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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
sad
I am a sucker for anything Civil War related, so this book was right up my alley from the get-go. Add a determined and strong-willed main character, a love triangle or two, Abraham Lincoln, and some sickeningly realistic descriptions of medical care during the early years of the Civil War, and you get a great book. I was so amazed by the lack of supplies and sanitation that the doctors, surgeons, and nurses had to deal with. I've read about it before, but never in such detail. Also, before reading this book, I never realized how disgusting Washington, D.C. was to live in during the late 1800's. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction and the Civil War. It has a little bit of everything - fictional characters mixed with real people that played integral roles in the Civil War, some medical jargon, and a love story.
A solid, interesting historical. Mary Sutter is a very determined young woman who is trying to become a surgeon/doctor during the Civil War. I thought it was interesting how the author chose to depict Mary more through other characters' thoughts and feelings about her, rather than through the story coming from Mary's point of view. The Civil War action - all seen from a medical standpoint - was horrific. I liked the parts of the novel depicting real people from the time - Abraham Lincoln, Dorothea Dix and especially John Hay. It could have been edited a little more tightly; a little long and at times repetitive.
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I don't think I've ever read a book set in the American Civil War so this was an interesting (and somewhat shocking) look at the human devastation that took place. I admired Mary Sutter's determination and strength throughout and appreciated the ending. I'd give it 3.5 stars but just can't quite round it up to 4 stars - I think maybe I expected to love it more than I did.
A compelling story, Mary Sutter is rich with historical detail. Towards the end, the writing became a bit cumbersome and seemed to drag, but I liked reading about the Civil Ward from a woman's perspective. I also loved how Oliveira created a heroine who was valued for who she was. Mary wasn't a beautiful woman, but her confidence, compassion, and ambition drew others to her.
Such a soap opera! A fun read, with good historical details, but very much a casual read. There were love triangles all over the place, dramatic accusations, guilt trips, and lots of other drama. I had a lot of fun with it and liked the inclusion of historical people like Dorothea Dix, Abraham Lincoln, and John Hay. Definitely a book for when you are craving escapism.
Let me just say that Civil War historical fiction is not my preferred read, so my giving this three stars shows that I was pleasantly surprised by this novel.
We start in pre-war Albany with the three Sutter women, two of whom are midwives. One night Mary, the daughter, is on her way to see Dr. James Blevens - who, by coincidence, needs her help delivering a baby. Mary's purpose is to apprentice herself to become a surgeon and James turns her down. The war starts, and she travels to Washington to become a nurse, where Dorothea Dix also turns her down. Despite this, Mary forces her way into the Union Hotel and ultimately learns how to do amputations. Throughout the war, Mary proves again and again that she is not only capable of doing hard, "men's" work, but also that she doesn't take no for an answer.
The medical conditions are primitive, to say the least. And looking at their methods with 21st century eyes, brutal and barbaric. Mary's protofeminist attitude that she's smart and capable is interesting, particularly as it doesn't have modern overtones. I was less excited with the cameos from Miss Dix, President Lincoln and his cabinet. There were one too many coincidences in the story (James needing Mary just as she was heading there, Mary going to the Union Hotel and meeting James' mentor, etc.), and I got tired of the continual reminders that Mary was not a beautiful woman.
Copy provided by publisher.
We start in pre-war Albany with the three Sutter women, two of whom are midwives. One night Mary, the daughter, is on her way to see Dr. James Blevens - who, by coincidence, needs her help delivering a baby. Mary's purpose is to apprentice herself to become a surgeon and James turns her down. The war starts, and she travels to Washington to become a nurse, where Dorothea Dix also turns her down. Despite this, Mary forces her way into the Union Hotel and ultimately learns how to do amputations. Throughout the war, Mary proves again and again that she is not only capable of doing hard, "men's" work, but also that she doesn't take no for an answer.
The medical conditions are primitive, to say the least. And looking at their methods with 21st century eyes, brutal and barbaric. Mary's protofeminist attitude that she's smart and capable is interesting, particularly as it doesn't have modern overtones. I was less excited with the cameos from Miss Dix, President Lincoln and his cabinet. There were one too many coincidences in the story (James needing Mary just as she was heading there, Mary going to the Union Hotel and meeting James' mentor, etc.), and I got tired of the continual reminders that Mary was not a beautiful woman.
Copy provided by publisher.
Having lived in Albany for nearly 10 years, I was fascinated by the author's description of the places I already know so well. I spent a great deal of the first quarter of the book reconciling 1860's Albany with 21st century Albany. Oliveira did not skimp on her research!
Being a science dork, I was also drawn in by the description of medicine in the early part if the Civil War. It is easy to take for granted the medical advancements we've had even in the past 60 years. Medicine in the 1860's was crude and seemed to be mostly guesswork. Parts of her narrative we're not for the faint of heart. Amputations and disease were described frankly.
I loved the characters, especially Mary. She is driven yet flawed. She makes mistakes, heart breaking ones, but she soldiers on, wiser for them.
This is a book that I will most certainly carry in my heart from now on.
Being a science dork, I was also drawn in by the description of medicine in the early part if the Civil War. It is easy to take for granted the medical advancements we've had even in the past 60 years. Medicine in the 1860's was crude and seemed to be mostly guesswork. Parts of her narrative we're not for the faint of heart. Amputations and disease were described frankly.
I loved the characters, especially Mary. She is driven yet flawed. She makes mistakes, heart breaking ones, but she soldiers on, wiser for them.
This is a book that I will most certainly carry in my heart from now on.