Play Book Tag discussion

The book begins shortly before the American Civil War. Mary Sutter is a talented midwife who wants to become a surgeon but no one will teach her because she is a woman. Once the war starts Mary secretly leaves her mother and pregnant sister to travel to Washington D.C. in hopes of learning surgery. She does end up helping a surgeon at the run down Union Hotel Hospital. I thought Mary's story was interesting. What brought my rating down some is all the detours the author takes away from Mary's story. There are sections told from Lincoln's perspective as well as many other minor characters. The ending chapter also seemed rushed. The author has written another book featuring Mary which I do plan on reading.