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Flowers of Scotland #1
Rich Girl, Poor Girl
1888-1923, Dundee
Upper-class Lucy Graham has always been highly intelligent and fiercely independent. When she tells her parents of her plans to follow her dream of becoming a doctor instead of marrying and having children, her mother refuses to acknowledge her wishes, seeing her decision as an embarrassment to the family.
Meanwhile, in a poorer district of Dundee, Rosie Nesbitt lives a difficult life with her mother and siblings in a house that is too small for all of of them. Equally intelligent, Rosie decides that she wants to become a doctor and create a life for herself that is better than the one she has had growing up. She, too, faces issues - albeit different ones from those of Lucy - and she and her family must fight and make sacrifices for her to receive the education she needs.
As the two girls' paths cross, their chosen career isn't the only thing they have in common. They first meet at a party hosted by Kier Anderson-Howard, a potential husband for Lucy, but an eligible man who has his sights set on Rosie.
As war approaches, Lucy's and Rosie's lives become complicated by love and loss, and the paths leading to their goals testing their resolves to the limit.
Upper-class Lucy Graham has always been highly intelligent and fiercely independent. When she tells her parents of her plans to follow her dream of becoming a doctor instead of marrying and having children, her mother refuses to acknowledge her wishes, seeing her decision as an embarrassment to the family.
Meanwhile, in a poorer district of Dundee, Rosie Nesbitt lives a difficult life with her mother and siblings in a house that is too small for all of of them. Equally intelligent, Rosie decides that she wants to become a doctor and create a life for herself that is better than the one she has had growing up. She, too, faces issues - albeit different ones from those of Lucy - and she and her family must fight and make sacrifices for her to receive the education she needs.
As the two girls' paths cross, their chosen career isn't the only thing they have in common. They first meet at a party hosted by Kier Anderson-Howard, a potential husband for Lucy, but an eligible man who has his sights set on Rosie.
As war approaches, Lucy's and Rosie's lives become complicated by love and loss, and the paths leading to their goals testing their resolves to the limit.
464 pages, Paperback
Published February 23, 2017
About the author
Eileen Ramsay
37 books35 followersEileen Ainsworth was born on 16 December 1940 in the South-West of Scotland, where she brought up. She wrote since she was seven, but she decided become a teacher. After graduating she went to teach in the USA for a year - and stayed 18 years. She married Ian Ramsay, a Scottish mathematics scientist working on the first moon shots. They had two chidren. They returned to their native Scotland.
Her writing for children and adults has won several awards, including the Constable and Pitlochry trophies from the Scottish Association of Writers and the Romantic Novelists' Association's Elizabeth Goudge Award. In 2004 she was short listed for the Romantic Novel of the Year award.
Eileen is an honorary member of the Angus Writers Circle, was vice-president of the Scottish Association of Writers, a member of the Society of Authors and was on the committee of the Scottish branch for about six years and for four was the Secretary, and she was elected the twenty-seventh Chairman (2015-2017) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Her writing for children and adults has won several awards, including the Constable and Pitlochry trophies from the Scottish Association of Writers and the Romantic Novelists' Association's Elizabeth Goudge Award. In 2004 she was short listed for the Romantic Novel of the Year award.
Eileen is an honorary member of the Angus Writers Circle, was vice-president of the Scottish Association of Writers, a member of the Society of Authors and was on the committee of the Scottish branch for about six years and for four was the Secretary, and she was elected the twenty-seventh Chairman (2015-2017) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 16, 2017
I'm between two minds about three or four stars for this book but I've gone for the three.
I'm still not sure how I feel about the story. I got into it fairly easily and quickly. Rose's story was very enjoyable and I admired her as a character even though she was a child at the beginning. Lucy's story was the usual wealthy daughters story. Half way through the book I lost interest and found it hard to keep going but then it picked up again. However, Rose made a decision that I just didn't understand and it left me a bit cold. To me Rose became quite unlikable, a complete turn around from the girl at the start of the novel. Roundabout here Lucy's story became very interesting.
I was expecting to read more about the struggles they went through to become doctors. While it gave some detail I didn't 'feel' the difficulties they endured. A lot of the story was told to us rather than hearing it in the character's own words.
There were also momentous happenings in their lives that were described in one or two paragraphs and then we moved on rather quickly.
