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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
A historical fiction about Leprosy or more recent days; Hansen's Disease.
In the past, (before a good treatment and cure) the fear and disgust people had for leprosy affected not only the person afflicted, but the family as well. People were sent away for treatment, and to protect others from the feared contagious disease. Often folks would change their name to hide their identity and protect their families.
This story follows Mirielle West, a rich socialite who is found to have leprosy. She is in denial about the whole thing, and believes it's all a huge misunderstanding. The culture shock, learning to live with her condition, interacting with other patients is very challenging, not to mention being away from her family. She has two very young daughters, who she misses terribly. She misses her loyal and loving husband, a famous movie star. She desperately wants to go home, and she really doesn't believe she has this disease. To make it home, she has to have 12 continuous negative skin tests to make it home. But will she get there? Will she learn to accept herself and the other people she is forced to live with?
I found this very interesting, and I did my own research to learn about the real Carville Hospital.
In the past, (before a good treatment and cure) the fear and disgust people had for leprosy affected not only the person afflicted, but the family as well. People were sent away for treatment, and to protect others from the feared contagious disease. Often folks would change their name to hide their identity and protect their families.
This story follows Mirielle West, a rich socialite who is found to have leprosy. She is in denial about the whole thing, and believes it's all a huge misunderstanding. The culture shock, learning to live with her condition, interacting with other patients is very challenging, not to mention being away from her family. She has two very young daughters, who she misses terribly. She misses her loyal and loving husband, a famous movie star. She desperately wants to go home, and she really doesn't believe she has this disease. To make it home, she has to have 12 continuous negative skin tests to make it home. But will she get there? Will she learn to accept herself and the other people she is forced to live with?
I found this very interesting, and I did my own research to learn about the real Carville Hospital.
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I always enjoy a good historical fiction. This specific book took me down a rabbit hole I was unfamiliar with and became entranced with. The only reason I didn't rate this 5 starts is that, at times, the pacing felt a bit slow. I appreciate the attention to detail and the focus on character development, there were just moments I wished for a quicker progression.
This was a captivating historical fiction that explores many themes. Definitely a worthwhile read.
This was a captivating historical fiction that explores many themes. Definitely a worthwhile read.
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Mirielle is Charlie West's wife, used to the glamorous Hollywood life that comes with being married to a famous silent movie star. Their marriage has been marred by the loss of their eldest child, Felix. This story opens with Mirielle's diagnosis with leprosy and her being quarantined in Carville, Louisiana in a Federal hospital compound, leaving behind her husband and two young daughters, one not yet a year old. What I liked best about this novel was the vivid description of the experience of patients at all stages of the disease and all stages of life, with people of all economic classes, races and nationalities reduced to the stigma of leprosy. I learned so much about efforts to treat the disease, ti find a cure.
The novel debunks myths about Hansen disease's level of contagion and why people lost limbs or had deformities. It heartbreakingly tells stories of the extended periods of time people were shut away for years or for life, most with little or no contact with family. The disease was considered cause for divorce. The concept of a movie star's wife ending up in a hospital for lepers is rather hard to accept, it presents an opportunity for a story to show how a person of great privilege might adapt when faced with the potential of the rest of her life, in a "leper colony." I never quite cottoned to Marielle as a person. She is more the catalyst for the story even though it is meant to be her story. It was interesting to see what she did day to day. The friends and people she met were very relatable, but she was less so. While this was partly intentional, and she connects with others in some interesting ways, she never became as three dimensional to me as a number of the other characters. I still can highly recommend the novel for the story it tells and its originality.
The novel debunks myths about Hansen disease's level of contagion and why people lost limbs or had deformities. It heartbreakingly tells stories of the extended periods of time people were shut away for years or for life, most with little or no contact with family. The disease was considered cause for divorce. The concept of a movie star's wife ending up in a hospital for lepers is rather hard to accept, it presents an opportunity for a story to show how a person of great privilege might adapt when faced with the potential of the rest of her life, in a "leper colony." I never quite cottoned to Marielle as a person. She is more the catalyst for the story even though it is meant to be her story. It was interesting to see what she did day to day. The friends and people she met were very relatable, but she was less so. While this was partly intentional, and she connects with others in some interesting ways, she never became as three dimensional to me as a number of the other characters. I still can highly recommend the novel for the story it tells and its originality.
emotional
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
Protagonist entitled and naive in an over the top, unbelievable way. Writing slightly dumbed down
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
This was an unexpectedly good read for me. There’s a lot of context around Leprosy in the U.S. and how it was handled that I had no idea of.