Tag: Reading Challenges

#BookReview The Physician’s Daughter by Martha Conway

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The Physician's DaughterAbout the Book

It is 1865, the American Civil War has just ended, and 18-year old Vita Tenney is determined to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a country doctor like her father. But when her father tells her she must get married instead, Vita explores every means of escape – and finds one in the person of war veteran Jacob Culhane.

Damaged by what he’s seen in battle and with all his family gone, Jacob is seeking investors for a fledgling business. Then he meets Vita – and together they hatch a plan that should satisfy both their desires. Months later, Vita seemingly has everything she ever wanted. But alone in a big city and haunted by the mistakes of her past, she wonders if the life she always thought she wanted was too good to be true. When love starts to compete with ambition, what will come out on top?

Format: Hardback (480 pages)      Publisher: Zaffre
Publication date: 3rd March 2022 Genre: Historical Fiction

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My Review

I was first introduced to Martha Conway’s writing when I read The Floating Theatre back in 2017. There are echoes of the theme of that book, a young woman having to make her own way in the world, in The Physician’s Daughter.  A neat touch is the inclusion at the beginning of each chapter of quotations from books and periodicals dating from the period. Some of these are laugh out loud funny for their outrageously outdated views on the role of women and the ‘trials’ of marriage.

I confess I found the book very slow to begin within.  For me the most compelling part was Jacob’s story. I felt his experiences during the Civil War and its aftermath allowed the author to explore the impact of war not just on the individuals involved but on their loved ones. For Jacob, the memories of what he saw and endured as a prisoner of war have taken a heavy psychological and emotional toll. ‘He woke up shaking and sweating, his heart thundering in his chest.’ (I’ll confess the existence of the Confederate prison of war camp at Andersonville and the atrocities that went on there was new to me.) Although the project he and his friend, killed during the war, planned to pursue together provides him with a degree of focus, he is resigned to leading a rather solitary life… until he meets Vita.

I admired Vita’s determination to follow her dream in spite of the opposition of her father and the limitations placed on women’s independence by society. The spiteful remarks of her sister, Amelia, don’t help either. At times I became frustrated that Vita was so easily swayed by the comments of others, often just snatches of overheard conversations. Having arrived at an arrangement that might offer the freedom she seeks, her misinterpretation of a chance remark results in her making a series of rash decisions. There were a number of occasions where I wanted to say ‘Vita, don’t do that!’ or ‘You’ve got it all wrong’.

Vita’s family has also been affected by the war. Her father is consumed by thoughts of what might have been and, ironically, Vita’s ambition to become a doctor, following in his own footsteps, only makes his anguish worse. Meanwhile Vita’s mother seeks other ways to dull the pain of loss whilst being more supportive of Vita’s desire to make something more of her life than just marriage and motherhood.

Vita definitely grows as a character as the book progresses. In particular, she is very open to acknowledging her strengths and weaknesses, recognising that there is more to being a doctor than memorising conditions and medication; listening – really listening – to your patients is important too.  This really comes home to her in some dramatic scenes towards the end of the book.

The outcome I’d hoped for eventually does come about and the book concludes on a hopeful note. I was left with the sense that although Vita’s pursuit of her ambition is going to be an uphill task with the right support she will get there.

I received an advance review copy courtesy of Zaffre via NetGalley.

In three words: Engaging, well-researched, detailed

Try something similar: The Unquiet Heart by Kaite Welsh

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MarthaConwayAbout the Author

Martha Conway is the author of several novels including The Underground River, which was a New York Times Book Editor’s Choice (entitled The Floating Theatre in the U.K.). Her novel Thieving Forest won the North American Book Award for Best Historical Fiction.

Born in Ohio and one of seven sisters, she now makes her home in California.

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#BlogTour #BookReview #Giveaway The Lost Boy of Bologna by Francesca Scanacapra @rararesources

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The Lost Boy of BolognaWelcome to the opening day of the blog tour for The Lost Boy of Bologna by Francesca Scanacapra. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to take part in the tour and for my digital review copy. Do check out the post by my tour buddy for today, David at David’s Book Blurg.

WinI’m delighted to say there’s a (UK only) giveaway with a chance to win one of five paperback copies of The Lost Boy of Bologna. Enter via Rafflecopter here.

Giveaway Terms and Conditions –

  1. UK entries only.
  2. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.
  3. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email.
  4. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner.
  5. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.
  6. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

The Lost Boy of BolognaAbout the Book

Bologna, 1929. A newborn baby boy is abandoned by his desperate unmarried mother, who believes he is dead and that she is to blame. Heartbroken, she leaves her child, accepting that her actions will haunt her for the rest of her days. But unbeknown to her, the kindness of a stranger means the starving baby survives. And so begins the extraordinary life of Rinaldo Scamorza…

Following several years in an orphanage, where Rinaldo still holds onto the hope that his mother will come to claim him, he is entrusted to a heartless foster-mother who treats her charges as nothing more than financial opportunities. Yet amidst the cruelty and violence of this loveless environment Rinaldo meets fellow orphan, Evelina, and the two children create a bond which they believe will never be broken.

Rinaldo holds tight to the few people who show him love, and he becomes a loyal, intelligent and kind boy. But his life is shattered when aged barely 13, Evelina is sold into prostitution by their foster-mother. As he grows up and becomes more resourceful, he finds work as an errand boy in a brothel, where he encounters Evelina once again. But in his efforts to help her escape her life of exploitation, another dark misfortune pulls them apart and she disappears.

When at last Italy begins to emerge from the shadows of World War II and Bologna’s economy recovers, Rinaldo uses his intimate knowledge of the city to change his life for the better. But through everything, the successes and the moments of loneliness and misery, the women he yearns to see again – Evelina and his mother – are always on his mind…

Format: Paperback (288 pages)  Publisher: Silvertail Books
Publication date: 4th April 2022 Genre: Historical Fiction

Find The Lost Boy of Bologna on Goodreads

Purchase links
Hive | Amazon UK
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My Review

The book description tells you pretty much everything you need to know about the plot, except how events will eventually play out for Rinaldo and Evelina.  Rinaldo’s experiences once he leaves the orphanage have the air of the picaresque as he comes into contact with all sorts of colourful characters (my favourite being an old down and out very attached to his broom). Cleverly, the significance of Rinaldo’s seemingly random encounters only becomes apparent towards the end of the book, even if some of these fall into what I call the ‘Casablanca category’ – “Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.”

Some of the most powerful scenes for me were those involving Evelina, so much so the book could just as well have been titled The Lost Girl of Bologna. The author really brings to life, in unflinching detail, the cruelty and depravity that those without the protection of family or friends can be subjected to, especially young women.  But there is also the unexpected kindness of strangers; in one particular case, a kindness that will bring its own reward.

Eventually Rinaldo’s fortunes change courtesy of a combination of luck and his own entrepreneurial spirit. His unique business idea – many decades ahead of its time – made me chuckle.

Those familiar with the city of Bologna will enjoy the descriptions of its streets, squares and notable buildings and those who are not will be probably be adding a visit to the city to their bucket list. The Lost Boy of Bologna is billed as the first book of the ‘Bologna Chronicles’ so those not able to make an actual visit to the city may, courtesy of the author, look forward to returning via the medium of the written word.

In three words: Emotional, immersive, detailed

Try something similar: Lily by Rose Tremain

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Francesca ScanacapraAbout the Author

Francesca Scanacapra was born in Italy to an English mother and Italian father, and her early childhood was spent in Bologna, the city whose rich history has been the inspiration for the Bologna Chronicles series of novels. Francesca’s adult life has been somewhat nomadic with periods spent living in Italy, England, France, Senegal and Spain. In 2021 she returned to her native country and back to her earliest roots to pursue her writing career full time. She now resides permanently in rural Lombardy in the house built by her great-grandfather which was the inspiration for her Paradiso Novels. (Photo: Twitter profile)

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