Welcome to Litsy!

Two prompts in one! Mary wants to join the ranks of Civil War #doctors but she meets resistance from her family, from society, and from the medical establishment. #titlewithpersonsname #artfulaugust

Mary Sutter is a midwife determined to become a surgeon but gets more than she bargained for when she goes to work tending the wounded of the Civil War. Mary is fierce and vulnerable all at once, and Oliveira somehow manages to bring the whole of the Civil War to life with an “army” of fully realized supporting characters. Thoroughly researched and beautifully and authentically told, this book is everything I love about historical fiction.

Wrapping up my #StayHome24in48 with another chapter of Mary Sutter. I‘m sure I didn‘t come even close to reading for 24 hours, but I read enough to meet my very modest goal of .....breaking the perpetual news scrolling anxiety/depression cycle. #24in48

This book was full of contradictory choices:

*Life vs. Death
*Responsibility vs. Family
*Desire vs. Need
*Research of causes vs. Instant reaction
*Modern medicine vs. Butchery

And I loved traveling through each decision with Mary. It is written to uncover the unsanitary truth of Civil War nursing. If you enjoyed the rawness of Cold Mountain, you will enjoy My Name is Mary Sutter.

Mary yearned to hear the wail of a newborn, a sound as unlike the scrape of the saw as a symphony was from cannon fire.

Redolent with fragrance, the summer morning shimmered with that clarity of light peculiar to midsummer, when everyone, human and animal alike, lets down his guard and is seduced by tranquility.

Perhaps he had died of fright, or of the percussion waves of the artillery invading his body.

Phenomenal writing!!

Five days, and still the battle hadn't begun, though this morning festive sightseers in a contingent of buggies and barouches had rolled past in the direction of Centreville, champagne bottles protruding from laden picnic baskets.

First battle of Bull Run/Manassas.

Every woman is royal when she is having a child, whether her family owns a brass foundry or not.

This book is chock-full of lovely quotes. I'm loving it. I hope I don't aggravate anyone with my quotes.

The idle talk of other people always perplexed her; her mind was usually occupied by things that no one else thought of: the structure of the pelvis, the fast beat of a healthy fetus heart, or the slow meander of an unhealthy one, or a baby who had failed to breathe.

Centuries of wisdom resided in Amelia's muscles.

Lines radiated from his eyes, a product, Mary believed, of an abundance of happiness.

#IsolationInteractions @TheKidUpstairs

@Mtroiano Meredith, I need a new book and decided the first book that had a decent quote on p. 14 will be my next read. It took 8 books. LOL!!

Charm had won him everything in life, it seemed, including his mother's adoration.

Hope you have a great day.

A very good book about a woman determined to be a surgeon in Civil War times. She will let nothing and no one stop her and it costs her dearly!!!

Two different covers from one of my favourite Civil War reads, which definitely has a #rebelgirl. Well ahead of her time and plenty of pluck, a very enjoyable read all round! Recommended #fiercefeb

Working my way through my very old Kindle to-read list whilst on vacation.

The whole time reading this I felt it would make a great movie (more mini series) #thisshouldbeamovie PBS does have Mercy Street, which I still have to watch - but would love to see Mary Sutter on the screen!

First of all, I can't believe I've only read eight of these 100 books about the Civil War. Be that as it may, I enjoyed this one, about an intrepid young woman who goes off to war against her family's wishes to try to become a doctor. Mary is not a warm and fuzzy heroine, but the story is intriguing and compelling. Be advised there are a few gruesome scenes.