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Mesmerised
Dr Paul Gachet is a doctor and artist, and – against the unwelcoming backdrop of 1860s Paris – a homeopath. He lives, loves and works alongside the rebellious group of artists who will soon become known as the Impressionists, and his struggle for credibility mirrors theirs as he endeavours to bring homeopathy to the mainstream.
His desire to cure and understand the nature of healing substances pushes him to the brink as he imbibes his own medicine, falls in love, and agonises over his chosen path and the sacrifices he must make to follow it.
When he treats a young prostitute at the hospital Salpêtrière who is diagnosed with insanity, he discovers there’s so much more than just his integrity at stake. Evoking the heady atmosphere of 19th-century Paris, and the colours and characters of the artists of the time, this powerful debut will appeal to fans of atmospheric and authentic period drama and historical fiction.
His desire to cure and understand the nature of healing substances pushes him to the brink as he imbibes his own medicine, falls in love, and agonises over his chosen path and the sacrifices he must make to follow it.
When he treats a young prostitute at the hospital Salpêtrière who is diagnosed with insanity, he discovers there’s so much more than just his integrity at stake. Evoking the heady atmosphere of 19th-century Paris, and the colours and characters of the artists of the time, this powerful debut will appeal to fans of atmospheric and authentic period drama and historical fiction.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2013
1 person is currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Shine
10 books25 followersMichelle Shine is a homeopath, mother, grandmother, writer of articles, short stories and novels. Her published works include the homeopathic textbook, What About the Potency? The Subtle Art of Healing, long listed for the Cinnamon Press novella award. Mesmerised. Song for Ria, winner of the Literary Titan Silver Award. Ash on the Vine, longlisted for the Fiction Factory’s first chapter award and the Yeovil Prize. Her short stories have been published in literary magazines and several collections. You can read her articles and essays at michelleshine.substack.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 20, 2022
This book is to-date the longest I have taken to review an advanced copy. I have started it and put it down more times than I care to account for. So what went wrong?
To start, the flow is clunky. It felt like the author was more concerned with creating a pretentious backdrop for her 1800s France that she missed the point of her early impressionist painters’ lifestyles: which was to flaunt the middle finger at the bourgeoisie!
Secondly, as writers, you KNOW that if you don’t catch your audience’s attention in the first page (usually sentence) you’ve lost them. I reread the first few chapters multiple times and on multiple days. I just couldn’t get into it.
Finally, around 2/3 through the book I figured “what the hey, I’ve made it this far “ and finished for the sake of having been given this copy.
If you want to feel fancy and while away your hours without getting anywhere in particular? This is for you.
This review was made possible by an ARC given to me by the publisher.
To start, the flow is clunky. It felt like the author was more concerned with creating a pretentious backdrop for her 1800s France that she missed the point of her early impressionist painters’ lifestyles: which was to flaunt the middle finger at the bourgeoisie!
Secondly, as writers, you KNOW that if you don’t catch your audience’s attention in the first page (usually sentence) you’ve lost them. I reread the first few chapters multiple times and on multiple days. I just couldn’t get into it.
Finally, around 2/3 through the book I figured “what the hey, I’ve made it this far “ and finished for the sake of having been given this copy.
If you want to feel fancy and while away your hours without getting anywhere in particular? This is for you.
This review was made possible by an ARC given to me by the publisher.
June 11, 2022
I definitely feel I know my French painters of the 1800s a lot better now, though I don't think that was the point of this book.
At times it was quite dizzying having all the names thrown at you, and I struggled to think of their art.
The story of the homeopathy was very interesting, especially as its still thought by many as a quack science.
An excellent combination of science and arts, with very colourful characters.
I'm off to google some more of their paintings now.
At times it was quite dizzying having all the names thrown at you, and I struggled to think of their art.
The story of the homeopathy was very interesting, especially as its still thought by many as a quack science.
An excellent combination of science and arts, with very colourful characters.
