Midwives: A Novel

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Summary: A must-read for any medical student or health care provider!
Review: As a premedical student aspiring to become an ob/gyn, I had a basic interest in reading about such a topic as midwifery, however, this novel is superbly written - a true page turner for anyone! The story is told from the view of the 13 year-old daughter of a midwife in the 70s and 80s who is accused of performing a C-section on a woman who was believed by some to still be alive. The story examines the relationship between mother and daughter in a time of wrap-around skirts and sandals, and the fight between hospital and midwife. This is a wonderful story that resurrects the most natural of emotions in the miracle of childbirth, feminism, and compassion. GET IT!

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Summary: I can't wait to share this book with friends.
Review: I could not wait to turn each page to see what happed next, yet when it was over, I longed for more. The journal entries were touching and full of emotion. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved the relationship between mother and daughter. I did not pay attention to the gender of the author until the ending. Could not believe that a man wrote this touching book. What a suprise ending - Chris Bohjalian you are a wonderful writer. Oprah you picked a good one (again).

Rating:
Summary: Wow.
Review: I absolutely loved this book. Especially the way it's told - first person through the eyes of the daughter as an adult and at the same time enough snippets to get the view from the eyes of the mother (the midwife on trial). It was a read that had me thinking about the book and the topics in it whenever I wasn't reading and for days after I'd finished it. Completely enthralling.

Rating:
Summary: A Good book but could of been better
Review: The beginning of the book was slow but it got better as you went along. It kept you going wondering what the outcome would be at the end of the trial. The best part of the book was the last page--don't peak!

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Summary: Opinion and breif, attention getting review.
Review: On the chilly winter night of March 15, 1981, not even the most experienced driver was able to go onto the roads, and in a small house near the Vermont/Canadian border, something terrible was about to happen. Charlotte and Asa Bedford were going to have their second child that night, as home, with midwive Sibyl Danforth and her assistana Anne Austin. When Sibyl finally concludes that Chrolette has died from a stroke during her labor, she screams for Asa and Anne to bring her "the sharpest knife in the house." Remarkably enuogh, the baby lives through the emergency C-section performed by Sibyl, who has had no medical training. It wasn't until after the baby had been delivered and everyone in their own homes, that the question started to arise...was Charolette really dead when Sibyl performed the operation? The story is told my Sibyl's now grown daughter Connie, who was only 13 when her mother was tried for the murder of Charolette Bedford. Chris Bohjalian brings any reader of "Midwives: A Novel" into the story and makes them feel like they're living the life of one of the characters. Although not appropriate for all readers, this suspenseful novel will keep anyone who decides to read the book, up late at night until the last page of the book is read. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a dedicated reader and is 14 or older. Even thugh the point of some things is hard to understand, "Midwives" takes the reader into a place where they feel like they were actually in the room when the C-section was performed, and also in the courtroom when Sibyl was tried. As you read the book, you learn tom grow with the characters as they go through what it's like to experience the aftermath and process of life and death.

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Summary: It wasn't the thrilling novel that Oprah claimed it to be.
Review: I was really disapointed with this book. I thought it was a waste of money and a big waste of my time. I can't believe that Oprah recomended this book to millions of people! Being a Registered Nurse and having a great interest in labor and delivery I thought I would love this one. Truthfully I found it rather stupid and very boring. Chapters 6-20 were all about what happened in chapter 5. Absolutely nothing new or exciting happened until chapter 21! It sure wasn't the thrilling novel that I thought it would be!

Rating:
Summary: A good read, but with flat characters
Review: An interesting approach to a subject charged with moral rights and wrongs. I didn't come out with a definite sympathy for either side and felt that both the prosecution and the defense had valid concerns. I thought 'Midwives' was well-written and it definitely kept my attention. However, it wasn't long until I suspected that the author was male. Although Bohjalian narrates a good story, he doesn't capture the essence of the female gender at all. I wasn't very sympathetic to the narrator, Connie. In fact, I found her to be quite flat, often whiny, and without substance. Her reactions (or non-reactions) to her mother's flirtations with Stephen, were discouraging. But not as unsettling as the ending. I liked Sibyl Danforth's character and sympathized with her more than I did with Connie. But it was only through the snippets of her all-important notebooks that I got a sense of who she was. Overall, it was an interesting read with valuable insights into an otherwise foreign world.

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Summary: This novel was a rare jewel of "Recent Popular Literature"
Review: I really enjoyed this novel. As an English major I rarely get a chance to read "Recent Popular Literature" and on the rare occasion that I do, I am usually sorely dissapointed. The comparision between the narration in Midwives to that of To Kill a Mockingbird intrigued me and I was truly delighted to find that this mysterious and well-crafted novel did bare a resemblance to my favorite childhood book. I was so enamored with Bohjalian's novel that I did not want to finish it for fear that I would not find a comprable likeness for some time. I did finish it, reluctantly, but I will avoid reading any of his other novels in hopes that his elevated status will not be shattered in my very elitist view of great authors. I highly encourage anyone and everyone to read it!

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Summary: A surprisingly wonderful book!
Review: As a woman who had all four of her babies at home (two with only the assistance of family and friends in the early 1970s, and two with nurse-midwives), I was at first skeptical to read this book. I wondered how a man could write about the profession of midwifery without condemnation, or how a trial of such could be presented without seeming cold and clinical. His treatment through the eyes of a 14-year-old girl was an interesting way to add a third viewpoint - one of unconditional love from a child. Because I view home birth as a viable option for many women, I respected the way he included statistics about its general safety. But since I'm older now, and have learned about inherent dangers with all births, I enjoyed the suggestion for sound medical training that should be expected of anyone conducting home deliveries, complete with backup systems. This was a compelling book, and I found it hard to put it down at night to get some sleep! Thank you, Chris Bohjalian.

Rating:
Summary: A real gripping story that even medical personnel will like!
Review: As a nurse and a mother (thankfully with an easy pregnancy and delivery) I was totally enthralled with the story. The author did a very credible job with the descriptions and medical portions. The way the book flowed around and mixed past and present made it seem so real, I could almost hear Connie telling the story. A must read!!