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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Oh the horrors of the Civil War. I think we are all aware now how terrible that war was in terms of casualties and our lack of medical knowledge. This book did such a good job of telling how it was. Some parts were so hard to read, but read I did. I liked this book alot I just thought it was too slow. Far to much detailed detail and not enough moving story for me. I am glad I read it and if you liked Gone with the Wind you will definitely like this one.
Maybe 2.5. I love historical fiction but this book was boring and silly.
Too graphic. Stopped at page 49 due to it being too graphic and too boring (if it was riveting, I'd continue). If you don't like detailed descriptions of medical procedures and diseases, this isn't for you.
Compelling, well written and well researched. It just wasn't something that resonated with me. Robin Oliveira has certainly done her research and it shows. Her vivid descriptions of birth and death and battlefield hospitals are graphic and not for the squeamish. War is horrible, and war time conditions in any era are difficult. War time conditions during the Civil War were abominable and are, I believe, accurately portrayed here.
The story was more clinical than moving. The historical aspect showing the early days of the suffrage movement and western medicine was fascinating. However, I never cared about nor had sympathy for any of the characters. Mary was strong and driven and brave. She just wasn't very likeable. Overall, a fascinating disappointment.
The story was more clinical than moving. The historical aspect showing the early days of the suffrage movement and western medicine was fascinating. However, I never cared about nor had sympathy for any of the characters. Mary was strong and driven and brave. She just wasn't very likeable. Overall, a fascinating disappointment.
This book was recommended to me by the librarian and I actually liked it more than I thought I would. I haven't read too many books set in this era because it previously hasn't interested me.
I enjoyed Mary's story but was frustrated by it getting side-tracked by chapters looking at the war through Lincoln's point of view. It felt like two separate stories when this happened and left it disjointed. The story was supposed to be about Mary becoming a doctor and I wish focused a bit more on that.
I enjoyed Mary's story but was frustrated by it getting side-tracked by chapters looking at the war through Lincoln's point of view. It felt like two separate stories when this happened and left it disjointed. The story was supposed to be about Mary becoming a doctor and I wish focused a bit more on that.
Interesting book, although the author does make an assumption that the reader is very familiar with US Civil War history, especially when dropping names of characters which are minimally addressed (such as Clara Barton or Dorthea Dix). A little too "romance" novel for me though.
This incredible story covers the life of Mary Sutter, a well known Midwife who aspires to be a surgeon, but women were not permitted to train in medical schools. Mary decides to go volunteer to help as a Civil War nurse in hopes of furthering her goal of becoming a doctor, and she gains more experience than she had ever imagined. Brutal at times with the details of war and the limitations of early medicine, I really enjoyed this intriguing story, but I felt like the second half of the book dragged on.
I was absorbed by this book. Well written, with multiple story lines intertwining and intersecting, populated by intriguing characters who soon became friends I wanted to catch up on as they wove in and out and back in the novel. Just enough history to anchor the reader in what was real. And I'm always captured by characters like Mary Sutter, focused, stubborn and charting new territory.
I had to read this for a book club I facilitate. I normally love historical fiction, but this was kind of meh. The medical stuff was sort of interesting, the characters didn't interest me at all. If you love the Civil War and would like to read about what the medical concerns and conditions were at that time, this is would be a good book for you.