Marianne Perry's Blog - Posts Tagged "lethbridge"
Matrons and Madams by Sharon Johnston
Book Review:
Matrons and Madams by Sharon Johnston
Matrons and Madams by Sharon Johnston is a fiction derived from the life of the author's grandmother. The thirty chapter book spans the years 1912 to 1931. It begins in London, England in 1918 with Clara Durling, a British nurse-mother whose husband dies from complications related to injuries sustained in WW1. Chapter Two switches to 1912, Sydney, Nova Scotia and to Lily Parson who over the course of the novel becomes a widowed teacher-mother. There is an early chapter in New York City with Lily and her sister, Beth but the story is primarily set in Lethridge, Alberta. The action unfolds from both Clara and Lily's point of view with the former's serving the major. Clara becomes the Superintendent of Galt Hospital and Lily, operator of a brothel called The Last Post. As events unfold, a relationship between the women is discovered.
The author tackles a plethora of issues including: Spanish Flu Epidemic; World War One and tragedies suffered by the soldiers; coal mining; suicide; unwed mothers; family secrets; mother-daughter dynamics;suicide; kidnapping;eating disorders;unrealized love; prostitution; venereal disease; prohibition; economic depression; changing political views.
Sharon Johnston chronicles an interesting period in Canadian history and her attention to detail reflects extensive research conducted. In Chapter Eight, she pens a vivid image of the Canadian Shield; Chapter Nine, an excellent depiction of Grosse Ile immigration station in 1919; and Chapter Eleven, a clear picture of the Port of Montreal.
Johnston also draws us into the characters. In Chapter Five, there is a poignant description of Dr. James Barnaby whose war injuries dash his dreams of becoming a surgeon and in Chapter Nineteen, a double-amputee, Dan.
As a recommendation, threading fewer issues and fleshing them out deeper would have deepened understanding of events and heightened the reader's relationship with the story Nevertheless, Matrons and Madams is a good read.
Marianne Perry
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
www.marianneperry.ca
Matrons and Madams by Sharon Johnston
Matrons and Madams by Sharon Johnston is a fiction derived from the life of the author's grandmother. The thirty chapter book spans the years 1912 to 1931. It begins in London, England in 1918 with Clara Durling, a British nurse-mother whose husband dies from complications related to injuries sustained in WW1. Chapter Two switches to 1912, Sydney, Nova Scotia and to Lily Parson who over the course of the novel becomes a widowed teacher-mother. There is an early chapter in New York City with Lily and her sister, Beth but the story is primarily set in Lethridge, Alberta. The action unfolds from both Clara and Lily's point of view with the former's serving the major. Clara becomes the Superintendent of Galt Hospital and Lily, operator of a brothel called The Last Post. As events unfold, a relationship between the women is discovered.
The author tackles a plethora of issues including: Spanish Flu Epidemic; World War One and tragedies suffered by the soldiers; coal mining; suicide; unwed mothers; family secrets; mother-daughter dynamics;suicide; kidnapping;eating disorders;unrealized love; prostitution; venereal disease; prohibition; economic depression; changing political views.
Sharon Johnston chronicles an interesting period in Canadian history and her attention to detail reflects extensive research conducted. In Chapter Eight, she pens a vivid image of the Canadian Shield; Chapter Nine, an excellent depiction of Grosse Ile immigration station in 1919; and Chapter Eleven, a clear picture of the Port of Montreal.
Johnston also draws us into the characters. In Chapter Five, there is a poignant description of Dr. James Barnaby whose war injuries dash his dreams of becoming a surgeon and in Chapter Nineteen, a double-amputee, Dan.
As a recommendation, threading fewer issues and fleshing them out deeper would have deepened understanding of events and heightened the reader's relationship with the story Nevertheless, Matrons and Madams is a good read.
Marianne Perry
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
www.marianneperry.ca
