The Second Life of Mirielle West: A Haunting Historical Novel Perfect for Book Clubs

In 1920s Louisiana and Los Angeles, Mirielle West, a socialite married to a silent film star, loses her glamorous life when she is forcibly quarantined at the Carville Lepers Home after a doctor notices a pale patch on her hand. She assumes a new name to protect her family and husband from shame. Based on the true history of America's only leper colony, the novel depicts how thousands of people were stripped of their civil rights and quarantined throughout the 20th century. At Carville, Mirielle discovers that residents are prisoners rather than patients, with no cure for their disease. She must find community and purpose within the institution's walls while redefining her self-worth and confronting an unchosen fate. The narrative explores the isolation, stigma, experimental treatments, and disparate community that characterized the home. As a registered nurse, author Amanda Skenandore brings medical authenticity to the experiences of both patients and medical professionals at Carville. The novel examines a health crisis in America's past while reflecting on the author's experiences during a recent crisis.