Lakeside Musing: The Doctor's Wife by Sawako Ariyoshi

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Thursday, January 13, 2011

The Classics Club

JJooA
An
nn
n
...sharing thoughts on books
and life from here by the
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The Doctor's Wife by Sawako Ariyoshi

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TTh
hee D
Dooccttoorr''ss W
Wiiffee
by Sawako Ariyoshi
translated from Japanese by Wakako Hironaka and Ann Siller Kostant
174 pages
Published by Kodansha International Ltd.
Copyright 1966
ssoouurrccee:: borrowed from the library
IIn
n aa n
nuuttssh
heellll::
This novel is based on the life of Dr. Hanaoka Seishu (1760-1835), the Japanese
doctor who performed the first operation under general anesthesia, but focuses
primarily on the relationship between his wife and mother.
M
Myy tth
hoouuggh
httss::
After a string of long books, I was craving one that could be read in just a couple of
sittings. The Doctor's Wife had been on hold for months (thanks to Mel's review),
and my library came through just before the TBR Dare got started - a rare case of
perfect timing.
As a young girl, Kae is mesmerized by the beauty of Dr. Hanoka's wife, Otsugi.
Years later she is overjoyed when Otsugi selects her to be the bride of their eldest
son. Umpei is away studying medicine but Kae, it seems, possesses all the
qualities necessary for a doctor's wife.

CURRENT READING

"The first requirement is good health. Other essentials are courage, a

strong will, and an understanding of the nature of the medical
profession, although the woman may not know how to take a pulse...
A confident, capable woman does not become alarmed at the sight of
blood or serious infirmities. Instead, she cleans the wound..." (p.
16-17)

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4/19/15, 7:03 AM

Lakeside Musing: The Doctor's Wife by Sawako Ariyoshi

http://lakesidemusing.blogspot.com/2011/01/doctors-wife-by...

A marriage ceremony takes place without the groom. Three years will pass before
husband and wife finally meet. During that time, a close and loving relationship
develops between Kae and her mother-in-law.

Otsugi spoke more softly. "I am called 'Mother' by you though you are
not really my child. Yet I feel you are as dear to me as my own
daughters. Our relationship has deep roots. It was probably decreed
by fate." (p. 45)
When Umpei eventually comes home to take over his father's practice, Kae and
Otsugi's relationship becomes fraught with jealousy and deteriorates quickly.

"Otsugi's action, which prevented her son from being with his wife,
may not have been deliberate. Yet it expressed an undeniable
antagonism toward her daughter-in-law. So it came to pass that the
beautiful intimacy between the two - the bride and the mother-in-law
who had sought her - terminated upon the arrival of the loved one
they had to share." (p.58)

AND

Umpei (also called Seishu) is intrigued with surgery, especially breast surgery.
Common belief held that a woman's breasts were vital to life and pain associated
with surgery would result in death. Umpei experiments with anesthesia on
animals, and is eventually ready to try his new medicine on humans.
The novel gets very interesting as Kae and Otsugi vie to become the first human
subjects, thus proving their greater love for Umpei. There is an especially hilarious
dialog with each one-upping the other listing reasons why she should be chosen.
Both women, however, are actually afraid the medicine will kill them.
I won't spoil things by telling you who gets to be the 'guinea pig' or the outcome of
the clinical trials. It's certainly worth reading this short book to find out. The
prose is simple and straight forward, at times even beautiful. The women's
relationship takes center stage, but the book is also an interesting look at
male-oriented family life and the 'business' of medicine in Japan in the early
1800's.

LISTENING TO

M
Myy rraattiin
ngg::

B
Boottttoom
m lliin
nee::
A short, enjoyable novel, that offers an interesting look at medicine and female
relationships in a male-oriented Japanese family.
Y
Yoouu m
miiggh
htt aallssoo lliikkee::

Thinking About
Historical Fiction

The Wife, the Maid,

and the Mistress by
Ariel Lawhon

Vacation Reading:
Two Mini-Reviews

Linkwithin

Posted by JoAnn at 2:33 PM

Recommend this on Google

Labels: book review, historical fiction

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16 comments:
SSaam
m January 13, 2011 at 4:10 PM

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I've not heard of this but it sounds interesting. I think the relationship between
women and their mothers in law can sometimes be a bit difficult or complex.

