foxon's review against another edition
3.0
2.5
I went into this book wanting to hear about medicine in the 1800's and the ladies who practiced it. And those parts are certainly the best bits of The Winter Sisters. The other stand out is how vivid the small Georgian village feels and the interactions between the characters.
Unfortunately, this book is sloooow. We end up spending way too much time with Dr. Waycross who I don't think the reader is suppose to like (at least, I didn't like him) and so seeing everything through his eyes was odd. There was also no indication when the perspective changes with made reading a little jarring.
But all the well researched botanical information was interesting! I want more of that.
I went into this book wanting to hear about medicine in the 1800's and the ladies who practiced it. And those parts are certainly the best bits of The Winter Sisters. The other stand out is how vivid the small Georgian village feels and the interactions between the characters.
Unfortunately, this book is sloooow. We end up spending way too much time with Dr. Waycross who I don't think the reader is suppose to like (at least, I didn't like him) and so seeing everything through his eyes was odd. There was also no indication when the perspective changes with made reading a little jarring.
But all the well researched botanical information was interesting! I want more of that.
bags_and_bookz's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you Netgalley, QW Publishers and Tim Westover for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.
Early 1800s in America was not a good time for a women to be a healer and play practical jokes on her own patients. Three of the Winter sisters has healing powers to some extent, Rebecca and Sarah know their herbs and potions, but the youngest possesses some enrgy which she is not sure how to use. In the midst of rabies, a new doctor comes to town by pastor's invitation. Little does he know that he is the new instrument in pastor's hand to drive the sisters (witches) out.
Quite interesting story. Female characters are truly exceptional. The doctor is a bit shallow to my taste and a bit undeveloped, though through him I could see the power and knowledge of the Winters sisters. She did not learn anything in medical school and knew way more than doctor who was accustomed only to draw blood and to provide some narcotics.
Overall, good but not remarkable.
Early 1800s in America was not a good time for a women to be a healer and play practical jokes on her own patients. Three of the Winter sisters has healing powers to some extent, Rebecca and Sarah know their herbs and potions, but the youngest possesses some enrgy which she is not sure how to use. In the midst of rabies, a new doctor comes to town by pastor's invitation. Little does he know that he is the new instrument in pastor's hand to drive the sisters (witches) out.
Quite interesting story. Female characters are truly exceptional. The doctor is a bit shallow to my taste and a bit undeveloped, though through him I could see the power and knowledge of the Winters sisters. She did not learn anything in medical school and knew way more than doctor who was accustomed only to draw blood and to provide some narcotics.
Overall, good but not remarkable.
pattieod's review against another edition
4.0
One of those books that's promoted on Facebook and was available on Kindle for a low price, so I assumed it wouldn't be that good, but I was broke and looking for a good affordable Kindle read and the blurb was intriguing. Wrong again - it was excellent.
The plot was unpredictable, which was fun, and the main narrator is delightfully inept, obtuse and unreliable. I'm not sure I completely understood everything that went on, especially at the end, but that didn't detract from the experience. Magic/fantasy/magical realism usually isn't my thing, but it wasn't an overwhelming part of the story. The author really brought the time period - the early 1800s in the hills of Northern Georgia - alive, and the scrappy little town where most of the action is set becomes a character in its own right.
The male author is able to write women believably (always a concern) and I look forward to reading more of his work. God, that sounds so patronizing, but some of my favorite male authors just make me cringe and wish they would avoid writing in what they think are women's voices.
The plot was unpredictable, which was fun, and the main narrator is delightfully inept, obtuse and unreliable. I'm not sure I completely understood everything that went on, especially at the end, but that didn't detract from the experience. Magic/fantasy/magical realism usually isn't my thing, but it wasn't an overwhelming part of the story. The author really brought the time period - the early 1800s in the hills of Northern Georgia - alive, and the scrappy little town where most of the action is set becomes a character in its own right.
