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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
"Funny now that death might truly be at hand how Mirielle found herself wanting to live."
Mirielle is the wife of a movie star, living a life of glamorous parties and few responsibilities until a spot on her hand is diagnosed as leprosy and she's sent off to Carville, a leper colony in Louisiana. Set in the 1920s, before a cure for leprosy (now called Hansen's disease) is discovered, Mirielle faces a future of growing disfigurement and potential amputations and blindness.
This was the first novel I've ever read with a main character with leprosy, and until I read it, I was unaware of the existence of Carville, one of the only leper colonies in America. It was fascinating to see how the residents of Carville and their families dealt with the stigma associated with their condition. Many take new names inside the colony to protect their families outside from being ostracized by association. While families could visit their relatives once a week, many didn't- either because they were too far away to do so, or because they feared contracting the disease themselves.
Mirielle has to face her own fears of the disease when she gets a job working at the infirmary and has to take care of patients whose disease has progressed much farther than her own case. She has to overcome her vanity and find her worth as a person and not just a beautiful woman, because leprosy is already marring her looks.
An interesting look into a little known chapter of America's history. 3.5 stars
*This book was won in a Goodreads giveaway*
Mirielle is the wife of a movie star, living a life of glamorous parties and few responsibilities until a spot on her hand is diagnosed as leprosy and she's sent off to Carville, a leper colony in Louisiana. Set in the 1920s, before a cure for leprosy (now called Hansen's disease) is discovered, Mirielle faces a future of growing disfigurement and potential amputations and blindness.
This was the first novel I've ever read with a main character with leprosy, and until I read it, I was unaware of the existence of Carville, one of the only leper colonies in America. It was fascinating to see how the residents of Carville and their families dealt with the stigma associated with their condition. Many take new names inside the colony to protect their families outside from being ostracized by association. While families could visit their relatives once a week, many didn't- either because they were too far away to do so, or because they feared contracting the disease themselves.
Mirielle has to face her own fears of the disease when she gets a job working at the infirmary and has to take care of patients whose disease has progressed much farther than her own case. She has to overcome her vanity and find her worth as a person and not just a beautiful woman, because leprosy is already marring her looks.
An interesting look into a little known chapter of America's history. 3.5 stars
*This book was won in a Goodreads giveaway*
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
While the writing was fine, I found the story lacking. I’ve read two other books about Leprosy and this really had nothing new to add.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Historical fiction about Hansen's disease in the 1920s. The main character's development was frustrating as she was a bitch, but it was eye-opening to imagine how patients were treated.
"Right or wrong, the rumor was something people could choke down. The truth would never be palatable."
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5. I thought the premise was dumb when I read the back cover, but book club pick so.... Then I started reading it and quickly changed my mind. It was a fast-paced interesting topic that I hadn't read about before. Until it wasn't. About 70% in and it got slow and boring, and frankly, I lost interest.
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes