Though I preferred the Birth house this book is rife with interesting historical quirks. Taking us on a personal journey of twelve year old Moth, a girl from the slums, who dreams of owning her own home with a sitting room and two love birds. Once she is sold by her Mother (a matter of when, not if) her life spirals into the unknown world of thieves and prostitution. Very interesting but I found some parts of the plot to be quite convenient.(less)

I did not like this book very much. While I enjoyed the story of Moth, I found the book to have so many "loose ends" in the way the story was written. There was no closure in any part of the story - it jumped from one direction of Moth's life to another. I didn't read The Birth House, but at this point I don't think I would.

This book drew me in from the start. I often had trouble putting it down and found the plot unique and unforgettable. This one will stay on my bookshelf for a second reading.

Where do I even begin with this review of Ami McKay’s latest novel, The Virgin Cure? I had eyed this book many times both in book stores and online, but finally got hold of it by winning a Twitter contest by Random House of Canada. Excited to finally have a book by Ami McKay, a wonderful Canadian author, I realized that I had no clue what the novel was even about. I was initially drawn in by the odd name and the beautiful cover. I did not expect the novel to be what it was about and I really didn’t think that I would enjoy the subject matter so much! The Virgin Cure is about a young girl named Moth who is growing up in the slums of New York in the 1800′s. When Moth is 12 years old, her mother sells her to be a servent for a wealthy woman. From that point on, Moth’s life is nothing like she dreamed it would be — as she goes from being a slave to being one of the young girls men seek out while looking for the “virgin cure.” The whole time I was reading this novel, I couldn’t believe how the young girls were treated. In fact, the very notion that one could sell their child in order to make a pretty penny seemed unthinkable to me, but I had to get over myself and realize that things like this did happen in the past (and probably still happen in some parts of the world, though I claim ignorance to that. In fact, it seems that there are many parts of the world where children are forced to do things that are well beyond their years and I can only be thankful that I was not raised in those kinds of places.). Throughout the novel, the reader witnesses Moth’s youth and naïveté – a young girl who is still so innocent, but wise beyond her years, just looking to be loved. I adored Moth’s character and felt for her every time she felt up, and felt her sorrow every time she was down. She was willing to work for what she wanted, even if that included doing things that seemed far beyond her character. I also really enjoyed Dr. Sadie’s character and how she wanted to save the young girls forced into such wrongness. McKay is a wonderful writer. Not only is her writing beautiful and accessible, but she peppered tidbits of information about the time period throughout the novel. Not only did I get the satisfaction of reading such a unique novel, but I also learned something as I read. My only problem with these tidbits of information, however, was that I didn’t know when to read them. McKay places them in the story as sidebars, but there was no indication as to when the reader’s eyes should leave the paragraph and read the sidebar. If you’re looking for a wonderful, unique read by a great Canadian author, give The Virgin Cure a read. It’s a fast-paced, heartfelt, yet serious and sad read, and I can’t help but recommend it.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is an easy, quick read that I couldn't put down. I enjoyed the journal/scrapbook feel to the layout and how the author used this to inject some alternative perspectives into the narration of the story. I liked how "the virgin cure" was subtly mentioned in the book. Based on this I had a pretty good idea how the novel was going to end but to my surprise, the role of the 'virgin cure' was not as I expected. This made the ending of the book pleasantly surprising. The author does a great job developing her characters so that I really felt connected to the main character Moth. This story is ultimately a sad one but the strength of the main character prevents it from being a tear-jerker. I would highly recommend this book to my fellow readers. I will be looking for other novels by this author in the future!

i read this right after finishing ("she's come undone"- completely different book). i wanted something easy to read that took me away from day to day stress. the virgin cure is a great story about a young girl living in poverty in NYC during late 18th century. Her name is Moth and the reader will follow her life as a 12yr old on the streets of NY and into the warm, comfy and beautiful rooms of the rich and cruel. in the 18th century before venereal diseases where identified and isolated came the cure by "virgins". welcome to the world of taking young girls off the streets into training, beautiful gowns and escorting wealth men to theatres. preparing for each other of their first time with a man. the highest bidder for your virginity. because sleeping with a virgin will cure your disease or keep you from disease. follow Moth as she becomes daughter of a gypsy to the lady's help to homeless and finally a whore in waiting. great easy book to read. love the extra fun "historical" facts included along the side. thank goodness society has changed! sit down and give yourself a few hours you will be finished this in no time. ENJOY!

This is the second book by Ami and I couldnt put it down. The writing is rich and memorable and I was disappointed when the book was finished. I cant wait for her next book.

