About the Book:
THE SECOND LIFE OF MIRIELLE WEST
BY AMANDA SKENANDORE
Publication Date: July 27, 2021
Kensington Publishing
eBook & Paperback; 304 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
In this thought-provoking and sensitive novel, inspired by the true story of a Louisiana leprosy hospital where patients were forcibly quarantined, acclaimed author Amanda Skenandore tells an extraordinarily timely tale of resilience, hope–and the last woman who expected to find herself in such a place…
1920s Los Angeles: Socialite Mirielle West’s days are crowded with shopping, luncheons, and prepping for the myriad glittering parties she attends with her actor husband, Charlie. She’s been too busy to even notice the small patch of pale skin on the back of her hand. Other than an occasional over-indulgence in gin and champagne, which helps to numb the pain of recent tragedy, Mirielle is the picture of health. But her doctor insists on more tests, and Mirielle reluctantly agrees.
The diagnosis–leprosy–is devastating and unthinkable. Changing her name to shield Charlie and their two young children, Mirielle is exiled to rural Louisiana for what she hopes will be a swift cure. But the hospital at Carville turns out to be as much a prison as a place of healing. Deaths far outnumber the discharges, and many patients have languished for years. Some are badly afflicted, others relatively unscathed. For all, the disease’s stigma is just as insidious as its physical progress.
At first, Mirielle keeps her distance from other residents, unwilling to accept her new reality. Gradually she begins to find both a community and a purpose at Carville, helping the nurses and doctors while eagerly anticipating her return home. But even that wish is tinged with uncertainty. How can she bridge the divide between the woman, wife, and mother she was, and the stranger she has become? And what price is she willing to pay to protect the ones she loves?
Buy the Book:
AMAZON | BAM | BARNES AND NOBLE | BOOKSHOP | HUDSON BOOKSELLERS |
INDIEBOUND | TARGET | WAL-MART
Review:
Mirielle is the carefree wife of Hollywood silent movie star Charlie West who has recently found a strange lesion that won't heal. Charlie is particularly worried about Mirielle hurting herself since the tragic death of their son. Mirielle is diagnosed with Leprosy and unceremoniously shipped off to the Carville Leprosy Colony in Louisiana. Mirielle quickly learns that her money and charm mean nothing, she is a prisoner of her disease until she receives twelve negative tests for the bacteria. Mirielle fights to get back home to her children and husband; however, as Mirielle begins to become involved in the Colony, things become more complicated between her two lives.
The Second Life of Mirielle West is a moving historical fiction novel about the Leprosy Epidemic in America. Now called Hansen's Disease, I did not know much about Leprosy, the epidemic in the USA or how people with Leprosy were treated. I was very interested in the Carville facility. I could easily tell that the author researched this facility as I could imagine the buildings, the staff, the residents and their activities. Mirielle's character was intriguing. As the glamorous wife of a Hollywood star, Mirielle's life is all about keeping up appearances. When Mirielle is diagnosed, everything about her diagnosis is hidden. She is whisked away in the middle of the night and her husband tells the press that she is in a psychiatric facility rather than admit the truth. As Mirielle finally gets to know the people around her at Carville, she learns that the disease treats everyone the same. I was amazed at the stigma that a Leprosy diagnosis carried. Those who were diagnosed were abandoned by their family, lost their jobs and the disease could be used as a grounds for divorce. Mirielle's journey of acceptance while in Carville was heartfelt as she juggled her needs to return to her family and the life she knew and the new life and family she created in Carville. Written with emotion and thoughtfulness, The Second Life of Mirielle West is a transformational read.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
THE SECOND LIFE OF MIRIELLE WEST
BY AMANDA SKENANDORE
Publication Date: July 27, 2021
Kensington Publishing
eBook & Paperback; 304 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
In this thought-provoking and sensitive novel, inspired by the true story of a Louisiana leprosy hospital where patients were forcibly quarantined, acclaimed author Amanda Skenandore tells an extraordinarily timely tale of resilience, hope–and the last woman who expected to find herself in such a place…
1920s Los Angeles: Socialite Mirielle West’s days are crowded with shopping, luncheons, and prepping for the myriad glittering parties she attends with her actor husband, Charlie. She’s been too busy to even notice the small patch of pale skin on the back of her hand. Other than an occasional over-indulgence in gin and champagne, which helps to numb the pain of recent tragedy, Mirielle is the picture of health. But her doctor insists on more tests, and Mirielle reluctantly agrees.
