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judithdcollins's review
5.0
Lynn Cullen's latest, THE WOMAN WITH THE CURE is a gripping, powerful re-imagining historical fiction of a courageous woman inspired by a true story from the author of [b:Mrs. Poe|16130398|Mrs. Poe|Lynn Cullen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1420462099l/16130398._SY75_.jpg|21955711].
This highly recommended novel centers around the life of Dr. Dorothy Hortsmann, a tenacious female doctor whose contribution to the development of the polio vaccine helped to end the horrific disease.
In 1940, Dorothy was rejected from Vanderbilt's residency program because she was a woman and was given to a man. She was the only female doctor among esteemed scientists, she dedicated her life to confirming her hypothesis that polio travels through the blood to the nervous system.
In the 1940s and '50s, polio was a horrific disease that killed and paralyzed its victims, particularly children. My parents talked about this all the time and many family members suffered. I also had a best friend in high school with polio. (she now has dementia).
The virus outbreak put the country in lockdown, similar to the COVID pandemic. They needed to come up with a vaccine and a cure.
American heroine and dedicated Dr. Dorothy Horstmann, a daughter of immigrants, a determined doctor who wants nothing more than to come up with a cure. She gave up everything, sacrificed— and changed the world. She was willing to put the children's good ahead of her prestige, time and time again.
Men took her work and credit in a world that overlooked her research and findings. Finally, her discovery opens the door for the vaccine.
She later became a Yale professor and traveled extensively to polo outbreaks. She falls in love with Arne Holm, who saved Danish Jews from the Nazis; however, ending the polio disease and curing it was her first love. Without her efforts, we would not have a vaccine today.
COMPELLING! Beautifully rendered, heart-wrenching, and meticulously researched, THE WOMAN WITH THE CURE is a timely story as the author brings scientific medical research and history to the forefront.
Not only did fearless Dr. Horstmann have to deal with unfunded programs, lack of support, and being overshadowed by men; there was a sense of urgency as a race against time to come up with a cure as children were dying and afflicted. You will root for Dorothy from the first page to the last. I enjoyed meeting the mothers, wives, and children and their stories.
An inspiring work of art and hope! A master storyteller.
AUDIOBOOK: I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Hillary Huber! An outstanding performance, an engaging listening experience, and a perfect voice for this moving story.
Blog review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 21, 2023
Feb 2023 Must-Read Books
This highly recommended novel centers around the life of Dr. Dorothy Hortsmann, a tenacious female doctor whose contribution to the development of the polio vaccine helped to end the horrific disease.
In 1940, Dorothy was rejected from Vanderbilt's residency program because she was a woman and was given to a man. She was the only female doctor among esteemed scientists, she dedicated her life to confirming her hypothesis that polio travels through the blood to the nervous system.
In the 1940s and '50s, polio was a horrific disease that killed and paralyzed its victims, particularly children. My parents talked about this all the time and many family members suffered. I also had a best friend in high school with polio. (she now has dementia).
The virus outbreak put the country in lockdown, similar to the COVID pandemic. They needed to come up with a vaccine and a cure.
American heroine and dedicated Dr. Dorothy Horstmann, a daughter of immigrants, a determined doctor who wants nothing more than to come up with a cure. She gave up everything, sacrificed— and changed the world. She was willing to put the children's good ahead of her prestige, time and time again.
Men took her work and credit in a world that overlooked her research and findings. Finally, her discovery opens the door for the vaccine.
She later became a Yale professor and traveled extensively to polo outbreaks. She falls in love with Arne Holm, who saved Danish Jews from the Nazis; however, ending the polio disease and curing it was her first love. Without her efforts, we would not have a vaccine today.
COMPELLING! Beautifully rendered, heart-wrenching, and meticulously researched, THE WOMAN WITH THE CURE is a timely story as the author brings scientific medical research and history to the forefront.
Not only did fearless Dr. Horstmann have to deal with unfunded programs, lack of support, and being overshadowed by men; there was a sense of urgency as a race against time to come up with a cure as children were dying and afflicted. You will root for Dorothy from the first page to the last. I enjoyed meeting the mothers, wives, and children and their stories.
An inspiring work of art and hope! A master storyteller.
AUDIOBOOK: I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Hillary Huber! An outstanding performance, an engaging listening experience, and a perfect voice for this moving story.
Blog review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 21, 2023
Feb 2023 Must-Read Books
rachresilience's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
smalltownbookmom's review
4.0
This was a fascinating historical fiction account of the work that went behind finding a polio vaccine told from the perspective of Dorothy Horstmann, one of the women who played a key role in helping beat the virus.
Set in the 1940s and 50s, we get a really good sense of the sexism of the medical community at the time and how urgent finding a vaccine was, particularly the risks that went into the work as the world was gripped in yet another pandemic!
