THE LOBOTOMIST'S WIFE by Samantha Greene Woodruff - Review & Giveaway

 

I picked up the novel, THE LOBOTOMIST'S WIFE (LakeUnion) by debut author, Samantha Greene Woodruff initially with some trepidation, but once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. Yes, it's about that - lobotomies - the pick in the eye thing, but it's so much more. Greene Woodruff weaves together a historically accurate narrative about Dr. Walter Freeman's introduction of the - lobotomy, which became the "ice pick" through the eye socket technique. He performed it on hundreds of patients suffering from migraines to depression, and more than half women. At that time in history, women were basically kept silent, unable to speak for themselves. 

Taken from this shocking chapter in medical history, 1936-1950s, THE LOBOTOMIST'S WIFE tells the story of a courageous woman, the doctor's wife, who is at first in awe of Freeman but realizes he's nothing more than an egotistical madman. THE LOBOTOMIST'S WIFE is a compelling story which highlights how the medical establishment's goal to make a "treatment" faster, more efficient miracle, if not monitored, can turn out to be a curse and how the best of intentions, can result in horror. 

The takeaway for me from THE LOBOTOMIST'S WIFE is the struggle, particularly for women to speak up for themselves, to be true to themselves and to fit in despite society's oppressive norms. The novel is certainly timely considering what women are facing legally today in healthcare, a majority of older white men deciding the fate of women's bodies. This is another example of how the more the way things supposedly change, they seem to remain the same.



Samantha Greene Woodruff has a BA in history from Wesleyan University and an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business. The Lobotomist's Wife is her first novel, and she is already at work on her next historical fiction book.

Thanks to Wunderkind PR and Chick Lit Central we have one copy to giveaway. Just tell us the most outrageous situation you have faced in healthcare. We'll announce a winner soon. Good luck.

GIVEAWAY: USA only please.

Review of THE LOBOTOMIST'S WIFE first post at
http://chicklitcentral.com/2022/06/book-review-lobotomists-wife.html

Comments

  1. Padmini RaoJune 24, 2022 at 2:42 PM

    The fact that I forgot my health insurance card and my doctor wouldn’t see me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJune 24, 2022 at 3:53 PM

    When the cardiologist kept telling us there was nothing wrong with my husband’s heart (he was only 36) , but we kept pushing and he was finally diagnosed with coronary artery disease as they found his major artery blocked with a blood clot sitting on top of it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJune 24, 2022 at 6:17 PM

    I went to a Dermatologist because my hands kept cracking and they kept itching, the skin would crack well, when I went in to see her she was more interested in doing something to my face instead of my hands that were so bad and hurting . aliciabhaney(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  4. bn100June 24, 2022 at 7:37 PM

    overcharged
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. NancyJune 24, 2022 at 8:07 PM

    One of the most outrageous situations we have faced in healthcare is the length of time you must wait to get a doctor's appointment in certain specialties.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  6. travelerJune 25, 2022 at 9:51 AM

    Finding a rheumatologist was lengthy and difficult due to the scarcity. Agonizing and impossible. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJune 25, 2022 at 11:30 AM

    How much time do you have? Lol I’ve been seeing doctors for 2 years now trying to find answers!

    ReplyDelete
  8. taurusJune 26, 2022 at 10:02 AM

    Having to deal with a new doctor for my Mom's cancer treatment when hers went out on maternity leave. Not only that, but the fellows and residents had also changed as the new year had started.
    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. diannekcJune 26, 2022 at 1:02 PM

    I can't believe that all the doctors I've asked can't tell me why I get so overheated. You would think someone could give me an answer.
    Dianne diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Toni LaliberteJune 26, 2022 at 8:16 PM

    When I was a child and got really sick with conjunctivitis, high fever and swollen lymph nodes, I went to the ER. While on the examining table, the male doctor started to feel up my boobies and me and my mother were shocked. He said he was checking my lymph nodes, but he was a bit creepy. We got out of there asap!

    ReplyDelete
  11. JoJune 26, 2022 at 10:28 PM

    When a specialist was dumbfounded by the size of my file. johart7@aol.com

    ReplyDelete

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