The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore

Publication May 21, 2024=Kensington-Historical Fiction-384pp

https://www.amandaskenandore.com/the-medicine-woman-of-galveston/

Book Summary

This spellbinding story of a determined female doctor pushed into life as part of a menacing swindler’s traveling medicine show in order to support her son is rife with unflinching prose and set against the backdrop of the devastating Galveston Hurricane of 1900.

Once a trailblazer in the field of medicine, Dr. Tucia Hatherley hasn’t touched a scalpel or stethoscope since she made a fatal mistake in the operating theater. Instead, she works in a corset factory, striving to earn enough to support her disabled son. When even that livelihood is threatened, Tucia is left with one option—to join a wily, charismatic showman named Huey and become part of his traveling medicine show.

Her medical license lends the show a pretense of credibility, but the cures and tonics Tucia is forced to peddle are little more than purgatives and bathwater. Loathing the duplicity, even as she finds uneasy kinship with the other misfit performers, Tucia vows to leave as soon as her debts are paid and start a new life with her son—if Huey will ever let her go.

When the show reaches Galveston, Texas, Tucia tries to break free from Huey, only to be pulled even deeper into his schemes. But there is a far greater reckoning ahead, as a September storm becomes a devastating hurricane that will decimate the Gulf Coast—and challenge Tucia to recover her belief in medicine, in the goodness of others—and in herself.

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

Mounting debt forces Dr. Tutia Hatherly and her son, Toby to join a traveling medicine show led by Hugh Horn, “The Amazing Adolphus.” Skenandore’s startling, graphic descriptions of medical practices in the late 1800’s, the struggles and discrimination of women in medicine, and the dangerous working conditions in factories set the desperate mood of Tutia (Tu-sha) as she valiantly attempts to support her son.

The tenuous relationships with the performers, snake oil sales, palm reading, and shady, vagabond adventures consume Tutia as she travels with the medicine show for several months. Stressful situations and an anxiety disorder caused by Tutia’s guilt and deception are alternated with the life story of four of the performers, the Giant, the Indian, the Tinker, and the Musician. These backstories add emotional connections for readers as Huey announces that the medicine show is headed to Galveston, Texas, to “overwinter.”

The Great Storm of 1900 becomes a pivotal time for Tutia, the performers and the medicine show. Skenandore explores themes of unrealized dreams and new beginnings as Tutia and Huey are pitted against the hurricane’s raging storm surge. Discover some of Galveston’s well-known landmarks, Post Office Street, The Strand, and Murdoch’s Bath House in The Medicine Woman of Galveston, as the “worst natural disaster in U. S. History” washes ashore.

#22in22Challenge Galveston Book Shop

Visit #15: Galveston Island, Texas

This was my second visit to The Galveston Book Shop. I purchased a book on the Maceo family who plays a large part in The Last Dance on the Starlight Pier by Sarah Bird. https://gratefulreader.home.blog/2022/05/03/last-dance-on-the-starlight-pier-by-sarah-bird/

So a trip to Maceo’s Spice & Import was a must! It’s a step back in time with a vast array of spices, and a restaurant, too! The muffuletta was recommended and a treat for lunch at the beach.

Oleander City by Matt Bondurant

Published June 14, 2022

“Matt Bondurant’s latest novel Oleander City will be in book stores nationwide June 14, 2022. His previous novels include The Night Swimmer, which was featured in the New York Times Book Review, Outside Magazine, and The Daily Beast, among others. His second novel The Wettest County in the World is an international bestseller, a New York Times Editor’s Pick, a San Francisco Chronicle Best 50 Books of the Year, and was made into a feature film (Lawless) by Director John Hillcoat, starring Shia Labeouf, Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, Gary Oldman, and Guy Pearce.”

Readers will want to spend some time checking out Matt Bondurant’s wonderful website, full of research, photos, and facts about Galveston. Link provided below:

Jack & Joe being released from Galveston Jail, March 21, 1901. Sheriff Henry Thomas shakes Joe’s hand as Jack stands between them, surrounded by deputies and other city officials. The little girl (and dog) in the foreground are unknown. http://www.mattbondurant.com/what-is-oleander-city.html

The Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

The Great Storm of 1900 that struck Galveston, Texas on September 8, was the deadliest natural disaster in United States history. Matt Bondurant’s Oleander City recounts the days and weeks after the disaster from three points of view. Readers are immediately submerged in the devastating descriptions of human suffering and loss through the frantic, scared eyes of six-year-old Hester, the lone survivor from The Sisters of the Incarnate Word Orphanage. The second is the ringside view of bold, educated Jewish boxer Joe Choynski, who is hired to fight the “Galveston Giant” in a fund raiser for the recovery effort. The third view is from Diana, assistant to Clara Barton, American Red Cross Director, in Galveston to minister to survivors.

Based on the true story of a famous boxing match, Matt Bondurant ties Galveston’s gambling history, persecution by the Ku Klux Klan and the island’s recovery efforts into knots that are only untangled because of his in-depth historical research and superb weaving of the three narratives. This account goes beyond the architectural devastation and rebuilding to the colossal human effort that was required to restore families, businesses and hope for the future of the island.

#22in22Challenge

Bookstore Visit #4-“Friends Book Shop” in Rosenberg Public Library, Galveston Island, Texas

**Oldest Public Library in Continuous Operation in Texas** **since 1904** **at this site; The collection moved here from Galveston Public Library which opened in 1899**

On our trip to Galveston for the Oak Ridge Boys concert we visited the Rosenberg Library, History Center & Museum. My mission was to support the Friends Book Shop inside this beautiful library. The Friends Book Shop has gently used and new books for purchase. The shop was well laid out and easy to find books by genre. The new books were separated in a lovey display with a good selection. I found two titles I wanted to read in 2021 but hadn’t gotten around to buying. This was a successful bookstore visit!

