I found this an enjoyable read. It is a historical novel that takes place in Baltimore MD following the Civil War. The building of Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the advances in medicine are a significant part of the story. The main character, Susie Slagle becomes a friend of Johns Hopkins and shares his desire to have the university and the hospital built.
Although that is a part of the story, Susie's interactions with her parents and the two colored workers in her household, and with her boyfriend really are the heart of the story.
I developed an instant dislike for her mother, a selfish self-centered woman, a warm affection for her father, a kind gentle forbearing man, and a liking for the colored cook/housekeeper and her nephew who was the coachman/butler.
The author uses the dialect of the colored people when they talk. Some people may feel that to be racist, and I admit it probably is, but it did give a picture of their personalities that may have been difficult to establish without it. Despite their speech patterns Mattie and Hizer were intelligent and practical in their own way and I had to admire how they handled situations for Susie and her father to keep the peace.
The feelings of the sympathizers of the confederacy (Susie's mother and her women friends) are pointed out very strongly. Baltimore apparently declared itself neutral but many who lived there were confederate at heart. Lee may have surrendered but in their hearts they had not. Getting over the war was a trying time for everyone.
New words: second-day dress, busybody.
Other than the main character Susie the author gave the women in the story very little signs of intelligence. I am sure the culture of the time had a lot to do with that. They were coddled and overprotected by the men and as a result behaved childishly spoiled. It took a lot of brave intelligent women to overcome that and get us women where we are today.
A good book about a bygone era. I enjoyed it very much.
Some parts of this I liked, such as the information about the hospital and the relationship between Susie and Johns Hopkins, but I struggled with the assumptions about Blacks and women and the overall writing style.
I didn't mind the use of the dialect of the Blacks, I like to be able to hear in my head. On the other hand, I really disliked the commentary on them and their "natural traits".
Like B- I also took a strong dislike to Susie's mother, but I wasn't that keen on her father either. I don't believe the man should be the strength of a family, but I also don't believe he should pander to an illogical and selfish wife. It seems there could have been a happy medium. It is amazing the two of them brought a Susie to the world.
All in all, I struggled to finish. I just kept getting frustrated with the characters and events and the way people were portrayed.
2 comments:
I found this an enjoyable read. It is a historical novel that takes place in Baltimore MD following the Civil War. The building of Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the advances in medicine are a significant part of the story. The main character, Susie Slagle becomes a friend of Johns Hopkins and shares his desire to have the university and the hospital built.
Although that is a part of the story, Susie's interactions with her parents and the two colored workers in her household, and with her boyfriend really are the heart of the story.
I developed an instant dislike for her mother, a selfish self-centered woman, a warm affection for her father, a kind gentle forbearing man, and a liking for the colored cook/housekeeper and her nephew who was the coachman/butler.
The author uses the dialect of the colored people when they talk. Some people may feel that to be racist, and I admit it probably is, but it did give a picture of their personalities that may have been difficult to establish without it. Despite their speech patterns Mattie and Hizer were intelligent and practical in their own way and I had to admire how they handled situations for Susie and her father to keep the peace.
The feelings of the sympathizers of the confederacy (Susie's mother and her women friends) are pointed out very strongly. Baltimore apparently declared itself neutral but many who lived there were confederate at heart. Lee may have surrendered but in their hearts they had not. Getting over the war was a trying time for everyone.
New words: second-day dress, busybody.
Other than the main character Susie the author gave the women in the story very little signs of intelligence. I am sure the culture of the time had a lot to do with that. They were coddled and overprotected by the men and as a result behaved childishly spoiled. It took a lot of brave intelligent women to overcome that and get us women where we are today.
A good book about a bygone era. I enjoyed it very much.
Some parts of this I liked, such as the information about the hospital and the relationship between Susie and Johns Hopkins, but I struggled with the assumptions about Blacks and women and the overall writing style.
I didn't mind the use of the dialect of the Blacks, I like to be able to hear in my head. On the other hand, I really disliked the commentary on them and their "natural traits".
Like B- I also took a strong dislike to Susie's mother, but I wasn't that keen on her father either. I don't believe the man should be the strength of a family, but I also don't believe he should pander to an illogical and selfish wife. It seems there could have been a happy medium. It is amazing the two of them brought a Susie to the world.
All in all, I struggled to finish. I just kept getting frustrated with the characters and events and the way people were portrayed.
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