The Hidden Child

so-so

Edward is a leading scientist in the eugenics movement and believes many should be sterilised to stop them breeding. When his young daughter is diagnosed with epilepsy he immediately blames his wife‘s “bad genes.” This could have been an incredibly interesting fictionalised take of this time but I didn‘t feel it was quite well handled enough to really explore the nuances and take it out of being routine family-saga historical fiction 👇

JillR It was also interminably long, I feel like I‘ve been reading it for about 3-years. The final third/ending very slightly redeemed it, although at the same time was predictable. 11mo

TrishB Won‘t be running to find this! 11mo

JillR @trishb no, I wouldn‘t recommend it! Disappointing as the premise was interesting… 11mo

27 likes3 comments

Kelican17

The Hidden Child: A Novel | Louise Fein

pick

👍🏻👍🏻 book dump 1/5

5 likes

Gladly

The Hidden Child: A Novel | Louise Fein

pick

It took a while for this book to really grab me but finally I couldn't put it down . The author did an awesome job illustrating the horrible notion of eugenics that supposedly smart men thought was a good idea. Another reason women need to stand for their right to make their own decisions. Women were expected to support this garbage.

sprainedbrain I just started a book that is dealing with eugenics in that same approximate time period. So far I‘m already mad.

The Foundling: A Novel

Gladly Right?!?! I'll have to find that one too 2y

DebinHawaii Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉📚🎉 Hope you enjoy it here! 2y

Gladly Thanks! still learning to navigate it 2y

10 likes4 comments

SilversReviews

The Hidden Child: A Novel | Louise Fein

Secrets….Edward Hamilton has one and now he and his wife have one.

A very good read…hope you add it to your TBR.

FULL POST: https://tinyurl.com/yc5d66dp

@louisefeinauthor

26 likes

SilversReviews

The Hidden Child: A Novel | Louise Fein

THANK YOU @williammorrowbooks and @goodreads

Reviewed the e-book on my blog on October 19:

https://tinyurl.com/bddhmn7j

34 likes1 stack add

Lsmoore43

The Hidden Child: A Novel | Louise Fein

This is a very difficult book to read in parts. It's about things that happened during the twenties and in parts used children as subjects. I hated that. Set in England. I hated reading about these things, but it was real. It should not be hidden. It should be talked about. Let's not do this again. I sometimes wonder if it is happening or if there are people who are doing these things still. Or that want too. I sure hope not.
4/5 stars

21 likes

SilversReviews

The Hidden Child: A Novel | Louise Fein

pick

HAPPY PUB DAY!!

Secrets….Edward Hamilton has one and now he and his wife have one.

The book is well written and well researched with many ethical issues being addressed as well.

Historical fiction fans as well as women‘s fiction fans will enjoy this book. 4/5

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/ed2y65wx

@louisefeinauthor
#louisefein
#thehiddenchild
@williammorrowbooks

33 likes

robinb

The Hidden Child: A Novel | Louise Fein

so-so

Londoners Edward and Eleanor Hamilton, along with their two children, live a happy and affluent life. Their vivacious 4 yo daughter Mabel is suddenly stricken with seizures and is diagnosed with epilepsy. What follows is the family‘s dilemma of how to deal with her “unfitness” especially as Edward is a prominent leader in the Eugenics Movement (1920s). This review was harder than my usual to write because the story operates on two levels: the 🔻

robinb fictional story of a family trying to both care for their daughter while also protecting their public image (especially Edward); and the very real stigma attached to “otherness” during this time in history. I found the nonfiction part interesting and heartbreaking while I had a couple of issues with the story overall. The story (at 480 pages) was overlong and with the depressing subject matter a challenge for me to get through. 🔻 3y

robinb Of course I had issues with a father who was more concerned about hiding his “defective” child to protect the prestige of his job and to cover his own secrets from the past. But Eleanor was also back and forth on her desire to protect Mabel rather than save her from the questionable treatments/institutions of the day. I also doubted the abrupt change of attitude at the end to wrap up quickly on a more positive note. 🔻 3y

robinb While I applaud and commend the author for tackling a very real and painful issue (especially as it affects her own family), I was left somewhat unsatisfied with the story. As a side note, the story is told alternating between Edward and Eleanor, but there are several instances of an “epilepsy” monologue that I found weird and disturbing. (edited) 3y

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Tamra The premise sounds like a good one though. Too bad the execution fell short. (edited) 3y

robinb Yes, it is. And it was an insightful and thought-provoking look at that time period and how they thought about their “undesirables” in society. But she focused (almost ad nauseum) on the snobbishness and entitlement of the upper class. I know it supported the “superiority” of their class, but I felt like it was beating me on the head on every page. It left me weary and exhausted. (edited) 3y

sblbooks This is a book about the Eugenics program that I really enjoyed. Have you read it?

Necessary Lies

robinb @sblbooks I have not. Thanks! Stacked! 👍 3y

robinb As a PS. I enjoyed a previous book from this author.

Daughter of the Reich: A Novel

sblbooks You're welcome! I hope you enjoy it. 3y

43 likes9 comments

robinb

The Hidden Child: A Novel | Louise Fein