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The Medicine Woman of Galveston
Caught in the great Galveston Hurricane of 1900, a female doctor who’s joined a traveling medicine show to support her disabled son is forced to weather the storm and its aftermath in a town hostile to the troupe’s unconventional ways but desperate for their help.
Readers of Ellen Marie Wiseman, Sandra Dallas, and Sara Donati will be captivated by this story of medical historical fiction by Amanda Skenandore, registered nurse and acclaimed author of The Nurse’s Secret and The Second Life of Mirielle West.
Once a trailblazer in the field of medicine, Dr. Tucia Hatherley hasn’t touched a scalpel or stethoscope since she made a fatal mistake in the operating theater. Instead, she works in a corset factory, striving to earn enough to support her disabled son. When even that livelihood is threatened, Tucia is left with one option—to join a wily, charismatic showman named Huey and become part of his traveling medicine show.
Her medical license lends the show a pretense of credibility, but the cures and tonics Tucia is forced to peddle are little more than purgatives and bathwater. Loathing the duplicity, even as she finds uneasy kinship with the other misfit performers, Tucia vows to leave as soon as her debts are paid and start a new life with her son—if Huey will ever let her go.
When the show reaches Galveston, Texas, Tucia tries to break free from Huey, only to be pulled even deeper into his schemes. But there is a far greater reckoning ahead, as a September storm becomes a devastating hurricane that will decimate the Gulf Coast—and challenge Tucia to recover her belief in medicine, in the goodness of others—and in herself.
Readers of Ellen Marie Wiseman, Sandra Dallas, and Sara Donati will be captivated by this story of medical historical fiction by Amanda Skenandore, registered nurse and acclaimed author of The Nurse’s Secret and The Second Life of Mirielle West.
Once a trailblazer in the field of medicine, Dr. Tucia Hatherley hasn’t touched a scalpel or stethoscope since she made a fatal mistake in the operating theater. Instead, she works in a corset factory, striving to earn enough to support her disabled son. When even that livelihood is threatened, Tucia is left with one option—to join a wily, charismatic showman named Huey and become part of his traveling medicine show.
Her medical license lends the show a pretense of credibility, but the cures and tonics Tucia is forced to peddle are little more than purgatives and bathwater. Loathing the duplicity, even as she finds uneasy kinship with the other misfit performers, Tucia vows to leave as soon as her debts are paid and start a new life with her son—if Huey will ever let her go.
When the show reaches Galveston, Texas, Tucia tries to break free from Huey, only to be pulled even deeper into his schemes. But there is a far greater reckoning ahead, as a September storm becomes a devastating hurricane that will decimate the Gulf Coast—and challenge Tucia to recover her belief in medicine, in the goodness of others—and in herself.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2024
About the author
Amanda Skenandore
11 books1,798 followersAmanda Skenandore is an award-winning author of historical fiction and a registered nurse. Her books have been translated into multiple languages and garnered accolades from the American Library Association, Reader’s Digest, Silicon Valley Reads, and Apple Books. She is a 2024 Nevada Arts Council’s literary fellow. Amanda lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their pet turtle, Lenore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
May 9, 2024
'Sometimes medicine presents us with impossible choices. Sometimes life does as well'.
Trucia Hatherley fought hard to become a doctor. She fought her step-mother, her classmates and she fought off a senior doctor during her internship. But after a fatal mistake in the operating theatre, she's now just fighting to keep debt collectors from her front door and keep food in her son's mouth. However, Huey seems to offer her a lifeline by asking her to join their traveling medicine show, where her medical license will offer credence and her past misfortune will surely be buried amongst a band of misfits, 'Snakes and imposters who besmirched the noble profession...A blight to humanity...It made her head throb all the more to think she'd joined one'. Yet, as she gets to know the other performers, she begins to understand there's more to them than meets the eye. And, maybe, just maybe, there's a way this new low won't be the end of her, but rather, the making.
Amanda Skenandore has clearly done an immense amount of research about this era, both within the medical field and the 'snake oil' peddlers. I enjoyed reading the back stories of the other show members. For me, the were a few slow patches within the book but overall I thought it was a good read and many historical fiction lovers are sure to enjoy it.
'there's more to a person than the worse thing they done'.
Trucia Hatherley fought hard to become a doctor. She fought her step-mother, her classmates and she fought off a senior doctor during her internship. But after a fatal mistake in the operating theatre, she's now just fighting to keep debt collectors from her front door and keep food in her son's mouth. However, Huey seems to offer her a lifeline by asking her to join their traveling medicine show, where her medical license will offer credence and her past misfortune will surely be buried amongst a band of misfits, 'Snakes and imposters who besmirched the noble profession...A blight to humanity...It made her head throb all the more to think she'd joined one'. Yet, as she gets to know the other performers, she begins to understand there's more to them than meets the eye. And, maybe, just maybe, there's a way this new low won't be the end of her, but rather, the making.
Amanda Skenandore has clearly done an immense amount of research about this era, both within the medical field and the 'snake oil' peddlers. I enjoyed reading the back stories of the other show members. For me, the were a few slow patches within the book but overall I thought it was a good read and many historical fiction lovers are sure to enjoy it.
'there's more to a person than the worse thing they done'.
May 13, 2024
Tucia Hatherley no longer practices medicine, she has a young son Toby who has a disability and is struggling to make ends meet working in a corset factory. Hugh Horn or the Amazing Adolphus offers her a job, he owns a traveling medicine show, and he needs the legitimacy of her medical license to keep the authorities away. Tucia doesn’t have a lot of choice, she and Toby leave with Huey and travel west to meet up with the other members of the troop.
When they arrive the Traveling Medicine Company isn’t what Tucia is expecting, and she vows once her debts are paid, she and Toby will leave. The other members of the troop don’t think she will last, Cal Crip Caboo a bow legged musician, Grazyna the Dancing Giant and Chief Big Sky and Darl who does odd jobs and puts up the tents. Tucia discovers that Huey is not only controlling, he has other unsavory habits and he’s dishonest.
Tucia hates it how Huey is taking advantage of uneducated and desperate people, and selling his snake oil and salve. Tucia makes friends with the other members of the troop, by the time the show reaches Galveston, Texas she’s had enough and Huey wants her to take part in a degrading act. She has no idea a hurricane is about to hit Galveston in September 1900, and the storm surge will destroy bridges to the mainland and houses, and injure and kill thousands of people.
I received a copy of The Medicine Woman of Galveston from Kensington Publishing and Edelweiss Plus in exchange for a review. Amanda Skenandore likes to combine real facts and fiction to create her historical stories. Medicine shows and nostrum sellers did travel country America, and people would pay money to look at someone different and get conned into buying quack cures.
I admired Tucia character she's a wonderful mother, offers medical assistance where she can in Galveston and it's a story of hope, courage, resilience and at a time when women doctors weren't accepted. Once again Amanda Skenandore has written an engaging historical fiction narrative, five stars from me, due to be released on the 21st of May 2024 and I highly recommend.
When they arrive the Traveling Medicine Company isn’t what Tucia is expecting, and she vows once her debts are paid, she and Toby will leave. The other members of the troop don’t think she will last, Cal Crip Caboo a bow legged musician, Grazyna the Dancing Giant and Chief Big Sky and Darl who does odd jobs and puts up the tents. Tucia discovers that Huey is not only controlling, he has other unsavory habits and he’s dishonest.
Tucia hates it how Huey is taking advantage of uneducated and desperate people, and selling his snake oil and salve. Tucia makes friends with the other members of the troop, by the time the show reaches Galveston, Texas she’s had enough and Huey wants her to take part in a degrading act. She has no idea a hurricane is about to hit Galveston in September 1900, and the storm surge will destroy bridges to the mainland and houses, and injure and kill thousands of people.
