NOVEL ADVENTURES
WOMEN & MEDICINE
Where the Light Enters by Sara Donati
If you’re a historical novel junkie and you like medical minutiae, then the sequel to Donati’s earlier tome, The Gilded Hour, might be just the perfect diversion. Set in the 1880’s in New York, specifically Greenwich Village and environs, it’s the continuing tale of two female doctors, cousins Sophie and Anna Savard, who struggle to overcome prejudice and to provide comprehensive OB-GYN care for women of all classes. Anna is married to a police detective, and Sophie is a rich widow, but also biracial. Together they get involved in a series of missing persons cases.
Donati is the pen name of Rosina Lippi, a retired university professor. She loves details and has done meticulous research (even creating newspaper clippings based on real events) to present what Manhattan was like in the 19th century—its architecture, the culture, and its politicians. Chock full of secondary characters, friends and relatives of the two doctors, all intertwined with several subplots, Where the Light Enters is engrossing and highly readable! (~JWFarrington)
SMALLTOWN OHIO
The Daughters of Erietown by Connie Schultz
I was not familiar with Connie Schultz, a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist, before reading The Daughters of Erietown. Schultz grew up in Ashtabula, Ohio, and this historical novel (1950’s to 1990’s) overlaps with her early years and some of her personal experiences. It’s the warmhearted story of three generations of women with limited means and big aspirations who are products of their time and place.
The central focus is on Brick and Ellie McGinty, sandwiched between his father, Bull, and mother, Angie, and their own children, Samantha (Sam) and Reilly. Brick is a high school basketball star with a college scholarship and Ellie dreams of going to nursing school. When she becomes pregnant, they marry, and their choices narrow to staying put in their blue-collar life. As the years pass, Ellie doesn’t give up completely on her dreams, while her daughter takes a somewhat bolder approach. Brick soaked up being the center of attention in high school and seeks out that kind of attention in all the wrong places. This is small town life marked by abuse, adultery, racism, and poverty in a time when smart women might end up stuck.
Growing up, my family visited my cousins in Ohio each summer; Schultz convincingly evokes the cultural and social aspects of that time. You will end up cheering Ellie on and applauding Sam for her gumption. Recommended! (~JWFarrington)
SCANDINAVIAN VIEWING
The Sommerdahl Murders (Acorn)
As you probably have realized, the Chief Penguin and I like crime series. The Sommerdahl Murders is a Danish series set in a small coastal town. Dan Sommerdahl is the lead detective and he works with his partner, Flemming, and his wife, Marianne who is a criminal technician. Dan and Marianne have been married for 25 years, but often, his job has taken priority. In the opening episode, the situation comes to a head as he gets consumed by a murder case and misses a key dinner. Unlike the Swedish series, Rebecka Martinsson, this one is faster-paced and very lively. Quite a contrast to the frozen Arctic of the other and very good viewing! Season 1 is eight episodes, and it seems very likely that there will be a Season 2 available here sometime next summer.
Note: Header photo of flag from covenantcare.com
Jodi Picoult. Mad Honey.
About family secrets and love between a mother and son.
I thought “Mad Honey’ was excellent!