Historical

The Lobotomist's Wife

The Lobotomist's Wife

  • Downloads：6162
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-03-27 06:52:25
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Samantha Greene Woodruff
  • ISBN：1542036216
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Summary

An enthralling historical novel of a compassionate and relentless woman， a cutting-edge breakthrough in psychiatry， and a nightmare in the making。

Since her brother took his life after WWI， Ruth Emeraldine has had one goal: to help those suffering from mental illness。 Then she falls in love with charismatic Robert Apter—a brilliant doctor championing a radical new treatment， the lobotomy。 Ruth believes in it as a miracle treatment and in Robert as its genius pioneer。 But as her husband spirals into deluded megalomania， Ruth can’t ignore her growing suspicions。 Robert is operating on patients recklessly， often with horrific results。 And a vulnerable young mother， Margaret Baxter， is poised to be his next victim。

Margaret can barely get out of bed， let alone care for her infant。 When Dr。 Apter diagnoses her with the baby blues and proposes a lobotomy， she believes the procedure is her only hope。 Only Ruth can save her—and scores of others—from the harrowing consequences of Robert’s ambitions。

Inspired by a shocking chapter in medical history， The Lobotomist’s Wife is a galvanizing novel of a woman fighting against the most grievous odds， of ego， and of the best intentions gone horribly awry。

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Reviews

Analee Stockman ，

I found this book to be an interesting story about how brilliance can become ruin through the unwillingness to be objective， open to change， and admitting when you’re wrong。 The history of lobotomy is also interesting。 Rosemary Kennedy is mentioned in the book， which compelled me to learn more about her story。 This book made me think about the importance of continuing to learn more， to progress， and to learn from our mistakes。 We need to remember the past and learn from it so we can have a brigh I found this book to be an interesting story about how brilliance can become ruin through the unwillingness to be objective， open to change， and admitting when you’re wrong。 The history of lobotomy is also interesting。 Rosemary Kennedy is mentioned in the book， which compelled me to learn more about her story。 This book made me think about the importance of continuing to learn more， to progress， and to learn from our mistakes。 We need to remember the past and learn from it so we can have a brighter future。 Otherwise， we risk losing everything。 。。。more

Missy ，

3。5 stars

Donna ，

An absolutely amazing book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sejla ，

Very interesting historical fiction book based on true events in history。 Loved learning new things while reading。 If you are into historical fiction books and mental health， this book would be for you！

Elise Munson-Restivo ，

4。5*When helping patients turns into malpractice， I felt like this book was an insane episode of Grey’s Anatomy。 When Lobotomies were new to the world and the husband started doing procedures without a surgical license in his home office things started to take a turn for the worse。 I binge read the hell out of this。 If you like Grey’s Anatomy or medical stories， please give this a try。

Brianna Gurule ，

This novel is a truly fascinating read。 I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction。

Violet Irminger ，

Historical fiction at it’s bestAlthough I wasn’t drawn in immediately， my curiosity wouldn’t let me put it down。 So glad I didn’t give up。 The story of the unfortunate patients that were duped into believing lobotomies would be the cure for mental illness was compelling。 The characters were well developed and convincing。 I’m going to look for more by this amazing author。

Amanda ，

This story follows Ruth a woman who has dedicated her life to helping the mentally I’ll after the loss of her brother to sucrose。 Ruth runs a private mental hospital in New York that prides itself as being at the forefront of mental illness。 This is where she meets Robert Apter a doctor who is obsessed with finding a way to cure mental illness through surgery。 He starts working with Frank a neurologist on ways to do surgery to help those with violent psychotic episodes。 Following the work of ano This story follows Ruth a woman who has dedicated her life to helping the mentally I’ll after the loss of her brother to sucrose。 Ruth runs a private mental hospital in New York that prides itself as being at the forefront of mental illness。 This is where she meets Robert Apter a doctor who is obsessed with finding a way to cure mental illness through surgery。 He starts working with Frank a neurologist on ways to do surgery to help those with violent psychotic episodes。 Following the work of another doctor they develop the lobotomy procedure。 This story follows as Ruth and Robert get married and the story of how the lobotomy went from a miracle cure to a nightmare。 This story is largely based on facts of the person who created the lobotomy Walter Freeman。I really enjoyed this book I am a sucker for historic fiction and this book gave me exactly what I wanted。 While the story follows the general facts the romance and friendships that take place in this book really keep you entertained while learning a lot about how mental illness was perceived and treated in this timeframe。 My only complaint was I wanted more from after the lobotomy was a standard practice ， it felt like the first half the book dragged a little as Robert and Ruth met and married。 It felt like the second half flew by and I really wanted more information on how the lobotomies effected the thousands who had them performed。 I still really enjoyed this book and look forward to picking up more from this author in the future！ I would also like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review。 。。。more

