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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Loved the combo of medicine and the civil war. A bit graphic at times but I am not easily turned off by that. Learned a lot about that time period.
I really wish I read more non-fiction but historical fiction is about as close as I get. Again, not something I would have naturally picked up, another book club pick, but overall I found it a good read. "Feminism" is a label I put on the book, really I just mean that the protagonist is a female and the novel highlights her struggle to follow her dream and support her family. I found it pretty interesting because I don't know a lot about history so learning about the conditions during the Civil War was interesting. Not sure of the historical accuracy so someone who is a history buff may find it to be incorrect or basic.
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was interesting to read little more on how challenging it was for a woman to become a dr a 160 years ago, but makes sense especially after just finishing "An invention in wings". I have a great grandma who went to a women's medical college back east and became a dr about 10-15 yrs after this book took place so I found it extra interesting the advancements of women in medicine during that time. I liked the character Mary Sutter and appreciate that there's plenty of women in history that persevere like she did. Its hard for me to read a lot of civil war material with all the diseases, amputations, the division of family and loved ones. I thought the author did a good job of keeping things historically accurate. Warning if you have a sensitive stomach, but not a spoiler: There was a lot of detailed medical procedures in an era where things were not kept sterile at all.
Three stars is probably optimistic. I disliked the soap-opera feel of the book, and I wanted a more diverse look at the medical issues. I really don't care to ever hear about another leg amputation again. I would have liked to learn more about Thomas's research and any other battlefield medical concern instead. This was more about the love triangle (quadrangle) than the historical drama that drew me to the book in the first place.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
Wow, this is some gritty, gorey historical fiction. It is not the kind of historical fiction that is really a romance with allusions to carriages and dresses and maybe the stray bit of current events tacked on, that is designed to make the reader sigh about the bygone romantic past. This is the kind of historical fiction that makes you damn glad to live in a time that has modern medicine and sanitation.
Would recommend to fans of Patrick O'Brian.
Would recommend to fans of Patrick O'Brian.
I'm being generous with 2 stars as 1 1/2 is more accurate. I didn't really dislike it but didn't enjoy it either which was disappointing given the premise. Just too much Civil War detail for me.
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
Content Warnings
Graphic description of surgery and amputation
I enjoyed this historical novel set during the Civil war. Mary Sutter is a midwife who longs to become a doctor, unfortunately she encounters many barriers, until the war when many helping hands are needed. Fairly gruesome accounts of the war and amputations (not for the weak stomached). Interesting heroine.