melissasbookshelf's review
3.0
I liked this book despite how depressing it was. There were some great moments and some not so great moments. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life. The problem I had was that the main character was naive in the beginning, but remained naive throughout the book. It seemed she was willfully ignorant of both her first husband and then later her son's behavior.
I loved her second husband and appreciated how supportive he was of her. Being a dyslexic woman who manages to go to medical school and beat the odds to become a doctor in the late 1800's is nothing short of miraculous. This book is based on a real story I should say and therefore is extremely inspirational, however, it is not a happy read. If you're in the mood for a deep drama with occasional happy moments, then this is the book for you.
I loved her second husband and appreciated how supportive he was of her. Being a dyslexic woman who manages to go to medical school and beat the odds to become a doctor in the late 1800's is nothing short of miraculous. This book is based on a real story I should say and therefore is extremely inspirational, however, it is not a happy read. If you're in the mood for a deep drama with occasional happy moments, then this is the book for you.
pageturnersandsweettea's review
This was a unique read for me. I loved the way Ms. Kirkpatrick created this story. It is based on a true story so that made it that much more special to me. I love it when a fiction novel is written and it's got truth woven into the beautifully created pages.
I loved Jennie. Her dreams and heartache are vivid and really pulled at me. She was living in a time where women's dreams didn't always become a reality, but she was steadfast and wasn't going to let anything stop her. Watching her reach for her dreams, felt like a movie playing out before me. I felt every one of Jennie's emotions, and fell in love with all the characters she came across. There were a few characters along the way that I loved to hate, but they were very much needed in the story for it to come full circle and completely wrap me up.
This is definitely worthy of 4 stars and high recommendations. If you are looking for a book that will completely sweep you off your feet and take you back into time, then this is the one you don't want to miss. Ms. Kirkpatrick's trade mark captivating work is evident in yet another amaizng novel. Well done!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Reads and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
I loved Jennie. Her dreams and heartache are vivid and really pulled at me. She was living in a time where women's dreams didn't always become a reality, but she was steadfast and wasn't going to let anything stop her. Watching her reach for her dreams, felt like a movie playing out before me. I felt every one of Jennie's emotions, and fell in love with all the characters she came across. There were a few characters along the way that I loved to hate, but they were very much needed in the story for it to come full circle and completely wrap me up.
This is definitely worthy of 4 stars and high recommendations. If you are looking for a book that will completely sweep you off your feet and take you back into time, then this is the one you don't want to miss. Ms. Kirkpatrick's trade mark captivating work is evident in yet another amaizng novel. Well done!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Reads and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
abcdefg88piano's review
3.0
This book was difficult to read because it deals with some pretty distressing and depressing subjects, like substance abuse and addiction. And given that it's based on a true story, happy endings are not in store for everyone. I had a harder time with it than I expected.
I never really got to the place where I was really invested in the main character, and I'm not sure if it's because of the way she was written or because of who she was. Truth is stranger than fiction, and if I hadn't known this was a true story, I would have thought it extremely far-fetched, especially for the era in which it was set.
My other complaint was that we waited for so long for Jennie to become a doctor, that when she does, it's anticlimactic. That part of the story felt rushed and a little dry. There was a lot about her accomplishments as a doctor, but little about her actual experiences.
The writing itself was lovely. I loved the character Aariyah, and the thread of musical insights she brought into the narrative. That was a beautiful touch that added a lot to the story.
I never really got to the place where I was really invested in the main character, and I'm not sure if it's because of the way she was written or because of who she was. Truth is stranger than fiction, and if I hadn't known this was a true story, I would have thought it extremely far-fetched, especially for the era in which it was set.
My other complaint was that we waited for so long for Jennie to become a doctor, that when she does, it's anticlimactic. That part of the story felt rushed and a little dry. There was a lot about her accomplishments as a doctor, but little about her actual experiences.
The writing itself was lovely. I loved the character Aariyah, and the thread of musical insights she brought into the narrative. That was a beautiful touch that added a lot to the story.
bellesmoma2021's review against another edition
5.0
All She Left Behind (2017) is a stand-alone novel masterfully written by Jane Kirkpatrick. This novel was just released on September 5, 2017. This novel comes in all forms including eBook, and is 343 pages in length. With a full-time job and a busy five-year old, this novel took me two days to read. I received a free copy of this novel directly from the publisher, Revell of the Baker Publishing Group. In no way has this influenced my opinions of the story. All opinions expressed in this review are mine. I give this novel 5+ STARS. This novel is a Christian Historical Fiction based on authentic historical people and events.
The main character in this novel is Jennie Lichtenthaler, one of Oregon's first female doctors. Jennie's story is so engaging I read 3/4 of the book in one sitting! From a small girl, Jennie has always been fascinated with herbs and medicinals prepared naturally. She loves healing others, and does dream of becoming a doctor one day. But, a lack of confidence and some seriously upsetting moments put that dream on hold for Jennie.
Jennie's life was really hard. Her first marriage was a disaster due to her husband's alcohol and drug addiction. Jennie also lost one child at birth, which completely devastated her. Some of the events described in this book are so heart-wrenching I wanted so desperately to reach into the novel and give Jennie a comforting hug. I would love to expound on Jennie's first marriage, some of the things she endures are beyond bearable, but I don't want to ruin one single page of this novel. Jane Kirkpatrick does a fantastic job of putting her readers directly into the time period. The arrogance of men and the way many of them treated women as less than second class citizens was really hard to read. Every insult Jennie had hurled at her, I felt deeply.
But, Jennie does have a fantastic love story as well. Her second husband, Josiah Parrish, was the love of her life, and treated her so well. He is so beautifully written in this novel -- he may well be my top fictional hero. The relationship between Josiah and Jennie gave me hope as I read this novel that good people, loving people really do exist in this hard world.
This novel does discuss alcohol and drug addiction at great length. Jennie was tremendously affected by the abuse of such substances. In fact, it is one of the driving forces that help her determine her course of studies in the medical field. Alcohol and drug abuse is a terrible sickness. It ruins not just the lives of those addicted, but the lives of family members who truly want to help but are completely helpless to do so. I felt this novel touched on these topics with grace, authenticity, and truth. It is frustrating and traumatic to take second (or third or fourth) place in the hearts of loved ones choosing harmful substances over you and your love. It's a terrible thing to watch a loved one succumb to the depravity of drug and/or alcohol abuse, and the other sins that typically go along with these abuses. And, the grief and guilt you feel when you finally let go of these loved ones is almost indescribable. But, as is subtly illustrated in the novel, give it all to God. Give God the pain and the grief and the guilt and the loss of the loved one. He is the only One who can truly heal!
All She Left Behind is one of the best books of 2017. It is exquisitely written! My goodness did God bless Jane Kirkpatrick with a phenomenal writing talent. I highly, highly recommend this novel.
The main character in this novel is Jennie Lichtenthaler, one of Oregon's first female doctors. Jennie's story is so engaging I read 3/4 of the book in one sitting! From a small girl, Jennie has always been fascinated with herbs and medicinals prepared naturally. She loves healing others, and does dream of becoming a doctor one day. But, a lack of confidence and some seriously upsetting moments put that dream on hold for Jennie.
Jennie's life was really hard. Her first marriage was a disaster due to her husband's alcohol and drug addiction. Jennie also lost one child at birth, which completely devastated her. Some of the events described in this book are so heart-wrenching I wanted so desperately to reach into the novel and give Jennie a comforting hug. I would love to expound on Jennie's first marriage, some of the things she endures are beyond bearable, but I don't want to ruin one single page of this novel. Jane Kirkpatrick does a fantastic job of putting her readers directly into the time period. The arrogance of men and the way many of them treated women as less than second class citizens was really hard to read. Every insult Jennie had hurled at her, I felt deeply.
