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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
bak8382's review
3.0
Mary Mallon was an Irish immigrant living in New York City in the beginning of the 1900s. As a talented cook she was constantly in demand and had cooked for some of the richest families in the city. She was also extremely healthy, and was known to nurse several of her clients back to health from various illnesses. Then in 1907 her world came crashing down. A doctor determined that she was an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever. She was immediately quarantined on North Brother Island, and kept there for several years as they performed a battery of tests on her. When her lawyer finally secures her release it is with the stipulation that she stop cooking. Faced with disagreeing information and difficult choices Mary makes a series of decisions that have far reaching ramifications.
This is a fascinating fictional account of the real "Typhoid Mary." Mary is portrayed as a sympathetic character, especially in the beginning when she was stripped of her basic rights and had to fight to have her case heard in court. Yet as the story goes on, and Mary becomes aware of the illnesses she may inadvertently have caused it becomes harder to view her in a favorable light. This point generated an interesting discussion in my bookclub. Like Rebecca Skloot did in the nonfiction title [b:The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|6493208|The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|Rebecca Skloot|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327878144s/6493208.jpg|6684634], Keane has brought to life a forgotten piece of history, and raised questions about medical ethics.
This is a fascinating fictional account of the real "Typhoid Mary." Mary is portrayed as a sympathetic character, especially in the beginning when she was stripped of her basic rights and had to fight to have her case heard in court. Yet as the story goes on, and Mary becomes aware of the illnesses she may inadvertently have caused it becomes harder to view her in a favorable light. This point generated an interesting discussion in my bookclub. Like Rebecca Skloot did in the nonfiction title [b:The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|6493208|The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|Rebecca Skloot|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327878144s/6493208.jpg|6684634], Keane has brought to life a forgotten piece of history, and raised questions about medical ethics.
jflow's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
If historical novels are your thing, this is probably a higher star rating than 3.75, personally I enjoyed the book and found it easy to read.
brock111's review
4.0
I didn't know anything about Typhoid Mary until I read this book.
It was interesting to read this perspective of her life. The questions
that arose between personal liberty and public health seem timely today
with the press concerning vaccinations.
It was interesting to read this perspective of her life. The questions
that arose between personal liberty and public health seem timely today
with the press concerning vaccinations.
abeth_parker's review
4.0
I came across this novel during my last trip to the library. I'm glad I did. I had heard a few minor details of the famous "Typhoid Mary" case, but I didn't know many particulars. The biggest questions that arose for me as I was reading the book is "Where is the line between purposeful action and stubborn disobedience?"
After being identified as an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid, Mary was held on an island that housed a tuberculosis hospital for about three years. She was released with the agreement to not cook food for others. Eventually, possibly out of the need to make a living wage, she went back to cooking in bakeries, for friends, and eventually in a maternity hospital.
Of course, none of us now can know what she was thinking or what her motives were. Was she so uncaring and cold that she would knowingly expose post-partum mothers and newborn infants to typhoid? Or was she an individual who lived in New York during a time when overcrowding and poverty caused a very high mortality rate for those who were young or sick? Did she understand the mechanism of disease exposure as we do today? It is very thought provoking.
I think the author did an excellent job of portraying Mary Mallon as someone who wouldn't purposely bring harm to anyone, but who also didn't realize that her carrying of the typhoid with in her could truly have deadly affects for others.
My only criticism of the book lies in the relationship she was in during the time. She was unmarried woman living with an unmarried man. Which, of course, was still mostly unheard of at the time. References to their relationship, and his relationship with another woman while Mary was being held on the island, were not graphic by any means, but a little more detailed than I thought necessary.
I'm truly thinking of geeking out and reading a nonfiction book about Typhoid Mary. It is truly a more interesting story than I ever realized.
After being identified as an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid, Mary was held on an island that housed a tuberculosis hospital for about three years. She was released with the agreement to not cook food for others. Eventually, possibly out of the need to make a living wage, she went back to cooking in bakeries, for friends, and eventually in a maternity hospital.
