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A Country Doctor
Though not as well-known as the writers she influenced, Sarah Orne Jewett nevertheless remains one of the most important American novelists of the late nineteenth century. Published in 1884, Jewett’s first novel, A Country Doctor, is a luminous portrayal of rural Maine and a semiautobiographical look at her world. In it, Nan’s struggle to choose between marriage and a care...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
April 6th 1999
by Bantam Classics
(first published 1884)
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I actually started reading this book on audio CD several years ago, but never
finished it because I then found the writing and storyline a bit dense and could not get past the first section with the two sisters married to the two brothers. I had a
different reaction reading the book this time for a book group.
While I did not love the book, there is much to value in the issues that the author
raises, specifically concerning the options available to women in the late
nineteenth century. I actually...more
finished it because I then found the writing and storyline a bit dense and could not get past the first section with the two sisters married to the two brothers. I had a
different reaction reading the book this time for a book group.
While I did not love the book, there is much to value in the issues that the author
raises, specifically concerning the options available to women in the late
nineteenth century. I actually...more
Sarah Orne Jewett's writing is very wordy, sometimes to the extent that I had to reread a sentence or paragraph over several time to decipher the meaning. However, I was rewarded for reading it. Published in 1884, this fiction is about a young woman who becomes a doctor, dispite social disapproval, a sense of isolation, and the impossiblility of marriage and having children, all challenges women of the late 1800s faced. I thought it interesting, however, that during the same time period, Brigham...more
This has some of the best things about nineteenth century New England literature--the strong sense of landscape/seascape and eloquent language. Jewett was writing about a woman who wanted to become a doctor (and back then, that meant would never get married) and therefore had to prove that this was just as "natural" as a woman wanting to tend to a household. Nan, the future doctor in question, actually does fall in love and have to choose between the two lives, and Jewett crafts her thought proc...more
This was recommended but I can't remember who recommended it! It was mostly general narrative and tangents, not much interaction between the characters BUT for those of you who love Anne of Green Gables you will recognize much in this book. L.M. Montgomery wrote the Anne series, which is among my all-time favorite but Montgomery isn't my favorite author because I don't necessarily care for her as an author/person. She didn't care for Anne, calling her "that detestable Anne", and only wrote more...more
In this book there is a girl named Nan that has to fight against society to be different. Some helpful background info is Nan wants to be a doctor, Dr. Leslie is her guardian, and Adeline was her mother. I rated this book a two because it was what i expected in a history novel. I didn't really think it was good but i don't like historical fiction. The book ended with a little good romance, which is something i like. Building up to this point was really boring. I might read another book by this d...more
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Eh. That's how I feel about this book. I was intrigued by the idea of a book that chronicles the life of one of the rare 19th century female physicians. The book illuminates some of her struggles in trying to convince her small community that medicine not marriage is what God has equipped her to do (she repeats a few too many times how she wishes to live a "useful life"). But the story was overall quite dull, and the prose labored.
Sarah Orne Jewett was a contemporary of Willa Cather, one of my favorite authors, and her style of writing is similar to Cather's, so I thought I'd enjoy this book. The quiet scenes in country homes were great - it was easy to recognize people I know in those characters.
"The cake was peculiar to its maker, who prided herself upon never being without it; and there was some trick of her hand or a secret ingredient which was withheld when she responded with apparent cheerfulness to requests for it...more
"The cake was peculiar to its maker, who prided herself upon never being without it; and there was some trick of her hand or a secret ingredient which was withheld when she responded with apparent cheerfulness to requests for it...more
Boring. I could not finish it. It seemed like a cross between Anne of Green Gables (which I did like) and Poor Richard's Almanac. Poor character development, they pranced around and had tea. It was a free audiobook download from the library. So glad I did not pay money for this.
A story of a woman's independence and how she must chose between marriage and her commitment to her career as a Maine country doctor. Published in 1884 for the modern woman this dilemma derives most of our interest from the feminist edge.
"Brimming with period realism and thematic depth�." � Ingram
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Listen to A Country Doctor on your iPhone, desktop, or smartphone.
I sure wish I had such a clear purpose in life. But I'm also glad I don't need to in order to do what I want with it. On the other hand, some parts still ring very true. How's that for a review that's not helpful at all?
Sadly, part of what makes it just 'okay' is that I actually listened to it as an audio book (I couldn't find a paper copy here in Winnipeg) and it is not a great audio book. I might have enjoyed it more to have read it instead of listened to it.
I enjoyed the steady, solid characters in this classic. Would enjoy meeting and talking with most of them. If you enjoyed Anne of Green Gables, you'll enjoy this sweet book.
Although I love Jewett's other writings, especially The Country of the Pointed Firs, I just don't understand how this could come from the same author. Not worth reading.
Love the first half, then too much women's-lib preaching. Some great quotes from it though. I understand the preaching was necessary when the book was written.
Sep 26, 2008
Aileen
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people interested in Jewett
Recommended to Aileen by:
The state of Maine
This little book took me FOREVER to read. I think I renewed it three times from the library. As Jewett is often credited with getting Willa Cather to write about her life in Nebraska, I really wanted to read the Maine author. Overall I liked it. Very interesting story from the 19th century about an orphan who grows up with a doctor and decides she wants to become a doctor. This is not so popular an idea at the time. The beginning and the end are quite interesting. Jewett adds SO MUCH narrative i...more
I was surprised that this book was published in 1884 because of its feminist overtones. It had many memorable passages.
It has some very long, drawn-out moralizing passages which I think is typical of the time period.
Horribly boring and nothing really happens.
A sadly happy book.
Loved this book.
Keeping in mind when this was written, it was an enlightening book ! Also an easy read . Makes one know how far women have come!
**1/2
This book is interesting from a historical perspective, but not as literature (it's just not that well written or developed). This late 19th century novel, set in Maine, makes the argument for a woman's right to a professional career--in this case, a career as a country doctor. An interesting piece of women's history, even if the story itself is lacking. And yes, there are some strange parallels to Anne of Green Gables.
This book is poop.
Ughhhh this book was NOT GOOD
Jun 29, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
personal-collection,
historical-fiction
This just bored me, unfortunately. The pace just crept along and there was only just enough plot to count. I thought the writing was dull and the characters were unremarkable. I have another book of Jewett's, with short stories, which maybe will be more bearable - this could easily have been a short story, as there did not seem to be adequate plot to fill a novel.
Influential writer. Love the time period and simplicity.
This book took me a while to get into, but I'm glad I stuck with it because it turned out to be a great read. It is about a young woman who must choose between marriage and her career as a country doctor in new england in the late 1800's. Nan is a very endearing and inspiring character.
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Sarah Orne Jewett was an American novelist and short story writer, best known for her local color works set in or near South Berwick, Maine, on the border of New Hampshire, which in her day was a declining New England seaport.
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“To let God make us, instead of painfully trying to make ourselves; to follow the path that his love shows us, instead of through conceit or cowardice or mockery choosing another; to trust Him for our strength and fitness as the flowers do, simply giving ourselves back to Him in grateful service,—this is to keep the laws that give us the freedom of the city in which there is no longer any night of bewilderment or ignorance or uncertainty.”
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8 people liked it
“It seems to me like stealing, for men and women to live in the world and do nothing to make it better.”
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5 people liked it
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