Blue Asylum

by Kathy Hepinstall

"A first-rate choice for fans of intelligent historical romances."—Library Journal, starred review

Amid the mayhem of the Civil War, Iris Dunleavy is put on trial by her husband, convicted of madness, and sent to Sanibel Asylum to be restored to a compliant Virginia plantation wife. But her husband is the true criminal; she is no lunatic, only guilty of disagreeing on notions of cruelty and property.On this remote Florida island, Iris meets a wonderful collection of inmates in various states of sanity, including Ambrose Weller, a Confederate soldier haunted by war, whose dark eyes beckon to her. Can love in such a place be real? Can they escape, and will the war have left any way—any place—for them to make a life together?
"An absorbing story that explores both the rewards and perils of love, pride, and sanity."—Publishers Weekly"With Blue Asylum, Hepinstall presents the reader with the rare and delicious quandary of whether to race through and find out what happens to her characters or to linger over her vivid, beautifully crafted sentences. For me, the only resolution was to read it twice." —Hillary Jordan, author of Mudbound and When She Woke"A gripping story of love and madness in the midst of the Civil War—I couldn’t put it down!"—Kathleen Grissom, author of The Kitchen House

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Civil War, Historical, Romance, Adult, Book Club

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Kathy Hepinstall grew up in Spring, Texas, near the Louisiana border. Her most recent book is The Book of Polly. Polly is based, in part, on Kathy’s own mother, who has as wicked a tongue as her fictional counterpart. Kathy now lives in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Denise Ballentine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm. Let me just say that I liked the premise, I was intrigued by the location (Sannibel Island), and was swayed by the reviews. This is a quick read with very short chapters. Some parts were great, but over all it felt like something was missing. It just didn't go very deep. I would have liked it to be more informative, more personal. The treatment for mental illness during the 1800's is fascinating. Tell me more. Something about the ending didn't sit right with me. It all seemed rather contrived, superficial; and, the behavior of the characters unbelievable. I don't know. This was like eating a delicious dinner in itty-bitty portions, leaving you still hungry and unfulfilled.

[Dem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Asylum a novel by Katy Hempinstall.

The premise of this book is what drew me to it and when I received my hard back copy in the post I was stunned by this beautiful book which the cover and artwork really caught my imagination and this is the reason I still love to read a physical book.

The story is set amid the mayhem of the civil war and plantation wife Iris Dunleavy is put on trial and convicted of madness. She is sent away to Sanibel Asylum to be restored to health. Iris knows that she is no lunatic and her only crime is disagreeing with her husband's notions of justice.

Blue Asylum is a beautiful, absorbing and passionate story and deals with the fine lines between sanity and insanity. The story is told in flashbacks between present actions and this works very well in this novel and leaves it with a quite suspenseful air.

The writing is lyrical and the characters are real and very well portrayed. I loved the spirited character of Iris Dunleavy and the way in which the author drew a picture of this lady was amazing. The images in the book really do come to life as you read it especially the island.

I really enjoyed this novel and found myself thinking and caring about the characters. I am giving it 4.5 stars because I really enjoyed it.
Readers who enjoyed the Kitchen House or the Homecoming of Samuel lake I think will enjoy this Novel.

I now have to read all of Kathy Hepinstall's novels.

[Christy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine being sent off to a mental hospital because you did not obey your husband, because you thought your own thoughts and asked questions. Well, that was a reality at one point.

During the Civil War, Iris is sent to Sanibel Asylum for being just that type of wife. She is not a lunatic, she's just her own person with a mind of her own. As soon as she arrives, she tries to find a way out, a way to escape. However, things get complicated when she falls in love with Ambrose, a Confederate soldier whose actions from the war still haunt him.

We also meet all the other folks in and around the asylum. And as we find out the events that led both Iris and Ambrose to Sanibel Asylum, we also learn about the other characters, and their stories are just as engaging. Everyone from the other asylum residents to the doctor and his son, everyone has a story.

Iris inspired me. If I were in her place, I don't know if I would have been as strong. I may have just given up. Knowing, as a woman, that her cruel husband's word meant more than hers and that the doctor didn't believe a word she said, she still found a way to not lose herself. She used the only thing she had – her brain – to save herself.

A truly gripping, emotional story set in the south during the Civil War. I read it in a day. For a short book it packed quite a punch.

