The mid 1930’s. The exciting times of medical research resulting in cutting edge techniques for treating mental illness. AKA the lobotomy.

This was a riveting read based on real events. What started out as the best of intentions for eradicating symptoms of depression, violence, paranoia, turned horribly wrong.

It starts with Ruth who lost her brother to mental illness. She becomes the administrator of a hospital to treat the mentally insane. Her passion for helping others with similar illnesses and the means to do so, leads her to marrying the physician who begins to pioneer this lobotomy technique in the U.S.

Let’s just say, his unorthodox treatment went awry. He became Careless and risk taking doing lobotomy’s in hotel rooms. Letting his ego grow astronomically. “Fixing” women who suffered from postpartum depression. Yikes.

The ending a little too neatly wrapped up for me. I had a better one in mind (keeping in line with the fanatical doctor). The lobotomy has always fascinated me. It quickly brought to mind The one who flew over the cuckoo’s nest and Jack Nicolson’s brilliant portrayal.
Overall 4??historical-fiction136 s Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill624 608

This book was sooo good! This is seriously one of the most interesting books I have read. It was absolutely fascinating. Can you even imagine being married to a man that performs lobotomies?? Yeah me neither!

Let's just put this out there first...we all know that HF is based around real historical events. However, after reading the author's notes...I was shocked at the amount of this book that was based on real events.

Ruth comes from a prestigious family in NYC. Her family has created a hospital to help treat patients with psychological issues. A caring family hoping to help others.

When Ruth hires on an ambitious psychiatrist named Robert...things change drastically ...first she marries him...next he created the "ice pick procedure." This was a quickie lobotomy that he could do with an ice pick anywhere...in 10 minutes...in through your eye socket and done!

Does nobody think this is a bad idea?! Well this went on for DECADES...with people from all over...letting it happen...Rose Kennedy being one.

The most alarming thing is...this is based on Walter Freeman - creator of the transorbital lobotomy...traveling in his stationwagon on " Operation Ice Pick"...only 10 minutes out of your day and you can be fixed with an ice pick to your brain.

I can't even tell you how many times I gasped while reading the author's notes at the end! The writing is absolutely wonderful. The research that she put into this is so impressive. I loved it and I can't recommend it enough! blog-tour physical-book-from-publisher102 s2 comments Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader2,296 31.4k

About the book: “An enthralling historical novel of a compassionate and relentless woman, a cutting-edge breakthrough in psychiatry, and a nightmare in the making.

Inspired by a shocking chapter in medical history, The Lobotomist’s Wife is a galvanizing novel of a woman fighting against the most grievous odds, of ego, and of the best intentions gone horribly awry.”

I think I first learned about the history of the lobotomy when I took an AP Psychology course in high school. I think The Lobotomist’s Wife is the first historical fiction story I’ve read that is on the front row of this horrifying practice.

Ruth is married to Robert, a pioneer of the lobotomy. At first, she believes it’s beneficial and champions her husband’s efforts. As he becomes more wrapped up in himself and less about his patients, the facade has some serious cracks that Ruth begins to see. She decides she has to keep further surgeries from happening, but the how will not be easy.

Ruth is a fantastic character who grows into her own voice. She has close personal ties to the mentally ill through her late brother. I was invested in her story, and I found it refreshing that she was not overwritten as the good versus evil kind of character. She felt real. The story is based on true events, and it absolutely felt real. I was completely immersed and invested in this story.

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader81 s Romina Dimenza110 12

Started slow but..

A 3.5 for this one.
It had a slow start it was dragging for a while to the point that I even forgot that I was reading it.
A few weeks went by before I picked it up again to finish the second half in a few days.
Now the second half is fast paced and interesting, I honestly thought it was going to be darker.
It's a great story with parts better than others.. Nice fiction but not mind blowing.69 s Linda1,388 1,494

"With mere good intentions hell is proverbially paved." (William James)

The back of your neck begins to scrunch up as you read the title of this book: The Lobotomist's Wife. The words begin to swirl around inside of your head conjuring up all sorts of dreaded images. You may not know a lot about this heinous procedure, but you do know its tragic impact in medical history.

