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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Amazing book! I love reading historical fiction, and I have recently discovered my joy of Civil War era fiction. This book gives an amazing account of such a bloody time, from the eyes of Mary Sutter, an experienced midwife (a sixth generation midwife) who has aspirations of becoming a surgeon. It's hard to believe that only 150 years ago, women were basically barred from entering the workplace. It was "unseemly".
The novel has many historical references, including Lincoln (obviously), his secretary John Haye, various generals (who we here from mostly in "asides"), and Dorothea Dix and Clara Barton, the latter the founder of the American Red Cross. Dorothea Dix encourages Lincoln to let women train to be nurses, but even that is a very progressive notion - unbelievable! The Civil War led to many amazing medical discoveries we now take for granted - most important, washing hands, and how germs lead to infection. It's hard to believe that we were once so ignorant, but we were, not so long ago...
Mary Sutter is a stubborn woman, but very capable. Her story, though she herself is a fictious character, is definitely worth the read. Personally, it meant a lot to me since I have an ancestor who fought in the Civil War under Gen. Sherman. It's amazing anyone survived the war unscathed.
The novel has many historical references, including Lincoln (obviously), his secretary John Haye, various generals (who we here from mostly in "asides"), and Dorothea Dix and Clara Barton, the latter the founder of the American Red Cross. Dorothea Dix encourages Lincoln to let women train to be nurses, but even that is a very progressive notion - unbelievable! The Civil War led to many amazing medical discoveries we now take for granted - most important, washing hands, and how germs lead to infection. It's hard to believe that we were once so ignorant, but we were, not so long ago...
Mary Sutter is a stubborn woman, but very capable. Her story, though she herself is a fictious character, is definitely worth the read. Personally, it meant a lot to me since I have an ancestor who fought in the Civil War under Gen. Sherman. It's amazing anyone survived the war unscathed.
I liked this book... I did. At times it was boring and predictable in my opinion, but nevertheless, a nice work historical fiction.
GoodReads lost my review of this book, along with the dates read. So that data couldn't be imported to StoryGraph. Not going to write a review now, years after I read the book.
3.5/5 I really wanted to love this book. The premise so interesting and I really wanted to delve into Mary Sutter's mind and discover her motivations and intent. But, I found that the switching perspectives really made it hard to follow Mary's thoughts. While I enjoyed Stipp's, Amelia's, Thomas', and even Blevens' point of view, I couldn't care less about the generals in charge of the Civil War or Hay or even President Lincoln. The attempt to include the generals' accounts, and even Lioncoln's felt forced and unnatural. It seemed more so there to make it a "historical" novel. Historical novels don't need forced accounts to be great; they can be character-driven too. In fact, I believe that if this novel was more focused on Mary herself, it would've easily been a favourite.
I also found that the love story plot wasn't very compelling. I was surprised by some of what happened. I wanted to understand how the characters felt but there wasn't too much insight there to help me out.
Aside from that, I really did enjoy reading about medicine during the war and how terrible the conditions were. The blood and gore that was described will probably come back to me every time I think about the civil war. Overall, I'm mourning the loss of what this novel could have been.
I also found that the love story plot wasn't very compelling. I was surprised by some of what happened. I wanted to understand how the characters felt but there wasn't too much insight there to help me out.
Aside from that, I really did enjoy reading about medicine during the war and how terrible the conditions were. The blood and gore that was described will probably come back to me every time I think about the civil war. Overall, I'm mourning the loss of what this novel could have been.
Should have been a better book. Worth reading but work to read. I wanted the story line to hold my interest more than it did, diluted as it was by the inclded history, which, though important and noteworthy, prevented the development of the story.
Great historical fiction about an independent woman who won't take no for an answer when it comes to pursuing her desire to be a surgeon in the 1860s.
