Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall

22 reviews

klbreyfogle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content

Moderate: Rape and Grief

cc_shelflove's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. This is me teaching myself how to breathe again, because I almost forgot. I am simply astounded by what I just read. Looking for Jane is written in a way that makes the reader feel like he or she is a part of something big. Furthermore, to write about true events without conveying the facts like you are writing a research paper is a real skill, and Heather Marshall has mastered it. Inspired by true stories, we follow our main characters through three separate timelines: 1971, 1980, and 2017. There is a ton of foreshadowing in this book, and I STILL did not guess the big giant whopping colossal enormous supercalifragilisticexpialidocious twist at the end. Talk about tears! As mentioned in the author's note, this book is about abortion and the right to choose, but it is also about so much more. I think there is room for a sequel, because something Sister Agatha said to Nancy was not addressed or revisited. I would love to read more. I'm going to go hug my mom now. Wow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Medical content, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Self harm, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Infertility, Confinement, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Rape, Child death, and Grief

Minor: Blood

kawooreads's review

challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Confinement, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Medical trauma, Medical content, Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Abortion

Minor: Sexual violence, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Rape, Death of parent, and Death

maddiet425's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad 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

4.5

Loved this book! It was easy to get through which is the most important thing to me. I also loved the subject matter, and the complexity with which it was discussed. I do have multiple small problems with this book though. The multiple POV’s were confusing at times, and Angela’s story didn’t seem to fit in. I also didn’t love how preachy it felt at times, but my biggest problem was the ending. It made no sense to me,

who is the Evelyn we read about at the beginning of the story? Is it the really Evelyn or is it the fake Evelyn? If the real Evelyn is telling her story throughout the St. Agnes chapters (which makes sense due to the yellow booties, etc.) then why does the fake evelyn mention at the end of the story that she wanted to give the baby to her brother?? That was something the real Evelyn wanted! It seems the author was as confused as the reader when writing this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Death, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Confinement, Suicide, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Blood, Child abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Infertility, Death of parent, Vomit, Child death, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Rape, and Grief

pinkiefem's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Cancer, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Trafficking, Suicide, Death, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Infertility, Confinement, Grief, Suicide attempt, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Abortion, and Emotional abuse

rebar351's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book is so incredible! Check the trigger warnings but everyone woman needs to read this book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, and Confinement

texas666's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Abortion, Abandonment, Death, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Infertility, Medical content, Medical trauma, Violence, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Rape

danyels_denouements's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

A big thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this opportunity to read the eARC of Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall. 

Looking for Jane follows three women during the 1970s, 1980s, and 2010s. These stories intertwine in heartfelt and heartbreaking ways. Told from several different points of view, the reader is taken into the story immediately with one of our main character's finding a letter where a mother confesses to her daughter that she was adopted and her mother's dying wish was for her daughter to find her birth mother. Our main character dives into research looking for both the letter's recipient and her birth mother. While researching she stumbles upon the St. Agnes' Home for Unwed Mothers and our story takes off from there bouncing between the timelines where our main characters are unwed mother's at the St. Agnes' House, earning medical degrees, participating in the Jane Network, and so much more.

Like mentioned above, this story is both heartbreaking and heartfelt. I found myself gasping, tearing up, and tearing through this book very quickly. I am so impressed that this is Heather's debut novel! This was quickly a 5/5 star for me and I cannot wait for the opportunity to purchase the physical book and reread it. 

Looking for Jane will be available for purchase February 07, 2023. 

Please note the book content warnings as the author does not sugar coat details - this book at times can be a heavy read. While this story is fiction, the research that inspired her writings were real lived experiences from hundreds if not thousands of individuals. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, and Physical abuse

Minor: Infidelity and Cancer

kelly_e's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective 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? No

5.0

Title: Looking for Jane
Author: Heather Marshall
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: March 1, 2022

T H R E E • W O R D S

Important • Disturbing • Compelling

📖 S Y N O P S I S

2017: When Angela unearths a mysterious letter in a stack of forgotten mail, she cannot withhold herself from opening it. What she discovers in a life-shattering confession, and she becomes increasingly determined to find the intended recipient. In her search, she learns about an underground abortion network known as the Jane Network.

1971: As a teenager, a pregnant Dr. Evelyn Taylor is sent St. Agnes's Home for Unwed Mothers after the sudden death of her partner. It is here she endures severe emotional trauma when she's forced to give her baby up for adoption. As an adult she joins the Jane Network as an abortion provider, determined to give other women the choice she never had.

1980: When Nancy unexpectedly discovers a shocking family secret, she begins to question who she really is. During this period of turmoil, she unintentionally becomes pregnant. With no one to turn to, she recalls information she received from a doctor years ago to ask for Jane.

Looking for Jane is a story of friendship and community, of the power of choice, and of a mother's enduring love.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Heather Marshall's debut novel Looking for Jane blew me away!

Inspired by true events, this multigenerational exploration of reproductive rights and abortion in Canada throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s was beautifully crafted and eye-opening. It is obvious the author has done her research and has the aspiration of educating readers on the topic of bodily autonomy.

Told through multiple perspectives, it unpacks the harsh realities faced by many women and touching on the topics of adoption, trauma, abortion, pregnancy, infertility; but at its heart this is a story about choice - a choice to become a mother or a choice to not become a mother. Heather Marshall skillfully interweaves the stories of the three main women with emotional and thought-provoking plot with a touch of mystery. The strong cast of female characters demonstrate and unravel the power of collective voice.

There are books that shift everything you thought you knew, and Looking for Jane is one of those books. It will stay with me for years to come and has inspired me to become more informed. No matter where you are in the world this novel is poignantly relevant and you're likely to become emotionally invested. I cannot wait to see what Heather Marshall writes next!

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• historical fiction devotees
• fans of The Home for Unwanted Girls
• bookclubs
• everyone!

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"It all comes down to having the right to make the choice. Every child a wanted child, every mother a willing mother."

"You can control the internal damage caused by keeping secrets far easier than the external damage. The consequences, as Michael has just shown Nancy, are unpredictable. Lethal.
Because once a secret is out there, there's no reeling it back in." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Infertility, Abortion, Medical trauma, Death, and Medical content

Moderate: Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Rape, Sexual assault, Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Cancer and Death of parent

death of partner, adoption

becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book is about women supporting women. “Looking for Jane” is a powerful book that is one that will break your heart over and over again. In the author’s note, Marshall tells us this book is about motherhood, abortion rights, women’s reproductive rights, and so much more. 

I will say that this book is not for the faint hearted. There are several interweaving story lines, each one as powerful as each other. In the 1960s we witness the horrific abuse that young unmarried women suffered in mother and baby homes in Canada, something that resonated with me as an Irish woman with a harrowing history of the same in my own country. The systematic abuse that the women suffered is difficult to read, and it is painful to see how many women were forced to give up their babies. In the 1970s we learn of the fight for women’s rights in Canada, with a focus on the illegal underground abortion services. Though the author does say that many accounts are fictionalised, it rings true to the history of the fight and struggle towards reproductive rights. 

This book is timely after the decision of the Supreme Court in America. This book honours women who have fought hard for the rights over their own body. Marshall did extensive research for this book, and the outcome is that it is full history and bravery. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Sexual assault, Suicide, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Abortion, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Rape, and Suicide attempt