My name is Mary Sutter

[Peggy]

CanadAnn and myself plan to read My Name is Mary Sutter together for this month's group read. Anyone else who would like to join is very welcome!

CanadAnn (or others who plan to read this book), do you have any preference for when to start?

edit: we plan to start reading on/around the 7th of November.

[Tasha]

I'll join in! I can start at any time.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I read it with my book club, and really liked it. I'll be taking a look to this thread.

[Peggy]

Great Tasha!

For me any start date is fine too, although I've been a bit slow in my reading lately so I prefer to not leave it until the last week.

[Ann]

I have it on audiobook for the next three weeks. I also prefer not to leave it until the last week, but I am not quite ready to start just yet. I have another audiobook to finish first. Can we start next weekend?

[Peggy]

Sounds good to me!

[Tasha]

Me too!

[Peggy]

I changed the first post to the 7th as the starting date :)

[Ann]

The 7th is perfect!

[Peggy]

I read the first two chapters yesterday. I really enjoyed the first one and I'm curious how Mary

The second chapter on Mary's family and background I found a bit slower to read, but hopefully that's just the one.

[Tasha]

I started last night but only got a few pages on before I fell asleep. Will read more today.

[Ann]

I have just started this morning, but with the first words, "Are you Mary Sutter?", I was drawn right in.

[Bella]

I read this years ago and liked it. My main issue with the book is (view spoiler)[that the ending was abrupt. As if the author said to themselves, "Hmmm, I'm over 300 pages, time to wrap this up." And then just ended the book. Plus, I think what comes next, after the book's ending, sounded even more interesting than parts of the book. (hide spoiler)]

[Sandra, Moderator]

One of the things I liked more about this book was how well all the historical part is developed. It really added to my knowledge of the American civil war in general, and in special how what's was going on in Washington DC at that moment. This in addition to the picture of the situation of women who wanted to study and be professionals.

[Tasha]

I'm up to Ch 7 and am enjoying it. I find it to be well-done and I'm enjoying getting to know all the characters. I'm pretty partial to Mary right now but I also feel sad for her, she has quite a place to make in this world but the times are so restrictive for her.

[Peggy]

I'm also somewhere around there Tasha, finished chapter 7. I'm most looking forward to her actually going to help in the war, (view spoiler)[ and it seems to be finally happening. I admire her, it can't have been easy as a woman in that time to follow your dream like that. (hide spoiler)]

Did you know that Dorothea Dix really existed? Maybe she's famous in the US, but I had never heard of her. I always really like it when there are characters in a book who were actually real, but not so well-known, people and who did important or admirable things.

[Tasha]

I've definitely heard of her but am not really familiar with her and what she may have done during her time. Guess I'll be finding out more!

[Sandra, Moderator]

I knew about Dorothea Dix when I read this book. I agree with you, Peggy, it's always good to find not so famous real characters in books.

[Ann]

I have just started chapter 7 and have just been introduced to Dorothea Dix. As a Canadian, I have never heard of her before, but I did google her and learned that she was a colleague of Clara Barton, who was a wartime nurse of the same era, whom I HAVE heard about. I love it when historical literature really sticks to the known history of the time and weaves its own story among the actual facts.

I am really enjoying the story but I am finding some of the language of the book to be a bit flowery and over the top. Too many words. Is that a valid complaint? LOL I am listening to an audiobook and sometimes it feels like there is an awful lot of talking without a whole lot being said.

[Peggy]

I know what you mean CanadAnn, though it hasn't bothered me yet.

[Tasha]

I hear you but I tend to be ok with that stuff unless it's way over the top. I like lots of details and specifics for the most part, especially in a historical fic story. For me, this one is setting the scene really well. I feel like I'm getting a good feel for the time and place with all the details. In fact, I was going to mention that before I saw your post! haha

I'm almost up to ch 19 as I had a lot of time to read last night with a quiet house around here. I'm enjoying it a lot.

I like Mary Sutter's perserverance.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I'm glad you all are mostly enjoying it.

I like descriptive passages in general. I think this book doesn't have an even pace. At some moments there is a lot going on, while in other is more like just having a strong sense of the time and the place.

[Ann]

Maybe I am just impatient to get to the heart of the story...I will have some time to continue today.

[Ann]

I am up to chapter 13 and have grown quite fond of Mary Sutter and her tenacious spirit! (view spoiler)[ I cheered to myself when, after exhausting every avenue to find the work she seeks, Mary finally crosses paths with William Stipp and lands the opportunity she has been looking for!! (hide spoiler)] I can't wait to see where this takes her!

[Tammy]

I started the book today. I'm a midwife and I'm looking forward to adventuring with Mary. Just read chapter 1 this morning, going to heat up my tea and start reading again this afternoon.

[Ann]

Tammy wrote: "I started the book today. I'm a midwife and I'm looking forward to adventuring with Mary. Just read chapter 1 this morning, going to heat up my tea and start reading again this afternoon."

Well Tammy, you will certainly have a most interesting take on the book, being a midwife yourself!I can't wait to hear your take on the early birth scene!

[Peggy]

It must be an extra interesting read for you Tammy :)

I'm at chapter 14. I don't have that much time for reading this week so I might be a bit behind on the rest of you. I agree with what Sandra said: some parts I'm flying through, others are a bit slower. I also like the descriptions and scene setting in the book.