**Rosenberg Library: Friends Book Shop Galveston Texas #4**

#22in22Challenge

Bookstore Visit #3-Galveston Bookshop – Galveston Island, Texas

**Beautiful new Literary Classics Mural- 317 23rd Street, Galveston, Texas** http://galvestonbookshop.com/

I visited Dale LaFleur’s fabulous bookshop as part of the #22in22challenge for #Zibby Books and my role as an Ambassador. Also, to celebrate our 50th anniversary we are planning a special trip each month-well I am, Carl, not so much:) and Galveston is where we honeymooned back in 1972! The beautiful Flagship Hotel was destroyed in a hurricane and is now the Amusement Pier, along with a Bubba Gump’s Shrimp, merry-go-rounds and snow cones. And for the Historical Novel Society I’ve read Sarah Bird’s new novel The Last Dance on the Starlight Pier, publishing April 12, set in GALVESTON! That post will be coming in May after the magazine publishes May 1. We were quite busy scurrying around the Seawall and the city taking pictures of historical markers and sites from the book; of course we HAD to have drinks at the Galvez and eat at Guido’s. So, three excellent reasons to make the 5 hour drive. Here are a few other pictures of the Galveston Bookshop as it was featured in Galveston Monthly!

**Coming April 12, 2022** (Preorder now! You will feel like you’ve been to Galveston in 1932!) https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250265548

A Return to Galveston, Texas 2020 The Uncertain Season by Ann Howard Creel

“The Hurricane of 1900 devastated Galveston Island, but a storm of betrayal is still brewing.” https://www.amazon.com/Uncertain-Season-Ann-Howard-Creel/dp/147780904X

A Return to Galveston 2020 and The Uncertain Season

The Pandemic of 2020 will certainly rival the place in history of the Great Storm of 1900, that ravished the island of Galveston, Texas. Upon the reopening of the state of Texas, a short return visit to Galveston celebrating our 48th anniversary was scheduled. Since reading The Uncertain Season, I’ve wanted to retrace the steps of Grace, Etta, and The Girl. We returned to Ward 5 and the alleys where Grace and Ira ministered to the impoverished families; we chose The Schaefer Haus-a Bed & Breakfast in the East End Historic District-complete with the plaque that denotes it as a “survivor”-near where Grace and her family lived; we toured the Moody Mansion-completed in 1895 and also a “survivor’ of The Great Storm. We also walked the East End streets to marvel at the beautiful architecture, intricate designs and vibrant colors, while absorbing the fragrant aromas of the lush gardens. In Ann Howard Creel’s acknowledgments she mentions Erik Larson’s Isaac’s Storm as part of her historical reference. We thought the purchase of this book while in Galveston would be a fitting reminder of our trip. Just reading the back cover and perusing the text has me intrigued. Here’s a photo gallery of “A Return to Galveston 2020.”

**Freight Station in far end of the Alleys**

The Grateful Reader Review: by Dorothy Schwab

The Great Galveston hurricane, known regionally as the Great Storm of 1900, was the deadliest natural disaster in United States history,https://www.history.com/news/how-the-galveston-hurricane-of-1900-became-the-deadliest-u-s-natural-disaster

Overwhelming devastation to a city, its families, and the island itself; The Great Storm of 1900 that destroyed Galveston, Texas, is the setting for The Uncertain Season.

“Harry Gobinet knew something huge was blowing in, but even he didn’t foresee the magnitude of the storm coming their way. Still he saw enough to save them. “

An eleven year old girl and her friend, Harry, fight for their lives in a shrimp boat in Galveston Bay. Later, as they search for homes and family, the aftermath of the deadly storm of 140 mph winds engulfs the reader. Ann Howard Creel’s descriptions of the island devastation are recorded as she shares the storm’s impact on three women who find themselves in Galveston, 1903: the bold, but shamed Etta, from Nacogdoches, Texas; the privileged & engaged,but lonely Grace; and an elusive, mysterious islander known only as The Girl.

Amidst the building of the “modern engineering miracle,” known as the seawall, the author does a masterful job of weaving the gripping, coming of age of The Girl with the untimely unveiling of family secrets and betrayal, by both Etta and Grace. Adding the realizations of “living in a home where appearances were more important than the truth,” creates a compelling mystery. The upbringing, childhoods and parental influences of Etta, Grace, and The Girl, play an important role in individual reactions and emotional responses as each are battered about in the “personal storms of life.” Who survives the storms?

Powerful imagery, deep, emotional family situations involving trust, identity, regret, and forgiveness; the reader will “survive the storm,” but in the aftermath there will be that amazing feeling of freshness and beauty after a storm, along with the overwhelming relief and joy of new beginnings. Readers of The Uncertain Season will “be prepared” for the next storm. ***** GR

After first writing for children, Ann turned her attention to Historical Fiction. Her first novel for adults, THE MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS, was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie on CBS. Her recent titles have been Kindle bestsellers and include WHILE YOU WERE MINE, THE WHISKEY SEA, THE UNCERTAIN SEASON, and her latest, THE RIVER WIDOW.

She now writes full-time. Ann’s main characters are always strong women facing high-stakes situations and having to make life-changing decisions. Her historical settings have ranged from Victorian-era Galveston to World War II in New York City. Her next novel, MERCY ROAD, to be published in 2019, takes readers to World War I France. Besides writing, Ann loves old houses, new yoga routines, and all things cat.

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