This week we got to two new films and I finished a long and totally absorbing historical novel, The Gilded Hour, set in NYC in 1883.
MOVIE TIME
I will go see Meryl Streep in almost anything and this is a good, not great, movie. Florence was a real person and Streep is wonderful while Hugh Grant is debonair and perfect in the role of St. Clair, Jenkins’ husband. The first 10-15 minutes of the film are a bit flat (it looked like someone nearby was snoozing), but it gained life after that and tells an engaging story.
You wonder how someone could sing so poorly and screechily and not know it and be so eager to perform for her friends. But Madam Florence did and, with the artful persuasion of her husband, convinced a young pianist to accompany her in practice and for her performances. There is an intriguing back story here, but since I don’t like to be a spoiler, you won’t get it from me!
I was hesitant about seeing this film as I thought it might dwell on scenes of the terrifying water landing. But there’s much more to it. I found Tom Hanks very believable as Capt. Sully Sullenberger of the seemingly doomed flight 1549 and liked that the film portrays his emotions and reactions in the hours and days immediately following the landing. The NTSB hearings with him and his co-pilot were eye-opening about the panelists’ skepticism regarding Sully’s cockpit decisions. I should note, however, that several recent articles have cast doubt and even aspersions on the way the NTSB panel is portrayed, particularly the head of the panel. The film is directed by Clint Eastwood with Laura Linney as Sully’s wife. Whether this is a faithful accounting of events or not, it’s a film you won’t easily forget; images from it haunted my mind before sleep.
MEDICAL MYSTERY
The Gilded Hour by Sara Donati
In the past I’ve noticed novels by Sara Donati on bookstore shelves, but had never read any of her work. She’s a former academic (with a PhD in linguistics) turned historical writer. This novel, The Gilded Hour, appealed to me for several reasons. First, it was set in New York City in 1883, a city I know and a time period (19th century) I find fascinating, and, second, it concerns two female physicians, one white and the other mixed race. Running to more than 700 pages, it is a tome, an old-fashioned linear story of characters both fictional and historical.
Anna and Sophie Savard, the physicians, deal with women’s medical problems when not only abortion, but also the use of contraceptive devices, is illegal. Anthony Comstock, who appears here, is the U.S. postal inspector who doesn’t shy away from using devious methods to entrap those he considers offenders of the law. Add to this the search for the missing brothers of two orphaned Italian girls, the mystery of why well-off women are dying from botched abortions, and two parallel love stories. Donati did an impressive amount of research and her depiction of life in the 1880’s, of the streets in the West Village, the practice of medicine, and the treatment of the poor is comprehensive and precise. I found it all totally absorbing. And everything isn’t resolved—a sequel is in the works!
Header photo: Bad hair day for the ferns cJWFarrington
You’ve convinced me; will have to read Medical History.
We are currently sitting in the airport waiting to head to Montreal where we will spend a few days before boarding a ship that will cruise all 5 Great Lakes. May see if I can download book now so will have it on the ship. We will “be at sea” for 3 days and an absorbing story is just what I’ll need.
Go for it and enjoy the cruise!
Love the title of the fern photo and especially liked the second colored pencil picture w/ the yellow flowers surrounding the center one and how the dark green edges out from the center. Medical mystery sounds appealing though a lot of pages.
Thanks on both counts. The fern photo was taken the day after Hermine blew through here.