[Tasha]

I'm in ch 21 as the war is really starting to settle in and this seems to be where Mary will really shine as she has (view spoiler)[ gained some experience working alongside Stipp and his makeshift hospital. She is about to either go home or stay at this turning point. (hide spoiler)]

[Tammy]

I have to say that it's not that easy to try and turn a baby, like Mary dies in chapter 1. It is a lot of work and yes, painful for mom.

[Tasha]

I would think so. I do think it sounded rather easy in the book. I'm sure it's not but the scene did seem quick to turn the baby. I did notice that.

[Ann]

I'm now up to chapter 22 and getting more into the war and the affect its having on the characters of the story. Omg (view spoiler)[ when Mary and the good doctor amputate that leg and Mary realizes that Stipp has never done this before?? And he has her reading from some medical publication for instructions on how to get the job done?? I thought I would just about faint! (hide spoiler)] What a great scene!! And I felt so sad when (view spoiler)[ Mary's mother and twin sister were waiting for Christian and Thomas to return home on the train, only to find that Thomas had disappeared somewhere along the way and poor Christian had died en route. (hide spoiler)] Very sad indeed.

[Ann]

Tasha wrote: "I'm in ch 21 as the war is really starting to settle in and this seems to be where Mary will really shine as she has [spoilers removed]"

She does, indeed, begin to shine. And I am so proud of her that she doesn't give up or give in to the pressure that she is starting to feel from others to return to a more "normal" life.

[Tasha]

I'm nearing the end, ch 44. Wow, some intense scenes both at home and on the battlefields! I think this story/author really brings to light the war, the challenges of so many and how devastating it all was.

Mary is a marvel. She has her demons to fight but fight she does. I keep wondering if Mary was a real person as I'm reading this, she's such a strong person, but she is fictional. I wonder if there were women out there like her during the war, I suppose so and they would have been exceptional people. I can't imagine myself being as strong as she is.

Tammy, I'm very interested to hear your thoughts on a scene coming up about halfway through the book. You'll know what I mean once you get there!

[Tammy]

Tasha that is such a tease to get reading. To bad jobs etc get in the way!

[Sandra, Moderator]

I think I remember the scene you are referring to, Tasha...

[Tasha]

Tammy wrote: "Tasha that is such a tease to get reading. To bad jobs etc get in the way!"

;)

[Tasha]

Sandra wrote: "I think I remember the scene you are referring to, Tasha..."

It all happens in ch 33:
(view spoiler)[When Mary arrives to help her mom deliver Jenny's baby. I felt so bad for them all! Poor Amelia having to deal with this being her daughter in distress and danger, and then Mary coming in but unable to save her sister. At least she was able to get that baby saved!! Wow, it was a crazy scene. (hide spoiler)]

[Sandra, Moderator]

Yeah, that's what I remember. (view spoiler)[So sad, and so common at the time. (hide spoiler)]

[Tasha]

I finished and am giving this one 5*. I think the author did an amazing job setting the scenes and times, you can tell she did a ton of research. I loved Mary and am (ending) (view spoiler)[so happy she ended up doing so well in her life after the war and even in the romance department! (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I'm starting chapter 20 so I can almost read some of your spoilers. Based on your posts I'm looking forward to the rest of the book!

[Peggy]

Finished chapter 23. (view spoiler)[ those amputations sound horrific. No wonder they haunt Mary in her dreams. And poor Christian.. i was afraid he would die when him feeling sick was first mentioned. I wonder if Jake speeded up the process somehow. I really liked Christian. (hide spoiler)]

[Tasha]

Peggy, I wonder the same thing about Jake.

[Ann]

I've fallen behind on my reading...stalled out at chapter 27. I hope to pick up where I left off today.

[Tammy]

Just finished chapter 12. So impressed with our heroine

[Tasha]

I was too, she was truly wonderful.

[Ann]

The horrors of war are full upon Mary now. And when you think things can't get any worse, they do.

[Tasha]

It was brutal.

[Ann]

I'm learning a few things about history! I did not know that President Lincoln had lost a son during his time as commander-in-chief. Willie Lincoln, 11, died of typhoid three years before Abe himself was assassinated. I am finding it a little curious how the author has really focused in on telling part of the story from Lincoln's point of view in the second half.

[Peggy]

I'm 70% done (not sure about the chapter) and though I'm still enjoying it, less so than in the beginning. I don't find the parts about the facts of the war in this book as interesting as I often find them in other books, they slow the story down for me. Also, I found it rather predictable that (view spoiler)[ Jenny would die, Mary would be home too late, and Amelia would blame her (hide spoiler)]. I still admire Mary though, what courage!

[Ann]

Peggy wrote: "I'm 70% done (not sure about the chapter) and though I'm still enjoying it, less so than in the beginning."

I know what you mean, Peggy. I am finding the parts that are about Lincoln seem almost like they aren't really part of the story. Like they were put there to flesh out the book and are kind of surplus material. Mary is an amazing character and, even though she is fictional, it's awe-inspiring to know that there were real women, much like Mary, helping those soldiers who were wounded in those skirmishes. (view spoiler)[ The death of Jenny was predictable, as you say, and I am now assuming that Mary and Thomas will end up together after all, when the war is over. I hope I'm wrong... (hide spoiler)]