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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
In 1926 Mirielle West lived a high society life in California, married to a handsome movie star, dressed to the nines and going to party after party. She was completely miserable. Recently she and her husband suffered the devastating loss of a child, and Mirlelle cannot pull herself out of her depression, not for husband Charlie or for her two little girls. Then one day, a visit to the doctor changes her life completely. The crusty patch on her hand, and another on her neck, are diagnosed as leprosy. In hardly a blink of an eye, Mirielle was sent to an asylum in Carville, Louisiana. The scandal of leprosy was so great that many patients assumed false names. Mirielle's husband explained her absence by alluding to her insanity, which was preferable to leprosy. Mirielle is sure she will only be there a month or two, but time drags on as there was no cure for the disease. (The cure was not discovered until the 1940's.) Because so little was known about the disease, and so much information was incorrect, those suffering from what is now known as Hansen's Disease endured shame, discrimination, and separation from family and friends.
I really love Amanda Skenandore’s books. This is her third, and I’ve read all three.
Mirielle West is the wife of a silent film star. She is sent into quarantine at a leper colony, the only one in the US. Previously she was in the lap of luxury as a socialite living in the 1920s Hollywood.
Mirielle is sent to the colony in Louisiana because a doctor notices a pale patch of skin on her hand. Can you imagine? She has to take on a new name to hide the shame of what is happening. She hopes she won’t be there long, but she can’t help but feel like a prisoner at the institution.
Skenandore is a nurse, and I think that enriches this story. The patients at Carville were experimented upon, isolated, and stigmatized.
I’ve read about the leper colony in Hawaii previously and had no idea there had been one in Louisiana as well. There was a true disease underlying what was happening to these people (I had always wondered this).
Overall, this is a thought-provoking, well-written, well-researched story full of heart. It’s still hard to wrap my head around what happened to these people in the name of “medicine,” but the author also kept the story balanced with hope and authenticity. I cherish these important stories she has shared with us and look forward to what she writes next.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Mirielle West is the wife of a silent film star. She is sent into quarantine at a leper colony, the only one in the US. Previously she was in the lap of luxury as a socialite living in the 1920s Hollywood.
Mirielle is sent to the colony in Louisiana because a doctor notices a pale patch of skin on her hand. Can you imagine? She has to take on a new name to hide the shame of what is happening. She hopes she won’t be there long, but she can’t help but feel like a prisoner at the institution.
Skenandore is a nurse, and I think that enriches this story. The patients at Carville were experimented upon, isolated, and stigmatized.
I’ve read about the leper colony in Hawaii previously and had no idea there had been one in Louisiana as well. There was a true disease underlying what was happening to these people (I had always wondered this).
Overall, this is a thought-provoking, well-written, well-researched story full of heart. It’s still hard to wrap my head around what happened to these people in the name of “medicine,” but the author also kept the story balanced with hope and authenticity. I cherish these important stories she has shared with us and look forward to what she writes next.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Audio. Really enjoyed this book. Very different setting and topic I’ve never read or learned much about. Great character development.
Got bored. Will try audiobook instead in the future.
I really enjoyed this book. I love when a historical fiction novel teaches me about something new, which this book did. I loved watching Mirielle grow from a self-absorbed rich girl to a compassionate, understanding and selfless woman. Through her terrible disease, she was able to learn what is truly important in life.
I felt that the author did a lot of research into this subject and this institution and it shows. I really did learn a lot about the history of this disease. And I will admit, I hadn't put a lot of thought into leprosy, but probably carried a lot of the negative stigma with me into this book due to a lack of understanding. I'm thankful I read this so I can be more informed.
I thought the ending was perfect. There weren't unanswered questions for me. One thing that I struggled with through this book was how Mirielle and her girls were separated. As I neared the end - I was so happy that she was growing and building a new life - but I couldn't shake the sadness over her losing her girls. I was so thankful for the epilogue.
4.5 stars for me
I felt that the author did a lot of research into this subject and this institution and it shows. I really did learn a lot about the history of this disease. And I will admit, I hadn't put a lot of thought into leprosy, but probably carried a lot of the negative stigma with me into this book due to a lack of understanding. I'm thankful I read this so I can be more informed.
I thought the ending was perfect. There weren't unanswered questions for me. One thing that I struggled with through this book was how Mirielle and her girls were separated. As I neared the end - I was so happy that she was growing and building a new life - but I couldn't shake the sadness over her losing her girls. I was so thankful for the epilogue.
4.5 stars for me
I won this book from Goodreads giveaways in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book! I love historical fiction and this brought to my attention US history I had not known before. It also changed my view of what leprosy was and the people who had it. The story was told in such an engaging way that I found myself feeling the same ups and downs as the characters and invested in her outcome. I could not put this book down and even recommended this book to my neighborhood book club. I still think about it.
Check out my other reviews at jillandjackets.com
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Check out my other reviews at jillandjackets.com
TikTok: @jillandjackets
Instagram: @jillandjackets
I just loved this from start to finish. The character development was amazing. So easy to read and the ending was perfect.
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes