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Where the Light Enters


An enthralling epic about two trailblazing female doctors in 19th century New ...
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What did you learn from the novel? Did anything surprise you?

Created: 10/01/20

Replies: 6

Posted Oct. 01, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

What did you learn from the novel? Did anything surprise you?

What did you learn from the novel? Did anything surprise you?


Posted Oct. 02, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
wincheryl

Join Date: 01/01/18

Posts: 7

RE: What did you learn from the novel? Did anything surprise you?

I was surprised at the number of women seeking abortions considering the risks they would take. Desperation?? Health?? Economic?? We still struggle with these issues today.


Posted Oct. 02, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
nancyh

Join Date: 06/25/13

Posts: 347

RE: What did you learn from the novel? Did anything surprise you?

I was not surprised by the number of abortions. There was not good birth control. I was surprised by the number of women doctors, especially one of color. I would think that was unusual for the time.


Posted Oct. 03, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
gerrieb

Join Date: 09/03/19

Posts: 208

RE: What did you learn from the novel? Did anything surprise you?

I was not surprised by the number of abortions as birth control was limited and unreliable and maternal mortality was ( and still is ) a concern. The desperation felt by women to feed and care for the children they already had, combined with the traumas and fear of childbirth made abortion a much sought after solution. I was surprised by the number of female physicians and especially female physicians of color. I was sadly, not surprised by the judgement placed upon those who sought out abortions, those who felt forced to have children they couldn’t provide for or the contempt expressed toward female physicians and any people of color.


Posted Oct. 04, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
LWReads

Join Date: 08/09/18

Posts: 41

RE: What did you learn from the novel? Did anything surprise you?

I, too, was surprised by the number of women physicians and their ability to function in that male world, albeit with difficultly. I wonder if there is any historical accuracy to this, or if it is merely wishful thinking on the part of the author. Either way, I did enjoy watching the women take charge and use their professional skills.


Posted Oct. 06, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
susiej

Join Date: 10/15/14

Posts: 363

RE: What did you learn from the novel? Did anything surprise you?

I was naive about the birth control situation for sure, and the number of deaths during pregnancy as well. That Sophie and Anna might have even existed as doctors in that era also amazed me. In the mid 1960s, I was one of a very few women in medical studies, so to see two young women - one a minority - so successful at a much earlier time was surprising to me.


Posted Oct. 06, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
evelyng

Join Date: 02/07/18

Posts: 49

RE: What did you learn from the novel? Did anything surprise you?

I was shocked to learn that the opiate, Paragoric, was so accessible to the public and how freely mothers used it to "calm" their cranky and colic babies. There had to be a high degree of addiction in society at that time, that was condoned by society. It was very sobering to me to contemplate that even back then, people turned to drugs to ease their through not facing life. I learned that everyone has a story and things are seldom as they seem.


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