Great on audio narrated by Hillary Huber and recommended for fans of books like The lobotomist's wife by Samantha Greene Woodruff or Her hidden genius by Marie Benedict. A perfect read for Women's history month too!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
Set in the 1940s and 50s, we get a really good sense of the sexism of the medical community at the time and how urgent finding a vaccine was, particularly the risks that went into the work as the world was gripped in yet another pandemic!
Great on audio narrated by Hillary Huber and recommended for fans of books like The lobotomist's wife by Samantha Greene Woodruff or Her hidden genius by Marie Benedict. A perfect read for Women's history month too!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
burnourhistory's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Medical content, and Sexism
Moderate: Dementia and Child death
Minor: Death of parent and Racism
marilynw's review
4.0
The Woman with the Cure by Lynn Cullen
Although I'd heard of Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, brilliant scientists racing each other to find a cure for polio, I'd not heard of Dorothy Horstmann until I read the synopsis of this book. I think the cover of this book is so fitting, showing a woman whose face is cut off by the top of the book. Dorothy worked alongside all the men searching for a cure, sometimes arriving at answers before they did, but she remained mostly invisible, her name left off articles when her name should have come ahead of the men's names. Another reason the cover is fitting is that Dorothy was 6'1", towering over most men, always hearing comments on her height, as if she should be as surprised as everyone else that she could be that tall. So tall that even the cover of a book couldn't fit all of her on it.
The thing is, while the men of her profession were in a race to beat each other in developing a vaccine for polio, Dorothy wanted a cure to save lives, to rid the world of this devastating disease that took lives, paralyzed it's living victims, and paralyzed parents with the fear that their children could be stricken. This story is fiction, based on the work of Horstmann, Salk, Sabin, and so many others, including successful women who never were allowed the credit they deserved. The story shows very well what it was like to live in the 40s and 50s, so many little things in the story are almost shocking when placed against what we know and do today. I felt like I was watching one of those old 50s comedies except this wasn't a comedy, it was life and death, with polio winning the fight for way too long.
Dorothy was the daughter of immigrants, with a father robbed of his ability to provide for his family after he suffered a devastating illness. Her mother worked hard to take care of Dorothy, her disabled brother, and her sister and I think that self sacrificing, work oneself to the bone, frame of mind was taken up by Dorothy even though she felt like she didn't know here mother very well. After all, Dorothy's mother was always working, a trait that Dorothy takes on and one that is a blockade to other areas of her life. It's mentioned more than once that the men scientists could have wives to take care of the home, deal with social responsibilities, have and raise the kids but unless Dorothy gave up her profession kids would not be in her future, whether she wanted them or not. But really, Dorothy was married to her mission and that was to wipe out polio.
Dorothy is presented with great compassion and empathy and I really liked her as she is portrayed in this story. She was living and working in a man's world, those things can't be taken away from her even if the accolades went to those willing to grab them out of her hands. The story made me want to know more about Dorothy and the other real people we meet in this book. So many egos are driven by the desire for fame and notoriety as opposed to making life better for humans (and animals). The race to cure polio is not a pretty one, often it's the loudest voice with the most monetary backing that gets the attention but I thought it was so very interesting as we follow Dorothy on this journey.
Pub: February 21, 2023
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.
Although I'd heard of Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, brilliant scientists racing each other to find a cure for polio, I'd not heard of Dorothy Horstmann until I read the synopsis of this book. I think the cover of this book is so fitting, showing a woman whose face is cut off by the top of the book. Dorothy worked alongside all the men searching for a cure, sometimes arriving at answers before they did, but she remained mostly invisible, her name left off articles when her name should have come ahead of the men's names. Another reason the cover is fitting is that Dorothy was 6'1", towering over most men, always hearing comments on her height, as if she should be as surprised as everyone else that she could be that tall. So tall that even the cover of a book couldn't fit all of her on it.
The thing is, while the men of her profession were in a race to beat each other in developing a vaccine for polio, Dorothy wanted a cure to save lives, to rid the world of this devastating disease that took lives, paralyzed it's living victims, and paralyzed parents with the fear that their children could be stricken. This story is fiction, based on the work of Horstmann, Salk, Sabin, and so many others, including successful women who never were allowed the credit they deserved. The story shows very well what it was like to live in the 40s and 50s, so many little things in the story are almost shocking when placed against what we know and do today. I felt like I was watching one of those old 50s comedies except this wasn't a comedy, it was life and death, with polio winning the fight for way too long.