Very well-written and interesting history, but extremely slow.
enjoyed this book, but one error made me question the accuracy of the other "facts" - the area in dc is swampoodle, not swampdoodle - the book was supposedly well researched, but someone should have caught this
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
The Civil War is beginning and the country is upside down. Many military "experts" or trying to foreshadow what they will need and have no clue what this war could look like. In the midst of it all is a woman, Mary Sutter who has excelled at being a midwife in her hometown in Albany, but she hasn't achieved the success she wants - she wants to be a surgeon. Maybe the Civil War will be an avenue for her to become what she wants.
The Civil War is beginning and the country is upside down. Many military "experts" or trying to foreshadow what they will need and have no clue what this war could look like. In the midst of it all is a woman, Mary Sutter who has excelled at being a midwife in her hometown in Albany, but she hasn't achieved the success she wants - she wants to be a surgeon. Maybe the Civil War will be an avenue for her to become what she wants.
Most of my GR friends rated this 3 star. Most did not comment so I'm not certain what kept them from giving My Name is Mary Sutter a higher rating. A solid 4 for me. Length and a bit too much war kept it from a 5 star rating though that might not be entirely fair. After all this is as much a story of the men of the Civil War as it is historical fiction of a determined young woman with aspirations of becoming a surgeon. The war is a perfect backdrop for this as where else might Mary have achieved her goal.
Through the course of the novel Mary only ages a few years but how she grows and changes in these. We meet Mary when she is just twenty years old, a competent mid-wife but one who sees more for herself. She practices her craft at the side of her mother, Amelia, who has taught her much but has already surpassed her mother's expertise. Mary is a twin to her sister Jenny, a relationship that bespeaks the bonds and yet a tenseness that perhaps only they can understand. Mary meets and falls for Thomas, a new neighbor. He initially seems interested in Mary but soon he only has eyes for Jenny.
When nurses are being recruited by Dorothea Dix, Mary travels to Washington, D.C. in hopes of realizing her dream of not becoming a surgeon. Little does she realize where this path will take her.
Many passages gave me food for thought. My Name is Mary Sutter is a story of mothers and daughters, of sisters and family, of love and war, of want and desire and of perseverance and hard work to meet one's goals.
A subtle quote but one that I loved
"We love too little
We love too much"
speaks to guilt and the hard decisions that sometimes must be made in spite of the consequences.
My Name is Mary Sutter is well told historical fiction but not for the squeamish as many of the battle scenes with their depictions of the wounded are brutal. My Name is Mary Sutter is a debut. Robin Oliveira has recently published I Always Loved You, a fictional bio of Mary Cassatt. If it's half as good as My Name is Mary Sutter it goes on my list.
Recommended to me by my good friend Judy who is not a member of GR. I will thank her personally for leading me to this superior read.
Through the course of the novel Mary only ages a few years but how she grows and changes in these. We meet Mary when she is just twenty years old, a competent mid-wife but one who sees more for herself. She practices her craft at the side of her mother, Amelia, who has taught her much but has already surpassed her mother's expertise. Mary is a twin to her sister Jenny, a relationship that bespeaks the bonds and yet a tenseness that perhaps only they can understand. Mary meets and falls for Thomas, a new neighbor. He initially seems interested in Mary but soon he only has eyes for Jenny.
When nurses are being recruited by Dorothea Dix, Mary travels to Washington, D.C. in hopes of realizing her dream of not becoming a surgeon. Little does she realize where this path will take her.
Many passages gave me food for thought. My Name is Mary Sutter is a story of mothers and daughters, of sisters and family, of love and war, of want and desire and of perseverance and hard work to meet one's goals.
A subtle quote but one that I loved
"We love too little
We love too much"
speaks to guilt and the hard decisions that sometimes must be made in spite of the consequences.
My Name is Mary Sutter is well told historical fiction but not for the squeamish as many of the battle scenes with their depictions of the wounded are brutal. My Name is Mary Sutter is a debut. Robin Oliveira has recently published I Always Loved You, a fictional bio of Mary Cassatt. If it's half as good as My Name is Mary Sutter it goes on my list.
Recommended to me by my good friend Judy who is not a member of GR. I will thank her personally for leading me to this superior read.