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Making the Rounds

Defying Norms in Love and Medicine

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

What was it like to survive an illegal abortion, come out as a lesbian, and train to become a doctor in the late 1960s and early '70s—before Roe v. Wade, before Title IX, and in a homophobic nation?

In this unflinching and riveting coming-of-age memoir, Patricia Grayhall battles sexism in a male-dominated profession. She plunges into a life that is never boring—and certainly never without passion.

Tossed around in the rough seas of medical training, chronically exhausted and emotionally drained, Patricia chafes at the toxic masculinity of the culture of medicine facing many of the same issues women face in male-dominated fields today.

Although the sexual revolution and women's movement in the early 1970s celebrate women's desire, one barrier after another prevents Patricia from finding the supportive long-term relationship she yearns for. Will she risk her career to find the love she seeks?

"Inspiring, heartfelt, and brutally honest . . . this is a book that will give women and those who care about them the strength and motivation to persevere. . ." —Seattle Book Review

This book, named one of Kirkus Reviews' Best 100 Indie Books of 2022, is the inspiring and true story of how one woman navigates these stormy seas without signposts to reach her goals—often battered, but never broken.

 

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    • Kirkus

      Starred review from September 1, 2022
      A young woman steadfastly challenges sexism, prejudice, and societal norms in this memoir. Grayhall's pseudonymous debut takes on crucial topics by detailing the author's experiences in love and medicine. Immediately, the reader steps into the shoes of an isolated young woman who imagined herself as the "only lesbian in Arizona" in 1965. The author describes discovering her attraction to women and the ugly stereotypes that bigots attached to being gay. However, the author's strong spirit shines through in moments of empowering self-discovery, her passion for education, and her confidence in the possibility of finding love. As Part I concludes, Grayhall tells of heading to medical school at the University of Utah. Part II follows Grayhall as one of five female students in a class of 100, showing the stark realities of being a woman in a world dominated by men. Grayhall's love of science propelled her forward, and she excelled in school as she continued her search for love. It's heartening to read about her pursuing relationships after her earlier loneliness and confusion, but life for Grayhall pivoted once again when she accepted an internship at Boston University Hospitals. In the grueling Part III, she recalls working 36-hour shifts in hostile environments where she was treated as inferior to her male peers; at home, she struggled to maintain relationships with women. The author writes with a sense of blunt reality and warm humanity, revealing how a doctor's life can be exhausting and despairing. After beginning a residency at the Harvard School of Public Health, however, Grayhall's life improved, and from this moment--including Part IV, aptly titled "The Reckoning"--the memoir centers primarily around love and loss instead of the demanding work of a doctor. The struggles, deeply felt emotions, and coming-of-age triumphs make this memoir touching and personal, and it will stir reflection in those who read it. An honest, heart-rending memoir about finding oneself.

      COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (Online Review)

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  • English

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