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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
This is one of those rare books where you can't stop turning the pages but you don't want it to end. I literally had to force myself to put it down to savor this book longer. I was so emotionally involved with this characters, especially Emma and Mary. I plan to read other books by this author very soon. I'm anxiously waiting to meet this author at BooktopiaVermont in May.
This is a haunting and unforgettable book. I could not put the novel down, so proud of characters in certain chapters and filled with utter loathing in others. A perfect read for International Women's Day for sure. I look forward to chatting with the author about what inspired her to write this series at Booktopia in May of 2018.
This was a heartbreaking story. I had not read the first book in this series and it did not detract from this novel in any way. I loved that this novel was set in Albany, NY. It was interesting to read about Albany set in the 1800s as many of the places were familiar to me. I also deeply cared about many of the characters. I also feel so strongly for the plight of women everytime I read historical fiction. I feel like all men should read historical fiction about what women have had to endure throughout time. I don't want to go into too many details and give anything away but some facts presented in this book about what happened just blew my mind. This story did capture my attention and I did want to know what happened. I did guess who the real culprit was very early on but it did not deter my reading. It was a good book but it also made me so angry for the many injustices that women had to face.
I read [b:My Name is Mary Sutter|7352053|My Name is Mary Sutter|Robin Oliveira|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1263584183s/7352053.jpg|9116984] when it first came out and was utterly entranced by Robin Oliveira's depiction of the character of Mary, a midwife intent on becoming a surgeon in an era where women were totally blocked from pursuing such a thing. She was unable to achieve her ideal through formal channels, so she went to war, to the civil war, and there had the kind of experience few would wish her, unless, like Mary, you were being excluded from pursuing your desired profession and were driven to break through the irrational barriers by equally irrational means.
Now it is 1869 in Albany, New York, Mary Sutter is now Dr Mary Sutter Stipps, living in Albany, New York, where she practices in a local hospital, despite most of her male colleagues despising her (because she is a woman), she also runs a home practice with her husband William Stipp and less known, a lantern hangs outside illuminated on Thursdays when she runs a clinic for ladies of the night, who are refused treatment elsewhere.
These are the conservative years after the civil war, the period of the tumultuous struggle and emergence of women's suffrage, which meant that any freedoms women were attempting to gain were often fiercely and damagingly opposed, and ridiculed. Mary faces opposition at every turn, but she won't give up and she will stand up for what she believes is right.
One evening, when this story begins, there is a severe winter blizzard, that disrupts the city, children are locked in schools for two days, businesses close, the Doctors must house their patients overnight, accidents happen - two days later when people begin to reappear, Mary learns of the deaths of close family friends, the hatmaker Bonnie and her labourer husband David and the strange disappearance of their two daughters, Emma(10) and Claire(7).
Mary and William search for the girls everywhere, implore the police to help and eventually must accept they've gone. At the graveside, they become acquainted with lumberlord Gerrit Van de Veer and his wife Viola, and their son Jakob. From that day on the lives of the two families become intertwined, as Mary continues her relentless pursual of the lost girls, leading her to begin to become exposed to manipulations of the city, by those who are out to benefit themselves and will do anything to stop those like her who are trying to help and heal, without discrimination.
Book One sets up the story, introducing us to Elisabeth, Mary's niece, a violin protegé who has been studying in Paris in the company of her grandmother Amelia, who have swiftly returned on hearing the terrible news, but come laden with their own troubles.
By Book Two the story has become riveting, complex, there are elements of the mystery to resolve, a pending court case, perceived betrayals, all set against the legal and societal background of the times they lived in, there are aspects of the law that will shock the reader, we read about the 1800's and yet we are reminded of the same treatment of victims today, regarding police procedure, questioning and the law.
It's too good a read to give away anything that happens from Book Two onwards, but I could not put this down, I was up late finishing it and thought it was brilliantly woven together. It's commentary on the hardships of women and girls, of all ages and from all classes is insightful and outrageous. Women are blocked in so many directions, in particular when they possess talent, controlled, commented on, kept by men in positions of power. Mary Sutter oversteps the demarcated line of acceptable professions for women, she breaks the mould, though not without challenge and William and Jakob show themselves to be different kind of men, demonstrating the potential of working alongside women, not excluding them.
When asked what made her return to the character of Mary Sutter, Robin Oliveira said:
Highly recommended, one of the best historical novels of the year.
Now it is 1869 in Albany, New York, Mary Sutter is now Dr Mary Sutter Stipps, living in Albany, New York, where she practices in a local hospital, despite most of her male colleagues despising her (because she is a woman), she also runs a home practice with her husband William Stipp and less known, a lantern hangs outside illuminated on Thursdays when she runs a clinic for ladies of the night, who are refused treatment elsewhere.