Lisa Caccamo ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 A very interesting read。 I am very confused by the end however…。if Ruth is living in a one bedroom with Edward but he seems to be in a relationship with Steven…。how does that all work？？？ I mean I have my ideas but for that period in time and as straight laces as Ruth is I’m not sure my wild ideas fit！ 😂😂

Roger A ，

I learned so much about lobotomy but the interaction of the characters got me hooked from page one！I really enjoyed reading this。 Honestly I was a bit sceptical about the subject at first but I couldn't stop once I started。 The majority is based on true historical events making the reading even more meaningful。 I highly recommend reading this novel！ There is love， romance， fear， ethical turmoil， success & failure。。。a cycle of ALL the "feels"！🤓❤️ I learned so much about lobotomy but the interaction of the characters got me hooked from page one！I really enjoyed reading this。 Honestly I was a bit sceptical about the subject at first but I couldn't stop once I started。 The majority is based on true historical events making the reading even more meaningful。 I highly recommend reading this novel！ There is love， romance， fear， ethical turmoil， success & failure。。。a cycle of ALL the "feels"！🤓❤️ 。。。more

Rachel Baer ，

wonderful & frightening。 A great historical novel。

Shannon Hauppa ，

3。5 This was pretty slow paced until I reached the halfway point。 I read the last half in the last couple of days。 I just wasn’t motivated to read it quickly， hence the rating。 It was inspired by true events。 I knew a little about lobotomies and found them disturbing， so reading this was interesting。

Julie ，

I loved this book！ Ms。 Woodruff does a wonderful job of weaving an epic tale。 I loved the character’s development throughout their lives。 The portrayal of the limitations women faced during this time period were well represented as well。 I can’t wait to read more from this author。

Susanna Chin ，

A very interesting read based loosely on actual events。

Anita J。 ，

The Lobotomist’s Wife by Samantha Greene Woodruff。 The premise of this novel is intriguing about the discovery and overuse of lobotomy in the treatment of the mentally ill and its eventual discredit。 Woodruff bases her story loosely on the physician who pioneered the lobotomy in the United States， first as a neurosurgical procedure performed by qualified surgeons in sterile hospitals and then later， by icepick in outpatient settings。 The novel is written as an historical suspense fiction but the The Lobotomist’s Wife by Samantha Greene Woodruff。 The premise of this novel is intriguing about the discovery and overuse of lobotomy in the treatment of the mentally ill and its eventual discredit。 Woodruff bases her story loosely on the physician who pioneered the lobotomy in the United States， first as a neurosurgical procedure performed by qualified surgeons in sterile hospitals and then later， by icepick in outpatient settings。 The novel is written as an historical suspense fiction but the story and the characters are fairly amateurish and contrived。 It’s a fast read but not a satisfying one。 。。。more

Kathy Nicholson ，

Maybe 3。5 stars with highs and lows。 As usual， I'm drawn in by the historical details。 Maybe 3。5 stars with highs and lows。 As usual， I'm drawn in by the historical details。 。。。more

Deb ，

good fictionalized story of the history of lobotomy， with a lot of true to life parallels。 It took me about 25% in to get hooked， but then I wanted to finish in one sitting。

kennae ，

Great historical fictionThis book did a great job of providing factual information。 It was an intriguing story。 My book club really enjoyed it。

Marisa Dottore ，

Wow - was this good！ A lot of it is actually based on real life events。 It was fascinating and terrifying to read about the “ice pick lobotomy” and how many were performed。 I love the author’s style of writing and how she wrapped it all up at the end。

Laura Mogavero ，

The beginning was a bit slow， but as the characters and plot developed， I couldn’t put it down at the end。 Great look into the early field of mental health。

Ashlie Hogan ，

When someone wants to help too much… This book was recommended by a friend， and I really didn’t know what to expect。 I found it to be so interesting， especially as someone who majored in psychology for a time。This book really shows how someone can want toHelp people so badly that they end up blinded by how they are really hurting instead of helping。 Often times we don’t realize that our great desire to help， is often hurting those who need a different kind of help， a listening ear。 This book was When someone wants to help too much… This book was recommended by a friend， and I really didn’t know what to expect。 I found it to be so interesting， especially as someone who majored in psychology for a time。This book really shows how someone can want toHelp people so badly that they end up blinded by how they are really hurting instead of helping。 Often times we don’t realize that our great desire to help， is often hurting those who need a different kind of help， a listening ear。 This book was excellent and I would highly recommend。 。。。more

Teresa Skidmore ，

4。5For me these type of historical fiction books- a factual occurrence with fictional characters is always hit or miss。 But this book I felt was well written with an interesting storyline。 Ruth is a dynamic female lead who realizes her husband is not doing the best for his patients。 She then try to stop him from hurting any more of them long term。 Hearing about some of the events that actual did occur was frightening。 I learned about these procedures in nursing school and I couldn’t believe it w 4。5For me these type of historical fiction books- a factual occurrence with fictional characters is always hit or miss。 But this book I felt was well written with an interesting storyline。 Ruth is a dynamic female lead who realizes her husband is not doing the best for his patients。 She then try to stop him from hurting any more of them long term。 Hearing about some of the events that actual did occur was frightening。 I learned about these procedures in nursing school and I couldn’t believe it went on as long as it did。 The edition of Margaret with her postpartum depression brings to light that even that condition was considered to benefit from lobotomy。 Overall this was a great HF that really made me think。 。。。more

Kate ，

3。5

Emma ，

This book: oh my！ Untrained surgeon using mini ice picks to lobotomise patients✅ travelling around the country in a car， jokingly called a ‘ lobotomobile’✅， performing 228 lobotomies in a 12 day road trip✅ true facts✅*shudder*。 This is one case where the development of anti psychotic pharmaceuticals have been VERY welcome…

Cheryl ，

I must say I began this book with some ambivalence when I read the author’s note and discovered the lobotomist’s wife （what a great title） was actually a fictional character。 She was not based on the real wife of Dr Apter for a number of reasons which the author explains。 However， I was not far into the story when that became irrelevant。 The “wife” gave us a perspective from which to view the development and subsequent misuse of the lobotomy as a procedure to deal with a variety of mental health I must say I began this book with some ambivalence when I read the author’s note and discovered the lobotomist’s wife （what a great title） was actually a fictional character。 She was not based on the real wife of Dr Apter for a number of reasons which the author explains。 However， I was not far into the story when that became irrelevant。 The “wife” gave us a perspective from which to view the development and subsequent misuse of the lobotomy as a procedure to deal with a variety of mental health issues including postpartum depression。 It was a quick， engaging read。 I would recommend。 。。。more

Karen Blackman ，

Very interesting read Loved it 。Can recommend。

Stacie Hershkovitz ，

Well written， created characters that I was interested in and cared about， I was curious about the history of lobotomy use and my only complaint was some things in the ending seemed out of character for Ruth， without spoilers， some decision making she made near the end didn’t fit with how her character had been written in my opinion throughout the rest of the block

Jenna ，

Incredible。 Horrifying。 Very frightening…this chapter in our history of treating people as disposable lab rats。 May this chapter never repeat。 That said， the characters are excellent， the book is informative and very difficult to put down。

Tammy Stoneking ，

I really enjoyed the story line of this book & would give it a dolls 4 stars。 However， the ending created some confusion about the relationship between Ruth， Edward & a never before mentioned Stephen， therefore I rated it 3 stars。 It’s worth the read， but be prepared to “scratch your head” at the end。

Theresa ，

Honestly just kind of boring and predictable。 It seemed like the author tried to give depth to her characters， especially her protagonist， but fell flat in her attempt。 And it particularly irks me when authors try to subtly intertwine modern day societal beliefs into the culture of a supposed "historical fiction" novel。 I guess this book was at least good for pointing out the arrogance and hypocrisy that can be rife within the medical community and the need for medical experts of all time period Honestly just kind of boring and predictable。 It seemed like the author tried to give depth to her characters， especially her protagonist， but fell flat in her attempt。 And it particularly irks me when authors try to subtly intertwine modern day societal beliefs into the culture of a supposed "historical fiction" novel。 I guess this book was at least good for pointing out the arrogance and hypocrisy that can be rife within the medical community and the need for medical experts of all time periods to be more humble and self-critical。 Two stars for a creative topic but wouldn't necessarily recommend。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Lobotomist's Wife

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Lobotomist's Wife&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Lobotomist's Wife&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0