I received a copy of The Medicine Woman of Galveston from Kensington Publishing and Edelweiss Plus in exchange for a review. Amanda Skenandore likes to combine real facts and fiction to create her historical stories. Medicine shows and nostrum sellers did travel country America, and people would pay money to look at someone different and get conned into buying quack cures.
I admired Tucia character she's a wonderful mother, offers medical assistance where she can in Galveston and it's a story of hope, courage, resilience and at a time when women doctors weren't accepted. Once again Amanda Skenandore has written an engaging historical fiction narrative, five stars from me, due to be released on the 21st of May 2024 and I highly recommend.
June 9, 2024
Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to have read The Nurse’s Secret by author, Amanda Skenandore. When I saw that she had written a new historical fiction novel, The Medicine Woman of Galveston, I was very excited to read it. Both of the books that I have now read by Amanda Skenandore have had to do with strong and capable women who were both associated with the medical field in different capacities. Since both of my daughters are in the medical field, one a doctor and one a nurse practitioner, I found both of these books captivating and interesting. The Medical Woman of Galveston explored the many obstacles women physicians had to face during the early 1900’s and the resentment and anger that male physicians felt toward their women counterparts who had completed their medical training and studies. Amanda Skenandore’s research into this time period which included traveling medicine shows, the snake oil and salves that they sold to the unassuming and gullible locals who attended their shows and the natural disaster of the hurricane that hit Galveston in September of 1900 was impressive and very informative. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated very well by Amanda Stribling. Her performance allowed her to distinguish between the characters easily and distinctively.
Becoming a woman doctor in late 1800’s to the early 1900’s was not an easy feat. Tucia Hatherley learned that the hard way. She was met with opposition from her stepmother and fellow male doctors at every step she took. Tucia knew that she had to study twice as hard as any of the male doctors she encountered. Despite everything that Tucia was confronted with, she became of the first female doctors to graduate from the all female medical school in Chicago. If anything, Tucia continued to have to prove herself to her male counterparts at every turn. When forced into performing a procedure she had no business performing in the operating theatre, everything that could have gone wrong had and she was forced to take the blame for losing that patient and leave the field of medicine. The results of that procedure haunted Tucia for years. Everything that Tucia had worked so hard for was snatched away from her by an imposing and cruel male doctor.
Eight years later, Tucia had found a small apartment for herself and her disabled young son, Toby. She was working at a factory that produced corsets. Tucia had accumulated a sizable debt and the manager of the corset factory was not very forgiving when Tucia often arrived late to work. Her young son required her attention and the time often got away from her. This was often the cause for Tucia’s tardiness to work. She really needed the job but when her boss placed Tucia in a very uncomfortable position, Tucia met the limits to her patience and did something that cost her the job she so badly needed.
Just when Tucia’s luck was at its lowest point, she was offered an opportunity that was hard to pass up. A familiar looking man but one that Tucia knew nothing about appeared at her apartment door a day or so after Tucia had been fired from her job at the corset factory. His name was Hugh Horn but preferred to be called Huey. Tucia learned that he owned a ran a traveling medicine show. Huey was in search of a real doctor who possessed a medical license. Even though Tucia had not practiced medicine for more than eight years, Huey didn’t seem to care. His show just needed a real doctor that possessed a medical license to authenticate the show. Huey seemed to know everything about Tucia even though they were complete strangers. When Huey offered to pay off Tucia’s loan she agreed to work for him. Tucia hated everything that Huey represented and stood for. It was everything that went against what Tucia believed in but Tucia knew that she couldn’t afford to say no to his offer. Her plan was to repay Huey as quickly as she could and then she and her young son, Toby, would leave and start their life over again. Right now, Tucia had to think of what was best for Toby and going with Huey was the best choice for right now.
When Tucia and Toby arrived with Huey at the sight where the traveling medicine show was going to perform its various acts she wondered again if she had made a mistake by accepting Huey’s proposition. Tucia and Toby met the other members of the traveling medicine show. Each of the members had their own stories, backgrounds and reasons for why they had joined the traveling medicine show annd were compliant to Huey’s orders. Over time, Tucia learned their stories and even became friends with some of them. Very quickly, Tucia learned how deceitful and dishonest Huey was. It soon became apparent to Tucia that Huey was interested in making as big of a profit for himself even if it meant exploiting the members of the company. He was a ruthless and self absorbed man. With each new location the traveling medicine show settled in, Huey expected Tucia to do more and more things that she was uncomfortable with. Most of the things Huey expected from Tucia were either dishonest or were of the nature of putting her in a compromising position.
Then in late August to early September, Huey decided to bring the show to Galveston, Texas. It was the first time ever that the show was to perform in Galveston. The traveling medicine show had only been in Galveston for a few short days when Galveston became the target of a monster hurricane with unrelenting intensity and consequences. What would happen to the island of Galveston, its inhabitants and the members of the traveling medicine show?
Amanda Skenandore was able to combine just the right combination of facts with fiction to make The Medicine Woman of Galveston believable and so compelling. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in The Medicine Woman of Galveston. I especially admired Tucia for how she always put Toby’s needs before her own. Amanda Skenandore portrayed Tucia as a mother first and foremost, as a strong and intelligent woman, as a woman who showed compassion for others, as a good and loyal friend and confidant, as a woman who learned how to be confident again, as a woman who knew what she had to do to survive and succeed and as a woman who was capable of helping others by using her knowledge of medicine. I had heard about the great hurricane of Galveston but was not aware of all the destruction, damage and loss of lives it inflicted. I really enjoyed listening to The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore and highly recommend it. I look forward to reading the next book Amanda Skenandore writes.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to listen to The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Becoming a woman doctor in late 1800’s to the early 1900’s was not an easy feat. Tucia Hatherley learned that the hard way. She was met with opposition from her stepmother and fellow male doctors at every step she took. Tucia knew that she had to study twice as hard as any of the male doctors she encountered. Despite everything that Tucia was confronted with, she became of the first female doctors to graduate from the all female medical school in Chicago. If anything, Tucia continued to have to prove herself to her male counterparts at every turn. When forced into performing a procedure she had no business performing in the operating theatre, everything that could have gone wrong had and she was forced to take the blame for losing that patient and leave the field of medicine. The results of that procedure haunted Tucia for years. Everything that Tucia had worked so hard for was snatched away from her by an imposing and cruel male doctor.
Eight years later, Tucia had found a small apartment for herself and her disabled young son, Toby. She was working at a factory that produced corsets. Tucia had accumulated a sizable debt and the manager of the corset factory was not very forgiving when Tucia often arrived late to work. Her young son required her attention and the time often got away from her. This was often the cause for Tucia’s tardiness to work. She really needed the job but when her boss placed Tucia in a very uncomfortable position, Tucia met the limits to her patience and did something that cost her the job she so badly needed.
Just when Tucia’s luck was at its lowest point, she was offered an opportunity that was hard to pass up. A familiar looking man but one that Tucia knew nothing about appeared at her apartment door a day or so after Tucia had been fired from her job at the corset factory. His name was Hugh Horn but preferred to be called Huey. Tucia learned that he owned a ran a traveling medicine show. Huey was in search of a real doctor who possessed a medical license. Even though Tucia had not practiced medicine for more than eight years, Huey didn’t seem to care. His show just needed a real doctor that possessed a medical license to authenticate the show. Huey seemed to know everything about Tucia even though they were complete strangers. When Huey offered to pay off Tucia’s loan she agreed to work for him. Tucia hated everything that Huey represented and stood for. It was everything that went against what Tucia believed in but Tucia knew that she couldn’t afford to say no to his offer. Her plan was to repay Huey as quickly as she could and then she and her young son, Toby, would leave and start their life over again. Right now, Tucia had to think of what was best for Toby and going with Huey was the best choice for right now.
