Terri E. (stocktonmalonefan) - reviewed on 10/12/2010 + 58 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Well written, engaging. About halfway through it lost some steam but still interested me enough to keep reading. I found the lead character stand-offish but sympathetic. She had one goal--to be a surgeon and that desire trumped everything else. The story also gives a well painted portrait of what doctors and nurses must have faced during the civil war. I found myself grimacing, envisioning the sound of a saw cutting through bone with only a surgeon's hands to guide it--and these surgeon's were not trained in amputations. Horrible, unbearable, heartbreaking sights for these helpers to face daily, minute by minute with no end in sight. The reason I give it three stars instead of four--I found Mary's personality, while admirable, to be difficult to always comprehend. And the men that surrounded her seemed to experience emotions and make choices involving Mary in ways that didn't always seem true to me. I still liked it and would recommend it. It's an easy read. It's just not one I would want to read again.

It would, I think, make a good movie. :)

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details