The male author is able to write women believably (always a concern) and I look forward to reading more of his work. God, that sounds so patronizing, but some of my favorite male authors just make me cringe and wish they would avoid writing in what they think are women's voices.
anna_may's review against another edition
3.0
Although the premise was what brought me to this book, I felt that it could have been executed better. I really liked the Winter sisters as characters, and found them fascinating. If the book was told only from their point of view, I feel like I would have enjoyed it a lot more.
The Winter Sisters follows three sisters living on the outskirts of a frontier town in Georgia, America in 1822. They're successful healers, but all three have some varying degree of supernatural abilities when it comes to healing. Rebecca, the eldest, uses the science of the day to back up her techniques, Sarah, the middle sister, uses psychology to heal - using peoples superstition and folk beliefs in a way that her patients will believe and go with her prescriptions. Effie is the youngest sister, and her healing is pure magic, she just needs to stand in a room with you to heal you of anything (including death).
Due to previous goings on, the sisters are exiled from the town to a cabin in the woods. Part of what I enjoyed with this book is the total hypocrisy of those in town. They were happy to go to the sisters for help when they were sick or injured, but when circumstances change against the sisters through no fault of their own, the townspeople change and begin what can only be described as a witch hunting riot.
The only element I didn't like was following the town's new doctor. Dr Aubrey Waycross was a little too pompous in my opinion, and he just came across a little wrong to me. There was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way, and I didn't get on with his character. Sadly, following his point of view took up most of the book.
The layout of the e-book was a little strange to me as there wasn't any page break or sign that the point of view was changing from the sisters in third person, to the doctor in first. This was a little jarring for a while before I got into the swing of things, about 30% of the way in.
Although it saddened me that I didn't love this book, I did find it incredibly interesting, and would recommend it, if slow, character driven historical fiction is your cup of tea.
Trigger warnings; body gore - injuries and antiquated healing techniques such as blood letting, addictive drug use, and death of an animal on page.
The Winter Sisters follows three sisters living on the outskirts of a frontier town in Georgia, America in 1822. They're successful healers, but all three have some varying degree of supernatural abilities when it comes to healing. Rebecca, the eldest, uses the science of the day to back up her techniques, Sarah, the middle sister, uses psychology to heal - using peoples superstition and folk beliefs in a way that her patients will believe and go with her prescriptions. Effie is the youngest sister, and her healing is pure magic, she just needs to stand in a room with you to heal you of anything (including death).
Due to previous goings on, the sisters are exiled from the town to a cabin in the woods. Part of what I enjoyed with this book is the total hypocrisy of those in town. They were happy to go to the sisters for help when they were sick or injured, but when circumstances change against the sisters through no fault of their own, the townspeople change and begin what can only be described as a witch hunting riot.
The only element I didn't like was following the town's new doctor. Dr Aubrey Waycross was a little too pompous in my opinion, and he just came across a little wrong to me. There was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way, and I didn't get on with his character. Sadly, following his point of view took up most of the book.
The layout of the e-book was a little strange to me as there wasn't any page break or sign that the point of view was changing from the sisters in third person, to the doctor in first. This was a little jarring for a while before I got into the swing of things, about 30% of the way in.
Although it saddened me that I didn't love this book, I did find it incredibly interesting, and would recommend it, if slow, character driven historical fiction is your cup of tea.
Trigger warnings; body gore - injuries and antiquated healing techniques such as blood letting, addictive drug use, and death of an animal on page.
energyrae's review against another edition
4.0
Set in 1822, Dr. Aubrey Waycross has finally found a position as a town doctor in Lawrenceville, GA. The problem is that the townspeople are superstitious, and they believe in the travelling shysters that sell miracle elixirs. Additionally, The Winter Sisters are claiming to heal these people as well. Waycross knows their type, old witches with bottles of potions and such lining the walls of their decrepit cottage. But there might be more to these sisters than he’s seeing, and it might behoove him to meet them, even if he doesn’t have plans to stay in a town where no one wants him to treat them.
