Book Review: Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall

[media-credit id=119 align="alignright" width="198"][/media-credit]During the Civil War, Iris Dunleavy is declared a lunatic and sent to the Sanibel Asylum to be cured by the renowned Dr. Cowell. The doctor has a reputation for restoring women like Iris back to good, obedient wives. Iris insists she is not insane. She just went against her husband and has been sent away. And when she realizes no one will listen to her side of the story, she decides she will escape.

In Blue Asylum, Kathy Hepinstall brings the Civil War era to life in an unusual setting. In addition to Iris, a Virginia plantation owner’s wife, we get to know Dr. Cowell, whose relationships with his wife and son are quite strained. We also meet Ambrose, a war veteran with whom Iris soon falls in love. This complicates matters as she wants to run away, but doesn’t want to leave him. Hepinstall develops many other interesting characters, most of whom are actually insane.

I really enjoyed this historical novel, particularly the characters Hepinstall brought to life. And I liked the way she walked the line between sanity and insanity, looking at those who may be considered insane and trying to understand their perspectives. I loved the doctor’s son, Wendell, who was stuck on the island with his parents and always worrying that he was insane himself.

The historical aspects of the story were appealing as well, including the stories Ambrose and Iris revealed about their pasts, and how they ended up in the asylum. This isn’t the first book I’ve read in which a female character is sent away merely because she is unwilling to go along with social conventions of the time. It’s rather disturbing to realize that although this is fiction, things like this did actually happen to women in the past.

Overall, I thought this was a wonderful, unique historical novel that would make an excellent choice for a book club.

Julie

Julie lives in Wake County and is mom to two kids: a preschooler and a 2nd grader. She enjoys reading a wide range of books, and shares her reviews here and on her blog (http://bookretreat.blogspot.com). She can also be found on Twitter @MyBookRetreat

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Posted by Julie on April 28, 2012. Filed under Books. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.