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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The were parts that were great and parts that I wanted to be great. Love the bones of this story but I wanted it to be better at many points.
Full Disclosure: Goodreads Giveaway Recipient
This superficial story follows a shallow woman diagnosed with Hansen's disease (leprosy) as she is sent to a colony outside of New Orleans, deals (or doesn't) with her diagnosis and what this means for her. The white privilege and entitlement of Mirielle/Pauline is annoying... and her 'character journey', such as it is basically 'magic'. The sudden denouement after the climax does not really connect to the epilogue years later.... and would have made for an even more interesting story.
This superficial story follows a shallow woman diagnosed with Hansen's disease (leprosy) as she is sent to a colony outside of New Orleans, deals (or doesn't) with her diagnosis and what this means for her. The white privilege and entitlement of Mirielle/Pauline is annoying... and her 'character journey', such as it is basically 'magic'. The sudden denouement after the climax does not really connect to the epilogue years later.... and would have made for an even more interesting story.
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow, I really liked this!
Mirielle West lives a lavish lifestyle in 1920’s Los Angeles, she’s married to actor Charlie and has two young daughters.
Underneath the beautiful clothes and makeup Mirielle’s a vulnerable women, she lost her beloved son and is struggling to cope with his loss. She accidentally burns her finger, her husband’s concerned and he thinks she should get her family doctor to check it. While examining her finger, the doctor notices a small patch of pale skin on her hand, he recommends she immediately see a dermatologist, at the County General Hospital and Dr Sullivan checks all of the skin on her body and runs some tests. She has no idea what’s wrong with her, she notices the staff act oddly around her, to protect her husband’s fame she uses another name and she calls herself Mrs. Pauline Marvin. The next day Dr Sullivan gets the results of her tests, she has leprosy and her life changes with the diagnosis.
Mirielle West lives a lavish lifestyle in 1920’s Los Angeles, she’s married to actor Charlie and has two young daughters.
Underneath the beautiful clothes and makeup Mirielle’s a vulnerable women, she lost her beloved son and is struggling to cope with his loss. She accidentally burns her finger, her husband’s concerned and he thinks she should get her family doctor to check it. While examining her finger, the doctor notices a small patch of pale skin on her hand, he recommends she immediately see a dermatologist, at the County General Hospital and Dr Sullivan checks all of the skin on her body and runs some tests. She has no idea what’s wrong with her, she notices the staff act oddly around her, to protect her husband’s fame she uses another name and she calls herself Mrs. Pauline Marvin. The next day Dr Sullivan gets the results of her tests, she has leprosy and her life changes with the diagnosis.
Every time I sat down to read this book, I got frustrated. Given that I had won a free copy in exchange for an honest review, I gave it the benefit of the doubt. Otherwise, I would not have finished this book. In the nicest way possible, the downfall of this book is the writing. It lacks subtlety and is riddled with unnecessary, lengthy explanations as well as constant repetition and self-referencing. At almost 400 pages, it is a quantity over quality situation. Meanwhile, the chapters are short at 5-6 pages each, which combined with the constant explaining and the narrator’s childlike descriptions, makes the whole experience confusingly YA-esque. I also could not find it in my heart to cheer for the main character. What begins as a condescending and entitled protagonist quickly turns into a selfish and unbearable one, and by the time she finds redemption, I was just happy it was over.
Obviously, this is just my opinion and I mean no offense by it. To the author's credit, the setting of the story is wonderful, the plot has some serious potential, and the ending is actually quite good. I commend Skenadore's work at giving an accessible voice to real-life patient histories. At its core, The Second Life of Mirielle West is a story of hope and resilience, whether I agree with the delivery or not.
Obviously, this is just my opinion and I mean no offense by it. To the author's credit, the setting of the story is wonderful, the plot has some serious potential, and the ending is actually quite good. I commend Skenadore's work at giving an accessible voice to real-life patient histories. At its core, The Second Life of Mirielle West is a story of hope and resilience, whether I agree with the delivery or not.
Interesting historical fiction set in the real Carville Leper “colony” in Louisiana in the late twenties, a time when people diagnosed with leprosy (now known as Hansen’s disease) were sent away and segregated. The story is about narcissistic Mirielle, high society Hollywood wife, who is sent to Carville refusing to believe she has the disease. It’s here where she begins her second life, eventually. Book started off just okay and got better as it went along.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a really good historical fiction read. It is based in the 1920s and explores the individuals diagnosed with leprosy and their new lives at “leper colonies” in the south. I enjoyed this! 4/5 ⭐️
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes