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Product Description
Quill & Quire
Claire Holden Rothman’s first novel is loosely inspired by the life of Dr. Maude Abbot (1869-1940), one of Montreal’s first female doctors. Rothman’s narrator is Agnes White, a plain girl with exceptional intelligence. After her father, a disgraced physician, disappears, Agnes and her sister are raised by their grandmother. Luckily, their governess, Miss Skerry, appreciates and encourages Agnes’s interest in science. Undaunted by a male-dominated society, Agnes vows to study at McGill and become a doctor like her beloved father. That she manages to do so is a testament to her strong will and to that of the Montreal matrons who raise money to assist the young woman. Rothman realistically depicts Agnes’s struggle by showing both her tenacity and her self-doubt, and she succeeds in creating a compelling, believable, and immensely sympathetic main character. In addition, Rothman captures a sense of the era’s class distinctions through the book’s language, which is slightly formal. Agnes’s prime area of study is the human heart, which was also her father’s specialty. The physical details of the human heart are juxtaposed with a study of love – the figurative heart – which is something Agnes is far less talented at understanding. Rothman’s narrative skill allows readers to comprehend Agnes’s own heart better than she does. The Heart Specialist is a fascinating novel that conveys both a sense of history and of the timelessness of human emotions. That Rothman also demonstrates the damage that prejudice can do, and the power of the human spirit in overcoming it, is simply an added bonus.
Product Description
Inspired by the life of Doctor Maude Elizabeth Seymour Abbott, The Heart Specialist is the story of an ambitious woman pursuing her dream at the dawn of the twentieth century. Agnes is stripped of a regular childhood when her father is accused of a horrific crime and abandons the family. Never considered ladylike, she is drawn to the "wrong" things, such as microscopes, anatomy, and dissection, that lead to her finding her calling as a doctor. Yet despite a rapid rise to stardom in the medical community, she soon finds herself up against the same glass ceiling faced by women in her field. Set against the backdrop of conflict and upheaval permeating the early 1900s, The Heart Specialist is a testament to one woman's triumph in the face of adversity.
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Most helpful customer reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it! Loved it!,
By
This review is from: The Heart Specialist (Paperback)
This is one of those books that causes the very best kind of dilemma. You can't put it down...but at the same time, you really don't want to finish! "The Heart Specialist" is the story of Agnes White, a somewhat socially awkward female living in the turn of the 20th century. Agnes has a talent and passion for one thing, medicine, and being a female at this time makes any realization of her dream very difficult. She is not a natural crusader, but she has one thing going for her... the complete inability to visualize a life that doesn't allow her to pursue her insatiable curiosity. This book drew me into the difficulties of that tumultous time period and made me appreciate the efforts of those 'quiet' women, who did not rally or wave banners, but eroded the barriers they faced by just doing the job better.
"The Heart Specialist" is beautifully written with detail that makes you hear, see and smell the times and makes you love and root for Agnes to not only find professional success but also find herself. I had the pleasure a few years ago of reading a book of short stories by this author, Claire Rothman Holden, and became a fan then. I was thrilled to learn that she had written a novel, and could not wait to read it. And best of all, it exceeded my expectations. Now I look forward to the next!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Promise not fulfilled,
By
This review is from: The Heart Specialist (Paperback)
This book began with an interesting premise of historical significance but disappointed when Maude's infatuation began to take centre stage and her struggles with her education and work were skimmed. Also, we end up knowing way too much about her organization skills and very little about her medical knowledge. I can't say I enjoyed it and am surprised by the glowing ratings.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read on many levels!,
This review is from: The Heart Specialist (Paperback)
If you are looking for something that will entertain, intrigue and even educate you, this is your book. You can dissect the novel if you want to find multiple layers of symbolism and methaphore, or learn about the social climate of Montreal at the turn of the 20th century. In any case, it is well-written, engaging and just a plain old good story about a woman who is fueled by a passion for medicine and a consuming need for her absent father. No matter what your motivation, The Heart Specialist won't disappoint and you will have a lingering appreciation for the accomplishments of a remarkable woman.
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