This one was interesting because I didn’t like Waycross at first. It might be the benefit of modern medical advances, but I saw his treatments as equally foolish as the travelling salesman, Salmon Thumb’s, miracle elixirs. And I rolled my eyes at his superiority over others with these treatments. But then I put the eye rolling aside because I knew there had to be more in store for this good doctor, and there certainly was.
I loved the characters in this one. From each of the sisters, to the doubting townspeople, they all provided a humorous backdrop to this historical fantasy. I found Aubrey’s use of Ether equally amusing, and it was reminiscent of Wilbur Larch in John Irving’s The Cider House Rules. Effie was my favorite of the sisters, and I enjoyed that Westover allowed us to draw our own conclusions as to what was going on with her frailty, though it was mildly spelled out if you were willing to put it together. I found the end of the book didn’t do her the justice I would have liked to see. But the story along the way was addicting, and it made the book hard to put down. Nicely done.
This one was interesting because I didn’t like Waycross at first. It might be the benefit of modern medical advances, but I saw his treatments as equally foolish as the travelling salesman, Salmon Thumb’s, miracle elixirs. And I rolled my eyes at his superiority over others with these treatments. But then I put the eye rolling aside because I knew there had to be more in store for this good doctor, and there certainly was.
I loved the characters in this one. From each of the sisters, to the doubting townspeople, they all provided a humorous backdrop to this historical fantasy. I found Aubrey’s use of Ether equally amusing, and it was reminiscent of Wilbur Larch in John Irving’s The Cider House Rules. Effie was my favorite of the sisters, and I enjoyed that Westover allowed us to draw our own conclusions as to what was going on with her frailty, though it was mildly spelled out if you were willing to put it together. I found the end of the book didn’t do her the justice I would have liked to see. But the story along the way was addicting, and it made the book hard to put down. Nicely done.
jlynnelseauthor's review against another edition
3.0
1822, Georgia. After receiving an urgent letter from the mayor of Lawrenceville, Dr. Aubrey Waycross depletes his funds to travel to the frontier outpost. When he arrives, though, Dr. Waycross discovers he’s been misled. The town isn’t infected with hydrophobia, aka rabies, as the letter seemed to indicate. Additionally, most townsfolk trust the Winter sisters for their cures, three women who have been exiled into the woods. The pastor believes the sisters are witches, and he plans to use the new doctor to expose them. What he doesn’t plan on is Dr. Waycross and Rebecca Winter joining forces to combat a growing threat to the town.
The narration switches between Dr. Waycross’s first person and Sarah Winter’s third person. They’re interesting and distinct voices. The time period and setting are quite vibrant. Medical practices and thought processes are delightfully detailed. Aubrey has great sensibilities. I loved his internal thoughts, one example being “a hatless man cannot be taken seriously.” Westover’s writing style is humorous, quirky, and thoughtful.
When the sisters’ herbology heals patients quickly and successfully, Aubrey wrestles with his beliefs. His staunch pride in the Hippocratic teachings of bleeding, blistering, enemas, and amputations comes into question as he’s faced with the emotional damage such procedures can cause. His intentions are heartfelt, and his struggles are meaningful as he slowly learns to walk a different path as well as accept that not everything can or should be explained. Along the same vein, however, most of the mystical elements were left too ambiguous. By the end, I wasn’t sure what the author was trying to convey as his final parting thought. It felt like one piece of the puzzle was missing from an otherwise enjoyable tale. Part fiction/part fantasy, The Winter Sisters is a fun and sassy period piece.
Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-winter-sisters-a-novel/
The narration switches between Dr. Waycross’s first person and Sarah Winter’s third person. They’re interesting and distinct voices. The time period and setting are quite vibrant. Medical practices and thought processes are delightfully detailed. Aubrey has great sensibilities. I loved his internal thoughts, one example being “a hatless man cannot be taken seriously.” Westover’s writing style is humorous, quirky, and thoughtful.
