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.
An insightful account of the severe restrictions of a "hysteria-prone" society woman in the Victorian era. I was mesmerized yet horrified by the total control not only of husbands and fathers over wives and daughters, but also by ambitious doctors who treat these women. Although Lucy's account was written in first person--usually an instant turn off--I was immediately engrossed in her tale and remained that way throughout the end. A wonderful and highly recommended read and certainly worthy of a solid 4 stars.
This book was recommended to me by a friend. I read it in a day and a half. It is a quick read and halfway through it, I sort of figured out what was probably going to happen in the end. However, I did enjoy it as the events take place during 1885 and I enjoyed the history.
This is not a "deep thought" kind of a book, but for a quick read it was enjoyable.
This is not a "deep thought" kind of a book, but for a quick read it was enjoyable.
I just couldn't get into this book at all. I slogged through the first 100 pages waiting to be intrigued. Instead I was merely bored by the characters. I understand that many Victorian women felt repressed and smothered, but the way this author set the story forth was a little tedious for me. I gave up and sent it along. I hope the next reader enjoys it more than I did.
