Books like the virgin cure

The virgin cure takes place during a period when there were an estimated 30,000 orphans on the streets of new york city. Im not a huge fan of books targeted solely at women, but i find mckays writing. Her new novel, the virgin cure, is inspired by the life and work of her greatgreatgrandmother, dr. So begins the virgin cure, a novel set in the tenements of lower manhattan in 1871.

The virgin cure by ami mckay penguin random house canada. A novel and millions of other books are available for. Miss moth fenwick of christie street in the bowery, the citys most deprived neighborhood where there is never enough of anything, shelter, food, or heat. This time, she examines power imbalances between the sexes through the prism of the socalled virgin cure for syphilis, an insidious 19thcentury myth with no socioeconomic boundaries and a trail.

The virgin cure, which tells the story of moth, a young girl who grows up in severe poverty in 19th century new york. The shocking history of virgin tests and cures ancient. The summer she turned twelve, her mother sold her as a servant to a wealthy woman, with no intention of ever seeing her again. A series of betrayals lead moth, at only 12 years old, to the wild, murky world of the bowery, where eventually she. One summer night, twelveyearold moth is pulled from her bed and sold as a servant to a finely dressed woman. Jun 26, 2012 the muchanticipated followup to the birth house, the virgin cure secures ami mckays place as one of our most powerful storytellers. Discover other books like this, author exclusives, and more. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Mckay supplements moths firstperson narrative with marginal notes and newspaper reports provided by a female doctor in fact, the authors greatgreatgrandmother about everything from the plight of vagrant children to the virgin cure, a ghastly belief that having sex with a. Discuss the title of this novel and the different ways it relates to the story within its pages. If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller.

This time, she examines power imbalances between the sexes through the prism of the socalled virgin cure for syphilis, an insidious 19thcentury myth with no. This story is full of life, and the will of a young girl to find a better way in the world than the one she knows is so strong on every page. Jul 09, 2012 set on the streets of lower manhattan in 1871, the virgin cure is the story of moth, a girl abandoned by her father and raised by a mother telling fortunes to the citys desperate women. Not that it has to that is pretty much taken care of. Despite my best efforts, i finished it within a week and am left awed and yet still hungry. Virginity has also lured the worst people, such as the sadistic countess elizabeth bathory, to cause the murder of virgin maidens in order to bathe in their blood, or so the history books tell us. Gutwrenching is the right word when you think about what life was like for people back when there.

The muchanticipated followup to the birth house, the virgin cure secures ami mckays place as one of our most powerful storytellers. The virgin cure is a vivid reminder that throughout time, perhaps nothing has been more detrimental to the human condition than misinformation and superstition. And while you are add it you my as well read the birth house. Jul 17, 20 the virgin cure by ami mckay harper 2012 319 pages. The virgin cure begins in the tenements of lower manhattan in the year 1871. Sep 15, 2011 the reading guide for the birth house was such a huge success that weve posted one for the virgin cure as well. If you like the birth house you might like similar books the virgin cure, the book of negroes, the way the crow flies, annabel, secret daughter. One summer night, twelveyearold moth is pulled from her bed. I am moth, a girl from the lowest part of chrystie street, born to a slumhouse mystic and the man who broke her heart. Moth is not a butterfly, but an active mistress of the night, able to hover much like a hummingbird, above her circumstances. Virginity has been the obsession of men for thousands of years. Stevie godson is a columnist for the south african newspaper the daily dispatch, a former books page editor, and a copyeditor. The shocking history of virgin tests and cures ancient origins. The discussion questions posted below are for use by book clubs and individual readers alike.

Dec 30, 2016 let me tell you about jane the virgin. Book of the month club blue ribbon pick i am moth, a girl from the lowest part of chrystie street, born to a slumhouse mystic and the man who broke her heart. Ami mckays novel, the virgin cure, is a story of poverty and its crushing weight on hundreds of thousands of people in manhattan during the 1870s. Oct 03, 2011 the muchanticipated followup to the phenomenon that is the birth house, the virgin cure secures ami mckays place as one of our most beguiling storytellers. As a young child, moths father smiled, tipped his hat and walked away from his wife and daughter forever, and moth has never stopped imagining that one day they may be reunited despite knowing in her heart what he chose over them. Goodreads members who liked the virgin suicides also liked. Rescued in an alley, moth accepts refuge at miss emma everetts infants school, a brothel of certified virgin maidens who, after being checked by the kindly dr. Mckay supplements moths firstperson narrative with marginal notes and newspaper reports provided by a female doctor in fact, the authors greatgreatgrandmother about everything from the plight of vagrant children to the virgin cure, a ghastly belief that having sex with a virgin will cure a man of venereal disease. It has driven the best people, like the virgin warrior joan of arc, to fight for just cause.

Originally from indiana, she now lives with her husband and two sons in nova scotia. Sarah fonda mackintosh, a pioneer in womens and childrens health care in. Moth is 12 years old and living with her mother, who earns a living by telling fortunes and looting firegutted properties. Set on the streets of lower manhattan in 1871, the virgin cure is the story of moth, a girl abandoned by her father and raised by a mother telling fortunes to the citys desperate women. Thats because ami mckays concluding commentary is just as important and just as haunting as her sophomore novel itself. The muchanticipated followup to the phenomenon that is the birth house, the virgin cure secures ami mckays place as one of our most beguiling storytellers.

