Review: The Solitary Sparrow

August 16, 2024

SHE STRUGGLES AGAINST HER ENEMIES. BUT STILL, THEY STAND IN HER WAY. In 14th century England, Meg of St. Michael’s Mead endures a life of abuse and isolation due to her birth deformity. After witnessing a shocking birth, Meg discovers her true purpose: to become England’s first licensed female physician and provide compassionate care to women.

To achieve her goal, Meg seeks the tutelage of William of Oxford, a gruff surgeon who agrees to mentor her. But there's a catch. She must keep a secret—William and his son Gerard are performing illegal human dissections—and she must assist them. As Gerard and Meg work together, their feelings for each other deepen.

Amidst a civil war, Meg makes an enemy of the Queen, who accuses her of treason. Forced to flee to Montpellier, France, Meg tries to enter medical school, only to be met with resistance. She is told to marry, stay at home, and please her husband. Meg refuses to conform. When a deadly epidemic breaks out in Montpellier, Meg has one last chance to prove herself, but at the risk of losing Gerard.

A story of one woman’s courage and persistence, this captivating tale follows Meg's arduous journey of overcoming prejudice and adversity as she battles societal expectations amidst the specter of a lethal epidemic.

Review

I enjoy reading and I’m not particularly picky about what I ready. However, once in a while a book falls in my lap that is so magical that it’s unforgettable. The poignant, haunting tale woven as Mae overcomes her limitations in a world stacked against anyone on the outskirts of society.

There is so much that I loved about this audiobook. Mae is flawed and relatable, avoiding the disability trope by being a complex person in a body that created an unfair limitation. The story can be beautiful and painful. The medical information is spot on and described in evocative detail that highlights the humanity inside the grotesque. Overall, it’s filled with gorgeous language that sears its images on your brain.

The brilliant performance only adds to the evocative nature of this literary marvel. The book is one part literary masterpiece and one part speculative adventure. I was thoroughly entranced by every chapter. Alice Hoffman is my favorite author. I would confidently place The Solitary Sparrow in the same category. It is a pure delight told expertly and should be on every book lover’s shelf.

Purchase Links

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Solitary-Sparrow-Audiobook/B0D1Z92JNJ

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Solitary-Sparrow-Audiobook/B0D1ZH12H4

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-solitary-sparrow-lorraine-norwood/1144683970?ean=9798891321304

Author Bio – Lorraine Norwood was a professional journalist for over 20 years, working in print and television journalism. Her lifelong interest in archaeology led her to change careers at midlife and earn a master’s degree in medieval archaeology from the University of York in York, England. When she returned to the U.S., she worked in archaeology and historic preservation for a number of years but is now happily writing full-time. She has participated in excavations in the UK including many in York, her favorite city. The Solitary Sparrow is her first novel, the first in a series titled The Margaret Chronicles. She is working on the sequel, A Pelican in the Wilderness. The series is set in 14thcentury England and France. Lorraine is a member of the Women”s Fiction Writers Association and the Historical Novel Society. She is a certified book coach and a developmental editor and loves mentoring new writers. She lives with an old Lab who follows her everywhere and a grumpy old cat who doesn’t care what the human does as long as he has food in his bowl. Lorraine lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.