Initial comments (from December):

My review won't come until next year, but after reading this I just gotta say something. When I hear women say stuff like, "I was born in the wrong century," or "I wish I could go back in time and live in Victorian times". Ok. I just have one thing to say: NO. YOU. DO. NOT. Unless you are a white, landowning man, you do not want to live back then.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book that I’d read by this author.
Her creating writing was too weird for me. “The circle of life” descriptions didn’t add any value to the story. For ex. a doctor was left with 10 minutes of his work and she compares it to “Ten minutes of arguing that the natural world was a wound whose scab could not help but be broken. Jellyfish evaporated on the beach, dogs died under the porch, hermit crabs ate crustaceans and themselves were eaten by raccoons, which themselves might fall prey to an osprey.”

I had hard time imagining some of her comparisons or descriptions, for ex. love as being “the texture of a nest” or onlookers were “drawn by the salty boiled-crab smell of rising tensions.”

At some points, there was too much jumping between the stories. I didn’t care for the story of Wendell, doctor’s son, and Penelope, lunatic. On the other hand, there was not enough about the main character. I wished to know more about her life in Virginia. This part was not well-developed.

[Kate Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes it seems as if the only historical fiction is yet another retread about a Tudor Queen or Plantagenet princess - where are the little people and their stories? And here is "Blue Asylum," a passionate and poetic epic about a Southern wife and a battered soldier from the American Civil War; ordinary people embarking on a journey that can fairly be called Homeric. They meet not on some famous battlefield or picturesque white-columned plantation house, but at a madhouse: Ambrose a Confederate soldier suffering from what we would now call PTSD, Iris a plantation wife who is perfectly sane but inconvenient to a brutal husband. Iris, raging against captivity and determined to escape it, begins to form bonds inside the asylum: wounded Ambrose whom she begins to love, the smug asylum director against whom she pits her wits, and the doctor's lively young son who may prove the key to getting out. But even if Iris and Ambrose manage to escape, can they leave their mental wounds and tragic pasts behind them? The writing is poetic and beautiful, consisting of a vivid series of images as the mentally fragile characters view the world in a succession of visual snapshots, and I came to care almost unbearably for the characters themselves as I hoped they would get the happy ending they deserved. A gripping, moving, beautiful read.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't quite know what to expect from this book, but I certainly didn't think it would blow me away the way it did. Don't let the cover fool you, this isn't chick lit but literary fiction. It's a story that pulled me in right from the very first paragraph and didn't let go until the last page. I stayed up till the wee hours to finish it!

Those of you who regularly read my blog know that I like to read good fiction and non-fiction books that deal with mental illnesses. So when I read the synopsis of this book I knew I wanted to read it. During the Civil War, Iris Dunleavy is a young plantation wife who strongly opposes her husband's treatment of his slaves. She ends up committing an act that puts her in an asylum situated on an isolated island where she is to be restored to a good wife. The asylum is run by Dr. Cowell who lives on the island with his wife and twelve-year-old boy Wendell. At the asylum, Iris meets Ambrose, a war-haunted Confederate soldier and they fall in love.

First off, I loved Hepinstall's writing. I was excited to know this is not her first novel and I now want to read her other books. She brings the island to life with her description of the fauna and wildlife. As a matter of fact the island is like a character, with its azure sky and white sandy beaches against the backdrop of the razed land and horrors of the Civil War. This setting lures us into thinking that it can shield the patients from their illnesses.

The asylum is populated by a great cast of characters that I truly liked. Dr. Cowell intrigued me as I was never quite sure what his reaction to things would be. I felt for Wendell, who thought he was also crazy but who suffered from loneliness and had no kids to play with. Iris is a strong character, wanting justice yet sometimes naive in how she metes it out. Ambrose is a gentle man broken from what happened during the war and his story is revealed only at the end. What happened to Iris is also revealed a little at a time and fully disclosed as the story heads to its climax. And what an ending!

There is sadness in this story, but it triumphs in its rendition of resilience, hope and acceptance. No matter the loss in one's life, the future can bring the birth of new things. Although the synopsis may seem to indicate this is a romance story, I felt it was more a subtle look at what truly makes us who we are and why. What one person considers insanity, another may see it as the mind's way of coping with unspeakable horrors or injustice. This story left me so thoughtful and contemplative for days after I read it. It is an absorbing read, and I highly recommend it if you want to read a well-written story that captures so well the psychology of humanity.

Note: This book contains some sexual scenes.

[Amy S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am now going to do the walk of shame and admit that I was in a bookstore, got completely sucked in by the gorgeous cover (it doesn't help that I love the ocean and blue is my favorite color) and paid TWENTY BUCKS for it. Willingly. I know, I know. What can I say.