When Tucia and Toby arrived with Huey at the sight where the traveling medicine show was going to perform its various acts she wondered again if she had made a mistake by accepting Huey’s proposition. Tucia and Toby met the other members of the traveling medicine show. Each of the members had their own stories, backgrounds and reasons for why they had joined the traveling medicine show annd were compliant to Huey’s orders. Over time, Tucia learned their stories and even became friends with some of them. Very quickly, Tucia learned how deceitful and dishonest Huey was. It soon became apparent to Tucia that Huey was interested in making as big of a profit for himself even if it meant exploiting the members of the company. He was a ruthless and self absorbed man. With each new location the traveling medicine show settled in, Huey expected Tucia to do more and more things that she was uncomfortable with. Most of the things Huey expected from Tucia were either dishonest or were of the nature of putting her in a compromising position.
Then in late August to early September, Huey decided to bring the show to Galveston, Texas. It was the first time ever that the show was to perform in Galveston. The traveling medicine show had only been in Galveston for a few short days when Galveston became the target of a monster hurricane with unrelenting intensity and consequences. What would happen to the island of Galveston, its inhabitants and the members of the traveling medicine show?
Amanda Skenandore was able to combine just the right combination of facts with fiction to make The Medicine Woman of Galveston believable and so compelling. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in The Medicine Woman of Galveston. I especially admired Tucia for how she always put Toby’s needs before her own. Amanda Skenandore portrayed Tucia as a mother first and foremost, as a strong and intelligent woman, as a woman who showed compassion for others, as a good and loyal friend and confidant, as a woman who learned how to be confident again, as a woman who knew what she had to do to survive and succeed and as a woman who was capable of helping others by using her knowledge of medicine. I had heard about the great hurricane of Galveston but was not aware of all the destruction, damage and loss of lives it inflicted. I really enjoyed listening to The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore and highly recommend it. I look forward to reading the next book Amanda Skenandore writes.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to listen to The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2024
Set in the aftermath of the deadliest natural disaster in America and highlighting unscrupulous medical practitioners on show circuits, this fantastic book examines the different trajectories our lives take when we make one wrong move.
Tucia Hatherley is a formidable woman; she has always fought for her future. Readers see the challenges women of the time faced when wanting to pursue further education and a career in a traditionally male field. Dr. Hatherley fought for the right to be allowed a place at medical school, fought to be considered good enough to work in an emergency room at a busy hospital, fought to be on the cutting edge of medicine, fought to mother a disabled child, and now fights for her future after a workplace error. Working in a corset factory isn’t what she had in mind after climbing to be recognized in her career but it pays the bills…almost. When she’s forced to consider another alternative, a morally questionable one, she discovers that it takes her life in another direction she hadn’t prepared for.
Tucia joins a misfit troupe of medicine show performers who get caught in the Galveston, Texas hurricane of 1900. Her choices help her believe in herself again, believe in her dream, and belief of medicine and the natural disaster ties it all together by showing her the goodness in others.
I appreciated the inclusion of a boy with Down syndrome and the examination of a vaguely familiar term - ‘snake oil.’
I was captivated by the colourful world of medicine shows, their vibrant performances and the touting of infamous miracle elixirs. Congratulations on a unique plot featuring unique characters!
I was gifted this copy by Kensington Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Tucia Hatherley is a formidable woman; she has always fought for her future. Readers see the challenges women of the time faced when wanting to pursue further education and a career in a traditionally male field. Dr. Hatherley fought for the right to be allowed a place at medical school, fought to be considered good enough to work in an emergency room at a busy hospital, fought to be on the cutting edge of medicine, fought to mother a disabled child, and now fights for her future after a workplace error. Working in a corset factory isn’t what she had in mind after climbing to be recognized in her career but it pays the bills…almost. When she’s forced to consider another alternative, a morally questionable one, she discovers that it takes her life in another direction she hadn’t prepared for.
Tucia joins a misfit troupe of medicine show performers who get caught in the Galveston, Texas hurricane of 1900. Her choices help her believe in herself again, believe in her dream, and belief of medicine and the natural disaster ties it all together by showing her the goodness in others.
I appreciated the inclusion of a boy with Down syndrome and the examination of a vaguely familiar term - ‘snake oil.’
I was captivated by the colourful world of medicine shows, their vibrant performances and the touting of infamous miracle elixirs. Congratulations on a unique plot featuring unique characters!
I was gifted this copy by Kensington Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 27, 2024
I was anticipating an interesting read when I requested this book from NetGalley. A woman in medicine called a “trailblazer” in the description makes a mistake in surgery and now works in a corset factory. And … ends up traveling in a medicine show with her son along with a German giantess, a bow-legged musician, an American Indian poet, and a can-fix-anything man.
What I liked about the story …
- The characters of the giantess, the musician, and the fix-it man. These are not dumped on the reader with full descriptions of each but the characters are built much as a person getting to know more about them as time goes on.
- Huey who was not mentioned above. He is the lead of the medicine show. You know from the beginning that he is lying all the time. And he gets worse as the story goes. His character is key to what happens to everyone else. You will not like him; I didn’t.
- Life in a traveling medicine show. What it took to put up the stage at every stop. What kinds of acts would appeal to people. Huey’s ways of getting poor people in his audience to spend when they shouldn’t. About the care and feeding of people in the traveling caravan (not that Huey cared all that much). And why Huey wanted a “real” doctor in the group.
- The handling of what a hurricane would be like in 1900.
- The friendship that developed among the caravan (sans Huey) and how they found ways to support each other.
Now that’s a good list. BUT … What I did not like …
- The title of the book is The Medicine Woman of Galveston. In the description, “When the show reaches Galveston…” should have read “When the show FINALLY reaches Galveston …” I expected a good section about the book being about how she becomes a “real” doctor in Galveston, the challenges, and yes, triumphs, there. Instead, they arrive just before the end which makes the title — well, flat wrong. It was in THIS section that the book became compelling.
- The name of the doctor — Tucia. Authors, if you want the reader to identify with your lead character, do not give her a weird name. I *still* don’t know if I’m pronouncing right. Maybe if the author had explained why she had such a name … Tucia is also a surname. I know, I know. You probably won’t agree but I never got used to the name all 409 pages.
- Tucia’s panic attacks. There were just too many of them and they sorta got old. The author does explain why she has them.
- Tucia’s pulling out her hair leaving bald spots. I’ve heard of people doing this but like the panic attacks — just too many.
- I kept waiting for Tucia the Real Doctor to show up. Appreciated her workaround to give REAL information out, but longed for a “will the real doctor please stand up” moment.
The five-like list, for this reviewer, did not outweigh the five did-not-like list resulting in a three-star rating. I leave it up to you future reader. You may like this story tremendously. I kept waiting for it to get better.
I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of The Medicine Woman of Galveston via NetGalley from the publisher, Kensington Books | Kensington. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Rating: 3 stars
Cover: Fits the story.
Pages: 409
Publish Date: 21 May 2024
#TheMedicineWomanofGalveston #NetGalley #AmandaSkenandore
What I liked about the story …
- The characters of the giantess, the musician, and the fix-it man. These are not dumped on the reader with full descriptions of each but the characters are built much as a person getting to know more about them as time goes on.
- Huey who was not mentioned above. He is the lead of the medicine show. You know from the beginning that he is lying all the time. And he gets worse as the story goes. His character is key to what happens to everyone else. You will not like him; I didn’t.
- Life in a traveling medicine show. What it took to put up the stage at every stop. What kinds of acts would appeal to people. Huey’s ways of getting poor people in his audience to spend when they shouldn’t. About the care and feeding of people in the traveling caravan (not that Huey cared all that much). And why Huey wanted a “real” doctor in the group.
- The handling of what a hurricane would be like in 1900.
- The friendship that developed among the caravan (sans Huey) and how they found ways to support each other.
Now that’s a good list. BUT … What I did not like …
- The title of the book is The Medicine Woman of Galveston. In the description, “When the show reaches Galveston…” should have read “When the show FINALLY reaches Galveston …” I expected a good section about the book being about how she becomes a “real” doctor in Galveston, the challenges, and yes, triumphs, there. Instead, they arrive just before the end which makes the title — well, flat wrong. It was in THIS section that the book became compelling.
