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The Runaway Midwife
From the USA Today bestselling author of the Hope River series comes a new contemporary midwife novel.
Say “goodbye” to your old life, and “hello” to the life you’ve been waiting for…
Midwife Clara Perry is accustomed to comforting her pregnant patients…calming fathers-to-be as they anxiously await the birth of their children…ensuring the babies she delivers come safely into the world.
But when Clara’s life takes a nosedive, she realizes she hasn’t been tending to her own needs and does something drastic: she runs away and starts over again in a place where no one knows her or the mess she’s left behind in West Virginia. Heading to Sea Gull Island—a tiny, remote Canadian island—Clara is ready for anything. Well, almost. She left her passport back home, and the only way she can enter Canada is by hitching a ride on a snowmobile and illegally crossing the border.
Deciding to reinvent herself, Clara takes a new identity—Sara Livingston, a writer seeking solitude. But there’s no avoiding the outside world. The residents are friendly, and draw “Sara” into their lives and confidences. She volunteers at the local medical clinic, using her midwifery skills, and forms a tentative relationship with a local police officer.
But what will happen if she lets down her guard and reveals the real reason why she left her old life? One lesson soon becomes clear: no matter how far you run, you can never really hide from your past.
Say “goodbye” to your old life, and “hello” to the life you’ve been waiting for…
Midwife Clara Perry is accustomed to comforting her pregnant patients…calming fathers-to-be as they anxiously await the birth of their children…ensuring the babies she delivers come safely into the world.
But when Clara’s life takes a nosedive, she realizes she hasn’t been tending to her own needs and does something drastic: she runs away and starts over again in a place where no one knows her or the mess she’s left behind in West Virginia. Heading to Sea Gull Island—a tiny, remote Canadian island—Clara is ready for anything. Well, almost. She left her passport back home, and the only way she can enter Canada is by hitching a ride on a snowmobile and illegally crossing the border.
Deciding to reinvent herself, Clara takes a new identity—Sara Livingston, a writer seeking solitude. But there’s no avoiding the outside world. The residents are friendly, and draw “Sara” into their lives and confidences. She volunteers at the local medical clinic, using her midwifery skills, and forms a tentative relationship with a local police officer.
But what will happen if she lets down her guard and reveals the real reason why she left her old life? One lesson soon becomes clear: no matter how far you run, you can never really hide from your past.
399 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2017
440 people are currently reading
3124 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Harman
15 books653 followersPatricia Harman has spent over thirty years caring for women as a midwife, first as a lay-midwife, delivering babies in cabins and on communal farms in West Virginia, and later as a nurse-midwife in teaching hospitals and in a community hospital birthing center.
She spent over a decade in the sixties and seventies in her wild youth living in rural communes in Washington (Tolstoy Farm), Connecticut (The Committee for Non-Violent Action) and Minnesota (Free Folk). During the Vietnam years, she and her husband, Tom Harman, traveled the country, often hitch-hiking, as they looked for a place to settle. In 1974 they purchased a farm with a group of like-minded friends on top of a ridge in Roane County, West Virginia. Here on the commune, they built log houses, dug a pond, grew and preserved their own food and started the Growing Tree Natural Foods Cooperative.
It was during this time that Patsy attended her first home birth, more or less by accident. "Some people are destined," she has written. "I was staying at a woman friend's commune when she went into labor and I ended up delivering my first baby." Soon after, Harman traveled to Austin, Texas to train with a collective of home-birth midwives. When she returned, she became one of the founding members of The West Virginia Cooperative of Midwives. Her passion for caring for women and babies led her to become an RN as the first step in getting licensed as certified nurse midwife. In 1985, with her children, a yowling cat and her husband she traveled north, pulling a broken down trailer to begin her training at the University of Minnesota where she received her MSN in Nurse-Midwifery.
For the past twenty years, Ms. Harman has been a nurse-midwife on the faculty of The Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University and most recently West Virginia University. In 1998 she went into private practice with her husband, Tom, an OB/Gyn, in Morgantown, West Virginia. Here they devoted their lives to caring for women and bringing babies into the world in a gentle way.
When, in 2003, the cost of liability insurance for Obstetrics sky-rocketed from $70,000 a year to $110,000, the Harman's decided to give up deliveries. Though many loyal patients grieved the loss of their favorite mid-wife/physician team, the change in life style gave the author time to begin writing her first book, The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife's Memoir.
