Helpful Score: 6
This book held so much promise. A woman held under by the common views of the time (victorian) and an overbearing father and husband. She drowns her sorrows in Laudanum until a doctor with a revolutionary treatment comes along and opens her eyes. Sounds good. Til you start reading and the story becomes so ridiculous and outlandish that pretty soon I was ready to laugh.
Helpful Score: 4
This is almost a mystery more than a drama.. It has elements of feminism, and psychology as well as drama, mystery and romance. A very intriguing and enjoyable read.
Helpful Score: 2
fasinating, great twist
Helpful Score: 2
A fascinating study of a woman constrained by her social standing and the culture of the time -- who, depending on your beliefs, is either used by or actually manipulates a doctor to achieve her desires. It exposes the question of how elastic moralality can be.
Helpful Score: 2
This story explores the struggles of a woman in Victorian New York City who is unable to conform to the sexual, social and cultural mores of the aristocratic, monied class of which she is a part. Since I especially love reading about this time in history, I found the book fascinating. The author does a good job building tension to the culminating scenes, where the reader is left wondering who the real victim is.