Dorothy was the daughter of immigrants, with a father robbed of his ability to provide for his family after he suffered a devastating illness. Her mother worked hard to take care of Dorothy, her disabled brother, and her sister and I think that self sacrificing, work oneself to the bone, frame of mind was taken up by Dorothy even though she felt like she didn't know here mother very well. After all, Dorothy's mother was always working, a trait that Dorothy takes on and one that is a blockade to other areas of her life. It's mentioned more than once that the men scientists could have wives to take care of the home, deal with social responsibilities, have and raise the kids but unless Dorothy gave up her profession kids would not be in her future, whether she wanted them or not. But really, Dorothy was married to her mission and that was to wipe out polio.
Dorothy is presented with great compassion and empathy and I really liked her as she is portrayed in this story. She was living and working in a man's world, those things can't be taken away from her even if the accolades went to those willing to grab them out of her hands. The story made me want to know more about Dorothy and the other real people we meet in this book. So many egos are driven by the desire for fame and notoriety as opposed to making life better for humans (and animals). The race to cure polio is not a pretty one, often it's the loudest voice with the most monetary backing that gets the attention but I thought it was so very interesting as we follow Dorothy on this journey.
Pub: February 21, 2023
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.
bonniereads777's review
5.0
In 1940s and 1950s America, polio is destroying lives, causing paralysis and death, especially to children. Some of the world’s best researchers are racing to find a cure and the scientific glory that comes with that. This is the story of one of those researchers, who happens to be a woman. Dorothy Horstmann, unlike the others, is not concerned with fame or glory. She is an epidemiologist who just wants to find a cure. Her race to prove that the polio virus exists in the blood will be an important step in finding that cure.
Told from the points of view of Dorothy and other underappreciated women in this fight, such as a nurse, a secretary, a mother, and a wife, this novel looks at Dorothy’s efforts in a unique way. The way the top male scientists are portrayed is shocking, as many are not only looking for a cure, but for money and celebrity. The opportunity to follow Dorothy’s work and her travels to various polio hotspots is fascinating. Dorothy herself is such an intriguing study. She truly wants a cure and knows as a woman she is not going to get accolades anyway. Her fight to be heard in a career field that dismissed women at that time is inspiring. The inside look at all of the science and politics involved in developing a vaccine is still relevant in the present time. This is a well-written, captivating look at a woman who would help find a polio vaccine and would eventually be the first tenured female professor at the Yale School of Medicine. Fans of science, history, and women’s fiction will love this fictional look at a real-life, underappreciated figure in medical and scientific history.
My review is 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no half-star option.
I received a free copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Told from the points of view of Dorothy and other underappreciated women in this fight, such as a nurse, a secretary, a mother, and a wife, this novel looks at Dorothy’s efforts in a unique way. The way the top male scientists are portrayed is shocking, as many are not only looking for a cure, but for money and celebrity. The opportunity to follow Dorothy’s work and her travels to various polio hotspots is fascinating. Dorothy herself is such an intriguing study. She truly wants a cure and knows as a woman she is not going to get accolades anyway. Her fight to be heard in a career field that dismissed women at that time is inspiring. The inside look at all of the science and politics involved in developing a vaccine is still relevant in the present time. This is a well-written, captivating look at a woman who would help find a polio vaccine and would eventually be the first tenured female professor at the Yale School of Medicine. Fans of science, history, and women’s fiction will love this fictional look at a real-life, underappreciated figure in medical and scientific history.
My review is 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no half-star option.
I received a free copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
megs004's review
3.0
The Woman with the Cure is a fictional account of the life of Dorothy Hortsman. The book focuses on her journey to find the cure or a preventative for Polio from the time she joined Vanderbilt and, through trial and error, helped create a vaccine that would help millions of people.
First, I loved that the author, Lynn Cutter, featured a woman scientist. Women in STEAM roles are often overlooked by their male colleagues, so it was refreshing to see a story about an empowering woman in the science field who was determined to save lives.
The story itself was fascinating and a topic I did not know about before reading this book. Due to being in a worldwide pandemic for the last few years, I was immediately invested in the story and how it paralleled my world today. However, the writing was so slow-paced that I lost interest in the book as the book dragged on. The story could have been delivered better, but it was still fascinating to see the science behind making a vaccine.
Thank you to NetGallery and Berkley Publishing for giving me a copy of the book.
First, I loved that the author, Lynn Cutter, featured a woman scientist. Women in STEAM roles are often overlooked by their male colleagues, so it was refreshing to see a story about an empowering woman in the science field who was determined to save lives.
The story itself was fascinating and a topic I did not know about before reading this book. Due to being in a worldwide pandemic for the last few years, I was immediately invested in the story and how it paralleled my world today. However, the writing was so slow-paced that I lost interest in the book as the book dragged on. The story could have been delivered better, but it was still fascinating to see the science behind making a vaccine.
Thank you to NetGallery and Berkley Publishing for giving me a copy of the book.
kathrynscovers's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
3.0