But, Jennie does have a fantastic love story as well. Her second husband, Josiah Parrish, was the love of her life, and treated her so well. He is so beautifully written in this novel -- he may well be my top fictional hero. The relationship between Josiah and Jennie gave me hope as I read this novel that good people, loving people really do exist in this hard world.
This novel does discuss alcohol and drug addiction at great length. Jennie was tremendously affected by the abuse of such substances. In fact, it is one of the driving forces that help her determine her course of studies in the medical field. Alcohol and drug abuse is a terrible sickness. It ruins not just the lives of those addicted, but the lives of family members who truly want to help but are completely helpless to do so. I felt this novel touched on these topics with grace, authenticity, and truth. It is frustrating and traumatic to take second (or third or fourth) place in the hearts of loved ones choosing harmful substances over you and your love. It's a terrible thing to watch a loved one succumb to the depravity of drug and/or alcohol abuse, and the other sins that typically go along with these abuses. And, the grief and guilt you feel when you finally let go of these loved ones is almost indescribable. But, as is subtly illustrated in the novel, give it all to God. Give God the pain and the grief and the guilt and the loss of the loved one. He is the only One who can truly heal!
All She Left Behind is one of the best books of 2017. It is exquisitely written! My goodness did God bless Jane Kirkpatrick with a phenomenal writing talent. I highly, highly recommend this novel.
kristaj's review
5.0
Another amazing story of an amazing woman in history told in a way only Jane Kirkpatrick can. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was able to get lost in the world of Jennie Pickett Parish. What an incredible story.
thecalicobooks's review against another edition
*I received a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. A huge thank you to the publisher!*
Going into this book, I didn't really know what to expect. I hadn't read any of Jane Kirkpatrick's books before, and I didn't know much about what the actual story for All She Left Behind was even about. That being said, once I got started, I found this book to be such a unique and interesting read.
All She Left Behind is a fictional story, however, the main character, Jennie Pickett, is not. I didn't realize it at first, but I found it really fascinating to read about Jennie's life and the struggles she had to overcome. And, oh boy, does she face struggles! Yet, throughout it all, she remains faithful to God and never gives up. I really admired Jennie's determination despite her disability and the abuse she faced.
I really enjoyed the writing style of this novel, as well. This book was written in a way that made you want to keep reading. Jane Kirkpatrick does an excellent job of blending factual information with fiction. While the book did feel slow in parts, ultimately, it was a very well written, absorbing novel.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book! I found Jennie to be highly compelling character and enjoyed reading about her life - even though it was painful at times. I look forward to reading more of Jane Kirkpatrick's books in the future. I would definitely recommend All She Left Behind to anyone who is a fan of Christian, historical fiction!
Going into this book, I didn't really know what to expect. I hadn't read any of Jane Kirkpatrick's books before, and I didn't know much about what the actual story for All She Left Behind was even about. That being said, once I got started, I found this book to be such a unique and interesting read.
All She Left Behind is a fictional story, however, the main character, Jennie Pickett, is not. I didn't realize it at first, but I found it really fascinating to read about Jennie's life and the struggles she had to overcome. And, oh boy, does she face struggles! Yet, throughout it all, she remains faithful to God and never gives up. I really admired Jennie's determination despite her disability and the abuse she faced.
I really enjoyed the writing style of this novel, as well. This book was written in a way that made you want to keep reading. Jane Kirkpatrick does an excellent job of blending factual information with fiction. While the book did feel slow in parts, ultimately, it was a very well written, absorbing novel.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book! I found Jennie to be highly compelling character and enjoyed reading about her life - even though it was painful at times. I look forward to reading more of Jane Kirkpatrick's books in the future. I would definitely recommend All She Left Behind to anyone who is a fan of Christian, historical fiction!
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