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Mary Toft; Or, the Rabbit Queen
Mary Toft; Or, the Rabbit Queen: A Novel | Dexter Clarence Palmer
18 posts | 13 read | 28 to read
From the highly acclaimed author of Version Control a stunning, powerfully evocative new novel based on a true story--in 1726 in the small town of Godalming, England, a young woman confounds the medical community by giving birth to dead rabbits. Surgeon John Howard is a rational man. His apprentice Zachary knows John is reluctant to believe anything that purports to exist outside the realm of logic. But even John cannot explain how or why Mary Toft, the wife of a local farmer, manages to give birth to a dead rabbit. When this singular event becomes a regular occurrence, John realizes that nothing in his experience as a village physician has prepared him to deal with a situation as disturbing as this. He writes to several preeminent surgeons in London, three of whom quickly arrive in the small town of Godalming ready to observe and opine. When Mary's plight reaches the attention of King George, Mary and her doctors are summoned to London, where Zachary experiences for the first time a world apart from his small-town existence, and is exposed to some of the darkest corners of the human soul. All the while, Mary lies in bed, waiting for another birth, as doubts begin to blossom among the surgeons and a growing group of onlookers grow impatient for another miracle...
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julesG
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Bailedbailed

After having read The Butchering Art, I attempted the ARC of Mary Toft.

Based on a true story, I still can't fathom why MT did it (psychologically and physically) and how she managed to dupe so many physicians.

The way the author presents John Howard at the beginning of the story, Howard should have seen the obvious signs and caught the Tofts out.

I bailed at 37%.

#ARC #NetGalley #MountARC

squirrelbrain Oh, that doesn‘t sound good…this is still on my #netgalley list. 3y
julesG @squirrelbrain There are lots of positive reviews. It might be just me being too picky. 3y
50 likes2 comments
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Soscha
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I‘m about 55 pages in, and sort of wish I hadn‘t googled this. Mary Toft was indeed a real person.

I could guess how this story would play out, but I think I would have preferred the mystery of it.

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Suet624
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Pickpick

Finished the book this week and, like Gracie, I‘m still thinking deep thoughts about it. Mary Toft giving birth to rabbits? A fictionalized account of an actual event, this book offered a subtle humor throughout, fully detailed characters, reflections on a woman‘s place in the 1700‘s, medical standards, and a focus on medical oddities and attention seekers. The writing itself was 👍👏🏼👏🏼. Just a fun romp. Thanks to #tob2020 4 bringing it 2 me.

MicheleinPhilly Gracie‘s like “WHAT was that?” ❤️ 4y
Suet624 @MicheleinPhilly Haha. I wish I could remember the question I had asked her, but it was a complicated relationship question. She was completely lost in thought at the moment trying to figure out the answer. Leander never even tries to answer, but Gracie always gives it a go. 😍 4y
batsy Great review! But those rosy cheeks are distracting me. What a cutie ❤️ 4y
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Tanisha_A She does seem to be deep in a thought. 😍 4y
LeahBergen Those cheeks. 💕 4y
Mdargusch Such a cutie pie! 4y
53 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Suet624
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Several years ago I read Version Control, a novel by this author, for the Tournament of Books. While I liked the concept and certain parts of Version Control, I wasn‘t over the moon about it. Fast forward to this year and Palmer is again on the shortlist of the Tournament of Books with Mary Toft. It‘s amazing how different the writing and humor are from one book to the next. The subtle humor, in particular, has been delightful.

BarbaraBB Looking forward to this one! 4y
Suet624 @BarbaraBB as you can tell, I‘m enjoying it! 4y
BarbaraBB That‘s why 💕 4y
63 likes1 stack add3 comments
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TheLibrarian
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Picked these two up at a local indie bookstore. I buy from them at least once a month to support local business.

#bookhaul

Reviewsbylola Omg I read about the rabbit birth a few months ago. Stacking—what a great cover! 4y
TheLibrarian @Reviewsbylola It sounds so interesting and I agree about the cover! 4y
86 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Redwritinghood
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Pickpick

This fictionalization of the real case of Mary Toft was a great read for #tob2020. There were a couple of places where I thought the story wandered off a bit, but overall this is a good look at the power of faith and belief to fool even ourselves. Also highlighted here is the war between science and religion at that time, as well as the state of the medical profession which was just starting to attain some real understanding of the human body. 4⭐️

readordierachel This sounds so interesting. Very much looking forward to it. 4y
BarbaraBB Echoing @readordierachel I am planning on reading it soon too! 4y
thebluestocking I‘m glad you enjoyed this!! It really worked for me. It‘ll be interesting to see how it plays in the tournament. 💙 4y
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Suet624 Speaking of wandering off, I could have done without that part about the bull and the cat eater. Why do you think he put that in there? 4y
Redwritinghood @Suet624 The only reason I could think of was to end his infatuation with the girl. He didn‘t like her after that. I could have done without that part too. 4y
Suet624 Your idea makes sense. Also just to highlight the horrors of what London offered. (edited) 4y
74 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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teresareads

Which of us does not have a devil that lives inside of us, whispering not what is true, but what we wish to believe, out of innocence or cupidity or a hundred other reasons? We must remain ever vigilant against that demon, ever on watch against his pleasing music.