A well written book but left me feeling a bit unsatisfied at the end.
I'm still not sure how I feel about the story. I got into it fairly easily and quickly. Rose's story was very enjoyable and I admired her as a character even though she was a child at the beginning. Lucy's story was the usual wealthy daughters story. Half way through the book I lost interest and found it hard to keep going but then it picked up again. However, Rose made a decision that I just didn't understand and it left me a bit cold. To me Rose became quite unlikable, a complete turn around from the girl at the start of the novel. Roundabout here Lucy's story became very interesting.
I was expecting to read more about the struggles they went through to become doctors. While it gave some detail I didn't 'feel' the difficulties they endured. A lot of the story was told to us rather than hearing it in the character's own words.
There were also momentous happenings in their lives that were described in one or two paragraphs and then we moved on rather quickly.
A well written book but left me feeling a bit unsatisfied at the end.
July 17, 2017
I'm glad I've finally finished this book. I was determined not to give up, but I'm sorry to say that I struggled with it from beginning to end.
I found the Scottish dialect very confusing, the meaning wasn't always obvious. I have never read a book where so many people died, and sometimes their death is only mentioned as an afterthought!
I found the Scottish dialect very confusing, the meaning wasn't always obvious. I have never read a book where so many people died, and sometimes their death is only mentioned as an afterthought!
March 14, 2018
Not England but Scotland. An enjoyable audio book. The Scottish accents were beautifully done and I could understand them. This story as the title suggests is about the different struggles, whether rich or poor, that women had to learn and take on professions that were not considered right for women. This was set in a time when women were supposed to be married and raising a family not going to University.
There are two stories; one of the struggles of a girl from a poor family and another about a girl from a privileged family. These stories intertwine and we see only that both had to struggle a lot to reach their goal in life. Was it worth it? See what you think. Yes, I would recommend this novel. It appeared to be well conceived and written.
There are two stories; one of the struggles of a girl from a poor family and another about a girl from a privileged family. These stories intertwine and we see only that both had to struggle a lot to reach their goal in life. Was it worth it? See what you think. Yes, I would recommend this novel. It appeared to be well conceived and written.
December 30, 2021
sometimes a book merely needs to be comforting. not earth-shattering, not ground-breaking. sometimes a book just needs to remind you of a beloved treasured friend who you are eternally grateful for. sometimes a book just needs to be a light in the dark. sometimes a book just needs the warmth in the chill.
October 5, 2018
Struggled to get through this one. Very disappointing.
June 21, 2017
Loved it
Absolutely loved this book , not read this author before but I am looking forward to the next book I already have on my kindle .
Absolutely loved this book , not read this author before but I am looking forward to the next book I already have on my kindle .
November 10, 2021
From the slums of Dundee to the diplomatic homes of Washington DC,two young women are drawn together by their dreams...and broken apart by love and war.Upper-class Lucy Graham is expected simply to marry well. Poverty-stricken Rosie Nesbitt struggles just to get by. Both girls share the unlikely dream to become a doctor, and each will do anything to succeed.When their paths cross at a party filled with eligible bachelors it soon becomes clear that their chosen career isn't the only desire they share...But meeting their match is overshadowed by the outbreak of war.
With society's conventions stacked against them and war raging on the continent, Lucy and Rosie must draw their own battle lines in their fight for love, life and happiness. But can they both succeed?The Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women was founded by Sophia Jex-Blake in Edinburgh, Scotland, in October of 1886, with support from the National Association for Promoting the Medical Education of Women. Sophia Jex-Blake was appointed as both the Director and the Dean of the School. The first class of women to study at the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women consisted of eight students, the youngest of whom was nineteen years of age. Throughout its twelve years in operation, the school struggled to find financial funding to remain open.A rival institution, the Edinburgh College of Medicine for Women, set up by Elsie Inglis with the help of her father John Inglis, attracted several students of Jex-Blake, including Martha Cadell and Grace Cadell. St Mungo's College and Queen Margaret College in Glasgow also accepted women medical students and when the Scottish universities began to do so the Edinburgh School of Medicine could no longer compete.Sophia Jex-Blake's intention for this establishment was to cater to the local community in Edinburgh. Thus, she did not include the price of housing in the proposed cost of tuition and books, as it was assumed that most students would be residents in the Edinburgh area and would be living at home.