Patricia Harman still lives and works with her husband, Ob/Gyn Thomas Harman, in Morgantown, West Virginia at their clinic, Partners in Women's Health Care. Though she no longer attends births, she provides care for women in early pregnancy and through-out the life span. She brings to this work the same dedication and compassion she brought to obstetrics."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
February 4, 2017
I was looking forward to this one, as I typically enjoy midwife books. Unfortunately, here, that really had nothing to do with this story. The first 150 pages were about a woman on the run (completely out of character) where she was isolated and thinking out loud. After that things started to pick up where she met other people in town but I felt there was a lack of story here with loose ends. If you're a fan of bird watching and nature, you might enjoy this more than me. Her bird journals seemed pointless, just recording the birds she saw. I skipped those sections. A disappointment.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2017
When life becomes overwhelming, haven't we all contemplated "running away", if only for an hour, a day or a whole lifetime. That is what Clara does following a friend's suicide, her husband's infidelity, and an unexpected death of a mother in what should have been a routine delivery. As a midwife, Clara feels closely bonded to her patients and takes the loss hard. With her daughter continents away, there is little that compels her to stay and face her problems. She crosses frozen Lake Erie to Canada with no passport, a stolen driver's license, and the money she drained from their savings account. The small Canadian Island gives her the opportunity to reflect on the past and reinvent herself. With time the small population of the community draw her in and become friends and in caring for others, she rediscovers herself and her calling.
Interspersed in the chapters are little blurbs about the birds of the Upper Midwest.
Another great read by Patricia Harman.
Interspersed in the chapters are little blurbs about the birds of the Upper Midwest.
Another great read by Patricia Harman.
February 8, 2017
As other reviewers and readers have stated, this book has a very compelling beginning. The first couple of chapters are very engrossing.
However, once the character moves to Canada, it just feels like nothing. Of course this could be a realistic scenario--moving to some place new, and now having to deal with the mundane, instead of immediate danger. Still it doesn't make for compelling reading especially when the book focus changes from the heroine's situation to problems in the community
Also, I have to admit that running away doesn't seem so very heroic. In fact not too many actions of the heroine seem heroic. She runs away from a professional situation; she steals money from her cheating husband, and she illegally enters Canada.
Of course many heroines find redemption or courage by the end of a book so that they are able to deal with their past, and move forward. This book has part of it right, but not all --which didn't make for a satisfying well-done ending.
However, once the character moves to Canada, it just feels like nothing. Of course this could be a realistic scenario--moving to some place new, and now having to deal with the mundane, instead of immediate danger. Still it doesn't make for compelling reading especially when the book focus changes from the heroine's situation to problems in the community
Also, I have to admit that running away doesn't seem so very heroic. In fact not too many actions of the heroine seem heroic. She runs away from a professional situation; she steals money from her cheating husband, and she illegally enters Canada.
Of course many heroines find redemption or courage by the end of a book so that they are able to deal with their past, and move forward. This book has part of it right, but not all --which didn't make for a satisfying well-done ending.
February 8, 2017
Sometimes a book just draws you into its universe so deeply, you feel like you are part of the story. I felt that way about Patricia Harman's The Runaway Midwife.
Midwife Clara Perry is dealing with her husband's recurring infidelity, her painful estrangement from her daughter, and the shocking suicide of her best friend when a tragic end to a childbirth she was attending occurs.
Fearing the consequences of that tragedy, Clara decides to runaway to a remote island town in Canada. She changes her name, rents a small house, and hopes to just hide out.
Soon Clara finds that cannot live totally off the grid. She meets her neighbor Molly, a mom who befriends Clara and offers her a ride to the closest grocery store. Pete is the local cop who takes it upon himself to check up on everyone in the area, making sure they are OK. Jed runs the local clinic and recruits Clara to help him out, which she agrees to do.
There is a group of people who live on a commune, and there is friction between the townies and them. Clara tries to keep a foot in both camps, as she likes Molly and Rainbow, who lives on the commune.
There is conflict between the people who want to see a casino built, because that means jobs and more tax money for schools and roads, and those (like the commune residents) who love the pristine nature of the beautiful land surrounding them and don't want to ruin that.
Harman does a wonderful job creating this small community. As a reader, I felt like I was right there, living among the community members instead of reading about it in a book. I grew up in a very cold, snowy region of the country, and related to the climate of this tiny island outpost off Lake Erie.
The Runaway Midwife harkened me back to my days reading Little House on the Prairie books, with the townspeople banding together to help one another. I loved the characters, they felt like real people you would meet, and Clara's evolving story kept me interested. There are secrets (will Clara's identity be discovered?), sex, true friendship and community, and although The Runaway Midwife isn't necessarily a book I would have thought I would like, I truly loved it and highly recommend it. Now I will look for Patricia Harman's first book, The Midwife of Hope River.