These are the conservative years after the civil war, the period of the tumultuous struggle and emergence of women's suffrage, which meant that any freedoms women were attempting to gain were often fiercely and damagingly opposed, and ridiculed. Mary faces opposition at every turn, but she won't give up and she will stand up for what she believes is right.
One evening, when this story begins, there is a severe winter blizzard, that disrupts the city, children are locked in schools for two days, businesses close, the Doctors must house their patients overnight, accidents happen - two days later when people begin to reappear, Mary learns of the deaths of close family friends, the hatmaker Bonnie and her labourer husband David and the strange disappearance of their two daughters, Emma(10) and Claire(7).
Mary and William search for the girls everywhere, implore the police to help and eventually must accept they've gone. At the graveside, they become acquainted with lumberlord Gerrit Van de Veer and his wife Viola, and their son Jakob. From that day on the lives of the two families become intertwined, as Mary continues her relentless pursual of the lost girls, leading her to begin to become exposed to manipulations of the city, by those who are out to benefit themselves and will do anything to stop those like her who are trying to help and heal, without discrimination.
Book One sets up the story, introducing us to Elisabeth, Mary's niece, a violin protegé who has been studying in Paris in the company of her grandmother Amelia, who have swiftly returned on hearing the terrible news, but come laden with their own troubles.
By Book Two the story has become riveting, complex, there are elements of the mystery to resolve, a pending court case, perceived betrayals, all set against the legal and societal background of the times they lived in, there are aspects of the law that will shock the reader, we read about the 1800's and yet we are reminded of the same treatment of victims today, regarding police procedure, questioning and the law.
It's too good a read to give away anything that happens from Book Two onwards, but I could not put this down, I was up late finishing it and thought it was brilliantly woven together. It's commentary on the hardships of women and girls, of all ages and from all classes is insightful and outrageous. Women are blocked in so many directions, in particular when they possess talent, controlled, commented on, kept by men in positions of power. Mary Sutter oversteps the demarcated line of acceptable professions for women, she breaks the mould, though not without challenge and William and Jakob show themselves to be different kind of men, demonstrating the potential of working alongside women, not excluding them.
The price women pay when they overstep that societal and male control, is the story of the Gilded Age, and continues to play out one hundred and fifty years later. Indeed, the changing role of women in society, and what men will accept, remains one of the essential conflicts of our time.
When asked what made her return to the character of Mary Sutter, Robin Oliveira said:
Over the last few years, readers have often asked me to include Mary Sutter in a new book, but I could not think of a single circumstance that would challenge her as much as the obstacles she had faced in the Civil War. Then I learned about the age of consent. I simply couldn't leave Mary Sutter out of it, for I had finally discovered something of equal importance for her to battle.
Highly recommended, one of the best historical novels of the year.
Winter Sisters is a historical fiction mystery that literally drops you into a blizzard in Albany, New York. I can tell you that when I was reading this I could feel the cold and had to curl up tighter in my bed sheets at night. Two young girls disappears in the aftermath of a blizzard and everything that happens from the disappearance and to the spring.
This was a very slow read for me. Others got sucked into the story and found this to be a page turner. I on the other hand struggled through it the majority of the time.
What was interesting was the fact that the main character, Mary is a doctor, not common at all. She can’t give up hope on finding her friend’s children. We got to see the darker side of life in this. There were many secrets, hurt and moments when you cheered with hope.
We find out that perhaps, getting lost in the blizzard may have better for the young girls. They endure quite a lot and I just feel like the trial and the ending was lacking.
This was a very slow read for me. Others got sucked into the story and found this to be a page turner. I on the other hand struggled through it the majority of the time.
What was interesting was the fact that the main character, Mary is a doctor, not common at all. She can’t give up hope on finding her friend’s children. We got to see the darker side of life in this. There were many secrets, hurt and moments when you cheered with hope.
We find out that perhaps, getting lost in the blizzard may have better for the young girls. They endure quite a lot and I just feel like the trial and the ending was lacking.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-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
This book wasn't at all what I was expecting it to be, but I really enjoyed it anyway.
When a blizzard strikes unexpectedly, the residents of Albany, NY are caught unaware and left with a tragic aftermath. Several people are dead, and sisters Emma and Claire O'Donnell are missing. I expected the rest of the book to surround the search for Emma and Claire, but they are actually found rather quickly. The real drama of the book revolves around finding who took Emma and Claire, and the trial of the person who is accused of doing so.