With society's conventions stacked against them and war raging on the continent, Lucy and Rosie must draw their own battle lines in their fight for love, life and happiness. But can they both succeed?The Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women was founded by Sophia Jex-Blake in Edinburgh, Scotland, in October of 1886, with support from the National Association for Promoting the Medical Education of Women. Sophia Jex-Blake was appointed as both the Director and the Dean of the School. The first class of women to study at the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women consisted of eight students, the youngest of whom was nineteen years of age. Throughout its twelve years in operation, the school struggled to find financial funding to remain open.A rival institution, the Edinburgh College of Medicine for Women, set up by Elsie Inglis with the help of her father John Inglis, attracted several students of Jex-Blake, including Martha Cadell and Grace Cadell. St Mungo's College and Queen Margaret College in Glasgow also accepted women medical students and when the Scottish universities began to do so the Edinburgh School of Medicine could no longer compete.Sophia Jex-Blake's intention for this establishment was to cater to the local community in Edinburgh. Thus, she did not include the price of housing in the proposed cost of tuition and books, as it was assumed that most students would be residents in the Edinburgh area and would be living at home.
January 10, 2019
An interesting story of two pioneering young women !
The struggles of two young girls who are determined to become doctors . Nothing wrong with that but this is in the time before the First World War .
Lucy comes from a wealthy family who live in Washington DC
Rosie lives in abject poverty in Dundee , Scotland . Both share a burning desire to become a doctor and will sacrifice anything to achieve their aim.
Both study in Scotland and both fall for the same man , but only one can achieve love and happiness .
Soon everything is overshadowed by the outbreak of war . Will either girl ultimately find the futures they desire and have worked so tirelessly for ?
The struggles of two young girls who are determined to become doctors . Nothing wrong with that but this is in the time before the First World War .
Lucy comes from a wealthy family who live in Washington DC
Rosie lives in abject poverty in Dundee , Scotland . Both share a burning desire to become a doctor and will sacrifice anything to achieve their aim.
Both study in Scotland and both fall for the same man , but only one can achieve love and happiness .
Soon everything is overshadowed by the outbreak of war . Will either girl ultimately find the futures they desire and have worked so tirelessly for ?
January 1, 2020
Initially reading I thought this was a wonderful story of two selfless women from differing backgrounds and their journey to helping others. Lucy - kind, noble and charitable Lucy. I rooted for her for the entire story; ever thinking surely at some point all of her hard work will pay off personally, not professionally and I guess eventually it does with Max. Rose on the other hand.. yes she fought her way from poverty to become a well renown doctor but to be honest she ruined the entire story. Her horrible selfish nature, only thinking of her career to a point of ruining other lives and being remorseless in doing so. Horrible character who was about as likeable as an anal exam.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2020
I read this as an audiobook and my main reason for picking it up was the lovely Scottish accents promised by an audiobook set in Scotland. It definitely delivered on that point. The characters were interesting as well, but after a while I found the constant self-inflicted (because due to a lack of open communications) become a bit too depressing. I did finish it but my heart wasn’t in it by the end.
May 5, 2022
Reading about the challenges women historically faced and how they struggled to change lives. Whether they were rich or poor neither were dissimilar. Although a fictional storyline the characters are relatable and one only hopes that they inspired the changes we see today...
June 18, 2023
We listened to this book on our long drive home from the West Highlands of Scotland to South Devon. Beautifully written and wonderful characters that you could visualise. The places visited in the book too. Truly wonderful that the story was inspired by a true life doctor of that time.
July 25, 2019
An interesting if somewhat predictable story. Good as a summer holiday read.
June 18, 2023
A very well written book, the characters were lovely and descriptions of places and nature was very good. It was lovely it was written about a true life female doctor as this made it more special.
August 16, 2018
I really enjoyed Rich Girl Poor Girl, it is a fast-paced novel, that takes place in Washington D.C and Dundee in Scotland. It is about two girl, Lucy and Rosie, they shared the same dream to become a Doctor. A dream that will cost them sacrifices and also humiliation, since at the beginning of the 21st Century women were meant to get married and raise their children. It is a historical fiction about women work their way to become a Doctor a profession that was men world.
November 11, 2018
An interesting story.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews