Tara Mcnabb

BookBrowse Review - Where the Light Enters Where the Light Enters by Sara Donati Hardcover Sep 2019, 672 pages. Publisher: Berkley Books ISBN-13:- BookBrowse: Critics: Readers: 5 stars 4.7 stars 4.5 stars Having returned to New York, Dr. Sophie Savard and her cousin, fellow physician Anna, advise police on a murder case in this gripping historical drama. In this thrilling follow-up to The Gilded Hour, doctors Sophie and Anna Savard take on a baffling murder case that leads them into the seedy underworld of 19th century New York. Dr. Sophie Savard has just returned from Europe after the death of her husband and is eager to continue her practice as an obstetrician in Manhattan. The year is 1884, and although great strides have been made in science and industry, the women's rights movement has yet to gain momentum. Basic healthcare needs unique to women, such as birth control (condoms and diaphragms were in use by this time, as well as an early version of the IUD) and gynecological exams, are not widely available, which is why both Sophie and her cousin Anna dedicate themselves to helping society's forgotten citizens. So when the mysterious murder of a young woman is brought to their attention, they can't refuse the chance to be consultants on the case. It soon becomes clear, however, that there's more to this crime than meets the eye; a string of other victims seem to be connected, and all of them were women seeking an abortion. As the two doctors begin to close in on the killer, they make a startling discovery that forces them to question their own ideas of right and wrong. It's refreshing to read a novel with such resilient female characters who not only know their worth, they have no qualms about reminding the men in their lives of it as well. In one memorable scene, a gentleman expresses his surprise at Sophie's outspoken manner. After a laugh, she simply replies; "You might find this odd, but I'm not offended to be thought of as blunt. I like it." It's this spirit of boldness and self-assurance that make Sophie and Anna so fascinating in a profession filled to the brim with stuffy old men. On top of this, Sophie is African American, making her even more of an anomaly. There is a strong feminist undercurrent throughout the novel, also evident in the complex women's issues at the core of the plot regarding pregnancy and abortion at a time when little help was available to women in need. The natural desire many women feel to be a mother, and what happens when women are denied that impulse, are also explored in haunting detail. The history of medicine in the 19th century is vividly brought to life. It's obvious that Donati did her research when it comes to medical terms and practices from the era, because the many instances of examination and diagnosis read like authoritative case histories. Descriptions of house-calls are stark and gritty in their portrayal of inner city life; "The candlelight played over a litter of hypodermic needles on the floor, cast aside carelessly, along with gauze stained with dried blood." An interesting side-drama unfolds around Sophie's endeavor to teach medicine. The reader is given access to every triumph and struggle in her mission to train the next generation of female physicians. And because Donati keeps building new developments on 12/28/2019 © www.bookbrowse.com. All rights reserved. BookBrowse Review - Where the Light Enters generation of female physicians. And because Donati keeps building new developments on previous chapters, the jumps between the women's personal lives and their professional pursuits feel relevant, while also adding more complexity to the narrative. With its focus on smart, courageous women physicians, who were a rarity but certainly not unheard of in the late 19th century (see Beyond the Book), Where the Light Enters easily sets itself apart in the genre of historical fiction. It is an excellent followup to The Gilded Hour, but also can be read as a standalone novel. The controversial themes, headstrong heroines and gripping accounts of high-stakes medical trials all come together to create a winning combination. Reviewed by Tara Mcnabb Where the Light Enters: Beyond the Book Forgotten Women Physicians of the 19th Century The 19th century was a time of revolutionary changes in the areas of industrialism, democracy and the sciences, yet despite these radical shifts in society, the general public still viewed women as inherently less intelligent and less capable than men. Revered 19th century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche remarked, "When a woman has scholarly inclinations there is usually something wrong with her sexual organs." Given this backdrop of sexist thinking, it's not surprising that many women had to fight to prove themselves worthy of professional titles. Perhaps one of the most notoriously difficult career choices a woman could make at that time was to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Women had long been considered "morally unfit" to work in the medical field, but there were women that defied that assertion, and with great aplomb. Margaret Ann Bulkley was born in Ireland in the late 18th century. Her desire to work in medicine led her to disguise herself as a man in order to attend medical school at the prestigious Edinburgh University. She managed to fool the faculty and her classmates, and graduated in 1812 as Dr. James Barry. Often referred to as the "beardless lad," she went on to work as a British army surgeon for over 40 years. Her work took her across the British Empire to such exotic places as Malta, Jamaica, Cape Town and the Leeward Islands. During that time, her secret remained mostly undetected. There were those who had suspicions, but for various reasons never pursued them to find out for sure if the impressive Dr. Barry was indeed a woman. This may be because of her reputation for having a fierce temper; an officer once voiced his observation that Dr. Barry did indeed look like a woman, and she 12/28/2019 © www.bookbrowse.com. All rights reserved. BookBrowse Review - Where the Light Enters responded by slashing him across the face with a horse whip. Or maybe it was the disguise itself that worked so well; it consisted of a bulky man's overcoat called a "surtout," in which she had sewn extra cushioning in order to appear larger in size. Whatever the reasons, Dr. Barry was known as a revered and skilled surgeon and one of the Empire's most loyal servants. Given that Bulkley/Barry lived life as a man for 56 years, it has been widely speculated that she may have been a transgender man. Across the pond, Rebecca Lee Crumpler made waves in America when she became the first black woman to earn a medical degree in 1864. Born in Delaware, Crumpler first got her taste for medicine working as a nurse for eight years. In 1860, she began her studies at the New England Female Medical College in Massachusetts. When she earned her M.D. degree, she became the first African American woman to graduate from the college. After the Civil War, Crumpler moved to Richmond, Virginia, where she worked alongside other African American doctors to treat freed slaves. Although there are limited records of her work during this time, it is safe to say that she and her colleagues probably experienced fierce racism since they were working in the postwar South. Upon returning to Boston, she continued her medical practice with a focus on women and children. She expressed her enthusiasm frequently in her journal; "I returned to my former home, Boston, where I entered into the work with renewed vigor, practicing outside, and receiving children in the house for treatment; regardless, in a measure, of remuneration." In 1883, she published one of the first medical reports ever written by an African American, her Book of Medical Discourses. It was progressive for its time because of its focus on medical advice for women and children. Like Dr. Sophie and Anna Savard in Where the Light Enters, women in the medical field have had to contend with both sexism and racism as they worked their way to the top of their professions. But it was their tenacity and courage that paved the way for generations of young female physicians who followed in their footsteps. As Elizabeth Blackwell, the first American woman to receive a medical degree (in 1849), once said, "None of us can know what we are capable of until we are tested." Margaret Ann Bulkley as Dr. James Barry By Tara Mcnabb This review first ran in the October 2, 2019 issue of BookBrowse Recommends, and has been updated for the December 4, 2019 issue. 12/28/2019 © www.bookbrowse.com. All rights reserved.