Ruth Emeradine has been born into privilege. Her parents own a fine mansion and have opened a long-needed psychiatric facility called the Emeradine Hospital. Although Ruth comes from a renowned line of medical professionals, she works as the assistant administrator. Ruth has spit out that silver spoon from her mouth and has taken on a more personable and caring approach to the patients there. She visits them on a daily basis and knows them by name. They are not just charts on the wall.

Ruth feels compassion for these individuals. Her brother, Harry, came back from WWI a much changed man. No matter what the family and the facility implemented, it didn't stop Harry from taking his own life. Ruth is determined to prevent this from happening to other families.

Even though Ruth has dismissed a chance at marriage, a love interest arrives. Dr. Robert Apter sweeps her off her feet and they marry soon after. They combine their personal lives with their professional lives. Robert shares with her the new horizon of a medical treatment that will release patients from their mental bondages. A Nobel Prize winning surgeon has introduced the procedure. Robert is sold and he convinces Ruth that their hospital would be on the cutting edge.

Samantha Greene Woodruff creates a fictional platform involving the use of lobotomies in the 1930's and onward. To this day, mental illness has been one that eludes psychiatrists and splits them into separate camps as to how to care and treat these patients. Individuals decline treatment because of the pox on their records and the feelings of being a societal pariah even in the present.

When the promise of a sensational "cure" for mental illness grabs the headlines, some doctors stepped up in line and performed thousands of such procedures without sufficient data and follow-ups. Although Woodruff's book is fiction, she does insert some true incidents that reflect one of these over-zealous doctors. Be sure to read the Author's Notes at the end in which Woodruff shares her journey that provides a basis for writing this book.

The Lobotomist's Wife is a well-written and informative venture into those early times of psychiatric care. The deeply instilled desire to be on the mountain top should never overshadow the prudent and cautious steps that it takes to get there. fiction historical-fiction history ...more70 s Theresa AlanAuthor 10 books1,114

a lot of people, I was heavily influenced about my thoughts on lobotomies by the book/movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. So, for the first at least half of this book, I thought, hmm, I guess this used to help at least some people or it wouldn’t have become used so widely.

We’re told this story through Ruth Emeraldine. After her brother took his own life following WWI, her goal is to help people is to help people battling mental illness get well. In this pursuit, she falls in love with Dr. Robert Apter, a man championing a new cure for the mentally unwell called a lobotomy. Initially, the procedure seems to be a miracle cure. But then Dr. Apter figures out a way to perform it even more quickly, “helping” as many people as possible in what is basically a mental-health drive through, using what is essentially the icepick method. As he decides this is the cure for even as something as mundane as the baby blues (since we didn’t have the term post-partum depression back then), Ruth needs to figure out a way to stop the man she loves from doing irreparable harm.

There’s one section in the book that’s extremely harrowing and suspenseful, but the rest is a genuinely fascinating look at where we were with mental illness at that time in history.59 s Amy5

Loved the historical aspect, but what’s going on with Edward?

It was fascinating to learn about the histories of this procedure and would be interesting to discuss in a book club, major props to the author for making history interesting to read about, but *spoiler alert* the end of the book alludes to Edward being in a relationship with Stephen, whom he lives with and is bringing over for dinner, but then a page later it has him living with the main character and holding hands with her. I’m assuming it’s an editing oversight? 45 s Sharon Smith9 8

Perfunctory writing

I'm bitterly disappointed in this book. The simplistic style reminds me of 1950s novels for girls. The content is obvious: woman discovers that her dear husband's lobotomy fetish is evil and finally stops it.

Characters and dialog are unrelentingly flat. Empty. Boring. 34 s leener122080

3.5 stars / Described as historical fiction, this book tells a loosely fictionalized version of the real life story of lobotomy in America and the man who invented it.