- The name of the doctor — Tucia. Authors, if you want the reader to identify with your lead character, do not give her a weird name. I *still* don’t know if I’m pronouncing right. Maybe if the author had explained why she had such a name … Tucia is also a surname. I know, I know. You probably won’t agree but I never got used to the name all 409 pages.
- Tucia’s panic attacks. There were just too many of them and they sorta got old. The author does explain why she has them.
- Tucia’s pulling out her hair leaving bald spots. I’ve heard of people doing this but like the panic attacks — just too many.
- I kept waiting for Tucia the Real Doctor to show up. Appreciated her workaround to give REAL information out, but longed for a “will the real doctor please stand up” moment.
The five-like list, for this reviewer, did not outweigh the five did-not-like list resulting in a three-star rating. I leave it up to you future reader. You may like this story tremendously. I kept waiting for it to get better.
I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of The Medicine Woman of Galveston via NetGalley from the publisher, Kensington Books | Kensington. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Rating: 3 stars
Cover: Fits the story.
Pages: 409
Publish Date: 21 May 2024
#TheMedicineWomanofGalveston #NetGalley #AmandaSkenandore
May 2, 2024
This is a really good story about Dr. Tucia Hatherley, a female doctor in Galveston who joins a traveling medicine show to support her son. Dr. Tucia Hatherley also faced the great Galveston Texas Hurricane in 1900. The story is well written, and this is the second time I have read Amanda Skenandore books hopefully, it won't be the last. I won this book from Goodreads giveaway and Amanda Skenandore ( thank you )!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2024
Missouri 1900, A Doctor’s struggle!
Uplifting, often sombre story of a woman doctor in the 1900’s who’d been let go from a hospital after an operation resulted in the death of a patient.
As a recently graduated doctor Tucia Hatherley was being supervised by the hospital surgeon Dr. Archibald Addams. He’d bullied Tucia into performing an operation she wasn’t ready for, a situation where she’d froze.
Blackballed Tucia fought for her and her son’s survival, taking a job in a mill.
Answering an advertisement for a Doctor, she’s employed by Hugh Horn aka the Amazing Adolphus, a snake oil seller, to look after his troupe. Tucia’s son Toby has Downes Syndrome. All Tucia wants to do is protect him. She takes the position.
Their journey to the travelling show and subsequent involvement with the show folk is an eye opener for Tucia.
Even more so when she realised their employer has something on everyone
During the show’s long journey Tucia connects with troupe members and learns each person’s story.
Despite protests Horn insists on taking the show to Galveston
No one was prepared for what happened next.
This story winds its way into the consciousness, never letting up. A story of retribution, of reconciliation and of love.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I didn't expect to.
A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Uplifting, often sombre story of a woman doctor in the 1900’s who’d been let go from a hospital after an operation resulted in the death of a patient.
As a recently graduated doctor Tucia Hatherley was being supervised by the hospital surgeon Dr. Archibald Addams. He’d bullied Tucia into performing an operation she wasn’t ready for, a situation where she’d froze.
Blackballed Tucia fought for her and her son’s survival, taking a job in a mill.
Answering an advertisement for a Doctor, she’s employed by Hugh Horn aka the Amazing Adolphus, a snake oil seller, to look after his troupe. Tucia’s son Toby has Downes Syndrome. All Tucia wants to do is protect him. She takes the position.
Their journey to the travelling show and subsequent involvement with the show folk is an eye opener for Tucia.
Even more so when she realised their employer has something on everyone
During the show’s long journey Tucia connects with troupe members and learns each person’s story.
Despite protests Horn insists on taking the show to Galveston
No one was prepared for what happened next.
This story winds its way into the consciousness, never letting up. A story of retribution, of reconciliation and of love.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I didn't expect to.
A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
May 23, 2024
It was a very interesting and entertaining read
January 24, 2024
The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore
Summary:
A downtrodden female doctor takes up with a traveling medicine show to support her disabled son, joining a German giantess, a bowlegged musician, an indentured Creek poet, and a handsome tinker under the thumb of a charismatic but menacing swindler on a collision course with the deadliest natural disaster in American history – the Galveston Hurricane of 1900.
Readers of Christina Baker Kline, Sandra Dallas, and Sara Donati will be captivated by this story of medical historical fiction by Amanda Skenandore, registered nurse and acclaimed author of The Nurse’s Secret and The Second Life of Mirielle West.
Once a trailblazer in the field of medicine, Dr. Tucia Hatherley hasn’t touched a scalpel or stethoscope since she made a fatal mistake in the operating theater. Instead, she works in a corset factory, striving to earn enough to support her disabled son. When even that livelihood is threatened, Tucia is left with one option—to join a wily, charismatic showman named Huey and become part of his traveling medicine show.
Her medical license lends the show a pretense of credibility, but the cures and tonics Tucia is forced to peddle are little more than purgatives and bathwater. Loathing the duplicity, even as she finds uneasy kinship with the other misfit performers, Tucia vows to leave as soon as her debts are paid and start a new life with her son—if Huey will ever let her go.
When the show reaches Galveston, Texas, Tucia tries to break free from Huey, only to be pulled even deeper into his schemes. But there is a far greater reckoning ahead, as a September storm becomes a devastating hurricane that will decimate the Gulf Coast—and challenge Tucia to recover her belief in medicine, in the goodness of others—and in herself.
Review 4-star
While this story is very well written it’s not a page-turner, I could put the book down and do other stuff and not even think about the story at one point it didn’t pick it back up for three days., and this makes it a 4-star and not a 5-star in my eyes.
The story flow is spot-on, as is the editing. The characters are where the story fails and makes it where it’s not a page-turner. I don’t know what anyone looks like and I couldn’t picture the story at all in my mind. These two things are important to me to make a great story.
Conclusion:
Would I recommend this book to others? YES
Would I read other books by this Author? Maybe
I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
Summary:
A downtrodden female doctor takes up with a traveling medicine show to support her disabled son, joining a German giantess, a bowlegged musician, an indentured Creek poet, and a handsome tinker under the thumb of a charismatic but menacing swindler on a collision course with the deadliest natural disaster in American history – the Galveston Hurricane of 1900.
Readers of Christina Baker Kline, Sandra Dallas, and Sara Donati will be captivated by this story of medical historical fiction by Amanda Skenandore, registered nurse and acclaimed author of The Nurse’s Secret and The Second Life of Mirielle West.
Once a trailblazer in the field of medicine, Dr. Tucia Hatherley hasn’t touched a scalpel or stethoscope since she made a fatal mistake in the operating theater. Instead, she works in a corset factory, striving to earn enough to support her disabled son. When even that livelihood is threatened, Tucia is left with one option—to join a wily, charismatic showman named Huey and become part of his traveling medicine show.
Her medical license lends the show a pretense of credibility, but the cures and tonics Tucia is forced to peddle are little more than purgatives and bathwater. Loathing the duplicity, even as she finds uneasy kinship with the other misfit performers, Tucia vows to leave as soon as her debts are paid and start a new life with her son—if Huey will ever let her go.
When the show reaches Galveston, Texas, Tucia tries to break free from Huey, only to be pulled even deeper into his schemes. But there is a far greater reckoning ahead, as a September storm becomes a devastating hurricane that will decimate the Gulf Coast—and challenge Tucia to recover her belief in medicine, in the goodness of others—and in herself.
Review 4-star
While this story is very well written it’s not a page-turner, I could put the book down and do other stuff and not even think about the story at one point it didn’t pick it back up for three days., and this makes it a 4-star and not a 5-star in my eyes.
The story flow is spot-on, as is the editing. The characters are where the story fails and makes it where it’s not a page-turner. I don’t know what anyone looks like and I couldn’t picture the story at all in my mind. These two things are important to me to make a great story.