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thebluestocking
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really loved this weird fictional retelling of a real woman in 18th century England who birthed rabbits. The way Palmer wove the story together was impeccable. The actual plot and characters were immersive on their own, but there was an additional layer that explored what it means to be human, how women‘s bodies are treated, and how the truth is established. Timely and well done. #tob2020 #tob

76 likes4 stack adds
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LindaGrace812
Pickpick

I am just... I mean... What the... Just wow! This book is a mix of perfectly routine historical fiction, medical mystery, and yuck! I wish I could take the day off to finish it! 😁

LindaGrace812 I loved this book! It uses the story of Mary Toft (who gave birth to rabbits) to explore the ideas of truth, of how women‘s bodies are treated - as vessels, as property, as voids that men must fill - and of power. It is skillfully written and I wish I could thank the author, Dexter Palmer, for taking me on this journey. 4y
11 likes1 comment
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
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Pickpick

So very good!
1726 England - a woman claims she gives birth to rabbits, thus duping the medical community and starting a sensation.
Good character development also with the initial attending surgeon and his apprentice, and their experiences in going to London from a rural community amidst this scandal.
The writing is excellent, and the story engaging. Based on an actual event! Recommend!
⚠️ animal harm

monalyisha This is on my list but I may avoid it thanks to your trigger warning! I don‘t know if I could read this with Moxie lying beside me! 4y
IndoorDame Great review. I‘m excited to hear this was good! I picked this up recently but didn‘t buy it because I was worried it might be too out there for me, but I love that it‘s based on an actual event! 4y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @monalyisha I‘m usually not deterred (though I don‘t enjoy it) but it gets fairly gruesome in parts. 4y
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @IndoorDame Thanks! I really enjoyed it, and the author stuck to many colloquialisms and language from the 1700s, which I liked. It was a fascinating read for me. 4y
monalyisha I‘m not usually deterred, either, but rabbits are a special case. 🐇 4y
readordierachel I'm intrigued! This sounds so interesting. 4y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @readordierachel It was the cover that got me! 😂😟😯 4y
readordierachel Omg, I *just* the noticed the rabbits running out from under her skirt! 😮 4y
54 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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thebluestocking
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I love this kind of promise early on in a book. 💙

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quirkyreader
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Pickpick

Oh my! Here is the link to my gr review. Thank you at @penguinrandomhouse @penguinusa @PenguinRandomCa for this one.

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Well-ReadNeck
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Pickpick

Lots of depth to this historical fiction featuring the true story of a woman who claimed to give birth to rabbits. Awesomely weird.

BarbaraBB Sounds great, to be read soon! 4y
108 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
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Christmas book haul! ❤️❤️😍😍❤️❤️ Want to read everything right now.
Have already started the tagged book. 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️
My rainbow tree makes me happy 🌈 It was originally for a “Christmas in the Summer” party for our son, and we love it so much that we put it up every year.

Bookzombie Nice stack! 4y
HeathHof Beautiful pic! 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome ❤️❤️❤️ 4y
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erzascarletbookgasm Happy stack! 4y
cariashley Awesome! I‘ve only read Billy Lynn - it‘s excellent! 4y
LeahBergen Nice haul! 👏🏻👏🏻 4y
Reggie Nice haul and Sea of Rust is soooo good!!! 4y
59 likes7 comments
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Godpants
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Sooo I should be reading Underland right now, since my hold is due and the line for it is HUGE, but I‘m feeling way more in the mood for this weird one.

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Dvd

This looks like just the read to fall into.

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quirkyreader
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#bookmail. I won this as a goodreads giveaway. Thank you @Penguinpress @PenguinRandomCa

LeahBergen Lucky you! 👏🏻👏🏻 4y
28 likes2 comments
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GerardtheBookworm
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Pickpick

A historical, literary fiction based on a bizarre medical anomaly. In 1726, in a rural town of England, a farmer's wife gives birth several times to dead rabbits. Baffling the medical community, this strange occurence attracts the attention of bystanders and doctors as the question the chance of a divine miracle or something sinister? Based on a true story.