Helpful Score: 5
This book was a quick read. For buying it on the cheap on paperbackswaps market I am glad to say it was a great deal and I will be buying at least 3 more books from there next week! The books is an unusual one well for me anyways it is about a young woman who works for the army of the Union during the civil war. I am a southerner and have always been and most books I read are of the southern content when it comes to civil war stories. I was very surprised to find a book just exactly the opposite that what I had began to call the norm. Such a captivating book.
The book begins as Mary Sutter the midwife who was given high praise for her cunning for a woman giving birth her real passion is the love of medicine she want's to become a doctor unheard of in those times. She get's her chance when the war begins. Sometimes as I read my southern war novels I think that the union was not as affected by it that they had it easier and didn't lack for all the thing's the Union did not. I was very very wrong the depravity suffered and the horror's she had to witness are almost unspeakable. The tragic love story involving her, her twin sister Jenny, and Thomas is a heart rendering thing as well. One point sticks out in my mind when the river of the Potomac ran red and they said it turned the color of rust and they had no idea what caused it until they found out that there was a huge battle up river and the land could hold no more blood.
She was a willful and stubborn woman who show's us all that a woman is as capable to do the thing's she want's in life as a man is!
The book begins as Mary Sutter the midwife who was given high praise for her cunning for a woman giving birth her real passion is the love of medicine she want's to become a doctor unheard of in those times. She get's her chance when the war begins. Sometimes as I read my southern war novels I think that the union was not as affected by it that they had it easier and didn't lack for all the thing's the Union did not. I was very very wrong the depravity suffered and the horror's she had to witness are almost unspeakable. The tragic love story involving her, her twin sister Jenny, and Thomas is a heart rendering thing as well. One point sticks out in my mind when the river of the Potomac ran red and they said it turned the color of rust and they had no idea what caused it until they found out that there was a huge battle up river and the land could hold no more blood.
She was a willful and stubborn woman who show's us all that a woman is as capable to do the thing's she want's in life as a man is!
Helpful Score: 4
The main character, Mary Sutter, is a young woman with an excellent reputaion as a midwife; yet, she yearns to become a doctor/surgeon at a time when it is an impossible goal for a woman. The story starts at the beginning of the Civil War and much can be learned about the war strategies, medical practises, and atmosphere of the country at that time. It contains history lessons, medical background, and a love story. Very well written.
Helpful Score: 3
This book started off very strong. The main character is Mary Sutter, a young woman in the 1860s. She is midwife as many generations of women in her family have been. She dreams of being a surgeon. Every door is closed to her as people cannot conceive of a woman surgeon. Surrounding Mary is a family and other very interesting characters. The characters are compelling and the story is well told.
Part way through the book, however, it transitions. From Mary's story, the book also becomes a story of the Civil War. At that point, for me, the book started to drag. It is still beautifully written, but I would rather have stayed completely with Mary's story without as much description and explanation of the war.
Part way through the book, however, it transitions. From Mary's story, the book also becomes a story of the Civil War. At that point, for me, the book started to drag. It is still beautifully written, but I would rather have stayed completely with Mary's story without as much description and explanation of the war.
Helpful Score: 3
The author's research for this book was exhaustive and it shows in the tremendously fascinating writing about the famous and infamous in Washington in the day. Otherwise dry material about battles comes alive under the author's pen. The characters are not very developed personalities, but engaging enough. The medical and surgical descriptions are vivid and detailed. This is Historical Fiction at its best.
Helpful Score: 3
I was expecting more from this book. I thought it was really slow.. Lots of discussion