Readers wont soon forget moth, who is sold by her mother into life as a ladys maid at the age of 12this is a lovely novel, written in a style that is both clean and subtle. Read the virgin cure a novel by ami mckay available from rakuten kobo. Goodreads members who liked the virgin cure also liked. Naive on the one hand, pragmatic on the other, moth, like many before her, weighs a life.

Like the large bar of dark chocolate i intended to mete out a piece at a time but instead polished off in two days, i planned to read ami mckays new book, the virgin cure, slowly. While the boys survived by stealing and then selling their stolen goods, and some of the girls were able to work as salesgirls, most ended up selling themselves in any way possible a servants if they were lucky. Sunday is world book day, so to celebrate ive put together a list of 70 books that i recommend everyone read. The reading guide for the birth house was such a huge success that weve posted one for the virgin cure as well. Like camilla gibb, who brought a novelistic spotlight to female genital mutilation in sweetness in the belly, mckay depicts the prospect of moths. Im not a huge fan of books targeted solely at women, but i find mckays writing fresh, and largely informative. Sep 28, 2012 the virgin cure takes place during a period when there were an estimated 30,000 orphans on the streets of new york city. After reading mckays debut novel, the birth house, a few years ago, i couldnt resist picking up her second novel.

Through the friendship of dr sadie, a female physician, moth learns to question and observe the world around her, where her new friends are falling prey to the myth of the virgin cure to heal the incurable and tainted. Handpicked recommendations to other books that have a similar writing style or theme to the virgin cure. Struggling to make ends meet, moths mother sells her daughter to mrs. From childrens books to autobiographies, scientific texts to adventure epics, hopefully theres something to suit all readers. Jul 01, 2011 o magazine july 2012 the books of summer pick. Nov 04, 2011 this time, she examines power imbalances between the sexes through the prism of the socalled virgin cure for syphilis, an insidious 19thcentury myth with no socioeconomic boundaries and a trail. As a young child, moths father smiled, tipped his hat and walked away from her for ever. The virgin cure by ami mckay meet your next favorite book. Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime. The virgin cure and over one million other books are available for amazon.

The muchanticipated followup to the birth house, the virgin cure secures ami mckays place. Zaras rating i read the virgin cure by ami mckay as my choice under the theme historical fiction for the 2012 random reading challenge from january 1 to february 29. As a young child, moths father smiled, tipped his hat and walked away from her forever. Jan 24, 2012 moth is not a butterfly, but an active mistress of the night, able to hover much like a hummingbird, above her circumstances. Ami mckay is the author of the numberone canadian bestseller the birth house, winner of three canadian booksellers association libris awards, and a nominee for the international impac dublin literary award, and the virgin cure. Discuss the devastating myth of the virgin cure not only how it took hold in the new york of this novel, but how it continues today in parts of our world. The virgin cure by ami mckay harper 2012 319 pages. Zaras rating i read the virgin cure by ami mckay as my choice under the theme historical fiction for the 2012 random reading challenge from january 1. I am moth, a girl from the lowest part of chrystie street. Following in the footsteps of the birth house, her powerful debut novel, the virgin cure secures ami mckays place as one of our most beguiling storytellers. Wiersema i am moth, a girl from the lowest part of chrystie street, born to a.

Jun 25, 2012 stevie godson is a columnist for the south african newspaper the daily dispatch, a former books page editor, and a copyeditor. Like a virgin is the second studio album by american singer and songwriter madonna, released on november 12, 1984, by sire records. I think i would like to sit in a corner and be able. Find books like the virgin cure from the worlds largest community of readers. So begins the virgin cure, a novel set in the tenements of lower manhattan in the year 1871. As ami mckay notes in the afterword of the virgin cure. What character in this novel intrigues you the most, and why. Jane the virgin is one of those shows that is so much more than its weird title.

Spoiler alert the discussion questions focus on various characters, themes and plot points of the novel. Miss everett caters to gentlemen who pay dearly for companions, and the most desirable of them all are young virgins like moth. Buy a cheap copy of the virgin cure book by ami mckay. In south africa, where she lives, the myth of the virgin cureespecially as a treatment for aidsstill exists, particularly in rural areas. Sep 21, 2019 there was, however, the growing virgin cure myth, a belief that sexual intercourse with a virgin could cure all diseases.

The heroine of ami mckays sobering novel the virgin cure is sold into servitude by her mother but escapes to the streets, begging and thieving to survive. This myth became so prevalent that brothels in the 19th century would advertise having both young and disabled virgins available for paying customers. The virgin cure ebook calgary public library bibliocommons. Following the success of her selftitled debut album, madonna wanted to become the record producer of her next album. Apr 21, 2017 sunday is world book day, so to celebrate ive put together a list of 70 books that i recommend everyone read. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the virgin cure. The virgin cure by ami mckay book club discussion questions. In 1870, there were over thirty thousand children living on the streets of new york and many more who wandered in and out of cellars and tenements as their families struggled to scrape together enough income to put food on the table.