Now I am really struggling with knowing how to rate this. This has pretty much never happened to me, seriously. I loved it and hated it.

So let me tell you what I loved first. Hepinstall is a lovely writer. She paints words and phrases and pictures wonderfully. I am amazed at her ability to develop a character and bring them around full circle at the end of the book. I really loved that. Characters I didn't like in the first half I began to have affection for at the end. I loved that it was set in Florida in the 1860s. I knew every city she mentioned, I totally could get what she was talking about be it mosquitos or the wildlife or the ocean or the humidity. I really was fascinated by the philosophies of asylums and insanity during the civil war time. Interested to read about how the main character, Iris Dunleavy could be sent to an asylum merely for disobeying and embarrassing her husband. I think my favorite character was the woman who swallows everything she can.

What I didn't love was what seemed to me a constant mention of sex. I have to emphasize there is nothing graphic in the book. It is never portrayed in detail. It's just...often there. The director and his wife do the deed at night when he is depressed, his son is struggling with puberty, Iris and her beau, etc etc. It was also a heavy book. It's not a fluffy, happy book. There are many sad characters in the insane asylum. Ambrose, one of the main characters, cannot get violent scenes of the civil war out of his head and his family has sent him to the asylum on the ocean to try and recuperate. Reliving his images is a sad business. You cannot help but wonder if Iris' love can help him or if he is damaged beyond repair. The director is stuck on the island, the patients are stuck, his family is stuck, his wife and son lonely, and the whole thing is set during the Civil War, which isn't exactly a picnic in itself.

So I still don't know how to rate it. I have to admit, I think about it a lot. I loved the character growth and lessons learned. So as of today I am going to rate it a 3.5. It would be higher without the things mentioned above. Of course, you know me, so come back in six months and it may be a four or a two depending on how it has evolved in my head!! I hope others will read it as I would love to know what they think. It's worth reading, and did I mention I paid TWENTY BUCKS for it, so you might as well use it!

[Book Concierge · Rating 2 out of 5]

As the United States fights a Civil War, Iris Dunleavy wages a battle at her Virginia plantation home against her husband’s tyranny. As a result, she is “convicted of madness,” and is sent to an island asylum off the coast of Florida.

I wanted to like this. I thought the premise was interesting and that there would be some opportunity to learn more about the issues of the time, especially as it concerned treatment of the mentally ill. But I was sorely disappointed.

Hepinstall populates the novel with a wide array of characters: Dr. Cowell, who prides himself on running such a “modern” asylum; the matron, obviously modeled on Nurse Ratched; Wendell, the doctor’s pubescent son; Mary, the doctor’s wife who is more neurotic and needy than most of the patients; the chef, who has befriended Wendell; Ambrose, a confederate officer suffering from PTSD; and various other patients, from the charmingly odd to the deranged and violent. The doctor’s wife was a wasted opportunity. She floats in and out of the novel, much as she must float in and out her of laudanum-induced haze. Poor confused Wendell spends more time masturbating and hiding in the swamp than interacting with the characters; still, he plays a pivotal role.

There are a few positives. Iris is (mostly) a strong female lead character. If she occasionally acts against her own best interests, well, I think that’s easily understood given her circumstances. But her decisions and behavior in the last few chapters are just ridiculous. One moment she seems to have some sense of self-preservation and is thinking along those lines, the next she’s throwing caution to the winds and behaving in a manner that is sure to attract unwanted attention.

Perhaps Hepinstall was trying to give the reader a sense of the disorientation a truly sane person must feel in such a mandated confinement. If that was her intention, then she mostly succeeded. But, like Iris, I just wanted to escape.

[B.J. Leech · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's never a good sign for a book when its main characters have to be told by minor characters how they should feel. This happens a few times in Kathy Hepinstall's "Blue Asylum", which I started out reading with high expectations. After all, how could you miss on a novel set in an insane asylum on Sanibel Island during the Civil War?

Unfortunately, those high expectations are dashed by flat, two-dimensional characters and stilted dialogue; as a result, the characters never really seem to come alive, but seem more like caricatures from a history textbook. I should have known that this story was not in capable hands when Hepinstall decided to describe her main character, Iris Dunleavy, by having her look at herself in the mirror. Her growing love for another main character is never fully realized or fleshed out - there's little build-up, and a single conversation with another asylum dweller seems to be all it takes for our heroine to realize that she is deeply in love. It just rang hollow and amateurish.