Midwife Clara Perry is dealing with her husband's recurring infidelity, her painful estrangement from her daughter, and the shocking suicide of her best friend when a tragic end to a childbirth she was attending occurs.
Fearing the consequences of that tragedy, Clara decides to runaway to a remote island town in Canada. She changes her name, rents a small house, and hopes to just hide out.
Soon Clara finds that cannot live totally off the grid. She meets her neighbor Molly, a mom who befriends Clara and offers her a ride to the closest grocery store. Pete is the local cop who takes it upon himself to check up on everyone in the area, making sure they are OK. Jed runs the local clinic and recruits Clara to help him out, which she agrees to do.
There is a group of people who live on a commune, and there is friction between the townies and them. Clara tries to keep a foot in both camps, as she likes Molly and Rainbow, who lives on the commune.
There is conflict between the people who want to see a casino built, because that means jobs and more tax money for schools and roads, and those (like the commune residents) who love the pristine nature of the beautiful land surrounding them and don't want to ruin that.
Harman does a wonderful job creating this small community. As a reader, I felt like I was right there, living among the community members instead of reading about it in a book. I grew up in a very cold, snowy region of the country, and related to the climate of this tiny island outpost off Lake Erie.
The Runaway Midwife harkened me back to my days reading Little House on the Prairie books, with the townspeople banding together to help one another. I loved the characters, they felt like real people you would meet, and Clara's evolving story kept me interested. There are secrets (will Clara's identity be discovered?), sex, true friendship and community, and although The Runaway Midwife isn't necessarily a book I would have thought I would like, I truly loved it and highly recommend it. Now I will look for Patricia Harman's first book, The Midwife of Hope River.
February 9, 2017
I liked this book! I liked Clara/Sara- she came through to me loud and clear as a very real person dealing with her issues in the only way she knew. You might quibble with her method of running away but she found herself in Canada. My only quibble is that this hits a lot of issues- suicide, death, midwivery, environmental/developmental concerns- but that's real life. You can't quibble with Sara's sensitive touch with Molly or her love of Tiger and the birds in her view (nice info btw), nor can you argue about her love interests, both of whom clearly care for her, albeit differently. All in all this was a hit for me and I thank Edelweiss for the ARC. Try this one !
February 6, 2017
The Runaway Midwife is an interesting tale. A story of a wife and mother mourning the loss of a good friend runs away from her life. She not only runs but she leaves the country without a passport and becomes someone else. I cannot imagine living my life that way. She is scared of being found out at every turn she makes. She is afraid of making friends for fear that they will find out who she is.
Clara is a sweet woman. Even on the hiding from the law she cannot hide her caring loving side. She helps out everyone who needs it, even some that do not. The people of Sea Gull Island cannot help but want to know more about her and she ends up making friends. As the story continues I was hoping that the truth would come out so she could stop living in fear and start living her life. I really liked Clara and could only hope that all would work out for the best.
The story is interesting. I cannot imagine running away from the life I live and starting over in secret. There were some things that I questioned, like her husband and his reaction to all that was happening, but it did not stop me from enjoying the story. I was also surprised by the how accepting the people of Sea Gull Island were of a stranger living a very private life.
I recommend picking up your own copy.
Clara is a sweet woman. Even on the hiding from the law she cannot hide her caring loving side. She helps out everyone who needs it, even some that do not. The people of Sea Gull Island cannot help but want to know more about her and she ends up making friends. As the story continues I was hoping that the truth would come out so she could stop living in fear and start living her life. I really liked Clara and could only hope that all would work out for the best.
The story is interesting. I cannot imagine running away from the life I live and starting over in secret. There were some things that I questioned, like her husband and his reaction to all that was happening, but it did not stop me from enjoying the story. I was also surprised by the how accepting the people of Sea Gull Island were of a stranger living a very private life.
I recommend picking up your own copy.
July 28, 2016
Wow wow wow. I read this all today. It was fascinating and I would happily read more by this author.
February 7, 2017
What a pleasant surprise! I picked this book up at the library based on the plot summary, and I really, really enjoyed it! Who hasn't dreamed of running away from life? Clara Perry has done it. The descriptions of Seagull Island and its inhabitants (animal and human) were so vivid that I could almost smell the salty air. The characters were realistic and fully developed. I was actually jealous of Clara's isolation, quite honestly. And I would love to visit Seagull Island, if it is indeed a real place. I haven't yet looked it up.
