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mbenzz's review against another edition
5.0
This was a really good book set in NYC in 1885. A time when women were allowed no freedoms and her place was to see to the house, the servants, and her husband. This is Lucy Carlton's story. A woman who was born into wealth and privilege bred to be the epitome of high-class and high society. Lucy marries William Carlton, a stock-broker who is not of her class but makes enough money for the upper-class folks that they seemingly except him.
Lucy struggles with fits of hysteria, and frequent headaches, and is absent or leaves early from many social gatherings. William has taken her to doctor after doctor, and nothing seems to be working...until she starts seeing Dr. Victor Seth. Dr. Seth is a doctor of neurology, something the folks of 1885 have never heard of before. No one knows what to think of his treatments of hypnotism, but the therapy is working wonders for Lucy...for the most part.
Dr. Seth proves to be the best and worst thing to happen to Lucy. While the hysteria fits have ended, new problems start plaguing her. She finds herself doing and feeling things that are totally foreign to her, and make William feel threatened. In the end, Lucy and William's life together will never be the same, and lies and scandal-hit the high society of NYC.
Overall a great read...the ending was excellent, something I never would have expected, and the descriptions of the time period were wonderful. The clothes, the houses, the way of life for the most important citizens of NYC, and the limitations on women of the day. I definitely won't think twice about picking up another book from this author!
Lucy struggles with fits of hysteria, and frequent headaches, and is absent or leaves early from many social gatherings. William has taken her to doctor after doctor, and nothing seems to be working...until she starts seeing Dr. Victor Seth. Dr. Seth is a doctor of neurology, something the folks of 1885 have never heard of before. No one knows what to think of his treatments of hypnotism, but the therapy is working wonders for Lucy...for the most part.
Dr. Seth proves to be the best and worst thing to happen to Lucy. While the hysteria fits have ended, new problems start plaguing her. She finds herself doing and feeling things that are totally foreign to her, and make William feel threatened. In the end, Lucy and William's life together will never be the same, and lies and scandal-hit the high society of NYC.
Overall a great read...the ending was excellent, something I never would have expected, and the descriptions of the time period were wonderful. The clothes, the houses, the way of life for the most important citizens of NYC, and the limitations on women of the day. I definitely won't think twice about picking up another book from this author!
gaderianne's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this book up on a whim from the library and I'm glad that I did! In a time when women are meant to act and be a certain way, this book illustrates what a prison and what a struggle it could be. When women didn't have an outlet to be themselves, what could they do? In this case the main character turns to laudanum to treat her anxiety and depression (called hysteria by dr after dr) and told,to have children to make everything ok. It's only after she goes to see a new doctor with new theories and ideas that she begins to find herself.
I found myself on the edge of my sat reading this because every man in the story tries to impose his will on her. Her dad. Her husband. Her doctor. I hoped against hope that she would learn to stand up for herself, especially after all she goes through. I was very happy with how the ending turned out!
I found myself on the edge of my sat reading this because every man in the story tries to impose his will on her. Her dad. Her husband. Her doctor. I hoped against hope that she would learn to stand up for herself, especially after all she goes through. I was very happy with how the ending turned out!
suvata's review against another edition
5.0
I devoured this book. I can't say that I was happy with the circumstances or outcome but I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. This was a well written story that kept me mystified to the end. The Inconvenient Wife was the first book I've read by Megan Chance. I will certainly read more by her but it will be hard to top this one.
hannas_heas47's review against another edition
2.0
This book couldn't hold my attention and I found myself skipping ahead to try to figure it out. I'm not sure what it was.....maybe the act of doing something without coming out and saying what the act was. I just found myself more and more confused. Why they wouldn't let her draw... It seemed they were controlling her, where the good doc was trying to free her. This book was probably considered taboo back in the day, with all the physicals and doctors groping her genitalia with vibrating instruments.. I just thought it was a little too secret because I just didn't get it.
ikepauh's review against another edition
4.0
Tags: repressed woman, Victorian era, medicine through the ages, hypnotism, cuckholding, criminal trial, medical field notes, two POV, controlling family, suicide (mentioned), Jewish immigrants, late 1800s New York
Wah, how far society has advanced...would not want to be stuck being a repressed woman with no creative outlets and freedom really. The Dad and the husband will tick you off (even the society itself), the gall to decide every thing in their women's lives and expect them to follow through?
