The Woman with the Cure. Lynn Cullen. 2023. [February] 400 pages. [Source: Library] [Adult historical fiction]
First sentence: Arlene would never get over the empty swimming pools.
Premise/plot: What should you know before picking this one up? Spans a little over two decades. Follows a half dozen (or so) people in a semi-shallow way for those decades. Multiple points of view. The main character is Dr. Horstmann--Dr. Dorothy Horstmann. She's a doctor on a mission--one of MANY--who is dedicated/committed to polio research. How to prevent it, how to treat it, how to cure it. It's a hit or miss research field with more unknowns than knowns. Doctors and scientists want answers so they can save lives, save families. There are many bumps and disappointments along the way.
For those who want a story about the race to create a polio vaccine, this would be a good fit. What moves the plot forward is this--dedication, diligence, perseverance of doctors and scientists. Chapters serve as snapshots or vignettes of that journey.
My thoughts: I liked this one. I wanted to read it. I didn't find the characters or the storytelling super-engaging. But I was interested in this history. If you are reading this because you just love historical fiction in general, this may not be the main fit. You have to care about the polio element of this one to find it engaging. In my opinion.
© 2023 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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