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    Wickett's Remedy
    Unavailable
    Wickett's Remedy
    Unavailable
    Wickett's Remedy
    Audiobook11 hours

    Wickett's Remedy

    Published by Penguin Random House Audio

    Narrated by David Aaron Baker, Chris Burns and Ilyana Kadushin

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The triumphant follow-up to the bestselling Bee Season, Wickett's Remedy is an epic but intimate novel about a young Irish-American woman facing down tragedy during the Great Flu epidemic of 1918.

    Wickett's Remedy leads us back to Boston in the early part of the 20th century and into the world of Lydia, an Irish-American shop girl yearning for a grander world than the cramped confines of South Boston. She seems to be well on her way to the life she has dreamed of when she marries Henry Wickett, a shy medical student and the scion of a Boston Brahmin family. Soon after their wedding, however, Henry shocks Lydia by quitting medical school and creating a mail-order patent medicine called Wickett's Remedy. And then just as the enterprise is getting off the ground, the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1918 begins its deadly sweep across the world, drastically changing their lives.

    In a world turned almost unrecognizable by swift and sudden tragedy, Lydia finds herself working as a nurse in an experimental ward dedicated to understanding the raging epidemic - through the use of human subjects.

    Meanwhile, we follow the fate of Henry's beloved Wickett's Remedy as his one-time business partner steals the recipe and transforms it into QD Soda, a wildly popular soft drink.

    Based on years of research and evoking actual events, Wickett's Remedy perfectly captures the texture of the times and brings a colourful cast of characters vividly to life, including a sad and funny chorus of the dead. With wit and dexterity, Goldberg has fashioned a novel that is both charming and grand. Wickett's Remedy announces her arrival as a major novelist.


    South Boston belonged to Lydia as profoundly and wordlessly as her thimble finger. Her knowledge of its streets was more complete than any atlas, her mental maps reflecting changes that occurred from season to season, day to day, and hour to hour. Each time she left 28 D Street - one among a row of identical triple-decker houses, the tenements lining the street like so many stained teeth - her route reflected this internal almanac. . . .

    For ten years this was enough. Then in fifth grade, Lydia saw a city map and realized her entire world was a mitten dangling from Boston's sleeve. Across the bridge lay Washington Street - the longest street in all New England - which began like any other but then continued north, a single determined thread of cobblestone that wove itself through every town from Boston to Providence. Once Lydia saw Washington Street she knew she could not allow it to exist without her.
    -excerpt from Wickett's Remedy


    From the Hardcover edition.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateSep 20, 2005
    ISBN9780739322338
    Unavailable
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    Reviews for Wickett's Remedy