Conclusion:
Would I recommend this book to others? YES
Would I read other books by this Author? Maybe
I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
February 4, 2024
The synopsis and title is misleading as the story doesn’t even arrive in Galveston until 80% of the book is over. The story focuses on Tucia—a licensed physician who has sworn off doctoring after a horrible debacle in a surgery room that has left her with severe PTSD. Her fight for survival for she and her Down syndrome son is the crux of the story. She also does self harm of pulling her hair out to cope with stress.
For those who like to know—There are times of cruelty in the story, abuse, sex, and heavy innuendo.
Scattered through the plot are mini stories of the people with her in the Medicine show. They are kind of out of place with the story.
Tucia finally gets her redemption and chance for a new life—-but she has to scratch and claw her way for it.
I just was at Galveston in September so it was nice to “revisit” The Strand. But I expected the story to spend wayyyy more time there.
3 stars tops.
*I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. I wasn’t required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
For those who like to know—There are times of cruelty in the story, abuse, sex, and heavy innuendo.
Scattered through the plot are mini stories of the people with her in the Medicine show. They are kind of out of place with the story.
Tucia finally gets her redemption and chance for a new life—-but she has to scratch and claw her way for it.
I just was at Galveston in September so it was nice to “revisit” The Strand. But I expected the story to spend wayyyy more time there.
3 stars tops.
*I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. I wasn’t required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
December 17, 2023
4.5. It’s 1900, and Tucia, a woman, has attained her medical degree, against all odds. But she works in a corset factory and has not worked as a doctor for 8 years due to an incident in surgery. She has a son who has a weakened heart and she is in debt and barely surviving when a man comes to her door making her an offer she can’t refuse. Be the “doctor” behind his traveling medical show where he sells medicines to people.
As this book goes on, every once in a while a chapter will delve into each person’s background and why they ended up in this circus-type show. I loved this background into the eccentric but loving people who made up the shows.
As the medicine show continues on Tucia is asked to take on more and more tasks. All comes to a head when they arrive in Galveston and a hurricane arrives.
I loved this story. Firstly, because I’m fascinated by traveling medicine shows/circuses etc and the people that put on these shows. Secondly, being one of the first women doctors could not have been easy, especially when men didn’t think them capable. Excellent story.
Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Skenandore and Kensington Books for this ARC. This will not be my last book by Ms Skenandore.
As this book goes on, every once in a while a chapter will delve into each person’s background and why they ended up in this circus-type show. I loved this background into the eccentric but loving people who made up the shows.
As the medicine show continues on Tucia is asked to take on more and more tasks. All comes to a head when they arrive in Galveston and a hurricane arrives.
I loved this story. Firstly, because I’m fascinated by traveling medicine shows/circuses etc and the people that put on these shows. Secondly, being one of the first women doctors could not have been easy, especially when men didn’t think them capable. Excellent story.
Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Skenandore and Kensington Books for this ARC. This will not be my last book by Ms Skenandore.
May 21, 2024
What I love most about Amanda Skenandore’s historical fiction novels is that she takes us to events, places, and times in history that are unique, that might not be well-known, or that we might have forgotten. In the Medicine Woman of Galveston, we are taken to the fascinating world of the traveling medicine show in the year 1900. When we meet our heroine Trucia, she is facing desperate times. Although she is a female doctor, she is unable to practice medicine due to a traumatic experience, and has cobbled together a paltry living to support herself and her disabled son. When she meets charismatic showman Huey, he offers her a way out of debt and destitution—as a doctor, she can give legitimacy to his traveling medical show, and in return he can give her a chance at a better life for herself and her son. We are then swept away into this world of snake oil and deception, and we are introduced to this bedraggled yet talented troupe of fascinating characters. As a reader, I was not just an observer, I felt part of this show—watching the performances, feeding off the desperation tinged with hope that the yokels bring with them. This is a fast-paced story, and yet the author takes the time to introduce all of the characters to us in such a way that we see beyond the talents and skills they bring to the medicine show—their secrets and pasts are revealed to us so that we understand how they all came to be traveling with Huey. This compelling book will take readers deep into the world of the seediness of the medicine show, while at the same giving us unique characters who add many layers of compassion, talent, and determination that takes us beyond the tents and wagons of the traveling show. I received an advanced reader copy of this book via the publisher and Net Galley.
June 2, 2024
I was disappointed. I usually like this author’s books but this one was hard to get into. I didn’t like the main character and it was just so hard to enjoy. I finished it because I started it but it was a chore.
June 15, 2024
This was such a good historical fiction story about a down on her luck unwed mother and rare female doctor working in a corset factory to survive and support her disabled son only to find herself without a job and deep in debt.
Forced to make a deal with a devilish conman and owner of a travelling medicine show, Tucia finds herself befriending the other misfits, falling in love and learning to like medicine again all while trying to reconcile the deception she has to peddle against her will.
Moving, compelling and good on audio narrated by Amanda Stibling, this was a great read and perfect for fans of authors like Audrey Blake and Alice Hoffman's Museum of extraordinary things. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
CW: rape, gun violence
Disability rep: child with Down syndrome ; trichoctillomania (hair pulling compulsion)
Forced to make a deal with a devilish conman and owner of a travelling medicine show, Tucia finds herself befriending the other misfits, falling in love and learning to like medicine again all while trying to reconcile the deception she has to peddle against her will.
Moving, compelling and good on audio narrated by Amanda Stibling, this was a great read and perfect for fans of authors like Audrey Blake and Alice Hoffman's Museum of extraordinary things. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
CW: rape, gun violence
Disability rep: child with Down syndrome ; trichoctillomania (hair pulling compulsion)
July 14, 2024
I really enjoyed this story. Amanda Skenandore’s The Medicine Woman of Galveston, brought me back to the world of a traveling medicine/circus show in the year 1900.
This is a fast-paced story, and yet the author takes the time to introduce all of the characters to me in such a way that I saw their personalities shine
The Medicine Woman of Galveston was a fast paced read, riveting and well-researched, I couldn’t get enough of this story.
This is a fast-paced story, and yet the author takes the time to introduce all of the characters to me in such a way that I saw their personalities shine
The Medicine Woman of Galveston was a fast paced read, riveting and well-researched, I couldn’t get enough of this story.
June 6, 2024
I was disappointed in this one. I never connected with the main character of Tucia. I found her to be an inconsistent character that had a lot going on. She suffered from trichotillomania, or hair pulling disorder, and when her anxiety sky-rocketed, the itch to pull her hair out would get worse leading her to feel ashamed, paranoid that everyone was looking at her. That in and of itself was a lot to deal with. It was made worse by her obvious PTSD from something that happened when she was training to be a doctor, which apparently caused her to abandon her career aspirations of being a doctor despite other responsibilities that I felt should have taken precedence.
Tucia defied the position of women in society at that time and trained to be a doctor prior to the beginning of this story. She attended a women’s medical school, admitting to finding her place comfortably among the females there that she had not found with the other female relationships in her life. She cared not for what her stepmother or the rest of society thought of her aspirations, and yet I’m supposed to believe that she does now, to the point of crippling anxiety and worry about what the members of a snake oil salesman’s show say about her when she leaves the room.
In addition, she has the responsibility of feeding and housing a child, not just any child, but a child with special needs that has more requirements than just food and a roof over his head. Yet, she’s more worried about the morality of selling snake oil and the shame she feels at tearing her hair out. Don’t even get me started on her signing an ambiguous contract with said snake oil salesman. Who is this woman? An intelligent doctor and caring mother or a naïve, anxiety ridden girl with an exacting morality. I had a problem reconciling all of this into one character. The anxiety disorders and their manifestations combined with the lack of a support system just doesn’t account for all of this.
Other reviews have made the comments that the actual advertised plot of the Galveston hurricane of 1900 takes up little space in this novel, so I will add only that if you’re looking for a historical fiction novel set around the hurricane of 1900, I’d recommend The Promise by Ann Weisgarber.
