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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
This book is the tale of a young midwife who wants to become a surgeon and gets her training on the battlefields of the Civil War. I found the story confusing at the start, as if I had been dropped into the middle of a movie that I had missed the first half hour. The characters were a little hazy - as if the author took for granted that we knew what was in her mind. The ending seemed rather abrupt. Nevertheless, the story held my interest.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I listened to the audiobook, which was fantastically narrated by Kimberly Farr. Mary is a captivating character, as were all the characters in the novel, truly. The action was intense--being on the front lines witnessing men with fresh and disturbing battle wounds--and I couldn't wait to keep reading to find out what would happen next.
Honestly, the only thing I didn't enjoy about the book was the graphic description of amputations and such. I can see how they were essential to show Mary's resolve at becoming a surgeon no matter the cost, but they actually made me feel a bit ill (chunks of bloody bone being sawed through, anyone? Yum). Excellent writing, disgusting reading.
All in all, this is an excellent Civil War and women's rights novel--neither of which do I normally enjoy reading about, so that definitely should speak for Oliveira's excellent writing.
Honestly, the only thing I didn't enjoy about the book was the graphic description of amputations and such. I can see how they were essential to show Mary's resolve at becoming a surgeon no matter the cost, but they actually made me feel a bit ill (chunks of bloody bone being sawed through, anyone? Yum). Excellent writing, disgusting reading.
All in all, this is an excellent Civil War and women's rights novel--neither of which do I normally enjoy reading about, so that definitely should speak for Oliveira's excellent writing.
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
excellent historical book , if rather gruesome, about a woman who would be a surgeon during the Civil war. recommended
I really loved this book. It's a harrowing depiction of the Civil War, primarily from the point of view of the doctors and nurses doing their best to save as many lives as possible in the midst of impossible conditions. It is also a story about the barriers women faced at the time. Mary Sutter, a midwife, desperately wanted to be a doctor, but was denied at every turn simply because she was a woman. Through sheer determination she manages to find her way to a place where she does what she can to help the war wounded. Historical figures such as Lincoln, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton wind their way through the narrative. Highly recommended.
The things these people of the Civil War endured is beyond heroic. The environments and elements they dealt with everyday, thinking after three months the war would be won and they’d all go back home to their families as if nothing major happened.
Well done Historical Fiction, what keeps it from being five stars is a bit of dragging at the end.
Mary Sutter is a midwife who wants to be a surgeon in pre civil war times. She cannot get a doctor to let her apprentice under them or a college that will accept her. When the civil war breaks out she leaves her home to work as a nurse in Washington. Even that is difficult for her to do due to her age. I would say the book was more interesting than entertaining. It goes into great detail about amputations and disease. If you were injured during the civil war good luck to you. There are even parts about the Union's strategy and generals.
The story of this remarkable woman and the men and women around her who risked their lives to save the nation's soldiers are the true un-sung heroes of the Civil War. Oliveira's novel is richly researched and a tale is truly woven. However, I felt that there was something lacking... I tried to connect with Mary in her triumphs and losses but something kept me from fully doing that. I can't place my finger on what it was but it was there. Overall, though, it was a good novel and great for those who love Civil War history.