FICTION

The Book of Madness and Cures

by Regina O'Melveny
Little, Brown. Apr. 2012. c.336p. ISBN 9780316195836. $25.99. F
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This debut novel from a prize-winning poet is an elegant portrait of a resolute woman who practices medicine in 16th-century Venice. After the disappearance of her physician father, who had trained her, Gabriella Mondini is no longer able to work openly in her beloved profession. So she sets out with two servants to find him, on a journey that takes her across Europe, from Scotland to the Netherlands to Switzerland and, finally, down to Morocco. Along the way, she meets other healers, who introduce her to strange diseases and ancient remedies that she adds to the encyclopedia started by her father. She also learns more about the human spirit and the complexities of life, death, and love.
VERDICT Inspired by the disappearance of her own father, as well as the memories of her Italian artist mother, O'Melveny has written a compelling drama with a strong female lead. The writing is superb, particularly when the author describes the exotic locales and ancient superstitions Gabriella encounters on her travels. The book will especially attract readers who enjoy female-centered historical novels whose plots are not driven by romance. [See Prepub Alert, 10/14/11.]
Reviewed by Lucy Roehrig, Ann Arbor Dist. Lib., MI , Mar 01, 2012
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