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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Great story of a woman trying to be a doctor in the civil war era. Good read with lots of interesting twists.
Received from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Mary Sutter is a heroine worthy of Willa Cather, reminding me especially of the rural story, O Pioneers. To those who say she is cold, I found her staunch and distant, steely traits many women who stride ahead of progress have has to adopt. Mary was deeply sympathetic, and even the brief glimpses of her family members were enough for me to see them as Mary saw them. The most impactful and emotional moment for me was Mary's final trip home, and her greeting to her mother.
Brava, Robin. A stunning debut.
I am on the verge of giving this book 5 stars.
Brava, Robin. A stunning debut.
I am on the verge of giving this book 5 stars.
Enjoyed the story, however the telling was disjointed in its historical context. Introduction of new characters were in their own perspective with some being just left behind never to return to the story. It was as if the author's research drove the novel, not the story.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 ⭐️ Best part was chapter 46 when there is a bit of Lincoln who has snuck away in private to contemplate the war and the thoughts rolling around in his head are inspiring and so beautifully patriotic I was moved. The book is not bad, it’s the plight of a woman in during the Civil War, and war is hell.
I found parts of the first half to be slow moving and I wasn't very excited about picking the book up to read, but it got better in the second half. Once the war really got going, the book did too. I wish some of Mary's feelings would have been discussed more in depth. I felt like she just kind of did things and it only hinted at why.
Compelling and interesting. love a book that gets the details right. I want to college in Albany and studied its history and archaeology. This author got it just right. There's much more to enjoy besides that, of course, but the details make or break a historical novel for me.
I received this a few months ago through the Goodreads Giveaways, and I am sorry it has taken me so long to get to it. Especially since I absolutely loved it. This was such a beautifully written story about war and love and terrible loss. Mary Sutter is a strong, independent woman, who will stop at nothing to achieve her goal. She is the best midwife in Albany like her mother before her, but she desperately wants to be a surgeon. This desperation will take her to Washington where the horrors of the Civil War is just beginning to be felt. She will face horrible struggles, tragic loss, exhausting work, grueling days and nights, and heart breaking sites. Robin Oliveira completely transfixed me with her words, and I had a hard time putting her book down. It will certainly stay with me for some time to come.
I probably would have given this novel a 2.5/5 if possible. I find myself becoming pickier and pickier about the historic fiction I really enjoy and I was expecting this one to make the list. The Civil War!, midwives!, and it was featured on the Amelia Bloomer list 2010-seemed right up my alley. For the most part, I did enjoy this first novel but I also found some parts to be quite problematic. My biggest quibble is Oliveira’s inclusion of real historic characters. I didn’t mind that honest Abe and Dorothea Dix make guest appearances but I found the chapters that featured them instead of Oliveria’s richly imagined characters distracting from the story and made the book somewhat disjointed. I also think Oliveria goes out of her way to include dialogue that testifies to the chronology of specific Civil War battles, etc. I prefer the historic fiction I read to include more detail about daily life in the time, than the military ins and outs that I skim through. Finally, I found the extremely variable chapter length to be distracting at times.
Despite all my complaints, she did write a well researched book about one woman’s ambition to rise above the constraints placed upon her by her era. I enjoyed the idea that Mary Sutter was able to grow personally in her ambitions amidst great national and personal tragedy. I would recommend this book to people who already enjoy historic fiction, but would not use it as a stand out of the genre to entice someone in. I would be interested to read Oliveira’s future works because I think she is still finding her feet as an author and has great potential.
Despite all my complaints, she did write a well researched book about one woman’s ambition to rise above the constraints placed upon her by her era. I enjoyed the idea that Mary Sutter was able to grow personally in her ambitions amidst great national and personal tragedy. I would recommend this book to people who already enjoy historic fiction, but would not use it as a stand out of the genre to entice someone in. I would be interested to read Oliveira’s future works because I think she is still finding her feet as an author and has great potential.
This book was one I found at D.I. so I knew nothing about it before hand but oh.my.goodness I loved it! I loved the character of Mary Sutter, I want to be like her when I grow up. I read and read and read until eyeballs cried out for moisture.