While the actual history of lobotomy and its invention is fascinating, if unsettling, the book is almost hindered by trying to stick too closely to real events and probably could have benefitted from leaning a bit more into the fiction side of its historical fiction genre. The strongest characters in the book, Ruth and Margaret - the two women through whom we watch the story unfold - are entirely fictional and speak to depth that might have been added by leaning into fictionalized aspects of this historical tale.

That being said, the overall story is still intriguing, especially when viewed through the lens of our modern perspectives on not just lobotomy and mental illness but on the societal and gender roles of previous eras. In the final half of the book, the story leverages these modern perspectives to create more suspense that ultimately makes this book worth the read.

Though it took about halfway through the book before it really drew me in, the writing is well done throughout and has the benefit of a fascinating topic to keep its reader engaged. All in all, an interesting, if slightly underwhelming novel, but a solid debut from an author I hope to see more from.24 s Sarah1,276 153

For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...

This was such a fascinating read on a topic that I know very little about. For a debut novel, this was an immersive story that I found grew more compelling, the further along I read.23 s Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews1,125 1,523

Ruth has always been a strong woman and an advocate for the mentally ill since her brother committed suicide.

When she met Dr. Robert Apter, she thought he had a procedure that could help those with mental illnesses.

Ruth fell in love with Dr. Apter, they married, and worked together. Ruth was onboard until she realized the new treatment - a lobotomy - was harming more patients than helping them.

We learn of what Ruth does in the hospital, and we also meet Margaret who is having post-baby blues. Dr. Apter feels Margaret's only hope would be to have a lobotomy. Ruth was adamant a lobotomy couldn't help Margaret after seeing some of the awful mistakes including death that happened with the procedure.

THE LOBOTOMIST’S WIFE brings to light the extreme treatments that were used in the early 1930’s for treating the mentally ill. Some of the things that were done were shocking, and the lobotomy got out of hand with Dr. Apter's ego getting in the way.

This book was interesting, well researched, intense, and based on real people and events.

If you are a fan of medical treatments and historical fiction, you should enjoy this book. 4/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.18 s K Reads 511 20

Well, this novel was built upon an excellent idea and an intriguing question: can mental illness be cut out of the brain? I grew up in a post-lobotomy era, where the procedure was often referred to as a punchline for a total loss of thinking. , Randall Patrick McMurphy’s ultimate end in Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest—if the last shot of Jack Nicholson’s character doesn’t haunt your impression of mental hospital “treatments,” you missed the point of the entire story. But I digress.

I knew I should have abandoned ship about halfway through, when it was apparent that “The Lobotomist’s Wife” (how telling that her name is withheld in the title!) is too good, especially as measured by 2022 standards. It’s a story about “the past” with cherry-picked feminist values plastered onto a perfectly charming, socially adept, unmarried, career-minded heiress who wants nothing else to do with the world but make it a better place! My daughter (in college) taught me about the current use of the slang term “Mary Sue” to define protagonists that annoy audiences *because* they are presented without flaws. It fits this protagonist so well. a poodle skirt paired with pearls.

So: the upside is that I am interested in reading about the history of lobotomies (and I wonder if the legend about them ultimately helped conservative Governors shut down state hospitals everywhere in the 1990s without providing other desperately needed social programs to help society cope with mental illnesses), and I wonder if the procedure evolved into something more useful/targeted, and if the scientist who came up with the procedure died in disgrace.

This book might be a satisfying read for people who love adverbs and predictable outcomes. They will silently, gratefully, willingly, lovingly, and adoringly embrace this “heroic” tale.

File Under: With God as Her Witness. . . .2022 historical-fiction mental-health ...more13 s Literary Redhead1,952 544

This unique histfic novel, written with such assurance that it's hard to believe it's a debut, reveals the truth of a radical treatment for mental illness used in the mid 20th century.

THE STORY
Protagonist Ruth Emeraldine is committed to helping the mentally ill after her brother commits suicide after WWI.

ICE PICK
She meets and marries trailblazing physician Robert Apter, who embraces lobotomy -- an extreme new treatment in which an ice pick is hammered into the brain via the eye socket. The goal: to damage the prefrontal lobes in an effort to tame mental illness. The result: often a vegetative state.

