the reader sympathize with Mary, but it never really worked for me. It was strange coming to this book in the middle of a pandemic because Mary's - and some other characters' - reasoning for why she couldn't have been the cause of death for so many people and why it was really unfair for her to have to stop cooking reminded me of so many "why should I have to change my life in any way when I'm not worried about being sick" types of people. In Mary's defense, germ theory of disease was not as well-established back in 1907 and asymptomatic carriers were something newly discovered. Still, Mary's stance was irritating, even though I felt for her when she was quarantined for the first time, and then later a second time when she broke the agreement not to cook. Although the novel is centered around Mary's struggle with accepting her disease and the damage she's caused, a large part of the book is about her and her partner. Their love story or rather the tragedy of it was, although entertaining, a little obvious.
I think the novel was hindered by it being about a real historic person and trying to include all the real parameters and names, but trying to turn around the perception a reader would have of the events and characters. It's a very obvious "You thought Typhoid Mary was bad? But have you ever looked at it from her POV?!" both-siding attempt, which I found a little irritating. As a stand alone story it was an entertaining and easy read, but not definitely not as good as "Ask Again, Yes". I haven't read her debut yet but I'm still curious.
dvoetberg's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0