When characters weren't being told what to feel, they were suddenly thrust into a state of feeling by the author. There did not seem to be any build-up, history, or explanation as to why these feelings should be had by these characters - they simply happen out of nowhere. As a result, the whole story falls flat when it should have been quite rousing and entertaining - not to mention emotionally gripping.

A minor point - as this book is set during the Civil War and takes place in the South, there are some discussions of slavery. Every character seems to take great pains to explain that they are against the practice despite being Southerners... which again seemed like an easy way for the author to increase the characters' likability without having to wrestle with conflict. It all seemed to be painfully politically correct - and again, killed the story.

I will say, though, that Hepinstall has some quite masterful descriptions of scenery and sensations; if nothing else, I could see, smell, and hear where things in the book were happening. Perhaps this writer has a future in travel-logs.

[☕Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

The concept of this book held so much promise, but the execution fell way short for me. This felt more like a straight-up romance than anything else, with the rest of the storyline just kind of thrown in as a backdrop, interchangeable with any other. When I read historical fiction, I like to feel that it was well-researched enough that I have actually learned something once I've finished it, but with this book I did not get that at all. To me this was a missed opportunity to present some real insight into how mental illness was viewed and treated during the 1800's, and possibly to present some characters whose stories were based on actual case files. Everything seemed to be presented in a very superficial way, and therefore none of the characters or situations ever felt real to me. The character of Wendell, in particular, did not feel at all like a 13-year-old boy to me, and in fact none of the characters seemed to have very distinct personalities. I also found it unlikely, based on previous knowledge of this period in history, that a slaveowner would have killed the child he produced with a slave, because this child would have been viewed as a commodity not to be wasted, and there did not seem to be any perceived shame in fathering such a child. This book did not seem an accurate portrayal of the Civil War period. I did not feel that I had been transported in time as good historical fiction should do, and events which should have evoked strong emotion evoked no emotion at all because everything felt so flat. This was overall quite a disappointment for me.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the Civil War Iris, the daughter of a minister, marries a Virginian plantation and slave owner. She leaves the safety of her family for the adventure of being the mistress of a plantation. Soon she finds her husband to be cruel and abusive. When Iris embarrasses him by doing what she feels is right he has her declared her insane and sent to an asylum on Florida's Sanibel Island. While at the asylum Iris' stay is affected by, Dr.Cowell, the superintendent, his son Wendell and Ambrose another patient. Dr. Cowell believes Iris is mentally ill but his attraction to her gets in the way of treatment. Twelve year old Wendell who is looked after more by the cook and other staff than his parents, had had a relationship with another patient who committed suicide, is also drawn to her. Ambrose, who suffers from PTSD and violent outbursts due to his service in the Civil War, and Iris develop a romantic relationship.
Hepinstall weaves past and present stories to reveal the character’s earlier lives while exploring love, freedom, courage, mental illness and the horrors of war. Overall an enjoyable book with good character development and thought-provoking themes.

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fourteen miles off the coast of Florida, there sits an asylum for the insane. There our lady, Iris, is sent by court order after testimony by her husband after she blatantly oversteps her role as chatelaine of the plantation and shames him in front of society. We are also quickly introduced to Ambrose, a civil war veteran of stonewall's brigade, who suffers from PTSD, and Wendall, a boy on the cusp of becoming a young adult, who thinks a common act of self gratification is insanity. His love for a dead patient, Penelope, both confuses and motivates him to assist Iris and Ambrose to escape the clutches of Wendall's father, Dr. Cowell, the psychiatrist of Sanibal Island.
Hepinstall introduces the main players in the first two short chapters, laying a decisive feeling of character. Iris is dignified and defiant, Ambrose is strong and protects the persecuted. Dr. Cowell , we learn, has no control over any aspect of his personal life so he must control his professional life. He slowly becomes aware of just exactly how impotent and ineffectual he is as a therapist, father, and husband the longer he stays under Iris' spell. Wendall asserts his growing independence after experiencing an epiphany of sorts, which makes him face the fact that his father is fallible.
It's a well known fact of the nineteenth century that husbands could have wives committed as lunatics for the most trifling offenses. Many women, like Iris, who were sane, spent a significant amount of time behind a locked door. Because it was a male dominated society, the doctors took the man's position. Hepinstall writes a brilliant argument between Dr. Cowell and his wife representing both sides of the madhouse. Sadly the arguing doesn't stop there. As Cowell's attraction grows, so does his wife's ire, and Iris proceeds to turn therapy into a combat zone, even throwing Cowell's research out the window!
There is a provoking conversation between Wendall and Iris about her reasons for being admitted. Stirring indignation for Cowell, she explains the outrage of slavery and Cowell's running of his own brand of plantation. The majority of the book, however, is spent on the relationship between Iris and Ambrose. Hepinstall forges their friendship in the telling of the past,"before the war, before the damage, before they believed that they had a voice in their destiny." Unfortunately, once we learn of the past, the book becomes just another tragic love story like so many others.
The one evil note appears as the matron of the island, a stout woman with swollen ankles and miserable disposition, who triumphs through the patients' torture. She is truly the Nurse Ratched of the belle epoch.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Blue Asylum’ by Kathy Hephinstall is a short tale of wrongful imprisonment in an insane asylum. It was easy to get into the story and didn’t bog down in places. Set during the Civil War on Sanibel Island, a place well known for excellent seashell hunting, the main character, Iris and the son of the superintendent, Wendell, do collect shells several on the beach. But this is not a light and sunny story, it is one of guilty secrets buried so deep that they disturbed the peace of mind of the possessors.