In all honesty, if I had known that the book was about assault on young girls, I probably would not have requested it. I have a young daughter, and it's not a topic I can tolerate very well at this point in my life. I kept reading, however, and feel that the author handled the subject well. She did not go into all the gory details, and it was made clear that no child that age could possibly want that to happen to her.
The book started out a little slow for me, but once I got to know the characters, it was hard to put it down. The courtroom scenes seemed a little unrealistic, particularly the exchanges between Jakob and his parents on the stand. The characters were strong, and I felt invested in what happened to them. Overall, it was a good book, and I would try this author again.
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
When a blizzard strikes unexpectedly, the residents of Albany, NY are caught unaware and left with a tragic aftermath. Several people are dead, and sisters Emma and Claire O'Donnell are missing. I expected the rest of the book to surround the search for Emma and Claire, but they are actually found rather quickly. The real drama of the book revolves around finding who took Emma and Claire, and the trial of the person who is accused of doing so.
In all honesty, if I had known that the book was about assault on young girls, I probably would not have requested it. I have a young daughter, and it's not a topic I can tolerate very well at this point in my life. I kept reading, however, and feel that the author handled the subject well. She did not go into all the gory details, and it was made clear that no child that age could possibly want that to happen to her.
The book started out a little slow for me, but once I got to know the characters, it was hard to put it down. The courtroom scenes seemed a little unrealistic, particularly the exchanges between Jakob and his parents on the stand. The characters were strong, and I felt invested in what happened to them. Overall, it was a good book, and I would try this author again.
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
Just, wow.
This book is my first from Robin Oliveira and will not be my last. I loved her writing and felt that the story went at just the right pace. Although sometimes difficult to read due to certain detailed accounts, I could not put this down.
I also loved the strong female characters in this book. Dr. Mary Sutter in particular.
Will definitely be recommending this one.
I won this copy from a Goodreads giveaway.
This book is my first from Robin Oliveira and will not be my last. I loved her writing and felt that the story went at just the right pace. Although sometimes difficult to read due to certain detailed accounts, I could not put this down.
I also loved the strong female characters in this book. Dr. Mary Sutter in particular.
Will definitely be recommending this one.
I won this copy from a Goodreads giveaway.
Mansplaining, misogyny, and #metoo in the late 1800's
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Robin Oliveira's historical novel is a sequel of sorts to [b:My Name is Mary Sutter|7352053|My Name is Mary Sutter|Robin Oliveira|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1263584183s/7352053.jpg|9116984], and picks up about 15 years after the end of the Civil War. (Note: [b:Winter Sisters|35876392|Winter Sisters|Robin Oliveira|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501506243s/35876392.jpg|57394166] can be read as a stand-alone without any loss of context).
Following a devastating blizzard, two young girls are missing and presumed dead. Months later, the girls reappear. Their aunt, Dr. Mary Stipp (nee Sutter), discovers they have experienced unspeakable trauma. What follows is Oliveira's interpretation of how an investigation and court case might have been conducted in an era when the authority of female doctors wasn't taken seriously, and the age of consent was 10 (yes, you read that correctly, and it is historically accurate).
While the story is interesting in its own right, Oliveira includes a few modern-day references to enterain readers.
"I will gladly hear what you have to say, Dr. Stipp, but only after I speak to Emma. I do not want to contaminate my impressions with yours."
"They are not impressions. They are facts."
"There are facts and then there are alternate facts."
"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard anyone say."
That's but one example, so keep your eyes peeled and enjoy.
4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Robin Oliveira's historical novel is a sequel of sorts to [b:My Name is Mary Sutter|7352053|My Name is Mary Sutter|Robin Oliveira|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1263584183s/7352053.jpg|9116984], and picks up about 15 years after the end of the Civil War. (Note: [b:Winter Sisters|35876392|Winter Sisters|Robin Oliveira|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501506243s/35876392.jpg|57394166] can be read as a stand-alone without any loss of context).
Following a devastating blizzard, two young girls are missing and presumed dead. Months later, the girls reappear. Their aunt, Dr. Mary Stipp (nee Sutter), discovers they have experienced unspeakable trauma. What follows is Oliveira's interpretation of how an investigation and court case might have been conducted in an era when the authority of female doctors wasn't taken seriously, and the age of consent was 10 (yes, you read that correctly, and it is historically accurate).
While the story is interesting in its own right, Oliveira includes a few modern-day references to enterain readers.
"I will gladly hear what you have to say, Dr. Stipp, but only after I speak to Emma. I do not want to contaminate my impressions with yours."
"They are not impressions. They are facts."
"There are facts and then there are alternate facts."
"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard anyone say."
That's but one example, so keep your eyes peeled and enjoy.
4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.