Litsy

so-so

Oof. It feels a little weird to still be championing Daniel Mason's writing, when in other hands, I'd be explaining that this novel lived up to every expectation of a tragic war-torn novel and its predictable plot beats. Did I see everything coming? No. But did I guess exactly how it would end just over halfway through? Yes. We can have the discussion about an author skillfully leading you towards a conclusion, 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? but I can't help but feel that it isn't the mystery writer skill of hinting in such a way that the reader can have a moment of revelation as much as it was me sitting there thinking up the most fraught, tragic ending, and wondering if the author was going to go there, and then he did.
Which doesn't really help to dissuade me from my biased hypothesis around the purpose of many historical novels. 1d

Robotswithpersonality 3/? If you want to get all in your feels, the non-happy-ones, it's a reliable genre for such emotional manipulation.
But having sen it coming, I'm closer to miffed than sad.
So, rant over, back to me again affirming that I absolutely love how Mason writes. I continue to maintain he has gotten better, I prefer his more recent releases to his backlist, but he captivates me on a story and sentence level, 1d

Robotswithpersonality 4/? where very few author's writing in the historical genre do the same.
I have one more book, his first, and I'll be caught up with his body of work. Here's to hoping his debut departs from the bleak/tragic that were his second and third efforts.
The particulars: If you have a problem with the discussion of medical afflictions and early twentieth century treatments I'd recommend skipping this one. There's a fair amount of ick. 1d

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Robotswithpersonality 5/? On a theme level:
War is hell, acknowledged, this book deals in some of the less front line versions of that hell, the soldiers suffering from physical and mental wounds, the callous bureaucracy, the inconceivable hard-heartedness in an impossible position that is those looking for more canon-fodder. 1d

Robotswithpersonality 6/? The main character is trying to find purpose and belonging, but the quality of his character seems ill-suited for everything from ballroom decorum to catch-22 nature of life in a field hospital, even though it's clear he considers medicine his calling. He's a bit selfish, a bit weak, and it feels as much like there are few opportunities for his growth as much as he doesn't act when he could.
Does one mistake define the rest of your life?
1d

Robotswithpersonality 7/7 Compelling stuff, it just makes me a little miserable. 😣😖
Now for a walk, and then picture books.

⚠️animal experimentation, discussion of early medical procedures 1d

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Robotswithpersonality

The Winter Soldier | Daniel Mason

Dude. 😏😉😑😐🤔💡😯😮

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Robotswithpersonality

The Winter Soldier | Daniel Mason

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Offering prospective partners that will make materially advantageous matches to banish the ghostly remembrances of the woman he's still in love with? Yeah, exorcism sounds about right.

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Robotswithpersonality

The Winter Soldier | Daniel Mason

Taking a moment to be grateful for modern medicine. 🫣 If anyone wants to fill me in on the early medical trivia that explains why beef tea is good for skin infections, I'm all ears!

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Robotswithpersonality

The Winter Soldier | Daniel Mason