This one just didn’t work for me due to the protagonist. The writing was good, and I would be open to reading another book by this author in hopes of it working better for me. I listened to portions of this novel via audiobook that was expertly narrated by Amanda Stribling and switched the egalley when convenient.
Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Books and HighBridge Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.
Tucia defied the position of women in society at that time and trained to be a doctor prior to the beginning of this story. She attended a women’s medical school, admitting to finding her place comfortably among the females there that she had not found with the other female relationships in her life. She cared not for what her stepmother or the rest of society thought of her aspirations, and yet I’m supposed to believe that she does now, to the point of crippling anxiety and worry about what the members of a snake oil salesman’s show say about her when she leaves the room.
In addition, she has the responsibility of feeding and housing a child, not just any child, but a child with special needs that has more requirements than just food and a roof over his head. Yet, she’s more worried about the morality of selling snake oil and the shame she feels at tearing her hair out. Don’t even get me started on her signing an ambiguous contract with said snake oil salesman. Who is this woman? An intelligent doctor and caring mother or a naïve, anxiety ridden girl with an exacting morality. I had a problem reconciling all of this into one character. The anxiety disorders and their manifestations combined with the lack of a support system just doesn’t account for all of this.
Other reviews have made the comments that the actual advertised plot of the Galveston hurricane of 1900 takes up little space in this novel, so I will add only that if you’re looking for a historical fiction novel set around the hurricane of 1900, I’d recommend The Promise by Ann Weisgarber.
This one just didn’t work for me due to the protagonist. The writing was good, and I would be open to reading another book by this author in hopes of it working better for me. I listened to portions of this novel via audiobook that was expertly narrated by Amanda Stribling and switched the egalley when convenient.
Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Books and HighBridge Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.
June 18, 2024
I love historical fiction and really enjoyed “The Nurse’s Secret” by this author.
But this book was just ok.
I really appreciated the disabled son in the novel. Having a disabled child myself, it was refreshing to have that population represented.
I think my issue with the book is that it was advertised as an “immersive” experience for the reader inside the Galveston hurricane of 1900. There was no mention of gusty winds until after 300 pages of this book. (82%)
I felt misled and that was disappointing.
But this book was just ok.
I really appreciated the disabled son in the novel. Having a disabled child myself, it was refreshing to have that population represented.
I think my issue with the book is that it was advertised as an “immersive” experience for the reader inside the Galveston hurricane of 1900. There was no mention of gusty winds until after 300 pages of this book. (82%)
I felt misled and that was disappointing.
June 29, 2024
Loved the nurses secret by this author so was excited to get an advanced copy of this one!! I will say it wasn’t quite as good but definitely still worth a listen!
Really enjoyed the narrator, no issues there and could listen at my usual accelerated speed without any difficulty.
Tucia has completed medical school to be a doctor but is working at a corset factory while trying to support her son on her own. The book lists numerous times—to many really—that she had an event/accident and the trauma from this keeps her from being a doctor due to flashbacks and anxiety attacks. So this is just a bit unbelievable for me, I’m doing whatever I need to so my child is cared for and she’s on the verge of losing housing and hungry.
I loved how the author wrote and created family for Tucia and Toby despite them really having none. The bonds between characters that work with her at the traveling medicine show are strong and deeply developed. Enjoyed the short blurbs about each of their backstories and the true friendships that arise. Also even with the working girls close by the boarding house in Galveston. She definitely is an overcomer!
Bit slow at times but all in all I enjoyed and would recommend!
Thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for my advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Really enjoyed the narrator, no issues there and could listen at my usual accelerated speed without any difficulty.
Tucia has completed medical school to be a doctor but is working at a corset factory while trying to support her son on her own. The book lists numerous times—to many really—that she had an event/accident and the trauma from this keeps her from being a doctor due to flashbacks and anxiety attacks. So this is just a bit unbelievable for me, I’m doing whatever I need to so my child is cared for and she’s on the verge of losing housing and hungry.
I loved how the author wrote and created family for Tucia and Toby despite them really having none. The bonds between characters that work with her at the traveling medicine show are strong and deeply developed. Enjoyed the short blurbs about each of their backstories and the true friendships that arise. Also even with the working girls close by the boarding house in Galveston. She definitely is an overcomer!
Bit slow at times but all in all I enjoyed and would recommend!
Thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for my advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 29, 2024
I love the style that Amanda Skenandore writes. This story starts out with Tucia and her small son Toby, very poor, Tucia is a Dr, however this is in the era where women doctors are frowned upon and scorned. A fatal mistake caused Tucia to be forced to not practice her degree. Huey, head of a Medicine show, hears of Tucia and presents her with an out. He will pay her debt, and provide a home for her and her son in exchange for her working in his 'medicine' show as a Dr. Tucia is at a crossroads and feels like she has no choice but to join with this man. She soon finds out that Huey's promises are nothing but weak charms. The author does a fabulous job of portraying the insides of a Medicine Show.
Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Skenandore and Kinsington Publishing for allowing me this e-version in arc form in exchange for my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Skenandore and Kinsington Publishing for allowing me this e-version in arc form in exchange for my opinion.
June 4, 2024
Another great historical fiction story from this author! Dr. Tucia was a rarity in 1900... a female doctor, a single parent, and, deeply in debt. When she is offered a too-good-to-be-true job with a traveling show she takes it, seeing no other way out to support her young son and herself.
I enjoyed learning more about traveling medicine shows from that era, the challenges (so many!) of female doctors to break into the medical field back then, and the insight into the Galveston hurricane of 1900. This was an informative and entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy!
I enjoyed learning more about traveling medicine shows from that era, the challenges (so many!) of female doctors to break into the medical field back then, and the insight into the Galveston hurricane of 1900. This was an informative and entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy!
July 11, 2024
I really enjoyed the story in this book, but I was disappointed that very little of the book actually took place in Galveston or involved the hurricane of 1900 there, which was the biggest draw for me in wanting to read the book in the first place. Overall, the story is good, following a female doctor and her son as she makes difficult choices in order to survive. There are interesting side characters, and it touches some on mental illness in those days as well.
July 30, 2024
A nice story of a woman finding her confidence and place in life again, sad it took a natural disaster to do so. A bit predictable, otherwise would have gotten another star from me.
May 22, 2024
Tucia is just trying to survive along with her young son.
Circumstances force her to join a traveling medicine show and she starts making unexpected friends.
It’s a quick moving story. I felt sad for Tucia and her friend’s situation.
Circumstances force her to join a traveling medicine show and she starts making unexpected friends.
It’s a quick moving story. I felt sad for Tucia and her friend’s situation.
July 1, 2024
TITLE: The Medicine Woman of Galveston
AUTHOR: Amanda Skenandore
PUB DATE: 05.21.2024
This spellbinding story of a determined female doctor pushed into life as part of a menacing swindler’s traveling medicine show in order to support her son is rife with unflinching prose and set against the backdrop of the devastating Galveston Hurricane of 1900.
The Nurse’s Secret was a five star read for me so when I had the opportunity to read another medicine based historical fiction from author and fellow RN Amanda Skenandore, I was so excited to pick this up and immerse myself in the early 1900 and into the life of Dr. Tucia Hatherley and her son.
The writing was easy to read and the descriptions on some parts were not for the faint of heart and so accurate. The story addressed a time in our world where women doctors were not treated with respect, and poorly during training and practice - Skenandore skillfully crafted a character who is in a desperate situation (who is no longer practicing medicine and accumulated debts from loan sharks), has suffered so much trauma, and is looking to rise above difficulties with a child in tow, all to make a better future.
Along the way, we meet sleazy characters and into the lives of the characters in the medicine show.
The Medicine Woman of Galveston was a fast paced read, riveting and well-researched, I couldn’t get enough of this story.