This book made me think, and it reminded me that home is where you make it. Home is not a place, it's the people you love and who love you back. Some of the situations strained the imagination a little bit but the rest of the story was so good I was willing to overlook some of the implausibilities.
Excellent, excellent book! I highly recommend!
This book made me think, and it reminded me that home is where you make it. Home is not a place, it's the people you love and who love you back. Some of the situations strained the imagination a little bit but the rest of the story was so good I was willing to overlook some of the implausibilities.
Excellent, excellent book! I highly recommend!
February 11, 2017
I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Clara Perry is having a horrible year. First, a good friend commits suicide. Second, she finds out that her husband is cheating on her...again. And last, one of her midwifery patients dies in labor and Clara is wanted for questioning about medical negligence and possible manslaughter charges. Unable to cope with everything crashing down around her, Clara does the only thing she can think of and that's run. Not only does she run away from her husband and the medicolegal dilemmas facing her in West Virginia, she runs away from everything, taking all of the cash available in the bank, assuming a new identity, and leaves the country. She ends up on a small Canadian island off of Lake Erie across from Ohio. It is there that she finds the chance to find out what she wants from life and how she might be able to obtain it since she's living as not only a fugitive but also as an illegal immigrant. But how can she truly find herself if she's living a lie? Is it possible to run away from who we really are and build a new life on a shaky foundation?
I found The Runaway Midwife to be a fast-paced and entrancing read. Even though I was dealing with an increasingly severe migraine headache, I kept on reading simply because I had to know what happened next. (I did eventually wind up taking a break for a few hours to allow the pain medication to kick in, but I didn't want to set aside this story even for a cursed migraine.) I enjoyed reading about Clara/Sara's journey of self-discovery and the realization that the past might just come back to bite you when least expected. Ms. Harman incorporated so much more into this story than just run away from life's problems, there's an unsolved rape case on the island that has repercussions in the present, there's an initial divide between the life-long islanders and the so-called "hippies" that have moved in and are interested in living off the land, there's an environmental standoff when confronting development versus preservation, and then there's the socioeconomic adversity of a dwindling population and what can be done to maintain the island and the islander's lifestyles. This isn't just a story of running away from life's problems, it's also a story about new beginnings not just for Clara/Sara but for the island as well, and a story of hope. If you haven't read anything by Ms. Harman, you are sorely missing out. Her nonfiction, as well as her historical fiction books, are truly a delight to read (I'm not just saying that because she's a fellow West Virginian either). The Runaway Midwife is a recommended read by this blogger/reader and I hope that you'll enjoy it just as much as I did. Now, go out and get yourself a copy so you have something enjoyable to read this weekend. Just in case you couldn't tell, I really enjoyed reading The Runaway Midwife and I look forward to reading more from Ms. Harman in the future.
Original review posted on 2/9/2017 at www.thebookdivasreads.com.
Clara Perry is having a horrible year. First, a good friend commits suicide. Second, she finds out that her husband is cheating on her...again. And last, one of her midwifery patients dies in labor and Clara is wanted for questioning about medical negligence and possible manslaughter charges. Unable to cope with everything crashing down around her, Clara does the only thing she can think of and that's run. Not only does she run away from her husband and the medicolegal dilemmas facing her in West Virginia, she runs away from everything, taking all of the cash available in the bank, assuming a new identity, and leaves the country. She ends up on a small Canadian island off of Lake Erie across from Ohio. It is there that she finds the chance to find out what she wants from life and how she might be able to obtain it since she's living as not only a fugitive but also as an illegal immigrant. But how can she truly find herself if she's living a lie? Is it possible to run away from who we really are and build a new life on a shaky foundation?
I found The Runaway Midwife to be a fast-paced and entrancing read. Even though I was dealing with an increasingly severe migraine headache, I kept on reading simply because I had to know what happened next. (I did eventually wind up taking a break for a few hours to allow the pain medication to kick in, but I didn't want to set aside this story even for a cursed migraine.) I enjoyed reading about Clara/Sara's journey of self-discovery and the realization that the past might just come back to bite you when least expected. Ms. Harman incorporated so much more into this story than just run away from life's problems, there's an unsolved rape case on the island that has repercussions in the present, there's an initial divide between the life-long islanders and the so-called "hippies" that have moved in and are interested in living off the land, there's an environmental standoff when confronting development versus preservation, and then there's the socioeconomic adversity of a dwindling population and what can be done to maintain the island and the islander's lifestyles. This isn't just a story of running away from life's problems, it's also a story about new beginnings not just for Clara/Sara but for the island as well, and a story of hope. If you haven't read anything by Ms. Harman, you are sorely missing out. Her nonfiction, as well as her historical fiction books, are truly a delight to read (I'm not just saying that because she's a fellow West Virginian either). The Runaway Midwife is a recommended read by this blogger/reader and I hope that you'll enjoy it just as much as I did. Now, go out and get yourself a copy so you have something enjoyable to read this weekend. Just in case you couldn't tell, I really enjoyed reading The Runaway Midwife and I look forward to reading more from Ms. Harman in the future.
