Women of Magdalene
Registered by 
perryfran
of Elk Grove, California USA on 3/16/2008
This book is in a Controlled Release!
perryfran of Elk Grove, California USA on 3/16/2008 This book is in a Controlled Release!
9 journalers for this copy...
Amazon Editorial Review:
Young Dr. Robert Mallory, fresh from three blood-soaked years as a field surgeon on the battlefields of the Civil War, makes his way on foot to the Magdalene Ladies’ Lunatic Asylum to assume his duties as the resident general practitioner. When he recovers the body of a young patient in a nearby river, the callous indifference of the authorities disturbs him. He soon finds that mistreatment of the patients is commonplace and that the doctors who run the asylum have little interest in treating the patients—many of whom have no mental disability but have been abandoned there by their families. Before Dr. Mallory can expose the abuse of patients at the facility, and the misogyny and racism at its core, another patient is found dead. Kingston hastily blames a young “Negress” employed by the asylum and shoots her lover and her on the spot. After she is locked up and charged with the murder of a white woman, she is taken from her cell and lynched. Mallory is determined to expose Kingston and exonerate the girl, but Kingston has other plans. Lushly evocative, written with elegance and beauty, this novel is a richly satisfying story of that long-vanished world of slavery and southern gentility.
Young Dr. Robert Mallory, fresh from three blood-soaked years as a field surgeon on the battlefields of the Civil War, makes his way on foot to the Magdalene Ladies’ Lunatic Asylum to assume his duties as the resident general practitioner. When he recovers the body of a young patient in a nearby river, the callous indifference of the authorities disturbs him. He soon finds that mistreatment of the patients is commonplace and that the doctors who run the asylum have little interest in treating the patients—many of whom have no mental disability but have been abandoned there by their families. Before Dr. Mallory can expose the abuse of patients at the facility, and the misogyny and racism at its core, another patient is found dead. Kingston hastily blames a young “Negress” employed by the asylum and shoots her lover and her on the spot. After she is locked up and charged with the murder of a white woman, she is taken from her cell and lynched. Mallory is determined to expose Kingston and exonerate the girl, but Kingston has other plans. Lushly evocative, written with elegance and beauty, this novel is a richly satisfying story of that long-vanished world of slavery and southern gentility.
Just finished this very engaging historical novel set shortly after the Civil War. It was a very gripping story about a Civil War doctor, Robert Mallory, who had seen it all on the battlefield, who goes to work at a women's asylum in Louisiana. From the start, Mallory feels something is amiss at the asylum that is run by a Dr. Kingston who holds the patients there in contempt and who has a very low opinion of women in general. Early upon his arrival, Kingston states "Without a man's intellectual and physical resources, what have women but cunning? And spite. It's a man's duty to manage woman, just as he holds dominion over the livestock, though brood mares and dairy cows are often better tempered than our God-given helpmeets." As the novel progresses the true evil of Kingston emerges. I thought this novel was brilliantly written -- the language and voice used to tell the story were very much in line with the language of that era. The story touches on some very disturbing themes including not only the injustices towards the women in the asylum and women in general, but also toward the recently freed slaves in the South. Poole-Carter's elegant prose captures the time period beautifully.
Journal Entry 4 by perryfran at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Friday, March 19, 2010
perryfran at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Friday, March 19, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (3/19/2010 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed to lauraloo29 in Canada to start this bookray. Enjoy!
Mailed to lauraloo29 in Canada to start this bookray. Enjoy!
Arrived safe and sound today. I'm in the middle of another bookring. I will keep this one moving. Thank you!
I finished this book last night. It grabbed my interest quickly at the beginning and throughout the story. The last 1/3 though I found dissatisfying. And the ending I did not like. I didn't connect or feel empathy for the characters, although I did like the writing style, and thought it captured the period of time well.
There was much injustice, and perhaps that is how it needed to end (I'm not saying I needed a happy ending, just perhaps not this one). I finished the book feeling it was all quite hopeless.
