In Training: Days of Laughter, Years of Pain

Recovered and compiled from abandoned boxes of neglected materials after the author's demise, this revealing narrative describes her traumatic early years and training that prepares her for eventually using her often frustrated talents to produce widely read, highly acclaimed textbooks in her field.

Readers interested in learning about hospital life in the 1950s will gather some valuable insights here, but unpacking familial relationships takes precedence. For instance, at the opening, we learn more about Babu, her past, and the reasons for her spitefulness than we do about the author and her drive to become a nurse. Along with some subtle reframing, the memoir could benefit from a thorough copy edit. Yet, despite some rough edges, perhaps indicative of an unfinished manuscript, this remains revealing, heartfelt writing.

A unique perspective on 20th-century nursing overshadowed by multiple accounts of family feuding. --Kirkus Review