MAD DOCTOR
In the story, Dr. Apter (based on the real pioneering lobotomist Dr. Walter Freeman), does more and more procedures despite terrifying results, hiding the clinical outcome so he could madly continue his work. As his wife learns the truth, she begins to advocate against him. How I cheered her on and said a prayer for all who suffered such inhumane treatment.

MY THOUGHTS
Highly recommended for histfic lovers, fans of mesmerizing yarns, as well as mental health advocates and sufferers. A triumph!

Pub Date Feb 1, 2022.

Thanks to the author, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.

#thelobotomistswife #samgwoodruffauthor
#lakeunionpublishing #NetGalley #histficnovel #lobotomysurgery #mentalillnesstreatment #mentalhealtadvocates #debutfictionnovel13 s Paulette KennedyAuthor 4 books487

I had the opportunity to read this phenomenal debut early and endorse it. This is one book you won’t want to miss:

Based on extraordinary real-life events, The Lobotomist’s Wife is a riveting and impressive debut that had me in its grasp from the very first page. Samantha Greene Woodruff has crafted a suspenseful tale of good intentions gone awry that features an indomitable heroine who finds her strength and voice in the midst of harrowing circumstances. I simply could not put it down.13 s Nikki590 56

Interesting historical fiction read. Left me with a couple of questions with what seemed a rushed ending...13 s Clare Picker27 2

I’ve read quite a bit about the history of lobotomy, and the doctors who developed and advocated for the procedure, and the mental health professionals who supported its widespread use. It is a horrifying, yet fascinating, story about good intentions run amok.

This book does not reflect that in any way. The parts about Margaret are much better written, she is a well-developed character that is easy to sympathize with, but that doesn’t merit reading the book. The “heroine”, Ruth, is flat and easily manipulated. I was not impressed by this unremarkable, uninspired, fictional rabbit trail.

Skip this and read any number of non-fiction books on the real Walter Freeman II and the part lobotomy played in determining the course of modern mental health. It will be a much better use of your time, and you won’t walk away confused and frustrated. 12 s Zoe2,022 281

Detailed, fascinating, and alluring!

The Lobotomist’s Wife is an immersive tale that sweeps you away to mid-1900s New York and into the life of Ruth Emeraldine, an intelligent woman ahead of her time whose goal in life since her brother’s death is to ease the pain of those suffering from mental illness and whom after marrying the charismatic Robert Apter and being swept away by his enthusiasm and charm encourages and supports him in his work to relieve severe anxiety through the use of a new technique known as lobotomy.

The prose is descriptive and smooth. The characters are wealthy, driven, and complex. And the plot is a vivid, absorbing tale of life, loss, love, hope, family, greed, mental illness, and the unconscionable theory of lobotomy as a beneficial treatment.

Overall, The Lobotomist’s Wife is an insightful, well-written, shocking tale by Woodruff loosely based on real-life events that does an exceptional job of highlighting her considerable knowledge and impressive research into this barbaric practice used to, unbelievably, treat almost sixty thousand people in the US alone between 1936 and 1972.

Thank you to Wunderkind PR for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.13 s theliterateleprechaun 1,603 27

Migraine? Postpartum depression? Mood swings? Got 10 minutes? Step right up for this quickie lobotomy procedure to go!

Samantha Greene Woodruff’s debut novel was inspired by the life of the infamous lobotomist Walter Freeman - a man with a plan, and passion, but sadly, no training in surgery! Yes, you read that correctly. He was a neurologist and a psychologist but not a neurosurgeon! Disguised as an innovative and revolutionary solution - a miracle cure, really - he peddled his 10 minute solution, an out-patient ‘ice pick’ technique, to dozens of people on a daily basis, ultimately destroying the lives of many. His curiosity and ego gave way to his deadly obsession, making readers question if medicine/science ever crosses the line of ethics and morality today in the quest for progress.