Iris Dunleavy was shipped to the island along with a herd of cattle. Her husband had declared her insane and a Judge signed the papers to have her committed. Her trial had taken less than an hour. The story of what led up to her husband, Robert putting her away is slowly revealed through her memories. While she was at the Sanibel Asylum for Lunatics, she met and befriended Wendell who grew up without children his age and feeling like a prisoner on the island.

Wendell’s father, Dr. Cowell had gained prestige by writing a paper on lunacy among women and the rising suffrage movement. Wendell’s mother, Mary, is in her own little world of laudanum, chocolate and remedies of the time.

Iris falls for a wounded Confederate soldier, Ambrose, who suffers pain from his stump but even more pain from a terrible event in during his time as a soldier. The emotional pain from that even was so overwhelming that he was taught by Dr. Cowell to think of blue, blue sky, blue birds, blue anything so that he could distract himself from the horror. Slowly, we learn Ambrose’s terrible secret too. But Iris and Ambrose were not able to break through of their guilt, so strong was their feeling that they were responsible for awful things that happened.

This story is part historical fiction, part mystery, part expose of slavery, the condition of women and of power of the strong over the helpless. I did get hooked early on this story and had trouble laying it down. I really like the beach setting and its contrast to many of the dark lives of the characters. The beach was the sole place that they could feel free away from the asylum. I think it brought up many psychological and social issues that could have been examined in a longer book. On the whole, I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to any historical fiction fan or history fan.

I received this book from the Amazon Vine Program and that in no way influenced my review.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful, vastly different book about a harsh time, harsh circumstances and yet the writing is such that I couldn't put it down. That is what Kathy Hepinstall has created in her story about a young woman who committed the ultimate sin: defying her husband and who was sent to a Florida island asylum for it, where she meets a young soldier, scarred not just from the war, but what he was forced to do to a friend. The story also tells of a young boy who quietly tries to figure out live, on an island where his father spends time with his patients and his mother drowns her own sorrows in laudanum -- neither having the time or wisdom to guide their son. All are damaged creatures but its what they do, ultimately for love and for what they feel is right, that gives this book its greatest force.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set during the civil war, the wife of a slave owning plantation, is sentenced to the lunatic asylum on Sibella Island. There she meets many different characters, some sane some not, and Ambrose who is scarred by his own actions in the war. This novel is a quiet novel, almost ethereal in tone, because the reader learns what sent these people here in flashback and conversations from the characters instead of directly from the acts. Loved the doctor's son, a young boy who fears he himself in insane. The descriptions of the water, sea life and the island are beautifully rendered. As for the name Blue in the title, it does have meaning but you will have to read the book to find out what it is. ARC provided by Net Galley.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just OK.

During the Civil War, Iris Dunleavy was committed to an asylum because she disagreed with her husband, a slave holder. There she is “treated “ by Dr. Henry Cowell, whose theories on insanity are specious at best. She also fall in love with another inmate, Ambrose, who suffers from what we would now call PTSD from his wartime experiences.

The book drags at times because nothing much happens during most of it. The writing can be overly flowery at time, as if the author is trying too hard. Most of the characters aren’t especially interesting, even though they should be, given the premise.