Original review posted on 2/9/2017 at www.thebookdivasreads.com.
June 30, 2021
After reading the 2 books of the Hope River series, I thought Harman could do no wrong. Well, we can't all be perfect all of the time.
The preposterousness of the plot -- which she also abandoned for at least half the book -- made it impossible to enjoy much else about this book. Impossibility after impossibility piled up, and if I hadn't been on vacation, I would have quit halfway through.
I do always appreciate Harman's voice for her main characters, and this is no exception. I'm just not good at ignoring logic in a runaway plot.
The preposterousness of the plot -- which she also abandoned for at least half the book -- made it impossible to enjoy much else about this book. Impossibility after impossibility piled up, and if I hadn't been on vacation, I would have quit halfway through.
I do always appreciate Harman's voice for her main characters, and this is no exception. I'm just not good at ignoring logic in a runaway plot.
February 4, 2017
On the whole it was ok. Only problem I had was that the author mentions cell phone service being shoddy or next to impossible. few chapters later everyone is using their cell phones! At least keep the plot going with an accurate plot and plausible storyline.
December 27, 2016
I received a copy of this book through the goodreads giveaway program.
The novel, The Runaway Midwife, by Patricia Harman, is about Clara Perry, a nurse-midwife in crisis. First, her best friend and co-worker commits suicide and then a patient dies while giving birth (spoiler alert --- Clara is blamed for the death) and through all this sorrow her no-good, can’t-seem-to-keep-it-in-his-pants husband (a university professor) continues to step out on their marriage (with a student, no less). Finally, it all becomes too much for Clara, and she flees her life in West Virginia. She trades it for a new (stolen) identity on Sea Gull Island, a tiny remote island in Canada, reachable by boat, air or snowmobile. She leaves behind her husband, her family (including her daughter on an exchange program in Australia), and her beloved job and patients. Along the way, she absconds with her family’s money, assumes an illicit identity, pays a smuggler, and crosses illegally into Canada. She rents a cottage on the island and builds a new life as Sara Livingston, a writer seeking nature and privacy. In her new life, she acquires a new perspective on life, slowly develops friendships and begins to take chances on love. Ultimately she finds out that she can’t leave behind the essence of who she is --- a midwife/nurse --- and, realizing that, opens herself up to a deeper, truer love. As the book cover states, “no matter how far you run, you can never really hide from your past.” This book was a fast enjoyable read. Interspersed throughout the novel were short descriptions of island wildlife that Clara encountered, and while Ms. Harman is not a new writer, she is new to writing fiction. This book had promise, and the short description on the book jacket captured my interest, but the book did manage to lose my attention at times. By the end of the book, I found it a little too convenient that all the loose ends were so neatly tied up. Many readers will enjoy the distinctiveness of the book. If you’re in the mood for a little lighthearted reading, this may be the book for you.
The novel, The Runaway Midwife, by Patricia Harman, is about Clara Perry, a nurse-midwife in crisis. First, her best friend and co-worker commits suicide and then a patient dies while giving birth (spoiler alert --- Clara is blamed for the death) and through all this sorrow her no-good, can’t-seem-to-keep-it-in-his-pants husband (a university professor) continues to step out on their marriage (with a student, no less). Finally, it all becomes too much for Clara, and she flees her life in West Virginia. She trades it for a new (stolen) identity on Sea Gull Island, a tiny remote island in Canada, reachable by boat, air or snowmobile. She leaves behind her husband, her family (including her daughter on an exchange program in Australia), and her beloved job and patients. Along the way, she absconds with her family’s money, assumes an illicit identity, pays a smuggler, and crosses illegally into Canada. She rents a cottage on the island and builds a new life as Sara Livingston, a writer seeking nature and privacy. In her new life, she acquires a new perspective on life, slowly develops friendships and begins to take chances on love. Ultimately she finds out that she can’t leave behind the essence of who she is --- a midwife/nurse --- and, realizing that, opens herself up to a deeper, truer love. As the book cover states, “no matter how far you run, you can never really hide from your past.” This book was a fast enjoyable read. Interspersed throughout the novel were short descriptions of island wildlife that Clara encountered, and while Ms. Harman is not a new writer, she is new to writing fiction. This book had promise, and the short description on the book jacket captured my interest, but the book did manage to lose my attention at times. By the end of the book, I found it a little too convenient that all the loose ends were so neatly tied up. Many readers will enjoy the distinctiveness of the book. If you’re in the mood for a little lighthearted reading, this may be the book for you.