AUTHOR: Amanda Skenandore
PUB DATE: 05.21.2024
This spellbinding story of a determined female doctor pushed into life as part of a menacing swindler’s traveling medicine show in order to support her son is rife with unflinching prose and set against the backdrop of the devastating Galveston Hurricane of 1900.
The Nurse’s Secret was a five star read for me so when I had the opportunity to read another medicine based historical fiction from author and fellow RN Amanda Skenandore, I was so excited to pick this up and immerse myself in the early 1900 and into the life of Dr. Tucia Hatherley and her son.
The writing was easy to read and the descriptions on some parts were not for the faint of heart and so accurate. The story addressed a time in our world where women doctors were not treated with respect, and poorly during training and practice - Skenandore skillfully crafted a character who is in a desperate situation (who is no longer practicing medicine and accumulated debts from loan sharks), has suffered so much trauma, and is looking to rise above difficulties with a child in tow, all to make a better future.
Along the way, we meet sleazy characters and into the lives of the characters in the medicine show.
The Medicine Woman of Galveston was a fast paced read, riveting and well-researched, I couldn’t get enough of this story.
November 27, 2023
Doctor Hatherley fought to be allowed to go to medical school, fought to be taken seriously in the field, until the day it was all taken away in a matter of minutes. Now she works in a factory just barely making enough to support her and her son. When she loses her job and with debtors knocking at her door she receives an offer, while distasteful to her morals, she has no choice but to accept. Joining a medical show to give them credibility with her medical license will keep her and her son together and out of the poor house. But she quickly learns that the show has a lot more secrets then meets the eye.
I first really got interested in medicine shows when I listened to a Maintenance Phase podcast episode on snake oil, and what it really was and how it came to be associated with grifting.
This was a really interesting look at the people who worked these shows and the choices that lead them their. And of the entire practice of shows and their exploitative nature.
I absolutely enjoyed this and am very thankful to Amanda Skenandore and Netgalley and Kensington Book for letting me have this early in exchange for a review.
Look for it May 21 2024
I first really got interested in medicine shows when I listened to a Maintenance Phase podcast episode on snake oil, and what it really was and how it came to be associated with grifting.
This was a really interesting look at the people who worked these shows and the choices that lead them their. And of the entire practice of shows and their exploitative nature.
I absolutely enjoyed this and am very thankful to Amanda Skenandore and Netgalley and Kensington Book for letting me have this early in exchange for a review.
Look for it May 21 2024
June 8, 2024
The title is misleading and so is the synopsis which leads you to believe that the focus of the story is about the hurricane in Galveston. It’s not until 85% of the book is completed that they even reach Galveston.
I’ve read two other books by AS which I enjoyed, but this one was not as interesting.
I’ve read two other books by AS which I enjoyed, but this one was not as interesting.
April 26, 2024
ARC received courtesy of Goodreads FirstReads Giveaways.com
I think Amanda Skenandore has written herself a best-seller! This historical novel covers the late 1800's-very early 1900s. The research Skenandore has done on medicine shows, women in the medical profession and Galveston, Texas is extraordinary. This novel is full of believable characters, situations and is time-period appropriate. It's a wonderful read starting with a subject about which little is known: medicine shows.
Dr. Tucia Hatherley finds herself working in a factory in St. Louis, trying to pay a sitter to take care of her young son, and feeling the worthless, self-loathing so many women have felt then and since. When Tucia is approached by Huey Horn, owner of a medicine show; he will use her medical license to legitimize the show and Tucia will be able to start over. When she agrees, she doesn't know she's sold her life to Huey and The Amazing Adolphus and his Traveling Medicine Show. She and her son, Toby, who has Downs' Syndrome, join the show and meet the other "travelers", all who are trapped there by Huey. Each of these characters has his/her own chapter in the novel that tells each backstory.
As Tucia begins to settle into the show, Huey demands that she becomes part of the show. She starts out by being blindfolded and telling what object an audience member has when Huey picks them from a crowd. She then begins reading palms in order sell more of the snake oil that the troupe sells. She moves on to doing meetings with people one-on-one where she (unbeknownst to Huey) gives out real medical advice. All the while, Tucia is grappling with what happened to her to make her unable to practice medicine. Everything comes to its conclusion when Huey decides that the troupe will over-winter on Galveston Island where they can perform each day at a "museum" and sleep in real beds each night.
I found this to be a fantastic novel and cannot recommend it highly enough. It will be released on May 21 and I would suggest that you pre-order it or ask your library to purchase it when it's released. I can see a wonderful movie or limited series being made out of this novel!
I think Amanda Skenandore has written herself a best-seller! This historical novel covers the late 1800's-very early 1900s. The research Skenandore has done on medicine shows, women in the medical profession and Galveston, Texas is extraordinary. This novel is full of believable characters, situations and is time-period appropriate. It's a wonderful read starting with a subject about which little is known: medicine shows.
Dr. Tucia Hatherley finds herself working in a factory in St. Louis, trying to pay a sitter to take care of her young son, and feeling the worthless, self-loathing so many women have felt then and since. When Tucia is approached by Huey Horn, owner of a medicine show; he will use her medical license to legitimize the show and Tucia will be able to start over. When she agrees, she doesn't know she's sold her life to Huey and The Amazing Adolphus and his Traveling Medicine Show. She and her son, Toby, who has Downs' Syndrome, join the show and meet the other "travelers", all who are trapped there by Huey. Each of these characters has his/her own chapter in the novel that tells each backstory.
As Tucia begins to settle into the show, Huey demands that she becomes part of the show. She starts out by being blindfolded and telling what object an audience member has when Huey picks them from a crowd. She then begins reading palms in order sell more of the snake oil that the troupe sells. She moves on to doing meetings with people one-on-one where she (unbeknownst to Huey) gives out real medical advice. All the while, Tucia is grappling with what happened to her to make her unable to practice medicine. Everything comes to its conclusion when Huey decides that the troupe will over-winter on Galveston Island where they can perform each day at a "museum" and sleep in real beds each night.
I found this to be a fantastic novel and cannot recommend it highly enough. It will be released on May 21 and I would suggest that you pre-order it or ask your library to purchase it when it's released. I can see a wonderful movie or limited series being made out of this novel!
May 19, 2024
The Medicine Woman of Galveston
By: Amanda Skenandore
Pub date: May 21, 2024
Publisher: Kensington
4💉💉💉💉
A very unique novel. Obviously tons of detailed research into a time when a female doctor in the 1900’s was not accepted. She ends up in a traveling medicine show to earn enough to support her son. She has not practiced in a long time, but she is desperate.
💉
As you can imagine a traveling medicine shows with the circus-like-entertainment while enticing others to accept their services.
💉
Thank you Kensington for the gifted copy.
#texashistory, #themedicinewomanofgalveston, #kensington, #bookreview, #stamperlady50, #booksconnectus
By: Amanda Skenandore
Pub date: May 21, 2024
Publisher: Kensington
4💉💉💉💉
A very unique novel. Obviously tons of detailed research into a time when a female doctor in the 1900’s was not accepted. She ends up in a traveling medicine show to earn enough to support her son. She has not practiced in a long time, but she is desperate.
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As you can imagine a traveling medicine shows with the circus-like-entertainment while enticing others to accept their services.
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Thank you Kensington for the gifted copy.
#texashistory, #themedicinewomanofgalveston, #kensington, #bookreview, #stamperlady50, #booksconnectus
April 19, 2024
I enjoyed the book overall. The Medicine Woman of Galveston was action packed and full of memorable characters. I would have liked for the story to have covered more time in Galveston, rather than Dr. Tucia Hatherley showing up right before the 1900 storm and then the book ending. The majority of the book took place on the road and going from town to town but then rushed in the Galveston story line right at the very end. This wouldn't bother me except for the title being The Medicine Woman of Galveston. That being said, it was a fascinating look at a time in our nation's history that I knew little about and I'm happy I was able to get an advance copy of the book so I could read it before my Galveston trip next month!