When the sisters’ herbology heals patients quickly and successfully, Aubrey wrestles with his beliefs. His staunch pride in the Hippocratic teachings of bleeding, blistering, enemas, and amputations comes into question as he’s faced with the emotional damage such procedures can cause. His intentions are heartfelt, and his struggles are meaningful as he slowly learns to walk a different path as well as accept that not everything can or should be explained. Along the same vein, however, most of the mystical elements were left too ambiguous. By the end, I wasn’t sure what the author was trying to convey as his final parting thought. It felt like one piece of the puzzle was missing from an otherwise enjoyable tale. Part fiction/part fantasy, The Winter Sisters is a fun and sassy period piece.
Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-winter-sisters-a-novel/
tmn126's review against another edition
4.0
If you enjoy a book that looks at questions surrounding life and death and love, not only romantic but also familial, [b:The Winter Sisters|47577162|The Winter Sisters|Tim Westover|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565370045l/47577162._SY75_.jpg|72710892] is definitely worth the read. Science and superstition come together in a way that will change one small town and its inhabitants forever.
This is the story of Dr. Waycross, a young man trained in the latest advances in medicine of the day, who takes a position in a small town in frontier Georgia in 1822. He's lured by the prospect of patience who need a real doctor, a possible outbreak of hydrophobia, and the need for someone to convince the superstitious townspeople that bleeding and blistering are better medicine than the herbs and spells of the local healers; Waycross soon finds himself entangled with these healers, the title Winter sisters, as they need each other to minister to the townspeople's ills and to change the courses of their own lives. But are the Winter sisters simply home-taught healers, or are they something more?
The book does an excellent job of describing the Georgia of 1822; from the geography to the ins and out of frontier living, we get a clear sense of place and time that helps us frame the events in the story in a way that brings everything vividly to life in our minds. Told mostly from the perspectives of Dr. Waycross and Sarah, the middle sister, we get a clear picture of the thoughts of both opposing factions. The characters are clearly drawn, and we feel as if we understand both them and their reactions and decisions throughout the book.
If you are squeamish or prefer not to read about some of the more archaic medical practices of two centuries ago, you may want to skip this one. There are some descriptions that, although not terribly graphic, did make me cringe. However, I learned plenty of interesting tidbits about medical history that were knew to me. It made me thankful to live in more modern times.
Bottom line: This was a great historical novel that examined life on the frontier from the perspective of those whose work was to keep the people healthy during times of lots of superstitions and diseases without cures. It examines the lines between traditional medicine and other alternatives, and
at its core, it highlights the beliefs and emotions of the human heart.
This is the story of Dr. Waycross, a young man trained in the latest advances in medicine of the day, who takes a position in a small town in frontier Georgia in 1822. He's lured by the prospect of patience who need a real doctor, a possible outbreak of hydrophobia, and the need for someone to convince the superstitious townspeople that bleeding and blistering are better medicine than the herbs and spells of the local healers; Waycross soon finds himself entangled with these healers, the title Winter sisters, as they need each other to minister to the townspeople's ills and to change the courses of their own lives. But are the Winter sisters simply home-taught healers, or are they something more?
The book does an excellent job of describing the Georgia of 1822; from the geography to the ins and out of frontier living, we get a clear sense of place and time that helps us frame the events in the story in a way that brings everything vividly to life in our minds. Told mostly from the perspectives of Dr. Waycross and Sarah, the middle sister, we get a clear picture of the thoughts of both opposing factions. The characters are clearly drawn, and we feel as if we understand both them and their reactions and decisions throughout the book.
If you are squeamish or prefer not to read about some of the more archaic medical practices of two centuries ago, you may want to skip this one. There are some descriptions that, although not terribly graphic, did make me cringe. However, I learned plenty of interesting tidbits about medical history that were knew to me. It made me thankful to live in more modern times.