February 1, 2017
Drawn by its intriguing premise, I was eager to give this novel a try, especially since I enjoy discovering new-to-me authors and, often, stories about contemporary midwives and the reinvention of self. The first pages showed much promise. In the prologue, I felt an immediate kinship with the as-yet-unnamed woman who “felt too much.” Is there a woman who can’t relate to that?
From the hook prologue flowed several gripping chapters as Clara’s life crumbled around her and she scrambled to survive. I even liked some of the author’s unconventional stylistic devices: the heavy-handed use of exclamation points and parenthetical comments lent the narrative voice a not-inappropriate quirkiness; and the short, titled chapters kept the pace lively even throughout the mellow middle section. A few oddly italicized snippets of narrative, however — which I think were meant to be internal dialogue but weren’t — were a bit distracting.
The stranger part was the evolution of the story. What began so powerfully with such strong elements of conflict and suspense soon evolved into a much more relaxed and almost disconnected middle. It went on for so long that I began to wonder when the author was going to return us to the real problem, which was how Clara would redeem the situation she’d thrown herself into by running away. From that point, I began finding reasons to dislike the way things were heading: increasingly, Clara-now-Sara’s choices unsettled me; her profound estrangement from her daughter was never satisfactorily explained (and frankly seemed out of character for this generally compassionate woman); and the general socio/religious slant began to feel a bit too…well, slanted.
The plot did eventually resolve, but with none of the same bang it started with, and certainly not satisfyingly: Clara/Sara’s problems simply became non-issues without her having to lift a finger. Despite its early promise, The Runaway Midwife unfortunately turned out to be less than a favorite.
Thanks to William Morrow for providing me this book free of charge. All opinions are mine.
From the hook prologue flowed several gripping chapters as Clara’s life crumbled around her and she scrambled to survive. I even liked some of the author’s unconventional stylistic devices: the heavy-handed use of exclamation points and parenthetical comments lent the narrative voice a not-inappropriate quirkiness; and the short, titled chapters kept the pace lively even throughout the mellow middle section. A few oddly italicized snippets of narrative, however — which I think were meant to be internal dialogue but weren’t — were a bit distracting.
The stranger part was the evolution of the story. What began so powerfully with such strong elements of conflict and suspense soon evolved into a much more relaxed and almost disconnected middle. It went on for so long that I began to wonder when the author was going to return us to the real problem, which was how Clara would redeem the situation she’d thrown herself into by running away. From that point, I began finding reasons to dislike the way things were heading: increasingly, Clara-now-Sara’s choices unsettled me; her profound estrangement from her daughter was never satisfactorily explained (and frankly seemed out of character for this generally compassionate woman); and the general socio/religious slant began to feel a bit too…well, slanted.
The plot did eventually resolve, but with none of the same bang it started with, and certainly not satisfyingly: Clara/Sara’s problems simply became non-issues without her having to lift a finger. Despite its early promise, The Runaway Midwife unfortunately turned out to be less than a favorite.
Thanks to William Morrow for providing me this book free of charge. All opinions are mine.
February 12, 2017
This was a "WOW" book at a time when I really needed a "WOW" book. Clara had some really bad stuff happen to her and she just disappears and when you read what happens to her in the first few pages of the book, well, if you could pack up what you could and start over again.
I read Patricia's "The Reluctant Midwife" in 2015 and totally loved it.
I've always like books with midwifes, but I've found very few that are contemporary. I had some odd problems with the book, starting with the woman that died giving birth. Why did they send the body to Pittsburgh for autopsy? There are major cities in WV that have good hospitals that that made little sense to me, unless the Torrington, WV was on the pan handle closer to Steubenville, OH, but even that made little sense to me as both Morgantown, and Wheeling have large hospitals. (I live about 50 miles from both cities) I was also miffed that Torrington is a made up city too..as is Sea Gull island. Yeah I kept looking up these places.
But the book really drew me in. I wanted to learn how anyone could possibly start over off the grid. Would she get found out? What would happen if she did.