May 20, 2024
The Medicine Woman of Galveston was written by Amanda Skenandore, She is a registered nurse, and her personal knowledge adds to the realism of her historical fiction novels which feature women and medicine. I read her previous books The Second Life of Mirielle West and The Nurse’s Secret and loved them both. However, I think she outdid herself with her latest! I started the book one day and finished it the next. I simply HAD to see what happened as soon as possible!
Dr. Tucia Hatherley was one of the few women who actually became a doctor and interned at a big hospital at the turn of the century, but not any more. In Missouri in 1900, Tucia now works in a corset factory instead of medicine; she hasn't touched her medical instruments since she made a fatal mistake in the operating theater. She's desperately struggling to support herself and her young Down Syndrome son Toby, but now that job is being threatened, as well. She only has one out: Huey Horn, a wily and charismatic showman, offers to pay off all of her debts if she becomes part of his traveling medicine show. Her medical license gives his show a cover of credibility, though the "medicine" he sells is useless. She begins to make uneasy kinship with the other traveling performers, but plans to leave as soon as her debt to Huey is paid. However, Huey's schemes are becoming more intense and dangerous and he has no intention of setting her free. Things come to a head when the troop arrives in Galveston, when a horrible hurricane devastates the Gulf Coast. Will Tucia regain her courage to practice medicine once again?
I was just a little familiar with the Galveston hurricane of 1900, which is the deadliest natural disaster in United States history. At least 8,000 souls were lost, and some estimate that the number may be as many as 12,000! I was eager to learn more about it. However, the traveling medicine show didn't get to Galveston until the book was 75% done. I was so enraptured by the story I didn't realize it was almost over until the hurricane hit. The author, though, gave more information about the storm in the afterword so I was satisfied. I just loved the characters in this book, though some it took me a while to embrace; Huey was not embraced at all! Dr. Tucia Hatherley worked hard to become a doctor, but her life was shattered when a patient bled to death and she believed it was all her fault. She suffered from PTSD when confronted with any medical emergency. She also had trichotillomania, which was an overwhelming urge to pull out one's hair. Tucia's life now revolved around taking care of Toby. When she lost her job at the corset factory, her boss would give her another chance...if she pleasured him. She decked him instead! She thought the situation was helpless, until she met Huey, who fashioned himself as the Amazing Adolphus. At first he seemed decent enough, but as time went on he became more sinister. He would blackmail and threaten his employees; he was also addicted to the opium pipe. He was definitely someone a woman and child should not be around. Toby was a sweet, loving boy who was treated as a defective imbecile by so many who didn't understand the medical issue he had. Tucia would NOT put her dear son in an institution or asylum as many people suggested. At first the odd members of the medicine show treated her with disdain. As Tucia got to know them, however, I fell in love with them! Fanny, known as Grazyna the Dancing Giantess, was my favorite. A German woman who suffered from gigantism, she was an incredibly graceful dancer and ended up being a great friend to Tucia. Fanny was married to Cal Trout, whose stage name was Cal Crip Caboo; that's the cruel name Huey gave him since he was horribly bowlegged. He was, however, a genius musician. Fanny and Cal had a son named Al; he was the son of Fanny's dearest friend who died after giving birth, and they loved him as if he was their own. Lawrence was an indentured Creek Indian who was a talented poet. Huey called him Chief Big Sky and he was made to perform as a stereotypical "savage". No, Huey was not politically correct at all! And last but not least was Darl, a talented tinker who could fix just about anything. He was my other favorite supporting character...well, maybe after Kit the monkey! Darl worked on a chain gang with Huey, who had a hold over him when they escaped. He was a biracial man who passed for white, and he had a hairlip which had been repaired, though not well. Tucia though him handsome, and he was kind to her and her son. Actually, with the exception of Huey, all of the performers treated Toby with kindness. There was an attraction between Darl and Tucia, which was a nice bit of romance thrown into the mix. When everyone arrived at Galveston, Huey had nefarious plans for Tucia. Then the tornado hit, and there was non-stop action and excitement until the end. I won't give any secrets away; I was just thrilled with the resolution. Ms. Skenandore writes terrifically nuanced characters and gently pulls out their inner selves. I am looking forward to anything this author comes out with in the future.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Dr. Tucia Hatherley was one of the few women who actually became a doctor and interned at a big hospital at the turn of the century, but not any more. In Missouri in 1900, Tucia now works in a corset factory instead of medicine; she hasn't touched her medical instruments since she made a fatal mistake in the operating theater. She's desperately struggling to support herself and her young Down Syndrome son Toby, but now that job is being threatened, as well. She only has one out: Huey Horn, a wily and charismatic showman, offers to pay off all of her debts if she becomes part of his traveling medicine show. Her medical license gives his show a cover of credibility, though the "medicine" he sells is useless. She begins to make uneasy kinship with the other traveling performers, but plans to leave as soon as her debt to Huey is paid. However, Huey's schemes are becoming more intense and dangerous and he has no intention of setting her free. Things come to a head when the troop arrives in Galveston, when a horrible hurricane devastates the Gulf Coast. Will Tucia regain her courage to practice medicine once again?
I was just a little familiar with the Galveston hurricane of 1900, which is the deadliest natural disaster in United States history. At least 8,000 souls were lost, and some estimate that the number may be as many as 12,000! I was eager to learn more about it. However, the traveling medicine show didn't get to Galveston until the book was 75% done. I was so enraptured by the story I didn't realize it was almost over until the hurricane hit. The author, though, gave more information about the storm in the afterword so I was satisfied. I just loved the characters in this book, though some it took me a while to embrace; Huey was not embraced at all! Dr. Tucia Hatherley worked hard to become a doctor, but her life was shattered when a patient bled to death and she believed it was all her fault. She suffered from PTSD when confronted with any medical emergency. She also had trichotillomania, which was an overwhelming urge to pull out one's hair. Tucia's life now revolved around taking care of Toby. When she lost her job at the corset factory, her boss would give her another chance...if she pleasured him. She decked him instead! She thought the situation was helpless, until she met Huey, who fashioned himself as the Amazing Adolphus. At first he seemed decent enough, but as time went on he became more sinister. He would blackmail and threaten his employees; he was also addicted to the opium pipe. He was definitely someone a woman and child should not be around. Toby was a sweet, loving boy who was treated as a defective imbecile by so many who didn't understand the medical issue he had. Tucia would NOT put her dear son in an institution or asylum as many people suggested. At first the odd members of the medicine show treated her with disdain. As Tucia got to know them, however, I fell in love with them! Fanny, known as Grazyna the Dancing Giantess, was my favorite. A German woman who suffered from gigantism, she was an incredibly graceful dancer and ended up being a great friend to Tucia. Fanny was married to Cal Trout, whose stage name was Cal Crip Caboo; that's the cruel name Huey gave him since he was horribly bowlegged. He was, however, a genius musician. Fanny and Cal had a son named Al; he was the son of Fanny's dearest friend who died after giving birth, and they loved him as if he was their own. Lawrence was an indentured Creek Indian who was a talented poet. Huey called him Chief Big Sky and he was made to perform as a stereotypical "savage". No, Huey was not politically correct at all! And last but not least was Darl, a talented tinker who could fix just about anything. He was my other favorite supporting character...well, maybe after Kit the monkey! Darl worked on a chain gang with Huey, who had a hold over him when they escaped. He was a biracial man who passed for white, and he had a hairlip which had been repaired, though not well. Tucia though him handsome, and he was kind to her and her son. Actually, with the exception of Huey, all of the performers treated Toby with kindness. There was an attraction between Darl and Tucia, which was a nice bit of romance thrown into the mix. When everyone arrived at Galveston, Huey had nefarious plans for Tucia. Then the tornado hit, and there was non-stop action and excitement until the end. I won't give any secrets away; I was just thrilled with the resolution. Ms. Skenandore writes terrifically nuanced characters and gently pulls out their inner selves. I am looking forward to anything this author comes out with in the future.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
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