A better book along this vein is The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore. It is non fiction and much more interesting and better written.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's the man who fears walking because of his "heavy" feet. And the woman who swallows small objects such as buttons, coins, and engagement rings. Finally, there's the Civil War veteran tormented by battle images who sees things in shades of blue. These are Iris's fellow patients at the asylum. Unfortunately, Iris doesn't belong there; she was committed against her will by a vengeful husband.

The cruelty of the outside world is just as apparent in the asylum. Iris plots her escape, but also does her best to protect the dignity of her fellow patients in the meantime.

[Kymm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Asylum is the first book I've read by Kathy Hepinstall and I enjoyed it very much. The story revolves around Iris Dunleavey a woman who is committed to a mental institution by her husband and the court simply because she had the audacity to be willful and speak her mind, eventually helping some slaves, who were in danger, escape her plantation. Unbelievable, but it is in the Civil War era, so women are treated as second class citizens and the man holds all the power! These stories never stop to fascinate me, I am so thankful for all the women who've come before me and paved the way for the way I am able to live my life now. Anyway, she knows she's not crazy and from the time she enters the asylum, which is located on an island off the Florida coast, she tries to figure out a way to get someone to believe she's not crazy and wonders how she can get out. She ends up meeting a fellow patient, Ambrose Weller a former confederate soldier, who struggles with memories of the war and they become fast friends. The doctor, who believes he's doing the best he can for his patients and thinks his methods, even the "water treatment" are beneficial doesn't believe Iris when she tells him she's not crazy and she doesn't belong there. The doctor begins enjoying his sessions with Iris and starts second guessing his methods after Iris is subjected to the water treatment and she lets him have it about the cruelty of the process. This is a story about a very willful women who isn't going to stand for what society tells her she should say and do, she's strong, yet she's still fragile when it comes to her heart. I really enjoyed the read and couldn't put the book down, however I was a little disappointed in the ending, I was hoping for much more than what the author gave me. Overall though I'm glad I read the book, I always find it fascinating to read how women were at the mercy of men in this era. They literally had no rights! Great read for historical fiction fans, fans of strong female protagonists, and anyone with an interest in mental institutions in the Civil War era. Happy Reading!

[SuperWendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I chose to listen to this on audio, because I think I would have given up on it had I tried to read a print version. It's very tell-y with little dialogue. I liked the premise, I thought the author depicted the horrors of the Civil War and a woman declared insane simply because she defied her husband quite well. I was less enamored with that heroine - who makes choices over the course of this story that I wanted to shake her senseless over. Especially since her prideful choices have serious repercussions for others.

The story itself left me with a meh feeling, but Kate Forbes is a fantastic narrator and I'd highly recommend this just to hear her alone.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Barbara Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved Blue Asylum. I had never read anything by Kathy Hepinstall before but the premise of this novel attracted me to it so I entered a contest and won it. Thank heaven I did because this is undoubtedly going to be on my Top 10 list this year.


The story is about a woman named Iris Dunleavy. She is the daughter of a minister who grew up in Virginia, is courted by a visitor from further south, and marries him. The Civil War is going on, but so far she has felt little repercussion from that war. Her husband takes her home to his plantation but before going to the main house he stops the wagon at the family cemetery, takes her by the hand to his parents' graves, and says, "Here she is." Uh-oh. Right there you know something isn't right with this man, and this isn't going to end well.


I'll skip over the fascinating story of how this happens (no spoilers here) but Iris ends up being declared insane and sent to a lunatic asylum on Sanibel Island. Yes, that Sanibel Island. Most of the book details her life on Sanibel, the doctor and staff, the other patients, and finally the doctor's thoughtful and kind12 year old son, Wendell, who becomes Iris' friend.


The novel has many tragic scenes, some tender moments, and a story you just can't tear yourself away from. We've had several rainy days in a row, which is a good thing since I just read and read until I finished this story. In a blurb on the cover, Hillary Jordan writes of Hepinstall's "vivid, beautifully crafted sentences." The quality of her writing was what made me read the book slowly so that I could savor each scene, each description, each character.


I recommend this highly whether you like historical fiction or character-driven stories. It's just plain wonderful.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew that such a small book could pack such an emotional punch? Not a word is wasted in Kathy Hepinstall's new novel following a plantation wife named Iris Dunleavy and her imprisonment in an asylum on a small isolated island. As the American Civil War rages on without them, the islands occupants spend their days almost idyllically.