What I found out was this wasn't a book about Clara/Sara getting back her old life, but of one woman starting over completely. There's a lot of fear in Sara's life. I kept thinking that something was going to happen and she was going to be sent back to the U.S. I was actually very surprised at how the book ended.
Sara's new life was a quiet one. I loved how she found Tiger and how much a part of her life the tabby cat became. (I'm a sucker for animals in stories). She grows close to several residents, Molly and Nita. Nita's death is one of the most emotionally charged parts of the story.
The ending tied things up a little to quickly and easily for me, which is what kept this from being a stellar book.
I read Patricia's "The Reluctant Midwife" in 2015 and totally loved it.
I've always like books with midwifes, but I've found very few that are contemporary. I had some odd problems with the book, starting with the woman that died giving birth. Why did they send the body to Pittsburgh for autopsy? There are major cities in WV that have good hospitals that that made little sense to me, unless the Torrington, WV was on the pan handle closer to Steubenville, OH, but even that made little sense to me as both Morgantown, and Wheeling have large hospitals. (I live about 50 miles from both cities) I was also miffed that Torrington is a made up city too..as is Sea Gull island. Yeah I kept looking up these places.
But the book really drew me in. I wanted to learn how anyone could possibly start over off the grid. Would she get found out? What would happen if she did.
What I found out was this wasn't a book about Clara/Sara getting back her old life, but of one woman starting over completely. There's a lot of fear in Sara's life. I kept thinking that something was going to happen and she was going to be sent back to the U.S. I was actually very surprised at how the book ended.
Sara's new life was a quiet one. I loved how she found Tiger and how much a part of her life the tabby cat became. (I'm a sucker for animals in stories). She grows close to several residents, Molly and Nita. Nita's death is one of the most emotionally charged parts of the story.
The ending tied things up a little to quickly and easily for me, which is what kept this from being a stellar book.
April 30, 2017
Clara Perry is a nurse midwife who runs away from her life, her profession, her identity, her husband, and even her daughter. Fleeing to an island on the Canadian side of Lake Erie, she becomes Sara Livingston, at first isolating herself in a rented cottage, and hiding, lest her illegal entry into Canada, as well as the criminal charges awaiting her in the U.S, become known. Though she first avoids contact with anyone, she gradually begins to meet other island residents, and to become friends with some. Sara’s compassion for others leads her to begin to use her nursing skills, and also to eventually become involved in the islander’s inner fight over development that might lead to more jobs and greater economic security for the islands population, versus those who want to preserve the islands’ environment, and it’s status as a bird sanctuary, and thus encouraging a tourist industry. Sara herself has joined the legions of bird watcher’s here, and each chapter ends with a description of a new bird she has spotted.
This was an easy and enjoyable read. I won my early reviewers copy from LibraryThing.
This was an easy and enjoyable read. I won my early reviewers copy from LibraryThing.
February 2, 2017
Book provided in return for an honest review. Like some of the other reviewers, I dove into this book thinking it would be about midwifery and births. In the literal sense, there wasn't so much, in the esoteric sense - it was the whole book. While not so much about Clara/Sara's profession and passion it was about the birthing of relationships, sense of self, life purpose, hobbies and interests, understanding, forgiveness, love. Woven through-out the pages are sights, scents, sounds, tastes and sensations that made the island, people and experience come alive in my imagination. The story hit on issues many women can relate to - wait, for that matter, men as well: dealing with infidelity; loss of friendships from death, emotions, and distance; aging; love; relating to others with different ways of looking at the world; living in a community; financial concerns; family and how that is defined; 'wrong' vs 'right'; loss of ability to continue with her passion for her work; and those are the ones that resonated with me - I encourage you to read it for yourself and see what strikes a cord with you.
December 21, 2016
When Clara decides to abandon her life (a cheating husband, an estranged daughter, manslaughter charges, and the guilt over her best friend’s suicide), she winds up on Sea Gull Island. This remote community on Lake Erie seems the perfect place for her to escape reality and assume a new identity. As Sara Livingston, she finds herself making friends and involving herself in local affairs despite her best efforts to remain guarded. Really, Sara’s just too nice not to be helpful and there’s no avoiding the intimacy of such a small community. Even the islanders have their fair share of drama and secrets.
Harman’s writing is engaging, her characters well developed, and her enthusiasm contagious. Despite Sara’s hardships, she faces each new day with positivity that is refreshing. Though there is the constant worry of her past catching up with her, Sara is determined to embrace her new existence with optimism.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
Harman’s writing is engaging, her characters well developed, and her enthusiasm contagious. Despite Sara’s hardships, she faces each new day with positivity that is refreshing. Though there is the constant worry of her past catching up with her, Sara is determined to embrace her new existence with optimism.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
October 27, 2016
The Runaway Midwife: A Novel by Patricia Harman is not the typical novel Harman writes. Her book starts off with a midwife who is in trouble with the law who leaves her husband by sneaking off to Canada under the cover of darkness.
