Friday, November 23, 2012

Book Beginnings & Friday 56: Midwives


Midwives
For today's Book Beginnings on Friday and Friday 56 memes, I'm featuring MIDWIVES by Chris Bohjalian. I read this excellent book several years ago and just picked it up to read again. 

BOOK BEGINNINGS:
Throughout the long summer before my mother's trial began, and then during those crisp days in the fall when her life was paraded publicly before the county--her character lynched, her wisdom impugned--I overheard much more than my parents realized, and I understood more than they would have liked.

FRIDAY 56: 
My mother believed a home birth was an extremely empowering and invigorating experience, and gave fragile women energy, confidence, and strength: They learned just what their bodies could do, and it gave them comfort.

Author: Chris Bohjalian
Genre: Women's Fiction
Number of Pages: 372
Amazon Link: Midwives

SYNOPSIS FROM AMAZON (partial):
The time is 1981, and Sibyl Danforth has been a dedicated midwife in the rural community of Reddington, Vermont, for fifteen years. But one treacherous winter night, in a house isolated by icy roads and failed telephone lines, Sibyl takes desperate measures to save a baby's life. She performs an emergency Caesarean section on its mother, who appears to have died in labor. But what if--as Sibyl's assistant later charges--the patient wasn't already dead, and it was Sibyl who inadvertently killed her?

As recounted by Sibyl's precocious fourteen-year-old daughter, Connie, the ensuing trial bears the earmarks of a witch hunt except for the fact that all its participants are acting from the highest motives--and the defendant increasingly appears to be guilty. As Sibyl Danforth faces the antagonism of the law, the hostility of traditional doctors, and the accusations of her own conscience, Midwives engages, moves, and transfixes us as only the very best novels ever do.


MY THOUGHTS:
Published in 1997, MIDWIVES was an Oprah Book Club selection. I have to agree with Oprah -- I love this book! Yes, some parts of it are gritty, but they also reflect reality. I learned a lot about midwifery from this book, which came in handy because a midwife brought my granddaughter into the world!
  


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21 comments:

  1. This sounds like an interesting story. How did it hold up to a re-read? Thanks for visiting my blog and happy reading!

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    1. With Thanksgiving, etc., I haven't started rereading it yet. Maybe tonight?

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  2. Wow! This sounds like my kind of read...and it's going on my list. I've been wanting to read something by this author....this one looks like the one for me.

    Thanks for visiting my blog!

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    1. You and I always seem to enjoy similar books, so I think you'd like this one. As I mentioned, it's graphic in a couple of places but that's necessary to the story.

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  3. Small world, my good friend is a midwife. She's shared many stories with me. Your granddaughter's birth must have been extra special. I think I'd like to read this one, thank you.

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    1. From what I've heard, midwives are often mistrusted. That's too bad. My son and daughter-in-law's experience was lovely.

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  4. I think this was the first Chris Bohjalian book I read. I enjoyed it so much that I went on to read several others.

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    1. I read this one first too. I also read DOUBLE BIND, and loved it.

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  5. I've had two in the comforts of a hospital and prefer it that way.

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    1. LOL. I had my son in a hospital too and that was fine with me!

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  6. I found Midwives to be an excellent portrayal of my part of the world in that time. I need to read it again.

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    1. I have never been to Vermont, but I'd love to go there, even though it sounds like the winters can be pretty fierce.

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    2. Yeah, they can be but I am a big fan of cold weather! The only thing I don't like about snowy weather is worrying about my kids driving in it!

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  7. This sounds like it could be pretty intense. I might have to check it out. Thanks for visiting my post earlier.

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  8. Thanks for the visit Sandy. I really admire midwives. This sounds like a great read!

    Btw, you seemed interested in my Friday 56 book - The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap. I have a giveaway happening right now on my blog! Here's the link:
    http://guiltlessreading.blogspot.ca/2012/11/guest-post-giveaway-paulette-mahurin.html

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  9. hi Sandy! midwives are very common from i live especially in the countryside. a midwife was also responsible for bringing my youngest nephew into the world.
    thanks for sharing and for stopping by my blog as well. have a great weekend!

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  10. Ditto, Aloi. Thank you for visiting my blog earlier!

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  11. This book looks really good! Hey, thanks for visiting my blog. Have a good week!

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  12. Sounds like a great book! Thanks for posting the beginning on BBOF! I've been very slow to get around for visits. Sorry.

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  13. Whoa, this sounds like a fantastic read! I'm going to have to add this to my TBR list asap! Thanks for sharing.

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