In addition to informing us of this procedure, Woodruff explores the struggle women at this time had in making sure they found a balance between standing strong and listening to society’s norms. You’ll read about an unfulfilled woman who struggles between being a supportive wife and her role in the administration of the hospital.

One of the strengths of this novel is the author’s ability to mesh the fact and fiction. Not once did I feel she’d just ‘inserted’ lobotomy facts into the prose, nor did I feel she wrote above my understanding. Although some parts are disturbing, it’s written in such a compelling manner that I grimaced and kept reading! Another strength is the author’s incorporation of alternating timelines. There was a perfect mix of patient stories to Ruth’s story. The pace picks up and I found myself hooked once Ruth meets a young mother suffering from postpartum depression. The author’s notes are fascinating and an asset to the novel.

Did you know that Rosemary Kennedy (JFK’s sister) was one of Walter Freeman’s patients?

I can’t wait to see what direction Woodruff will take her next novel. It’s rumoured to be a historical fiction set in the 1920s and features the stock market.

I was gifted this novel by Samantha Greene Woodruff, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.2022-reads netgalley11 s Darcia HelleAuthor 28 books720

The Lobotomist’s Wife is a puzzle with all the right pieces, but the resulting image is slightly out of focus.

Based on the real-life story of Walter Freeman, the inventor of the ice pick lobotomy, this is a chilling look at how good intentions can go horribly wrong when ego gets in the way.

The book opens in 1952, with Margaret, a woman who’s suffering intense postpartum depression. Her story fascinated me. Unfortunately, we see little of her throughout the book.

We immediately drop back to the 1930s, and from there we stick mostly with Ruth, the soon-to-be lobotomist’s wife. The early part of the book is a romance, albeit an unconventional one for the time, with Ruth being an independent woman fascinated by psychology and neurology, slowly falling in love with the new doctor at the asylum where she works. Later, after the courtship and wedding, we move into her and her husband’s pursuit of a cure for mental illness.

While the story was interesting, I found the writing to be more of an intellectual exercise than an emotional experience.

*This was my Kindle First Reads choice for January.*
ebooks fiction historical-fiction11 s Susan Z (webreakforbooks) 778 130

A fantastic historical fiction account of psychiatry in the 1930s to 1950s.

I have always been fascinated by the study of the mind, and appalled by the extreme techniques used in the past. In The Lobotomist's wife, Ruth is married to Robert, a man in the cutting edge of medicine, curing psychological problems with brain surgery. He continues to refine his technique practically turning it into a drive thru procedure, unfortunately sometimes with dire consequences

This fictional story is utterly fascinating, disturbing and addicting. It's worth reading for the author's note alone.

An easy 5 star read10 s Linda Galella625 62

Based on real people and historical events, this novel will have you flipping pages and being thankful for the advancements in psychiatric medicine.

Lobotomy was an horror in the world of psychiatry. It did minimal good to very few and for a brief prolific time it was a “standard of care” taken to hyperbole by first time novelist, Samantha Greene Woodruff. Her historical research is good and with the exception of a few slips in the narrative, (a reference to being “triggered” and decompensating), the book feels accurate for time and place.

POV is thru the eyes of Ruth, a wealthy young woman who’s dedicated her life to helping mentally ill patients after the suicide of her only brother. She’s partially estranged from her parents but trying to earn their approval. She is 2nd in command at a private mental hospital and completely dedicated to its cause, completely ignoring her own life. Then she meets Robert, hires him and off we go into a fictionalization of a true medical horror story.

Woodruff is deft at character development, dialogue and storytelling. It was ever so refreshing to read a new author who refrained from using foul language, excessive violence and sexual content. Kudos! The story spans 20 years and is broken down into 4 main sections, all clearly noted. Pay attention to Margaret and her brief interludes along the way…

You’ll also want to take the time to read the author’s notes at the end of the book. In fact, I’d recommend reading them prior to starting the story. My only critique is that the ending should have been a bit more robust and developed; the notes help.

A fine new author and historical fiction offering to begin 2022 - Happy First Reads!9 s Susan Ballard1,719 75

4.5
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