Loved this book. The author did an incredible job taking us back in time, to an era on the streets of Manhattan that I knew little of. I was immediately drawn into the story of young Moth, and found myself pining for her success in surviving the filthy streets of New York. The book had a somewhat scrapbook/journal feel, with the extra tid-bits of information lining the borders of the pages, and I loved this. It added depth and insight to the story. I couldn't put the book down. See my complete review here: http://letseatbooks.blogspot.com/2012/01/virgin-cure-by-ami-mckay-my-first.html

I would give this book 3.5 stars. It was good, but I'm not raving about it. This author's "Birth House" was much better. This story is more about the tragedy of poor Moth's coming of age in the late 1800's in NYC, than it is about any myth of a 'virgin cure'. Unfortunately, there was something missing about Moth's character development; while a sympathetic character, I wasn't made to care about her enough to rate this book any higher. I'm glad to have read it, and it kept my attention ~ so a quick and easy, albeit not terribly entertaining read. A hesitant recommendation.

Story Description: “I am Moth, a girl from the lowest part of Chrystie Street, born to a slum-house mystic and the man who broke her heart.” So begins THE VIRGIN CURE, bestselling author Ami McKay’s much-anticipated new novel. Set in the tenements of lower Manhattan in 1871, where the author’s own great-great-grandmother once worked as a groundbreaking female physician, the novel is told in the voice of Moth, the daughter of a Gypsy fortune teller and a ne’er-do-well who abandons them both a smile and a tip of his hat. Left to struggle on their own, Moth and her Mama lead a hard life, one that requires Moth to become more streetwise with each passing day. Although she comes to believe she’s seen it all, nothing prepares Moth for the terrible surprise her mother gives her when she turns twelve: the news that she must leave her home to live as a servant in the house of Mrs. Wentworth, a lady of station and means (and, as Moth soon discovers, inventive cruelty). These betrayals lead Moth to the Bowery, a wild, murky thoroughfare filled with house-thieves, pick-pockets, beggars, sideshow freaks, and prostitutes. Hungry, desperate, and haunted by a sexual predator, Moth sees an introduction to Miss Everett, the owner of a nearby brothel, as her way to a better life or, at the very least, a soft bed and a full belly. To Miss Everett, Moth is simply another chance for profit, as her establishment is known as an infant school, caters to gentlemen who pay dearly for companions who are “willing and clean,” the most desirable of them all, young virgins like Moth. In this new life, Moth finds friendship with the other girls in the house as well as with Dr. Sadie, a visiting physician who has followed her social conscience into working with prostitutes and the poor. While Moth’s housemates risk falling prey to the myth of the “virgin cure” – the belief that deflowering a girl can heal the incurable and tainted, Dr. Sadie warns Moth to question and observe the world around her so she won’t share the same fate. Still, Moth dreams of her own big house on Gramercy Park and of answering to no one but herself. There’s a high price for such independence, though, and no one knows that better than a girl from Chrystie Street. My Review: Moth and her mother live alone in a stark and dirty tenement after her father left them when she was just three-years-old. He left with the bit of money saved in a cookie tin and her Mom’s only piece of silver she owned, which was a tarnished sugar bowl. Moth wanted affection from her mother. She wanted to hold her mom’s hand, sit on her lap and kiss her cheeks like all little girls do but her mother pushed her away telling her: “…when you were a baby, I held you until I thought my arms would fall off. Oh, Child, that should be enough.” Moth said she didn’t mind because she loved her mom anyway. The summer Moth turned twelve, her mother sold her to a woman named Mrs. Wentworth and shed no tears when she was taken by this woman as her mother wouldn’t stand for it. She always said: “American girls don’t whimper.” Moth took a seat in Mrs. Wentworth’s carriage but couldn’t see where they were going as all the curtains were closed. After a while the carriage rolled to a stop and all Mrs. Wentworth said was: “You’re to go right to bed…I want you rested for tomorrow.” As Moth was falling asleep in her new residence she whispered out loud into the room: “How much did you get for me, Mama”? What a sad thought to know that you’ve been ‘SOLD’ by your own mother! Mrs. Wentworth began whipping Moth’s wrists on the soft side of her arms leaving bruises the colour of a rainbow. She then began slapping her across the face for the smallest of infractions. She was jealous of Moth’s beauty and she was out to destroy that beauty. Moth suffered so much pain for such a young girl. Can you imagine growing up poor, living in a filthy dirty tenement, your mother is a Gypsy fortune-teller, you have hardly any food and then you’re sold by the very woman who gave birth to you! I was immediately drawn in by this story, I was mesmerized and could picture in mind’s eye the brothel, the rooms and could actually “feel” Moth’s embarrassment at having to undress for the men. I was so attuned to Moth’s psyche that I could feel what she felt and shared her heartbreak and pain at every turn and that makes for some very good writing. To enable a reader to get into the mind of the character is no easy feat but Ms. McKay pulls it off without a hitch. The book definitely lived up to long wait and I’d highly recommend it to everyone and plan on keeping this as part of my permanent collection.