"My Name Is Mary Sutter" by Robin Oliviera

"My Name Is Mary Sutter" was a great book!  This book takes place in the 1860's and from the  beginning I found the characters  endearing and I wanted to know more about them.  The main character, Mary Sutter, is a highly respected midwife living in Albany New York.  Her mom Amelia is also a midwife and has taught her everything she knows.  Mary wants to take the next step and become a doctor but the medical colleges will not accept her as she is a woman.  The Civil War starts and she thrusts herself into the chaos of caring for wounded soldiers in an unorganized, filthy dilapidated hotel turned military hospital.  She learns on the fly how to amputate a limbs, goes in the field to the battles and has to pick who can be saved and who should be left to die.

My favorite part of the book is Abraham Lincoln.  He enters the book as one of the main characters about half way through.  We hear about the war from him and his perspective which was fascinating..purely fictional though. 

I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you like medical drama.  Although there is no overtly gory spots in this book the author does certainly get the point across.

Hmmmm...what to read next!???

"My Name Is Mary Sutter" by Robin Olivieri

"My Name Is Mary Sutter" is about a young woman in the 1860's who wants to go to medical school but is not allowed.  Mary's mom is a midwife and has trained Mary to be one as well. Mary's thirst for education during a time when women were not educated and the begining of the civil war provides the backdrop for this book.  I know I always say it..but since I'm a history buff this book sounds right up my alley!!

More soon!!!

"Elizabeth 1" by Margaret George

I have finally finished "Elizabeth 1"!  Yay me!  Margaret George did a fantastic job of taking historical facts and blending them with her amazing gift of story telling.  I never once found myself wanting to skip a chapter in this 700 + page book.  Quite a feat! 

I am fascinated with the monarchy of England and am naturally drawn to books about them.  This book is about Henry VIII's second daughter to be Queen, Elizabeth.  She is the daughter of Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn.  Interestingly, she is protestant and continues  England on that religious path.  The previous Queen, Elizabeth's half sister Mary, tried to bring catholicism back to England.  There was much religious unrest in England during Henry VIII and then Mary's reigns.  Elizabeth's reign was known as the "Golden Age" in which she provided strength, fidelity and peace throughout England.  Her life was not without great sacrifice and she did so with love in her heart for the country she ruled, England.

"Elizabeth 1" by Margaret George

  

I have just started Elizabeth 1 and it just may take me all summer as it is about 700 pages long!  The story starts out later in Queen Elizabeth's life when Spain is trying to invade England and bring Catholicism back as the national religion.  As we know, they do not succeed. 

More later when I have read further!

"Love Wins" by Rob Bell

"Love Wins" by Rob Bell.  Thoughts on heaven, hell and where we go when die.  Should be a very interesting read to say the least!!! 

"Revolution"

I can now add European history to my list of things to learn more about!!!  "Revolution" takes place in present day New York City and also in Paris during the French Revolution.  It took a while to get moving but once it did, just under half way, I couldn't put it down! 

The story is about Andi who is tortured by the death of her younger brother.  Her family has fallen apart and she spends her days barely getting by by taking too many anti-depressants to numb the pain, not going to school and wishing she was dead.  The only thing that gets her out of bed is the guitar lessons given by a beloved teacher named Nathan.  She is a very talented guitar player and only lives through her music.  On the verge of getting kicked out of school, she is forced to go to Paris with her absent father for winter break. where she to write her senior thesis.  While in Paris, her fathers friend gives her antique guitar to play.  In the guitar case she finds a diary written by a girl named Alex.  The diary chronicles Alex's life during the French Revolution.  Andi and Alex's lives, although different, find commonality in loosing loved ones, struggling to survive, and trying to find hope in living life each day.

I highly recommend this book! 

"The Lamb's Supper" by Scott Hahn

"The Lamb's Supper" is beyond words.  The book details the Catholic Mass and the reasons we celebrate it.  I'm excited to read more of Scott Hahn!!!!

"Room" by Emma Donoghue

"Room" by Emma Donoghue is a haunting book.  The book is told by Jack, a 5 year old boy who lives in one room with his Mom.  His Mom was kidnapped in her early 20's and during the time she is being held she has Jack.  

Although it is a tough subject to read about the book is never violent.  The wondrous life Jack's Mom gives him in Room allows him to grow and learn like most 5 year olds.  They have school time, phys ed, cook their meals and have bath time all in Room.  They have a TV to pass the time but Jack thinks that what is on TV is from different planets.  He doesn't understand that there is life outside of Room.

I enjoyed "Room" and loved the innocent and literal way Jack sees the world.  Definitely different than anything I have ever read!

"The Gift Of An Ordinary Day"

"The Gift Of An Ordinary Day" was a heartfelt memoir by a woman at a crossroads in life.  The author is in her late 40's and finds herself feeling unsettled.  The next few years in her life she uproots her family from the home they have lived in for more than 10 years to build their "dream" home in the country far from family and friends.  She learns many life lessons during the time they are building the house.  Lessons primarily focused on her being a Mom of 2 growing boys.

There were many places in the book where I understood and identified with the author, Katrina. The pains of a mothers heart unifies us mothers as our children grow up and move onto lives of their own.  That time is hard on us parents.  As I am soon facing that time in my own life with our oldest child a junior in high school, what others at my book club felt like was winy..I felt like crying right along with the author.  There's a mortality to a parent's place in their child's life.  Our relationship with our children grows and evolves as they grow and although I will always be my children's Mom, I am no longer an infant's Mom, a toddler's Mom, or a preschoolers Mom.  I think instead of focusing on being sad about that and my kiddos getting older I will try to remind myself that I am Trent's Mom, Colleen's Mom and Meghan's Mom..no matter what their age or where they are in life.