The diagnosis–leprosy–is devastating and unthinkable. Changing her name to shield Charlie and their two young children, Mirielle is exiled to rural Louisiana for what she hopes will be a swift cure. But the hospital at Carville turns out to be as much a prison as a place of healing. Deaths far outnumber the discharges, and many patients have languished for years. Some are badly afflicted, others relatively unscathed. For all, the disease’s stigma is just as insidious as its physical progress.
At first, Mirielle keeps her distance from other residents, unwilling to accept her new reality. Gradually she begins to find both a community and a purpose at Carville, helping the nurses and doctors while eagerly anticipating her return home. But even that wish is tinged with uncertainty. How can she bridge the divide between the woman, wife, and mother she was, and the stranger she has become? And what price is she willing to pay to protect the ones she loves?
Buy the Book:
AMAZON | BAM | BARNES AND NOBLE | BOOKSHOP | HUDSON BOOKSELLERS |
INDIEBOUND | TARGET | WAL-MART
Review:
Mirielle is the carefree wife of Hollywood silent movie star Charlie West who has recently found a strange lesion that won't heal. Charlie is particularly worried about Mirielle hurting herself since the tragic death of their son. Mirielle is diagnosed with Leprosy and unceremoniously shipped off to the Carville Leprosy Colony in Louisiana. Mirielle quickly learns that her money and charm mean nothing, she is a prisoner of her disease until she receives twelve negative tests for the bacteria. Mirielle fights to get back home to her children and husband; however, as Mirielle begins to become involved in the Colony, things become more complicated between her two lives.
The Second Life of Mirielle West is a moving historical fiction novel about the Leprosy Epidemic in America. Now called Hansen's Disease, I did not know much about Leprosy, the epidemic in the USA or how people with Leprosy were treated. I was very interested in the Carville facility. I could easily tell that the author researched this facility as I could imagine the buildings, the staff, the residents and their activities. Mirielle's character was intriguing. As the glamorous wife of a Hollywood star, Mirielle's life is all about keeping up appearances. When Mirielle is diagnosed, everything about her diagnosis is hidden. She is whisked away in the middle of the night and her husband tells the press that she is in a psychiatric facility rather than admit the truth. As Mirielle finally gets to know the people around her at Carville, she learns that the disease treats everyone the same. I was amazed at the stigma that a Leprosy diagnosis carried. Those who were diagnosed were abandoned by their family, lost their jobs and the disease could be used as a grounds for divorce. Mirielle's journey of acceptance while in Carville was heartfelt as she juggled her needs to return to her family and the life she knew and the new life and family she created in Carville. Written with emotion and thoughtfulness, The Second Life of Mirielle West is a transformational read.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
About the Author
Amanda is the author of Between Earth and Sky, winner of the American Library Association’s 2019 Reading List Award for Best Historical Fiction, and The Undertaker’s Assistant, released from Kensington in July 2019.
She grew up in the mountains of Colorado and sang and danced her way through 68 cities on both sides of the Atlantic with the service organization Up with People before starting college. Her love of historical fiction started early with the stories of Kenneth Thomasma, Mark Twain, and Laura Ingalls Wilder.
When she’s not writing, Amanda works as an infection prevention nurse. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their pet turtle Lenore.
Amanda Skenandore is a historical fiction writer and registered nurse. Between Earth and Sky was her first novel. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Readers can visit her website at www.amandaskenandore.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, BookBub, and Goodreads.
Amanda is the author of Between Earth and Sky, winner of the American Library Association’s 2019 Reading List Award for Best Historical Fiction, and The Undertaker’s Assistant, released from Kensington in July 2019.
She grew up in the mountains of Colorado and sang and danced her way through 68 cities on both sides of the Atlantic with the service organization Up with People before starting college. Her love of historical fiction started early with the stories of Kenneth Thomasma, Mark Twain, and Laura Ingalls Wilder.
When she’s not writing, Amanda works as an infection prevention nurse. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their pet turtle Lenore.
Amanda Skenandore is a historical fiction writer and registered nurse. Between Earth and Sky was her first novel. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Readers can visit her website at www.amandaskenandore.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, BookBub, and Goodreads.
RSS Feed