Bottom line: This was a great historical novel that examined life on the frontier from the perspective of those whose work was to keep the people healthy during times of lots of superstitions and diseases without cures. It examines the lines between traditional medicine and other alternatives, and
at its core, it highlights the beliefs and emotions of the human heart.
beesandbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This is closer to a 3.5 read than a 4, but I prefer to round up when a book is deserving of praise.
I enjoyed this book, though it had some unfinished business it never got around to. Only a couple of the characters really get resolutions. A third is mentioned casually, but having read from her perspective so often I felt like it was unfair how little attention was paid to her conclusion. There were no explanations for certain aspects of the mystical that are touched on in the story, though some of those were best left unexplained.
Despite not having a totally solid plot, this novel reads as though it does. The hydrophobia, the panther, and the return to Hope Hollow all follow the idea of rising action, climax, and falling action. However, the plot is essentially just the character development of one character, Dr. Aubrey Waycross. Which is fine, as long as you like the doctor. Personally I went back and forth on my opinion of him, so there were definitely times where I was thankful for a change in pace by getting Sarah Winter's perspective.
I also thought it was an interesting choice to make Sarah the other perspective throughout the body of the novel. She is an observer, known for sitting in trees with her rifle and waiting. She doesn't engage directly in the matters of rabies or healing, preferring to only do things that actually interest her. I liked her the most of all the characters, though her perspective was less about herself and more about giving us an additional perspective on the way things were playing out in Waycross's life.
If you want a story with a little bit of magical realism, a humbled man, and some odds and ends about life and death then this should entertain you for a few days.
I enjoyed this book, though it had some unfinished business it never got around to. Only a couple of the characters really get resolutions. A third is mentioned casually, but having read from her perspective so often I felt like it was unfair how little attention was paid to her conclusion. There were no explanations for certain aspects of the mystical that are touched on in the story, though some of those were best left unexplained.
Despite not having a totally solid plot, this novel reads as though it does. The hydrophobia, the panther, and the return to Hope Hollow all follow the idea of rising action, climax, and falling action. However, the plot is essentially just the character development of one character, Dr. Aubrey Waycross. Which is fine, as long as you like the doctor. Personally I went back and forth on my opinion of him, so there were definitely times where I was thankful for a change in pace by getting Sarah Winter's perspective.
I also thought it was an interesting choice to make Sarah the other perspective throughout the body of the novel. She is an observer, known for sitting in trees with her rifle and waiting. She doesn't engage directly in the matters of rabies or healing, preferring to only do things that actually interest her. I liked her the most of all the characters, though her perspective was less about herself and more about giving us an additional perspective on the way things were playing out in Waycross's life.
If you want a story with a little bit of magical realism, a humbled man, and some odds and ends about life and death then this should entertain you for a few days.
crowlrx's review against another edition
5.0
Near fanatical historic fiction
I picked this up thinking it was going to be a history fiction wrapped up in fairy tale. At first I was sorely disappointed (because I wanted a book about witches), but the writing kept me sucked in. It's really an excellent read just understand going in that its less fantasy than a charming character study.
I picked this up thinking it was going to be a history fiction wrapped up in fairy tale. At first I was sorely disappointed (because I wanted a book about witches), but the writing kept me sucked in. It's really an excellent read just understand going in that its less fantasy than a charming character study.
suvata's review against another edition
4.0
It’s in the 1800’s and The Winter Sisters are the only “healers” in a small, remote north Georgia logging town. The only problem is that the local minister believed that they were witches as they were healing with herbs and other natural remedies. They were banished from the town and the mayor sent for a Hippocratic doctor who was pretty much taught how to bleed people and how to amputate infected limbs. Eventually the doctor helped the sisters move back into town and they worked together blending the best treatments from both disciplines. Interesting and well written! 4-stars