This is the third Megan Chance book I have read after The Portrait and Fall from Grace. The Portrait is a straight up romance with a character study into someone with bipolar disorder whilst An Inconvenient Wife does not read as a romance. There is some romancing going on, which I am still confused and iffy about considering the amount of hypnotism and boundary hopping that occurs. Instead, I'd describe An Inconvenient Wife as the story of one woman's journey towards finding herself whilst also being her doctor's mini experiment. There are many moments where I felt bewildered (between being disgusted and being turned on, between being excited and being dismayed). The ending was interesting, as like in The Portrait, as with life really...anything could be. This book ends as such.
An Inconvenient Wife surprised me about 80%, the book turned unexpectedly where I had not thought it would and it was altogether, an extremely pleasant and compelling read.
Wah, how far society has advanced...would not want to be stuck being a repressed woman with no creative outlets and freedom really. The Dad and the husband will tick you off (even the society itself), the gall to decide every thing in their women's lives and expect them to follow through?
This is the third Megan Chance book I have read after The Portrait and Fall from Grace. The Portrait is a straight up romance with a character study into someone with bipolar disorder whilst An Inconvenient Wife does not read as a romance. There is some romancing going on, which I am still confused and iffy about considering the amount of hypnotism and boundary hopping that occurs. Instead, I'd describe An Inconvenient Wife as the story of one woman's journey towards finding herself whilst also being her doctor's mini experiment. There are many moments where I felt bewildered (between being disgusted and being turned on, between being excited and being dismayed). The ending was interesting, as like in The Portrait, as with life really...anything could be. This book ends as such.
An Inconvenient Wife surprised me about 80%, the book turned unexpectedly where I had not thought it would and it was altogether, an extremely pleasant and compelling read.
bibielle's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
melrosereads's review against another edition
4.0
18th century setting where women is considered "hysterical" when they show an emotion other than obedient, meek and tamed. I always have avoided this kind of story and plot because it makes my blood boil. Its suffocating. Imagined the discoveries, music, arts and so much more if women in these day and age had the liberty to choose their paths.
The story started with Lucy and her husband William in a doctor's office where she was being advised that her last option of getting better is being admitted to an asylum. In the beginning it was already infuriating that they said the cause of her mood swings is because she hasn't conceive. Like having a baby is the only answer to every marital problem.
To cut the story. They met the infamous doctor Victor Seth he is a neurologist this field hasn't been officially introduced to society and one of his method of treatment is hypnotism which has a stigma and being compared to mesmerism. Victor was enticed by Lucy in which she is easily put in trance and intensely suggestible.
The power over someone is enthralling for Victor. He saw he was making another woman out of Lucy. She's waking her hunger for sensual passion and love for art. I firmly believe that Victor truly fell in love with Lucy she's no longer just her "creation" and in the other hand Lucy was beginning to get used with Victor's hypnotism she makes him believe he can still control her but that was long gone when she put a hole in her husband's chest.
That ending was good. I'm glad that Lucy has finally has rein over her own life.
The story started with Lucy and her husband William in a doctor's office where she was being advised that her last option of getting better is being admitted to an asylum. In the beginning it was already infuriating that they said the cause of her mood swings is because she hasn't conceive. Like having a baby is the only answer to every marital problem.
To cut the story. They met the infamous doctor Victor Seth he is a neurologist this field hasn't been officially introduced to society and one of his method of treatment is hypnotism which has a stigma and being compared to mesmerism. Victor was enticed by Lucy in which she is easily put in trance and intensely suggestible.
The power over someone is enthralling for Victor. He saw he was making another woman out of Lucy. She's waking her hunger for sensual passion and love for art. I firmly believe that Victor truly fell in love with Lucy she's no longer just her "creation" and in the other hand Lucy was beginning to get used with Victor's hypnotism she makes him believe he can still control her but that was long gone when she put a hole in her husband's chest.
That ending was good. I'm glad that Lucy has finally has rein over her own life.
suvata's review
5.0
I devoured this book. I can't say that I was happy with the circumstances or outcome but I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. This was a well written story that kept me mystified to the end. The Inconvenient Wife was the first book I've read by Megan Chance. I will certainly read more by her but it will be hard to top this one.