    3.5/5

    162 ratings17 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This novel tells the story of Lydia, who longs to experience more of the world than the Southie neighborhood of Boston. She gets a job in a department store across the river, where she eventually meets and marries Henry Wickett, an odd man who has an idea of how to cure people. And so Wickett's Remedy is born. [Wickett's Remedy] is a novel about the Spanish influenza epidemic that hit the United States during the First World War, and about a young woman who is determined to do what she can to help care for influenza patients despite her lack of medical training. Lydia is a fantastic character to follow as she works to adapt to whatever circumstances she finds herself in and the story is superbly researched. Goldberg also plays with the format of the novel, adding sidenotes where various characters comment on the events taking place, as well as articles, vignettes and even a secondary storyline taking place at the end of each chapter. Goldberg's writing is very good and the way she plays with structure fits well with the novel as a whole. I look forward to reading more by her.
    • 4/5
      I was intrigued by this book with its comments in the margins, and I'd enjoyed the author' first novel. Unlike some of the other LT reviewers, I was not disappointed. The is the story of Lydia Kilkenny who wants to escape her South Boston neighbourhood. She does this by getting a job across the bridge and by marrying Henry Wickett, who is in medical school. After some time mourning Henry's untimely death, Lydia becomes compelled by helping those who are suffering from the Spanish Influenza and wants to become a nurse. She ends up working as a nurse's aide. The main narrative arc is this story of the devastating impact of the Spanish Influenza.In a parallel story line, Henry had developed "Wickett's Remedy" -- basically flavoured water; the real cure was in the long, personal letters Henry would write to each customer. As Henry says: "How much illness is caused by loneliness? By lack of sympathy?" Upon Henry's death, his business partner cheats Lydia out of her share of the profits he makes from her flavoured water. The author shows how perceptions matter, and how imperfect memory is, by having a sort of "Greek chorus" of voices from the dead who were present at key moments in the main narratives. It's a bit quirky, but it works. I wish the story about the flavoured water was as well developed at that of the Spanish Influenza -- I thought an opportunity to bring them together had been missed. In spite of that, I liked the book and the excellent writing.
    • 4/5
      Lydia, a young Irish girl living in South Boston right before World War I, is looking for a way out, and seems to find it in marriage to Henry Wickett. Together, they concoct a patent medicine to sell by mail, along with a personal note from Henry. But when Henry dies, a young pharmacist steals the recipe and turns it into a best-selling soft drink. Meanwhile, Lydia and her family deal with the war and with the flu epidemic of 1918. Feeling at loose ends, she ends up working as a nurse on a island of experiments that are trying to understand the transmission of the flu, using human subjects. It is a little disjointed, in that each chapter ends with a newspaper article, current information about "QD Soda," and side conversations pertaining to the chapter, and there are notes in the margin of each page that act as a "chorus of the dead." These take some getting used to, but overall, it was a good book and I enjoyed it.
    • 2/5
      This book spent many a night on my bedside table. Not because it was an epically long book, it was quite short actually; but because I just couldn't immerse myself into it. It seemed distant and shallow, almost ethereal. It was like only half the story was being told but yet there were so many things going on. I found it hard to keep my interest in it.First of all there was the main storyline about the flu epidemic that the main character, Lydia, was experiencing. After each chapter from Lydia's point of view, there were newspaper articles regarding the epidemic, then disembodied voices. I assume these voices were people she overheard or something. Then there was the story of a stolen recipe told in letters and more articles. Throughout the main storyline there were marginal notes seemingly from heaven.Overall, it was interesting, but strangely done.
    • 4/5
      I won't repeat the story, but the flu epidemic does make for an interesting background. The characters are believeable, the plot is fairly strong, the setting is well described, but yet it just lacks in places. It's almost as if the author was trying to tell two stories: one about the epidemic and the other about the stealing of the formula for Wickett's remedy which never really rings true. It's too bad because I feel that could have helped develop Lydia's character so much more.It took me a while to get used to the marginal notes, but I did find them interesting. Shows that what one person sees could be quite different than what another sees. The other "additions" of newspaper articles, newsletters, etc. I found to be quite annoying at times.Overall, it was a good read but sometimes more effort than it should have been.
    • 4/5
      The best audio book I've ever read, and by far the best "read by the author" edition I've ever come across. The story itself is interesting, following a young lady through her early career as a sales clerk, young wife, and then discovering nursing during the influenza epidemic. The Wickett's Remedy aspect is more of a subplot. However, the way the Wickett's Remedy story is told is really unique and interesting. The audio makes this book so much more interesting than it would have been to read -- think of listening to a radio during the 40s, with different voices and background music, a variety of genres, and you have a glimpse as to how this book comes across aurally. That the author, and not a famous actor (though perhaps she is an actress), does all the accents and voices is wonderful. All, except the side commentary from the characters of the beyond -- another really unique and interesting feature of the book.
      It all makes for a very entertaining listen, with a side of history that I haven't read much about (and therefore an added bonus!)
    • 2/5
      I listened to this on audio. Myla Goldberg I think you might have the most annoying voice in the world. The actual story was good but I couldn't like the character very much because of her prissy little voice. The weird stuff in the middle was terrible. The dead people speaking - weird. The newspaper reports and soldiers talking - they all had the same exact voice. An annoying one.
    • 2/5
      I listened to the audio book, narrated by the author. Painful, is the word that comes to mind, and frustrating. The uppity shrillness in Ms. Goldberg's portrayed voice, along with the background "enhancements" were too much for me. However, I was bound and determined that the story itself would override the irritating factors. I was wrong. The simple fact is, the plot was not developed to its fullest potential, and there were too many poorly written sub plots that did not hold my interest. I guess my point in sharing this is, if you are interested in reading this book, use the paper copy (or e-book). The audio version will leave you begging for mercy.
    • 4/5
      Synopsis: The story of a young Irish woman, Lydia, from South Boston in 1918 and her experiences during the Spanish Influenza Epidemic that killed thousands of Americans.Readability: A little confusing at first to determine which character's voice we are hearing, but well worth flipping back to figure it out. To be honest, I listened to this one on my iPod, so maybe it would be easier in print. I'm not sure.Predictability: Boy, I thought I had this one figured out. The ending is sort of a stunner. I had to think about it for a couple of weeks to determine if I was ok with it. I am.Couldn't Put it Down Factor: It took me a long time to finish this one. Nevertheless, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I couldn't get Lydia out of my head.Recommend it?: Absolutely. ABSOLUTELY. It's wonderful and touching and sweet and sad and fuunny and poignant and really just over all wonderful. I intend to find other books by this author.Four out of Five stars--because of the stunning ending.
    • 4/5
      Poignant story interweaves the impact of the 1918 influenza epidemic, World War 1, the situation of Irish immigrants in Boston, and a unique experience of the patent medicine/soft drink industry. Goldberg integrates news reports, personal letters, the mythical history of QD soda and sidebar comments from outside the story. A creative, ambitious effort that works well enough, but what keeps me reading is the terrific prose and Lyddie's story.
    • 4/5
      This one is very important. If people haven't sat up to take notice of 'Bee Season,' then they must for this one. It's masterful in every way, like a giant puzzle that slowly unfolds.
    • 3/5
      Pretty good book about flu pandemic in 1918, how if affected people's lives, the War, soldiers, families; interesting look at healthcare and nursing and misconceptions about disease at that time.
    • 3/5
      After reading the Bee Season, I was chomping at the bit to start this one! But honestly, I felt deflated reading it. I just couldn't get engaged with the characters. Found myself not really caring that much for what happened to them. Still good writing and a clever use of the margins in this book... but alas, we can't like everything we read!! - I would definitely read her work again, if only in honor of the Bee Season!
    • 4/5
      There are not many books that blend and balance humor in the backdrop of a devastating crisis, such as the epidemic of the Spanish influenza. The female character was spunky and charming and the little-known experiment with convicts to find a cure for the influenza was fascinating. I look forward to reading Goldberg's Bee Season.
    • 4/5
      This is one of the more clever books I have read in some time. Several plots going on at the same time, but most fascinating was the devastation of the Spanish influenza and one woman's inability to passively look on.
    • 5/5
      Let me first say that I had low expectations for Goldberg's sophomore effort, and let me secondly say that boy was I wrong. This book, though it took a few pages to pick up, truly blew me off my feet. Goldberg has managed to create a novel that is neither remiscent of Bee Season nor completely unlike it. I have to say, I'm happy that she went above and beyond my expectations.
    • 4/5
      Not nearly as good as Bee Season (her previous novel), but fun nevertheless. I particularly enjoyed the layout of the book--the text flows in the traditional way, but there are funny little comments (from "US," people in heaven) in the margins about where the story's narrator is making a mistake, or embellishing the truth.