My name is Mary Sutter

[Tasha]

It is awe-inspiring!

Peggy re your (view spoiler)[ I do agree that it was pretty predictable. I didn't mind though but I can certainly see where you are coming from on that one. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

CanadAnn wrote: "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..."

Interesting thought! I hadn't considered that. I find it interesting that (view spoiler)[ so many man are interested in Mary. Thomas at first, Blevens, Stipp, John Hay... it seems like all the men she encounters in the book are sort of in love with her or admire her, while I would guess that a not-very-attractive (that's how she was described, right?) woman in that time, who's also headstrong, stubborn, opinionated, intelligent, ambitious, would usually chase most men away. (hide spoiler)]

[Tasha]

Peggy, I wondered the same thing about (view spoiler)[ all the interest in her. From the way she is described in the book she doesn't seem to be the 'typical' beauty yet all the men she encounters in the story do seem entranced by her. Not saying at all that looks are the only thing that attracts others but it was pointfully made that she wasn't necessaily attractive by the author. And I agree, it would seem that someone that headstrong during that time would seem to push people away but perhaps that was actually a novelty and new things can be attractive. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I'm at chapter 47 now and there's a lot of politics going on right now. It does indeed seem like a completely different story, not related to Mary at all. And it sort of feels like a boring history lesson with all those dates and names and places. I expected the book to be much more about Mary's ambitions to be a surgeon.

[Tammy]

Peggy, boo hiss to hear that

[Tammy]

Peggy, boo hiss to hear that

[Peggy]

Lol tammy, is that autocorrect speaking? I can't decipher it though ;-)

[Peggy]

Chapter 47: lol, imagine (view spoiler)[ walking up to the white house unannounced, demanding to see someone, and being brought to Obama! (hide spoiler)]

[Tasha]

I know, that would never happen these days!

[Peggy]

I've almost finished the book. The descriptions of the wounded after the battle are horrific. The numbers (thousands and thousands) and conditions in which they were treated, had to wait for treatment, or had to recover are hard to imagine.

[Peggy]

I finished. I ended up giving it 3 (3.5) stars.

[Ann]

I gave it 3 stars. You are right, the conditions that those poor men were treated under were shocking. And some of the treatments themselves! Omg treating someone who has stomach problems with turpentine?! How barbaric! And to think, if those surgeons, who were removing limbs in rapid succession, had only stopped to wash their hands now and again, the number of dead would have been hugely reduced. But of course, antiseptics, and their benefit in surgeries, had not yet been discovered in the early 1860's by great men of science and medicine, like Pasteur and Lister. It's mind-boggling to think how far treatments have come.

[Peggy]

Indeed, so many lives saved by such a small thing. Your comment on how barbaric it was and how far we've come makes me wonder wether 150 years from now our quite sophisticated methods will also be considered 'barbaric' in a way. Less so than we look back at the 19th century probably, but perhaps people also say 'I'm so glad I didn't need surgery in 2015!!'

[Tasha]

I have a big gripe with big pharma so I'm thinking we may all be looking back and saying we were hugely mistaken about all the pills doctors are putting people on these days. haha! I think we may be going back to the more natural forms of treatment. just my 2 cents. :D

But yes, simple things like washing hands!! I cringed when I read that part. If they had only known!!

[Tammy]

Wow, just finished the riviting, yet heart breaking chapter 18. I wonder how many doctors found themselves in the same situation as Dr. Still. Many I'm sure.

[Ann]

That was my favourite part of the book, without a doubt! It was heart-stopping!

[Tammy]

Just finished chapter 33. Jenny (view spoiler)[ has her baby with much trial. I have often wondered what I would do if I needed to do a symphysectomy - the procedure described as performed by Mary. Cutting through that cartilage between the pubic bones can not be easy. Thank goodness for our medical advances since the Civil War. Hard to imagine there are countries in the world today where this is still performed. (hide spoiler)]

[Tasha]

I didn't even realize that was an actual option! Amazing.

[Ann]

Tasha wrote: "I didn't even realize that was an actual option! Amazing."

Nor did I! I wonder if they still do that procedure? I had two babies by ceasarian section becuz their heads were larger than my pelvic arch would allow. I had no idea that the bones could be separated in this manner. But I doubt it would have made a difference...I still would have opted for the ceasarian. I would imagine the recovery time on a symphysectomy would have been alot longer...

[Tammy]

I finished My Name is Mary Sutter. I really enjoyed it. I am partial to historical fiction. Being a midwife, I was particularly drawn to her desire to better her knowledge and have more to offer. How tragic that only a few years after the war Lister found out about hand washing ( a major premise of healthcare still today), such loss could have been avoided.

I had recently heard about Mary Todd Linciln's connection to spiritualism, found it interesting that it was included here.

This was my first buddy read- enjoyed reading with you all.

[Ann]

It was my first buddy read also! It was fun!

[Tasha]

CanadAnn wrote: "Tasha wrote: "I didn't even realize that was an actual option! Amazing."

Nor did I! I wonder if they still do that procedure? I had two babies by ceasarian section becuz their heads were larger th..."

Sorry, just saw this. I can't imagine the recovery from that kind of procedure. Especially with a newborn hanging around!

[Tasha]

Tammy wrote: "I finished My Name is Mary Sutter. I really enjoyed it. I am partial to historical fiction. Being a midwife, I was particularly drawn to her desire to better her knowledge and have m..."

I think I missed that part about Mary Lincoln. There is a book on my tbr about her, I hope they mention the spiritualism!

[Tasha]

It was a great buddy read. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it as well. :)