Detour

by Grace H. Kaiser

From Publishers Weekly

In her first book, Dr. Frau: A Woman Doctor Among the Amish , Kaiser described her work as an obstetrician in the Old Order Amish/Mennonite community in rural Pennsylvania. Here she describes how her career, during which she raised her own children, came to an abrupt end with a spinal cord injury that left her a quadriplegic. Interwoven with the details of her arduous therapy are vignettes of the Amish mothers and children in a reversal of roles, visiting her as a patient, bringing simple homemade gifts and reliving memories of her as their doctor. A journal format also tracks the progress of the author's spiritual awakening, which continues to support her and her husband in their new life. In her straightforward, occasionally banal narrative of personal survival, Kaiser also celebrates Amish simplicity.

Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

188 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1969

Reviews

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detour follows the story of Dr. Grace Kaiser after a terrible fall one summer in Pennsylvania. Detailing life as a quadriplegic, there is still hope for Grace to regain some mobility, as her spine was not completely severed. In between accounts of physical therapy and facing a new reality, Grace recalls memories of her days as a woman doctor among the Amish and the highly unique experiences she had playing such an important role in her community.

This is an amazing book and it taught me just how precious life is. I would recommend this to anyone.

4/5 stars

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story of physician in Lancaster who became disabled. Book is a bit scattered and difficult to follow.

[Marie Hibshman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr Kaiser is a woman ahead of her time and an inspiration, but the story is a little scattered and repetitive.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories are good. This is a continuation of Dr. Frau, and tells the story of Dr. Kaiser's freak accident that left her with permanent spinal cord and mobility issues. Once again, here is a book that suffers from lack of a good editor. I don't look for errors but cannot help but see when there are multiple ones. Also, Kaiser is very fond of overwrought similes, which were present in both books. The reader is moving along through the book, enjoying the prose stories of her recovery and flashbacks to her days of delivering babies - and then comes something like "The [hospital] gowns dangled from my shoulders like windless sails flapping the yardarms of an ancient ship." Other descriptions were equally overwritten: "That applejack wore fingers of golden satin as it slid across my tongue." When an author's word choices are overly dramatic, they detract from the message.

[Jack Bussert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a friend of Dr Kaiser’s daughter Lorelei. She lent me this and “Dr Frau” to read before I left town for grad school. I’m so glad I read them.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s messy structurally but I appreciate the way it experiments. And the story is still powerful and thought provoking.

Bonus points for this being my first book read post grad school.