But Iris is not insane. She is being punished for going against her husband's wishes. She is as much as a slave as those imprisoned on the plantation in her mind. But who will believe her? The British psychiatrist who sees her as a threat to everything he has built on this island? Or the handsome soldier who has violent outbursts and can only be calmed by the colour blue? Iris's arrival causes much upheaval but could she find love in this most unexpected of places?

The novel is told from the view points of many different characters. There is Iris herself who is not insane and is haunted by the guilt of the events that lead to her coming to the asylum. Ambrose the soldier who is traumatised by the events of the war but is drawn to Iris. There is also Dr. Cowell who truly believes that he is helping the inmates but is caught off guard by Iris who challenges him and bewitches him. His son Wendell was by far my favourite character, he is mourning the loss of Penelope, a former inmate who died. He is allowed to run around the island freely and befriends Iris. Each character was unique and effortlessly brought to life.

Hepinstall's writing was to die for! I greedily raced through this novel. I will certainly be looking into her previous novels.

Also seen on: http://nothingbetterthanagoodbook.blo...

[Cece · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have owned this book for several years and came across it and put it at top of my to read stack. I needed something different and this was just the thing I needed. An asylum on an island in the time during the civil war is quite intriguing. The writer does a lovely job with characterization and setting to the point I felt like I was there. This was an engrossing read that describes how few rights women had and how the institution of asylums were used so effortlessly with those who weren’t deemed sane, even if it was based on a skewed opinion of a judge. This tale dives into the psyche of the minds of the characters and shows we all have some level of mental deficits. Back in this time period the degree of separation between sane and insane may not have been that far off. I recommend this novel with a unique storyline, rich characterizations and settings in which you can vividly see, feel and smell what’s occurring .

[Lauren Shawcross]

Not a horrible book, but not a good one either.
On the plus side, the writing was enchanting and the premise had me hooked; the location was interesting and (what few descriptions there were of) the treatment of mentally ill people at the time were intriguing.

However, the romance fell flat, the characters seemed apt to be swept away by a light breeze, and there was no reason for the emotions. It felt forced.
The descriptions, while beautiful, could've given me more of a sense of time and place.
The romance also felt forced. Truthfully, I was expecting a little more of the psychology and less baseless romance, but I wouldn't have been disappointed had the romance been properly done.
Another qualm was that the sex scenes (and the scenes with the pubescent boy) were tremendously uncomfortable to read.

[Kathy Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing makes me more feminist smashy than reading historical fiction where women who dare to be themselves and not the obedient pet society wanted them to be are thanked for their strength by being sent to an insane asylum. Iris isn't even that radical (by modern standards); she does want a man to take care of her, but not her evil, slave-owning husband. Even though later in the story, I don't necessarily agree with all of Iris' decisions, I can't help sympathizing with her because I can see what she's been through.

Just the other day, Heather of Coffee-Stained Pages and I were discussing historical fiction that dealt with the topic of slavery. Basically, we agreed that most of the books on slavery have the exact same viewpoint and narrative, whereas other historical fiction (like that of WWI or WWII, for example) is much more creative. Well, here comes Hepinstall with an exception to that. Although slavery is a central topic, along with the treatment of women, this story is nothing like any that I've read before. I love the comparison she draws between women's issues and slavery.

The writing was beautiful, and I had a lot of lovely quotes from which to choose. Ultimately, I went with the one that speaks to my life most. I love that phrase 'ecstatic loneliness,' because, as an introvert, it really describes how I feel most of the time. No wonder reading is my favorite pastime. Plus, who can't sympathize with a person who wants more out of life? Don't we all?

The way that Hepinstall also focused on the other residents of the mental hospital was fascinating. All of the 'lunatics' made a certain amount of sense, and yet there's just no way they can hope to function. Most of them were actually lucky to be there. For a mental hospital, this one was really nice, definitely not Nurse Ratched material.

Blue Asylum is a beautifully-written book that explores insanity and slavery, both of women and African Americans. Hepinstall walks familiar territory but weaves something new (I know I'm mixing my metaphors but I don't care!). Her book will likely appeal to those who enjoy Jessica Maria Tuccelli's Glow, especially those who don't like dialect much, or The Yellow Wallpaper.

[jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

19th century: iris, a plantation owner's wife is sent away to an asylum to "cure" her of her madness. as soon as she's there, she already plans her escape. she meets a boy who becomes a friend. a man who becomes the object of her affections. a docter who is obsessed.

a terrific premise if you ask me. but a premise that did not quite live up to its potential. memorable nonetheless. just not a book you would ever think to read again. ever.

the book's narrative is split into several different views: that of iris, ambrose, dr. cowell, the doctor's son wendell and occasionally some other minor characters.

the issue i had with blue asylum is that the reader is always, always kept at arm's length from completely connecting with any of the characters. although i was moved at a few scenes (alright, dammit! emotionally drained!), the author's writing lacked in ... arggh, i do not even want to go there, so the short version: it was too detached, too dry, too everything, even though a great many things happened and most of them tragic.

now, on reflecton, it reminded me a bit of the orchardist, the lost garden and atonement. all of them brutally ugly stories as only life itself could have written them (minus the moments of relief. there are zero in them).


fair warning: ambrose will destroy you with his war-stories and ptsd hallucinations!

this must be some kind of art, as i do not understand how so many horrible things can happen to the characters and all i felt after finishing this book is relief, resignation and a quiet sadness. and i really wanted to mention in this spoiler-tag how ridiculous i found the part of the wendell boy who masturbates constantly (constantly! in every of his pov's *weary*) --that is until he loses his hand and he rejoices in that fact, and praises it a fricking miracle)

[Felice · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I’m poking around for something new to read and the words Civil War pop up, I move on. My interest in historical fiction from that period began and ended with Gone With The Wind. Then because I hearted the cover on Blue Asylum so much I disregarded my embargo and read on. Once again judging a book by its cover has led me to reading happiness. Shallowness has so paid off for me over the years!


Essentially Blue Asylum is the story of a young wife, Iris, with abolitionist beliefs married to a southern slave owner who has her committed when she acts on her beliefs. Once at the island asylum of Sanibel Iris is subject to the treatments of an egotistical doctor, the fantasies of his son and is herself attracted to a traumatized Confederate soldier. There are unique touches to the whys, wheres and hows but emotionally it’s the usual pile on of drama after drama for a hoop-skirted heroine.


You could take that basic plot description and check Blue Asylum off as romantic soap opera. It is but it’s that and more in the hands of a strong writer like Kathy Hepinstall. This makes all the difference in the world my friends. Within the theater of the true to life historical elements, the war, slavery and marriage laws Hepinstall is able to create interesting, period-accurate characters (Halleluiah!) whose personal dramas unfold engagingly and realistically against a well researched ambiance. The union of all these parts without any one component over powering the other makes for a rich, smart read

[CanadianReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blue Asylum focuses on the love that develops between a young plantation wife who identifies with her husband's slaves and a traumatized confederate soldier. Both are patients at an asylum run by a supposedly humane British-trained psychiatrist at the time of the American Civil War. The book begins with promise: the internal dilemmas of the three main characters--the two patients and their doctor--are compelling, and the isolated tropical environment in Florida where their treatment occurs is described in rich detail. Once author Hepinstall has the two patients escape from their island asylum (read "prison"), however, she doesn't seem to know what to do with them. The second half of the novel is a disappointment, and the conclusion is marred by too-pretty writing to compensate for an insufficiently thought-out resolution to the conflicts. The reader knows things will not end well, and there are no real surprises: things do not end well. Hepinstall can write, though sometimes the novel suffers from anachronistic dialogue (For example, a character uses the too-modern idiom of "not giving a rat's ass"). Additionally, sex scenes seemed token and forced--written in because that is what one is supposed to do when presenting a love story. They fall sadly flat. Not a terrible book, for sure, but not a book that lived up to its initial promise.

[Connie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iris Dunleavy stood up to her husband, a Virginia plantation owner, because he was cruel to the slaves. After strong-willed Iris ran away, she was captured and put on trial. She was convicted of madness and sent away to an asylum on Sanibel Island. Iris became especially close to another resident, Ambrose, who is haunted by memories from the Civil War. To calm himself, Ambrose concentrates on the color blue--blue sky, blue water, blue glass, blue clothes.

The book shows that wives were property of their husbands at the time of the Civil War, and they could be locked away if they became an embarrassment to the man's pride. Wives were supposed to be submissive and not think for themselves.

Some of the supposedly sane people in the story--the cruel overseer of the slaves, the sadistic officer in the army, the mean matron at the asylum--actually seemed as unstable as some of the odd residents at the asylum. Even the doctor and his family had some emotional issues. So how does a judge determine who is mad or insane?

The book tugged at the heartstrings as love developed between Iris and Ambrose, but with little chance they could have a life together. The story kept my attention as it slowly let us find out their secrets from the past. I enjoyed the interesting characters and the look back in history. 3 1/2 stars