I'm off to google some more of their paintings now.
May 29, 2024
I received a copy from the author and I'm willingly leaving a review
Somewhat poetic with everything seen in different colors, but really boring. Ups and downs in a life of a multitasking person, be it an artist, doctor, friend, or lover. There is a lot of French words but they are not spelled correctly (eg plain/plein). I love history and homeopathy but I'm 4 days in and it should have taken me less than 24 hours to read the complete book. DNF 59%.
Somewhat poetic with everything seen in different colors, but really boring. Ups and downs in a life of a multitasking person, be it an artist, doctor, friend, or lover. There is a lot of French words but they are not spelled correctly (eg plain/plein). I love history and homeopathy but I'm 4 days in and it should have taken me less than 24 hours to read the complete book. DNF 59%.
June 28, 2024
While I loved the subject matter and the integrity of the main character, Dr. Paul Gachet, his fight to use homeopathic medicine for those deemed insane like Bella, this was a slow read for me. La Salpetriere, where Paul Gachet treats nervous disorder patients, is barely tolerant of his homeopathic treatment of Bella Laffaire but their head doctors observe him closely and believe homeopathy to be quackery.
Paul is also an artist and mingles with the famous impressionists of the time such as Edouard Manet at art exhibitions and outside. It was interesting to read of the exclusion of the impressionists at the Academie and the Protest Day against this. Also I had never heard of the Salon de Refuses.
Although the author writes beautifully, she often uses words and phrases that would be unfamiliar to the average reader: “varnishing day (at the Salon des Refuses),” allopathic treatment, potentisation, caries, “etheric body.” I found myself often researching what was meant.
This novel presented a confluence of fascinating subjects and romances too, but all in all, the choppy nature of the narrative made me enjoy it less than I would have otherwise.
Paul is also an artist and mingles with the famous impressionists of the time such as Edouard Manet at art exhibitions and outside. It was interesting to read of the exclusion of the impressionists at the Academie and the Protest Day against this. Also I had never heard of the Salon de Refuses.
Although the author writes beautifully, she often uses words and phrases that would be unfamiliar to the average reader: “varnishing day (at the Salon des Refuses),” allopathic treatment, potentisation, caries, “etheric body.” I found myself often researching what was meant.
This novel presented a confluence of fascinating subjects and romances too, but all in all, the choppy nature of the narrative made me enjoy it less than I would have otherwise.
August 18, 2022
Having an interest in this period of art history and enjoying books that combine real events with a fictional interpretation I felt this book would be one I would love but I struggled to engage and was distracted into reading others. It did help me understand some of the struggles of early homeopathic practisers and the camaraderie of the artistic personnel of the time but it was a rambling story that didn’t really feel complete. The ending felt strange, particularly when I know a little about Paul’s life after this period, and felt something extra would have given the book a more rounded conclusion.
The character of Paul was intriguing and the Paris scene of the time was well drawn so those who enjoy the descriptive creation of a period of time may enjoy this more. Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley for the chance to read this book.
The character of Paul was intriguing and the Paris scene of the time was well drawn so those who enjoy the descriptive creation of a period of time may enjoy this more. Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley for the chance to read this book.
August 21, 2024
The author reached out to me through messages and asked me to read and share my reviews - back in march/april (very busy mum of 4 here )
It was a hard to get through at the beginning and definitely to get into the flow of things with the story line.
I did like how the book was set out in diary contents with dates
I found my self at times also reading certain parts of the chapters to help grasp the story and the characters.
I found my self intrigued with how the story characters were based around real people, and developing real life experiences and with homeopathic treatments being used in that era.
I was very honoured to get to review - I love a history read - but this wouldn’t have been a book I would have picked up without a little more research or knowledge around the particular subject
It was a hard to get through at the beginning and definitely to get into the flow of things with the story line.
I did like how the book was set out in diary contents with dates
I found my self at times also reading certain parts of the chapters to help grasp the story and the characters.
