Rating: 
Summary: a page-turner!
Review: This book was so suspenseful, I could not put it down! The author chose to tell the story from the point of view of the midwife's teenage daughter. This technique really made the novel interesting, because the reader really didn't know exactly what happened when, since the young woman was unsure herself, and on several occasions, was mistaken in her conclusions. I highly recommend this book to all, though pregnant women may want to wait until their bundle of joy has been safely delivered!!
Rating: 
Summary: Hard to put down!
Review: Bohjalian's Midwives is impressive in that I was truly able to read this through the eyes of a 14-year old girl! His research must have been horrendous to cover so many fronts so thoroughly...from the birth experience and the whole legal process to the various weavings of the family relationships and experiences. It was a great read, indeed!
Rating: 
Summary: thought-provoking; socially irresponsible
Review: Midwives is a captivating novel - well written, but borderlining on social irresponsibility. No midwife that I know of would perform a C-section with kitchen knives on a mother who twitches and shows signs of life. The danger is that readers who find this story believeable will fear homebirth, just as beach swimmers feared great white sharks in 3 feet of water during the "Jaws" Era. Male author had an exellent ability to write from a teenage daughter's perspective. Overall, an interesting fictional novel. A more appropriate title would be "One Midwife's Story" rather than generalizing about midwives.
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful book, about the cost of being a lay midwife
Review: This is a excellent book. It expresses the cost that bringing a life into this world out side of the harsh hand of the medical community. I suggest this book to all people. And I encourage them to question they rationilization behind hospitals and babies.
Rating:
Summary: replaced To Kill A Mockingbird as my favorite courtroom book
Review: Not having been a fan of most of Oprah's previous choices of books (too many women in turmoil and crisis) this one makes up for all the others.The characters were written in such a way that it is hard to decide which one is my favorite. They are all beautifully, humanly and intensely described and I would love to know any one of them. I felt like I was in the middle of the courtroom drama and suspense and read with much anticipation as to the outcome.
Rating:
Summary: Too simplistic to be a five star review
Review: I was very disappointed with this novel. I am looking for five star terrific novels from Oprah's Book Club. Although this novel was a "quick read" the conclusion of the novel was known little more than half way through. I felt that it was a short story that had been lengthened into a novel. C'mon Oprah, you can do better than this.
Rating:
Summary: does this author remind you of anyone?
Review: After smirking a little upon reading the title & author bio, thinking, "What does he know about childbirth?" I was a little surprised that by the second chapter of this book, I had completely forgotten that the author was male. I enjoyed this book very much -- the author & voice reminded me of Michael Dorris's Yellow Raft...
Rating:
Summary: Interesting and thought provoking!
Review: What a great book!! A rare book with believable characters, an interesting plot, and a very intuitive author. I am very impressed that the author was able to relate to "female" feelings with such a keen sense. A good choice to read for any book discussion groups.
Rating:
Summary: Midwives is one of those books that you're sorry to see end.
Review: I loved this book!! Midwives continues to surprise the reader until the very end. A real page turner!!!
Rating:
Summary: Life and Death on the Internet
Review: Oprah has lead us to another great book that captivates, educates and entertains. "Life and Death on the Internet" by Keith A Schroeder is Oprah's next book selection, I heard. I don't know this 100% for sure but "Life and Death on the Internet" is for everyone. It would be another great Oprah selection.
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