Making the Rounds

Defying Norms in Love and Medicine

By: Patricia Grayhall

Narrated by: Alex Picard

What was it like to survive an illegal abortion, come out as a lesbian, and train to become a doctor in the late 1960s and early ’70s—before Roe v. Wade, before Title IX, and in a homophobic nation?

In this unflinching and riveting coming-of-age memoir, Patricia Grayhall battles sexism in a male-dominated profession. She plunges into a life that is never boring—and certainly never without passion.

Tossed around in the rough seas of medical training, chronically exhausted and emotionally drained, Patricia chafes at the toxic masculinity of the culture of medicine facing many of the same issues women face in male-dominated fields today.

Although the sexual revolution and women’s movement in the early 1970s celebrate women’s desire, one barrier after another prevents Patricia from finding the supportive long-term relationship she yearns for. Will she risk her career to find the love she seeks?

“Inspiring, heartfelt, and brutally honest . . . this is a book that will give women and those who care about them the strength and motivation to persevere. . ." —Seattle Book Review

This book, named one of Kirkus Reviews’ Best 100 Indie Books of 2022, is the inspiring and true story of how one woman navigates these stormy seas without signposts to reach her goals—often battered, but never broken.

©2022 Patricia Grayhall (P)2022 Patricia Grayhall

Good but not amazing

It was good, started awfully slow , I was angry with the main character to try to change someone and make them love her even though they showed other actions , overall I enjoyed this book :)

Thoroughly Enjoyed

As the only other lesbian in Arizona, I thoroughly related and enjoyed Patricia‘s memoir and her journey through various relationships, combined with her drive to become a doctor, all leading her into settling into a beautiful life where she now finds herself.

Worth the read

The lesbian voice is vastly under-represented in literature, therefore I am so grateful to have found this memoir, and hope for more like it.

I enjoyed the historic aspect.... the explanation of the lesbian culture of the time period: one needed to have quite a thick skin, most especially if you couldn't pass for straight.

I wish I could have warmed up to the characters more... I think that was more due to me than the book itself, and I can imagine others who read it will warm up just fine :-). I definitely will look into the other books by the author.

Thank you for writing this... for sharing your life with us.

A Great Listen

A very good historical take on coming out in late 1960's and going through medical school as a female in the still chauvinistic medical field of 1970's. Being a decade behind in the age of the author, I could relate to her experiences. As a nurse who started her career in 1984, I have worked with numerous wonderful female medical residents and physicians. Thank you for being a trailblazer for female physicians and the LGBTQ+ population.