One Thousand Porches by Julie Dewey is a novel that takes you back in time when diseases simply took people’s lives. Back in the 1800’s medications such as we have today did not exist. This novel weaves fact with fiction and takes us back to when tuberculosis was a deadly disease and many lives were lost.
At the beginning of this novel TB is starting to make its presence known in many smaller towns. We meet Christine who loses two children to the disease and when a third comes down with it she vows not to lose her but realizes quickly she’s fighting a losing battle. That is until her husband tells her of a place called Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Mountains that is referred to as a sanitarium and takes on the sick and cares for them. Being a family of means he is able to secure a spot for his daughter Collette and Christine goes along to be of service any way she can.
Arriving there Christine realizes that there are many that need help and not just those in the sanitarium. She also sees though that the work that Dr. Trudeau is doing with these TB patients is making a difference and some actually go on to live a normal life. It is believed the clean mountain air and rest is what helps these patients recover. The patients spend the majority of their days sitting out on the porch in lounge chairs that are dubbed the cure chairs. The most remarkable thing about being at this sanitarium is that the town does not shun TB patients which is in great contrast to how they are treated elsewhere.
This novel was fascinating. Of course I know of TB but to hear the history behind what Dr. Trudeau did for so many is remarkable. It was also interesting to learn more about the disease and very interesting to see how doctors tried to treat diseases like this in the past. I can’t imagine how hard it was for families to watch their loved ones die one after the other because there was no way to help them. Entire families were wiped out. We are very fortunate today to have the medications that we do that save so many lives.
I think anyone interested in history and especially the history of TB and the development of the first sanitariums should enjoy this novel. I’ve read one other of Julie’s books and I find her writing to be very frank and real. Nothing is sugar coated and is presented in such a way that you feel the pain and hardship of her characters. I look forward to seeing what subject Julie tackles next!
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Source: Review copy provided by the author. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.
It wasn’t that long ago that people died from diseases that we can fight today. This sounds like an interesting and sobering book.
Ann
Ann, I think that’s what gets to me most when I read a book like this is how vulnerable people were to disease back then. It would have been really scary.
I am betting that this is a fabulous novel and I’m looking forward to reading it. The earlier diseases that people knew little about caused such fear everywhere.
I read the novel, “Fever” by Mary Beth Keane about Typhoid Mary and found it to be fascinating.
Thanks for sharing this today.
Connie, yes I would have been terrified to live back in that day. Any disease that ran rampant was sure to kill many.
I’ve never read Fever but I’m going to check it out. It sounds like something I’d probably like.
This sounds like a fascinating topic in a fiction book. I also enjoy honesty in an author and respect anyone who isn’t afraid to leave the sugarcoating to pastry chefs 😉
Mishel, I too like honesty in a book and especially one like this one. When it deals with diseases, etc the more real you can be in the writing of it the more of an effect on people it will have.
Darlene, this doe sound rather fascinating and I’ll bet you learned a lot about history and health. Excellent review!
Susan it was fascinating and as you probably already know from reading some of my reviews that is what I love about historical fiction – learning something! lol
I think I just read yesterday in the news that someone was diagnosed with TB. Wish I could remember who.
I love books like this and think I’ll find a copy.
Vicki, people are still diagnosed with TB but at least it’s more treatable now than it was. I did a bit of research on it and people have to be on meds for six to nine months. It still sounds as though it can often be resistant to some meds but at least now people can get on these meds and it’s not spread around through the air as in the past.
Oh, I think I would enjoy this one very much. I like historical fiction novels that teach me fascinating facts. Great review!
Laura, I’m the same. That’s one of the things I like most about historical fiction. I usually come away having learned something.
This sounds interesting. I love learning while being entertained.
Have you read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks?
Science has come such a long way. This does sound like an interesting book.
This book sounds fascinating. I like the interweaving of fact and fiction. I know a little bit about TB but I don’t know the history of the disease, why so many people died from it, how many others were healed and how sanatoriums were part of the healing process. This sounds like a book well worth reading.
Thank you for reviewing it, Darlene and posting about it a second time.