Thank you for sharing. It will be on its way to Europe this weekend.
Apr 17 - had to send surface - nearly $30 for airmail!
There was much injustice, and perhaps that is how it needed to end (I'm not saying I needed a happy ending, just perhaps not this one). I finished the book feeling it was all quite hopeless.
Thank you for sharing. It will be on its way to Europe this weekend.
Apr 17 - had to send surface - nearly $30 for airmail!
This arrived here in the Alps today - I believe it's a ring but as I can't see the other entries for the time being I'm not entirely sure. Hope to get to this soon. thanks so much for making available and sending.
Journal Entry 8 by 
penelopewanders
at Bookring, .---controlled release---. Switzerland on Friday, June 11, 2010
penelopewanders at Bookring, .---controlled release---. Switzerland on Friday, June 11, 2010
Set in the post civil-war era, an intriguing beginning tale which swept me up in its sultry atmosphere. Brought to mind the clinginess of clothing in tropical climes, an almost suffocating closeness. The hero is quite the anti-hero and his ineffectual strivings are rather frustrating, but not all books can have a happy end. This being said, perhaps the ending is as happy as it could be, given the hero's personal code of ethics/conscience and the fate of the heroine?
Journal Entry 9 by penelopewanders at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 14, 2010
penelopewanders at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 14, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (6/14/2010 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Now on its way to the UK, thanks so much for making this available. Enjoy!
Arrived today. Am adding to my TBR pile and will get to reading it ASAP
Have just started to read this book, but I'm already hooked. Shouldn't be long until its on its way again!
Often deeply moving, I found this book hard to put down. It was extremly thought-provoking and gave a good insight into the time when it was set.
I have the address for the next person in the ring, so I'll hopefull be able get the book on its way later today
Journal Entry 13 by abigailann at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, July 15, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (7/15/2010 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Put in the post earlier today
Received today - bit of a holdup as it arrived when I was out of town and had to retrieve it from the Post Office. Looking forward to starting and passing it on!
I have to admit that I didn't particularly love the book, though it was a quick and easy read. It actually reminded me a great deal of Rose Tremain's Restoration, although I loved that book and this one just passed the time! I didn't particularly connect with any of the characters and thought that much of the "mysteries" of the various characters' pasts were unsurprising and possibly a bit expected. I didn't acutely dislike the book, but it failed to touch me and left me wishing I had a copy of Restoration on hand :)
Controlled release for the next stop in this Book Ring.
The book has arrived safely. I will start to read it at the weekend.
I really enjoyed the book which was rich in historical details and did connect with the main characters.
Thank you for sharing it with me.
Thank you for sharing it with me.
Posted on!
Safe with me. I'll be abroad till the end of october. Let me know if it's too late to read it in november.
It was an interesting reading and I'm glad not to live in that time when women were part of the furniture...
PMing Toyjoy.
PMing Toyjoy.
Journal Entry 22 by 
Icila
at La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Pays de la Loire France on Friday, January 21, 2011
Icila at La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Pays de la Loire France on Friday, January 21, 2011
Released 13 yrs ago (1/21/2011 UTC) at La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Pays de la Loire France
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
In its way to USA.
Arrived today. I will finish it after my current read. I am PMing the next participant now so that I have the address when I am ready to ship. Thanks for sharing!
Captivating book, but sad story. Sending on Monday as I have the next participants address. Thanks for including me.
Released 13 yrs ago (2/14/2011 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Thanks
received in the mail today. I have two books in front of this one. Thanks so much for sending and including me.
I have started reading today and am about 1/3 of the way through and enjoying it very much. Since I am the last I will pass on to someone else. Will journal again when through.
Thank you so much for including me in this ray. I felt the story was quite interesting. The characters were very believable, if not all likable. I will pass this on to a friend.
gave to a friend.
Will give to friend to read.
This book is now available.
Gave to a friend.
