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Summary: excellent story reminicent of attitudes of the 60s
Review: was a very moving book through the eyes of a teenage girl. Seeing her mother her role model giong through tremendous trials. And trying in every way to understand and protect her. But also seeing the mother as a young idiolist. In so many ways like her daughter inocent and naive.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent portayal of differing perspectives
Review: If you ever lived in Vermont, the characters are much more real to you-I can understand how some may see this book as poorly written and the characters flat and unbelievable. Written from a pre-teens perspective the writing style may seem immature, but that's the whole point. This story is a classic example of majority vs. minority and how some of life's most beautiful things are lost in the scuffle. And being set in Vermont's Northern Kingdom makes all the difference of what would otherwise be an OK story.
Rating: 
Summary: Well written and gripping
Review: I found this book to be fairly well written and very compelling. It seems to have partially fallen victim to the great Oprah-hype, in which readers unfairly expect her choices to be magical in every way. Despite it's occasional superficiality (e.g. of relationships)and other minor flaws, the book's a keeper. Anyone who cannot appreciate the book for its carefully-wrought parallels between Sybil's alleged crime and Connie's subsequent actions is simply expecting too much. So it's not To Kill a Mockingbird. I bet Bohjalian cringed when they wrote that one the back cover anyway. Read this book.
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Summary: This was a riveting book
Review: I read this book in one sitting--I loved the fact that it was narrated by Connie and not by her mother. I felt that the author had an incredible grasp on how a young girl in that situation would feel, and was quite surprised to discover that "Chris" was a male. I recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: A good read...
Review: I enjoyed this book. It had an engaging story that kept you turning the pages. You get to know the main character/narrator fairly well, as the book is told from her perspective. I would have liked a little more insight into the character of Sybil. Even her diary entries leave us with only a sketchy view of who she is.
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Summary: Refreshing!
Review: As someone else said, I was surprised that this book was written by a man. I usually don't choose to read male authors, nor do I choose to read what Oprah has chosen at the time it is her book-of-the-month. Both errors on my part led me to a wonderful reading experience!! I can't wait to dive into the other books Chris Bohjalian has written--he has restored my faith in male contemporary fiction writers!! I have always been so intrigued by midwives. This book makes me admire them even more. I don't want to ruin anything at all, so I will only say that I would suggest this book to anyone who loves to read. Chris Bohjalian is a master of words...his writing reminds me of Anne Quindlan (sp?), author of "Black and Blue." Amazon.com has done me well again!!!
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Summary: Bohjalian creates a world inside the reader's imagination.
Review: "I used the word vulva as a child the way some kids said butt or penis or puke...it had an edge that could stop adults cold in their tracks." These are the first few lines from Chris Bohjalian's novel Midwives. Bohjalian's writing has the ability to stun the readers (as these lines did) and create vivid images with extraordinary description and ingenious wording. Using his gift of writing, Chris Bohjalian transforms a fictional world into a dramatic tale of justice and the unexplored world of midwifery.After reading the first few chapters, the reader understands the basic background of the story, but the actual theme of the novel does not clearly surface until mid-way through the book. Through the eyes of a midwife's daughter, Bohjalian conveys the personal experiences of midwifery and of the court system. Using the daughter (Connie Danforth) as a guide, the author demonstrates the prejudice unorthodoxy faces and the non-equality of justice. To succeed in putting the reader on a personal level with Connie and Sibyl (the midwife on trial) Danforth, Bohjalian uses "real-life" facts, experiences, and truth in his fiction. Midwives, attorneys, and investigators were all used by Bohjalian to help make his novel a truthful fiction. Through his work, it is apparent that he asked many questions and reflected the answers in his novel. Straightforward yet eloquent passages fill the fiction. Bohjalian's book is superbly written, as the passages flow from the book into the reader's imagination. The book is well argued and the author clearly articulates the questions and answers raised in the novel. As a result of Bohjalian's unusual point of view and captivating narrative, his points and themes come across to the reader in streams of clarity. Although this book uses a few technical terms, it is quite accessible to the intelligent reader. Readers' responses support Bohjalian's best seller as a novel that creates a world inside the reader's imagination. One of the great strengths of this work manifests itself in the ability of Bohjalian to pull the reader into the story. This gives the reader a sense of personal connection with the characters, as if they were the reader's family. Point of view, author values, and intense dialog give this novel its spellbinding charm. Justice, unorthodoxy, and family bonds continually recycle themselves and resurface throughout the novel, until the final chapter. The family-felt resolution ties everything together in the novel, as forgiveness prevails: "...we stood at the screen for a long moment and then he hugged me, patted my back, and wished me peace."
Rating: 
Summary: PC Baby Boomer Pap
Review: Oh female midwives in their earth-toned wrap around skirts and Birkenstocks are Good, and male doctors in their polka-dotted ties are Bad, and now I've saved you the price of this political tract disguised as a novel. Too preachy, woefully inaccurate in the courtroom and legal strategy scenes, two trivial and meandering subplots that wander around for a while and then just disappear. This is not a work of fiction at all but a little political pamphlet.
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Summary: Great reading...Good pick Oprah.
Review: This happens to be one of those books that you thing you've got it figured out. Then you get to the end and you're still not sure. It surely will keep you reading until the end. It's best to read and think after you are done.
Rating:
Summary: The worst book I have ever read in my life
Review: I do not understand all the positive reviews of this book. Most of my friends and neighbors could not believe how poorly written it is. I read 50-60 books a year - of varying degrees of literary merit, and successful plot developments. I have never read such a terribly written, ridiculous book. Wally Lamb successfully wrote through a female voice, and others have.....This author has absolutely no idea what he is doing. Connie DID NOT RING TRUE at all. Sibyl made me gag with her pretentious b.s. about birthing. Look at page 140-141 for a sample of terrible writing.
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