Of course, none of us now can know what she was thinking or what her motives were. Was she so uncaring and cold that she would knowingly expose post-partum mothers and newborn infants to typhoid? Or was she an individual who lived in New York during a time when overcrowding and poverty caused a very high mortality rate for those who were young or sick? Did she understand the mechanism of disease exposure as we do today? It is very thought provoking.
I think the author did an excellent job of portraying Mary Mallon as someone who wouldn't purposely bring harm to anyone, but who also didn't realize that her carrying of the typhoid with in her could truly have deadly affects for others.
My only criticism of the book lies in the relationship she was in during the time. She was unmarried woman living with an unmarried man. Which, of course, was still mostly unheard of at the time. References to their relationship, and his relationship with another woman while Mary was being held on the island, were not graphic by any means, but a little more detailed than I thought necessary.
I'm truly thinking of geeking out and reading a nonfiction book about Typhoid Mary. It is truly a more interesting story than I ever realized.
cher_n_books's review
3.0
3.5 stars - It was really good.
Very well written historical fiction novel based on the life of Typhoid Mary, who was the first person found to be a carrier of Typhoid fever, immune herself to the disease. The book reads easily with a nice pace and never gets bogged down with too much clinical or historical detail.
It's hard to imagine a healthy and robust person being forcibly quarantined, sacrificing their own freedom and quality of life in an effort to protect others. Is it ethically just? The first time Mary was quarantined, I was not so sure, but after Mary continues to work as a cook, which is how she spread the disease, after being told she could never do so again, the ethical line no longer seemed quite so blurry. It's not a clear right vs wrong situation however, especially when you consider the time frame when it occurred, and the general ignorance regarding germ theory that prevailed back then.
I enjoyed the beginning and the very end of the book, both of which often led me to do more research, but much of the 2nd 1/2 of the novel involves Mary's love life. I felt this became too much of a focus and was a distraction from the educational, historical element that I found to be so appealing about the novel. I was anxious for the author to get back to Typhoid Mary vs Mary the girlfriend, and felt the novel would have been improved by shortening those segments regarding her personal relationships.
Mary's cottage on North Brother Island:
Mary Mallon:
---------------------------------
Favorite Quote: It would be laughable, really, if it weren't already criminal for them to have locked her up, one woman, a cook, when every corner of America hid a pestilence just waiting to be stirred up, set free.
First Sentence: The day began with sour milk and got worse.
Very well written historical fiction novel based on the life of Typhoid Mary, who was the first person found to be a carrier of Typhoid fever, immune herself to the disease. The book reads easily with a nice pace and never gets bogged down with too much clinical or historical detail.
It's hard to imagine a healthy and robust person being forcibly quarantined, sacrificing their own freedom and quality of life in an effort to protect others. Is it ethically just? The first time Mary was quarantined, I was not so sure, but after Mary continues to work as a cook, which is how she spread the disease, after being told she could never do so again, the ethical line no longer seemed quite so blurry. It's not a clear right vs wrong situation however, especially when you consider the time frame when it occurred, and the general ignorance regarding germ theory that prevailed back then.
I enjoyed the beginning and the very end of the book, both of which often led me to do more research, but much of the 2nd 1/2 of the novel involves Mary's love life. I felt this became too much of a focus and was a distraction from the educational, historical element that I found to be so appealing about the novel. I was anxious for the author to get back to Typhoid Mary vs Mary the girlfriend, and felt the novel would have been improved by shortening those segments regarding her personal relationships.
Mary's cottage on North Brother Island:
Mary Mallon:
---------------------------------
Favorite Quote: It would be laughable, really, if it weren't already criminal for them to have locked her up, one woman, a cook, when every corner of America hid a pestilence just waiting to be stirred up, set free.
First Sentence: The day began with sour milk and got worse.
akdorman's review
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
erinmully's review
3.0
Probably closer to a 3.5. Enjoyable read overall, but by the end of the book, I was so frustrated with the main character and the decisions she made.