Kathryn is struggling to live- she's got tuberculosis- and she's also struggling with herself. It's a well written novel that will pull at your heart.

This book was an interesting and well-written look at life in the fifties in general, and how it felt to have a disease that in many cases was deadly. The main character, Kathryn, a young wife and mother is placed in a sanatorium because she has tuberculosis.

For the most part, Kathryn is a good wife and mother; her husband, Geoffrey, makes the decisions for his household. He comes from a background of money and high society. On the other hand, she is the daughter of a man who owns an orchard, and Geoffrey looks down on her family calling them hillbillies. The differences in their lifestyles are brought out in this story, and I couldn’t help but think her family had the better life. Theirs’ was a life of openly caring and enjoying the small things. Geoffrey’s was a life of making money by working 6 or 7 days a week so his family could have the best. But as Kathryn so often points out, the best would be having a husband who spends more time with her family.

As the book progresses, Kathryn forges friendships with the people she meets in the sanatorium. And like so much of life, there are hard times ahead with losses, but also times to rejoice over. I appreciated how the author showed Kathryn growing and becoming more willing to stand for what she wanted.

Unfortunately the writing style was not for me and I abandoned reading after about 1/3 into the book, since I was still not enjoying it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me access to an early release of this title - I apologise that this time I won't be able to provide a review.

Set in the early 1950's, The Art of Breathing by Janie Devos is a story about a young married woman, Kathryn, who contracts tuberculosis and must be institutionalized for a while to recuperate. Kathryn is married and has one small son, Donnie. When the novel begins, Kathryn and Donnie are visiting her parents for a family wedding. It is not long until Kathryn is diagnosed and it is decided she will enter Pelham Sanitorium, near her parents and also where her aunt works. It is decided Donnie will stay with her parents for the summer while his father continues with his usual work schedule in the city. At first, Kathryn is not fond of Pelham, which is completely natural. However, over time she makes friends and if not happy there she is at least not unhappy.

Throughout the book, there are hints that all is not perfect in Kathryn's marriage. It is not until she spends the significant time that she must at the sanitorium that the ever widening gap between herself and her husband becomes clear to Kathryn. Even though essentially locked up, Kathryn gains a tremendous amount of independence and self sufficiency while at the sanitorium. Along with the other marital problems, this is simply not one that will ever lead to her marriage being repaired.

This book is very well written. While not a thriller, I did find myself turning the pages to find out what was going to happen to Kathryn. It kept my attention well and I was satisfied with how the story ended.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel.

sometimes our darkest times lead us to our brightest moments. Kathryn fears her TB diagnosis will be the end for her, but while she fights for her health she learns much about herself and forms new friendships that cause her to reevaluate her future and give her the drive to go after it.

When you're my age it's hard to think of a story from the early 50's as historic but with the subject matter this is truly an historic book. Set in 1954, Kathryn Cavanaugh is heading to the Pelham Sanatorium with Tuberculosis, a deadly disease back then. She goes to a facility near her family's home much to her husband's dismay. He also let's Kathryn's parents keep their young son Donnie so he can devote himself to his career as a lawyer. Kathryn makes friends during her confinement but over time, her husband takes young Donnie back to the city to start school and eventually the boy is in a military boarding school. Luckily Kathryn is about to be discharged and is able to retrieve her son with the help of her family. This story also hints at women becoming more educated and not stuck under their husband's thumbs. Well written and very true to life in it's time frame. I loved everything about this story, including Kathryn's growing awareness of education and putting herself first. Family ties are explored as well as the 50's way of life in rural America.`