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Comments

V
Veerrn
n January 13, 2011 at 4:16 PM
girl I love your style of reviewing! It's engaging not so "to the point." I think I may
add this book to my wishlist! Happy Reading!@

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Lakeside Musing: The Doctor's Wife by Sawako Ariyoshi

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m
meell uu January 13, 2011 at 5:14 PM
I am glad you enjoyed this book-I thought it was a very interesting look at
medicine and family life in 19th century Japan-I also enjoyed your very well done
post a lot

R
Raattiin
ngg SSyysstteem
m
5 stars - excellent
4 stars - very good
3 stars -good
2 stars - not worth the time/effort
1 star - awful

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Reply

A
Am
muusseedd January 13, 2011 at 6:12 PM
I don't read a lot of Japanese literature but this one sounds really good. Thank you
for bringing it to my attention!
Reply

R
Reeaadd tth
hee B
Booookk January 13, 2011 at 8:06 PM
I am very intrigued! This will be going on the holds list ASAP.
Reply

M
Myyssttiiccaa January 13, 2011 at 8:30 PM
Thank you for this review. Sounds a fascinating book. A new author and book for
me so really appreciate the heads up.
Reply

SSaan
nddyy N
Naaw
wrroott January 14, 2011 at 6:49 AM
I know, I have some books that were ordered before The Dare, and according to my
rules, I can read them when they are finally delivered! Ha! This book has alot going
for it...the historical aspects, the relationships, the culture.
BTW, I like the way you are structuring your reviews now. Very nice!
Reply

((D
Diiaan
nee)) B
Biibblliioopph
hiillee B
Byy tth
hee SSeeaa January 14, 2011 at 6:57 AM
This book sounds really interesting. I love the fact I am always hearing about
different books from bloggers like you, that I have never heard of previously.
Thanks JoAnn.
Reply

A
Am
maan
nddaa January 14, 2011 at 7:45 AM
This sounds fascinating, but I'm not sure I could take all the medical talk about
needles!!
Reply

D
Daarrlleen
nee January 14, 2011 at 11:53 AM
I haven't heard of this one before but it sounds really interesting. I'll have to check
my library for it.
Reply

TTiiiin
naa January 14, 2011 at 3:41 PM
Sounds very interesting. I'll have to check whether my library has this one.
Reply

D
Daarrlleen
nee January 15, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Stories of pioneer surgeries are fascinating aren't they. Well, if you like that sort of
thing I suppose...and I do. The Nerdy History Girls wrote about a woman having a
mastectomy without anesthesia. Alcohol must have come into it
somewhere...yikes!
Reply

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2015 (37)
2014 (160)
2013 (193)
2012 (191)
2011 (164)

JJooA
An
nn
n

January 15, 2011 at 8:56 PM

Sam - It was amazing how such a close relationship between MIL and DIL turned

3 of 5

December (18)
November (11)

4/19/15, 7:03 AM

Lakeside Musing: The Doctor's Wife by Sawako Ariyoshi

http://lakesidemusing.blogspot.com/2011/01/doctors-wife-by...

sour once the son/husband appeared.... quite an interesting story.

Vern - Your comment made my day! Thanks so much.

October (14)
September (16)
August (12)

Mel - Thanks for bringing this book to my attention. I really enjoyed it!

July (12)

Amused - I don't read much Japanese lit either - maybe one book a year - but this
was very good.

June (15)

Read the Book - Hope you like, too!

April (9)

Mystica - That's one of the reasons I picked this one up after reading Mel's
review... so nice to hear about a new author.

May (16)

March (12)
February (12)
January (17)

Sandy - I think I've finally found a review format that works for me... glad you like
it!

Virago Reading Week: It's a Wrap!

Diane - I love hearing about new books, too. That's one of the reasons I was so
anxious to read this one.

Virago Reading Week: Colette's

Birthday

Amanda - There really wasn't that much medical stuff... especially when
compared to a book like Cutting for Stone.
Darlene - Hope your library has it. There was just one copy in our whole system.
Tiina - I hope your library has it. It's quite a story... even better when you know it's
based on a true story.
Darlene - I absolutely love stories like this! Even more medical details would have
been fine with me .
Reply

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A
Am
myy January 16, 2011 at 4:07 PM
This book sounds very interesting. I know the relationship between mothers and
daughters-in-law is often fraught with tension & is competitive. But competing to
be the guinea pig in clinical trials is a little nutty! And it's sad that a close
relationship suddenly deteriorates.
Thank you for a terrific review!
~ Amy
Reply

The Doctor's Wife by Sawako

Ariyoshi
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m
meell uu January 16, 2011 at 4:19 PM
I have also read and posted on the same author's The River Ki which centers on the
lives of 3 generations of women from the same family-some consider it is best
work-

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Reply

JJooA
An
nn
n

January 17, 2011 at 12:59 PM

Amy - This was a very unusual book. I'm glad to have read it... one of the strangest
mother-in-law relationships ever!
Mel U - Thanks for mentioning The River Ki again. Unfortunately there are no
copies in my library system, but I have added it to my amazon wish list... maybe
after the tbr dare is over :-)
Reply

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