Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday - The Heart Specialist; Claire Holden Rothman

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating! Want to participate? Post your own WOW entry on your blog, and leave your link at Breaking the Spine. Here's my pick for this week.....

June 7, 2011 - Soho Press
 Product Description
Set in Quebec at the turn of the 19th to 20th century, The Heart Specialist is the epic story of Agnes White, a lonely orphaned girl fascinated by the "wrong" things—microscopes, dissections, and anatomy instead of more ladylike interests—who rises to the status of one of the world's most celebrated pioneering women doctors. Not only does she break through patriarchal academic barriers; she masters the science of the human heart, becoming a scholar of international fame, all in a place and time inimical to intelligent women.

When Agnes is small, her father, a French-Canadian doctor living in Montreal, is charged with the murder of his handicapped sister. Although he is eventually acquitted, his reputation is ruined, and he flees, abandoning Agnes and her pregnant mother. Less than a year later, her mother dies of consumption, leaving Agnes and her baby sister Laure on their own. Agnes's sparse memories of her father have an abiding impact on her, and she is determined to find him, as well as to follow in his footsteps as a doctor, even though medical schools in Canada are closed to women at the time. She eventually gets her degree and finds a niche for herself as the curator of the McGill University pathology museum. But even as her professional star rises, her life is solitary and her happiness remains incomplete because of her missing father. One of the only clues in her quest to find him is a strange, misshapen heart that teaches her an invaluable lesson about love. Agnes ultimately must recognize that though she's a world-reknowned expert on the human heart, she still doesn't understand the her own.

Inspired by the career of Maude Abbott, one of Canada's first female physicians, The Heart Specialist is a novel about the mysterious, painful journey into selfhood.
 

29 comments:

  1. Great pick! I love the cover :)

    Jules
    http://thegreatthegoodandthebad.blogspot.com/

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  2. Wow, this story sounds awesome! Just the kind of journey that could inspire us all.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Here's MY WOW POST

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  3. This sounds like something that I would love to read. Thanks for sharing it with us!

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  4. This looks like it would be right down my alley!

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  5. This looks like it would be right down my alley!

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  6. This sounds like the perfect book for me - I'm adding this to my list.

    Thanks for the find.

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  7. I like stories based on the true stories of brave women who succeed despite having the system and culture against them. This sounds very good.

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  8. What a great find! I love books about strong women, especially those that defy historical, oppressive social norms. And I agree with Jules, the cover is quite lovely!

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  9. Oh, Diane, I think this boo sounds truly fascinating. Definitely is going on my list. Nice, nice choice!!

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  10. That sounds fabulous! I bet it would make a great book club pick.

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  11. This sounds like an interesting read and quite topical as here in England we have had several parent(s) accused of murdering their disabled child(ren) in the last few months.

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  12. Wow this one sounds like great book club material! Have fun reading..

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  13. Sold! I love that it's inspired by a true story

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  14. First time I've seen this title. This is my kind of book.

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  15. I think this one peeks my interest and will go on my 'radar' book list. Happy Reading'

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  16. This sounds like a great story, I will have to look for it.

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  17. Sounds a fabulous story. Thanks for this post.

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  18. I've seen this one around and wondered about it myself...great pick.

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  19. Oh I like the sound of this one!

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  20. That really does sound interesting, especially the science!

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  21. Great choice! I added this book on Goodreads. It sounds like something I would like.

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  22. I'm with you, totally waiting for this one.

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  23. I've not heard of this one, but it does sound good. Not long until it's out either!

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  24. This does sound intriguing. For some reason, it reminds me of Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

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  25. What a great book choice! This sounds like a captivating and intriguing story. It also reminds me of a couple of shows I've been watching on Masterpiece Classic that include female medical examiners and doctors in the late 1800s to early 1900s.
    Thank you for sharing this discovery!

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  26. This sounds great especially as it has to do with Canada. I love to read stories that have anything to do with my homeland. I really like the cover as well - very nice.

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  27. This sounds a great read and one I will look out for upon its release!

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  28. It sounds so sad, but I would give it a chance because of that BEAUTIFUL cover!! Thanks for spotlighting it.

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