I found my self intrigued with how the story characters were based around real people, and developing real life experiences and with homeopathic treatments being used in that era.
I was very honoured to get to review - I love a history read - but this wouldn’t have been a book I would have picked up without a little more research or knowledge around the particular subject
May 16, 2023
This historical novel set in 1860’s Paris centres on Paul Gachet, a doctor and early impressionist painter and his artist contemporaries. Gachet is an early adopter of homeopathy, which meets fierce resistance from his fellow allopathic doctors, in spite of their own primitive medical practices. Professional jealousy of his successes makes Gachet’s life almost impossible, and challenges his own mental health.
An interesting insight into the social milieu of mid nineteenth century Paris.
An interesting insight into the social milieu of mid nineteenth century Paris.
June 13, 2022
If you know Montmartre, the French Impressionist movement or anything to do with Salpetriere, then this book should be of interest to you. "Mesmerised" by Michelle Shine, might not be as glitzy as some scenes out of Moulin Rouge but the story of Gachet and his patients is genuinely interesting. Like today, there are those who believe in homeopathy and those who don't. Fascinating stuff!
July 25, 2024
This book is about the use of homeopathy in Paris and what Medically trained Doctors think of it. This was an interesting read of this time period in the medical field.
If you’re interested in exploring the world of 19th-century Paris and the fascinating lives of artists and visionaries, “Mesmerised” might be worth adding to your reading list.
If you’re interested in exploring the world of 19th-century Paris and the fascinating lives of artists and visionaries, “Mesmerised” might be worth adding to your reading list.
July 4, 2022
The focus of this book is the development of homeopathy in Paris and the rejection of it by medically trained doctors. Although I loved the premise, the context and the very well written descriptions of life in Paris, I did find a frustration with the main character's relationships, areas that lacked detail and the rather sudden ending. However, I would still recommend it based on the vivid descriptions, accurate recording of the time and the very forward-thinking main character.
April 1, 2014
Mesmerised is based on three of my main interests--homeopathy, art, and history/historical fiction. Michelle captured my attention with a notice of the book's release, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the gritty realities of life in Paris during the Impressionist era. I enjoyed the methods used by Dr. Paul Gachet before the advent of Boiron's little blue medicine tubes and enjoyed reading the cases he took in the living way that only historical fiction can provide. In both medicine and the art world, Gachet found himself in a time of revolutionary change, and the conflicts involved move the story along well.
The author's knowledge of homeopathy, her grasp of art history, and her writing skills have come together in her debut novel to establish her in good stead as a historical fiction author. I look forward to her further writings.
Michelle has also written a homeopathic medical book, What About the Potency?: A Comprehensive Guide to Homeopathic Potency and Dosage.
The author's knowledge of homeopathy, her grasp of art history, and her writing skills have come together in her debut novel to establish her in good stead as a historical fiction author. I look forward to her further writings.
Michelle has also written a homeopathic medical book, What About the Potency?: A Comprehensive Guide to Homeopathic Potency and Dosage.
October 22, 2013
A revolution in art, a revolution in medicine, and one man was at the centre of it all. In dramatising the true story of Dr Paul Gachet, Michelle Shine has captured the spirit of fin de siècle Paris with panache.
Featuring behind-the-scenes glimpses into all the big names of the then-emerging Impressionist movement, from Cezanne to Gauguin, from Manet to Renoir, this novel is steeped in art and architecture.
Michelle Shine manages, using all the care and expertise Gachet applied to his homeopathic remedies, to infuse a thoroughly evocative atmosphere into a page-turner plot. I can't wait for the sequel.
Featuring behind-the-scenes glimpses into all the big names of the then-emerging Impressionist movement, from Cezanne to Gauguin, from Manet to Renoir, this novel is steeped in art and architecture.
Michelle Shine manages, using all the care and expertise Gachet applied to his homeopathic remedies, to infuse a thoroughly evocative atmosphere into a page-turner plot. I can't wait for the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews