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Carol P. (Leland, NC)
Triumph amid the horrors of WWI
I enjoyed this story of two strong willed sisters who volunteered to go to Europe and be right at the battlefront in WWI. I enjoyed Ruth who wants to be a doctor when medical school opportunities for women were so limited at this period of time. The author details the limited surgery choices for the injured men and Ruth comes to her own as she fights against the traditional options. Elise who volunteers to be with her sister, is a mechanic and is assigned to driving an ambulance. Elise's experiences driving in the battlefields and her indomitable spirit make for an interesting read. I enjoy reading about
…more unheralded women in history and this book showcases just that. The author also provides a detailed overview of the horrors endured by both the servicemen and women in WWI and the carnage they saw and endured. There are love interests for both sisters. I would recommend to book clubs and anyone interested in historical fiction. (less)Sisters of the Great War by Suzanne Feldman offers a new perspective of WWI. Ruth and Elise Duncan life with their father and grandfather in Baltimore. Ruth wants to be a doctor, but her father (a doctor himself) doesn't think this proper for a woman. Elise is a very good mechanic and keeps her father's car running. John Doweling is a family friend from England who has studied to be a doctor. He is going to join the British in fighting the war. Ruth and Elise decide to volunteer and are sent to Belgium where they join John. Ruth and John have feelings for each other that increases over time. Elise meets Hera and
…more they at first hide their relationship and later it causes them to be disciplined. The descriptions of treating the soldiers are quite graphic and with shortage of doctors, Ruth has the opportunity to learn much about treating these men, even to doing amputations. The weather always seems to be a factor for the ambulances, lots of mud and rain. The Germans bomb the hospital areas and the anticipation of who might be injured or killed keeps you reading. If you like war stories, as I do, this one is a little different. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. (less)In Sisters of The Great War by Suzanne Feldman, we meet the Duncan sisters, Ruth and Elise. Ruth wants to be a doctor, but in 1914, this is almost an impossible dream. Elise is a great mechanic, but unsure of what she wants out of life. When her father refuses to let Ruth go to medical school, she volunteers to serve in World War I and Elise goes with her. Ruth serves as nurse and Elise serves as a driver. Both ladies head overseas to Belgium. It is during their time serving that Ruth's decision to become a doctor is s confirmed. Because of a shortage of doctors, Ruth is called on to do work over and above
…more nursing. She comes to trust her instincts and more importantly, her abilities. Meanwhile, Elise finally recognizes her sexuality and comes to accept herself. Both ladies find love and companionship during their service. The character development of Ruth and Elise is outstanding. Each woman becomes aware of her potential as well as her ability to lead her own live. The language used to describe the injuries suffered and the medical situations during World War I really brings home the horrors of war. This is an enjoyable book and I would recommend this book to others. (less)In this fascinating historical tale, two courageous women experience the Great War firsthand. Unfortunately, the book is overly long and too detailed, bogging down the pace. Two sisters from Maryland go to Belgium to help the war effort, Ruth as a nurse and Elise as an ambulance driver. Great love stories ensue for them as they suffer through the tragedies and gore of medical care of these arduous times. Ruth loves a doctor who supports her desire to become a doctor, while Elise has a secret love. As the conflict ends, readers will better appreciate the strong women that made significant contributions to the war.
Carol S. (Mt. Juliet, TN)
Sisters of the Great War
Ruth and Elise Duncan, two American sisters living a comfortable but stifling existence in Baltimore, leave everything familiar to volunteer at the front in World War I, Ypres, Belgium 1915. Ruth, a nurse who looks for every opportunity to pursue her dream to be a doctor and Elise, a talented mechanic and an ambulance driver, are surrounded by bombing, loss and the unspeakable and gruesome degradation of war. Ms Feldman does not flinch at presenting the challenges
and horrors of life at the front. War is horrible and the reader experiences this horror alongside the heroes and especially these heroines of the
…more story as they function in their respective jobs. Despite incredible challenges and heartbreak, Ruth and Elise survive to find love, lasting friendship and purpose in their lives.
The scenes of the last hours of World War I in November 1918 were described in compelling detail, making me feel like I was present on the ship to Dover and in the streets of Dover and London.
There is certainly an opportunity for the author to write a sequel to this story. I would like to read more about the future of these brave women who defied convention and served honorably despite great odds against them. (less)When I began Sisters of the Great War, I had just finished a 5-star book that I had added to my exclusive "Favorites" list, and I was concerned that this book would suffer in comparison. In the first few chapters, I wasn't impressed with the story, the characters, or the writing.
Then American sisters Ruth and Elise volunteered for the British medical corps during WWI, and when they arrived in Belgium, the story took off. Ruth served as a nurse although she wanted to be a doctor, while Elise was an ambulance driver and mechanic. The descriptions of both of their experiences seemed to be very well researched.
…more Through the mud, death, and appalling living conditions, they literally slogged through hell, usually near the front lines. Feldman wrote of the sisters' war service in such detail that I was disappointed when it came to the ending. It was in the form of an epilogue, and I felt it was too short and incomplete, leaving a lot of situations unresolved.
That said, other readers may feel satisfied with questions unanswered. The beginning chapters and the epilogue are only about twenty percent of the book. The rest is well worth reading. (less)This was a most incredible view of battlefield medicine during World War I. Two sisters, one a nurse the other an excellent mechanic arrived in the midst of the horrors of the battles- a time when war machines were changing, medicine was evolving and endless wounded needed their care. In addition the author has presented romance among and between sexes and a dysfunctional family that had to come to terms with the woman's movement. In the beginning I thought it might be a good book club book as the story keeps one engrossed with the excellently drawn characters; on the other hand there are vivid sexual
…more descriptions that might not be appropriate for some groups. The cover of the book is enchanting. Well researched. (less)This book vividly describes the horrors of war faced by Americans Ruth, a surgical nurse in a field hospital in Belgium, and her sister, Elise, an ambulance driver between the hospital and the front lines in WWI. One had to admire these American sisters facing the horrible conditions that they lived and worked in for several years but I wished the author would have added some more characters. I think some readers will be turned off by some of the blood and gore parts of the book. I have a medical background and even so, I tired of reading so much about the harsh situations in the surgical units. The trials of
…more the ambulance drivers, mostly women, though also horrible, was most interesting. The author did a good job telling of the prejudices, both personal and job wise facing the women of that era. I did like the book. (less)
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