Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
I'm acutally giving this book 3.5 stars. I loved all the history in this novel. Usually when I read books about the civil war the focus is on the South. It was interesting to hear about the trials the North faced. I don't think I realized how unprepared they were. I loved hearing Lincoln's thoughts too.
Good book with strong characters. I liked the premise of Mary becoming a doctor during this time period (Civil War). The historical references were also intriguing since I am currently living in the D.C. area.
Of course I loved this book - it's historical fiction set during the Civil War era. But more than that, Oliveira created an intense, heart-wrenching story within that setting that focuses on a young midwife searching for her place in the impenetrable, male-driven world of medicine. I loved that Mary's story delved into issues like family, politics, loyalty, and loss without revolving around the plot device that so many historical novels fall back on - "who will win the heart of our young heroine?" The romance aspect is present, but is muted by the devastation of war and Mary's unyielding quest to become a true surgeon. I also loved that Oliveira told a Civil War story using an often-overlooked or forgotten perspective - the field surgeons and nurses who occupied makeshift hospitals in DC and on the battlefields and tried - often in vain and under the worst conditions imaginable - to breathe life back into a divided nation state.
Although I liked this book, it felt like it went on forever!
I wanted to like this book. I enjoy Civil War era books, I enjoy midwife books, and I thought I would really get into My Name is Mary Sutter. However, Mary Sutter wasn't very appealing. She was hard to like, because she modeled herself after her midwife mother's attitude at births: there to get the baby out, but not personally attached. She is so rigid that she just watches as her twin sister steals the man she loves. Honestly, that part made me hate Jenny a little and hope that her marriage didn't go well. In general I didn't feel any connection to the characters, so I just skimmed ahead to see what happened at the end. I would read another book by the author though, because I thought she did a great job with the setting.
I probably would not have picked this book up if it hadn't been picked as our April book club selection. It's a shame too, because it was a marvelous book and I had forgotten how much I enjoy historical novels.
"My Name is Mary Sutter" is one of those books that just disappears in your hands as you immerse yourself in the story. I tried not to compare the heroine to Scarlet O'Hara, thinking surely it must be the fact that it's a civil war era novel that reminded me of "Gone with the Wind," but really, Sutter has that same indomitable spirit that O'Hara has.
Oliveira's debut novel was a joy to read. I appreciate the hard work that must have gone into meticulously researching the civil war and how seamlessly she wove a storyline into history and science. I look forward to her future books.
"My Name is Mary Sutter" is one of those books that just disappears in your hands as you immerse yourself in the story. I tried not to compare the heroine to Scarlet O'Hara, thinking surely it must be the fact that it's a civil war era novel that reminded me of "Gone with the Wind," but really, Sutter has that same indomitable spirit that O'Hara has.
Oliveira's debut novel was a joy to read. I appreciate the hard work that must have gone into meticulously researching the civil war and how seamlessly she wove a storyline into history and science. I look forward to her future books.
Read this for my book club and while I had some issues with the storyline, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
I think I may have finally figured out what my problem is with historical fiction. When I am reading a story based on true events, I can't just pretend like it didn't really happen. I like sci-fi because when something terrible happens I can reassure myself that it is fiction, but when, in this book, thousands of soldiers had their legs amputated, or women and babies had terrible experiences during childbirth, I know that they really did. The Civil war was brutal and harrowing and I can't pretend otherwise.
So even though I respect this book, it is well written, interesting, thoughtful and meaningful, I didn't like it. At one point I wanted to throw it across the room. It was sad and terrifying and—even though it is fiction—too true for me to handle.
I am excited to discuss this book at book club and I am glad I read it, even though I didn't enjoy the whole experience
So even though I respect this book, it is well written, interesting, thoughtful and meaningful, I didn't like it. At one point I wanted to throw it across the room. It was sad and terrifying and—even though it is fiction—too true for me to handle.
I am excited to discuss this book at book club and I am glad I read it, even though I didn't enjoy the whole experience