Laurie M. (reading-galore) - , reviewed on 4/14/2020 + 115 more book reviews

I thought that reading about Typhoid Mary would be especially interesting during our shelter-in-place for the corona virus. I found myself immediately caught up with Mary's sad and difficult life. She works as a cook in different upper class homes and unknowingly passes typhoid on to the family members through the meals that she prepares for them. Mary falls for Alfred and they live together unmarried, a shocking thing at the time. Alfred has a tough time keeping a job and has an alcoholic addiction. After many of Mary's employers' family members die, doctors force her to live isolated in a cottage on North Brother Island. When she finally gains her release from isolation, she has to promise not to cook for anyone again. This proves to be a difficult thing for her. I really enjoyed reading this and could strongly identify with the isolation sections of the novel.

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