I will admit I was a bit disappointed with the beginning of the book, but as I continued to read her book I grew to love the story. I was impressed with how Harman managed to pull together an almost impossible plot to create a believable story.
Recommend.
Review written after downloading a galley from Edelweiss.
I will admit I was a bit disappointed with the beginning of the book, but as I continued to read her book I grew to love the story. I was impressed with how Harman managed to pull together an almost impossible plot to create a believable story.
Recommend.
Review written after downloading a galley from Edelweiss.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book.
October 16, 2017
I received this book in a Good Reads give away, I really enjoyed the book. Likable characters and a good ending.
October 23, 2018
Fantastic read
This book is wonderful. A woman whose life is so badly falling apart she must run away finds a new life in a remote place. A story of human conflicts and various ways to resolve them; man against nature conflicts and ways to survive; and man (woman) against herself and how to forgive, forge ahead, and fly free!
This book is wonderful. A woman whose life is so badly falling apart she must run away finds a new life in a remote place. A story of human conflicts and various ways to resolve them; man against nature conflicts and ways to survive; and man (woman) against herself and how to forgive, forge ahead, and fly free!
March 7, 2020
I enjoyed the references to Detroit, Windsor, Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan.
June 27, 2020
Midwife Clara decides to run away to a small place in Canada after finding her husband cheating again, a woman dies in her care and her best friend commits suicide. She gradually becomes involved in village life and helping the local dr. It sounds more interesting than it was.
January 1, 2020
This is the 4th in the series, but it almost feels like an entirely different author. I made it 60% and gave up. To finish felt daunting.
January 9, 2017
I was on a midwife trip .....four books about midwives...... when I started reading Patricia Harman's "The Runaway Midwife: A Novel". Perhaps if I had not read the other novels about midwives before "The Runaway Midwife" I would have liked it more and given it a higher rating. The other books had a clear flow of storyline chapter after chapter drawing the reader into the plot and helping to flesh the characters out early on so that reader was engaged in the characters lives.
While reading "The Runaway Midwife" I felt like I was reading a series of sometimes disjointed vignettes. Sometimes the flow of a chapter would flood into the next chapter and you would feel like you could get into the storyline, the next time not so much. It was hard for me to feel that an adult woman who had such a fulfilling career and having been established in a community would have chosen to runaway despite the current roadblocks/ tragedies in her life.
Her entrance onto a Canadian island in the middle of winter after a snowstorm seemed unbelievable and maybe almost impossible. Which for me set the tone for the rest of the book. The slow development of the characters at time left me wondering who again was this person when it had been chapters ago that a small mention had been made of that character. Also while it might have been educational to readers who are interested in descriptions of birds and their habits I have no idea why that info was added chapter after chapter.
While reading "The Runaway Midwife" I felt like I was reading a series of sometimes disjointed vignettes. Sometimes the flow of a chapter would flood into the next chapter and you would feel like you could get into the storyline, the next time not so much. It was hard for me to feel that an adult woman who had such a fulfilling career and having been established in a community would have chosen to runaway despite the current roadblocks/ tragedies in her life.
Her entrance onto a Canadian island in the middle of winter after a snowstorm seemed unbelievable and maybe almost impossible. Which for me set the tone for the rest of the book. The slow development of the characters at time left me wondering who again was this person when it had been chapters ago that a small mention had been made of that character. Also while it might have been educational to readers who are interested in descriptions of birds and their habits I have no idea why that info was added chapter after chapter.
March 7, 2017
A very ambitious book which doesn't really deliver.
The premise is interesting enough. Too much piles onto a woman and she runs away. I think we can all relate, I think we've all felt like doing that at times.
I had two major issues with this book:
1. The birds. If I never read about birds again, that's just fine with me. Don't know the obsession with them and it took me by surprise, but wow the author is fascinated by all sorts of birds.
2. The heavy-handedness. The author lectures to us. If other authors want to inform, they weave it into the story, but Harman hits us over the head with domestic violence, hippies, suicide, all sorts of topics. It feels like she breaks the fifth wall and starts preaching at us.
I kept reading till the end, so there's that.
The premise is interesting enough. Too much piles onto a woman and she runs away. I think we can all relate, I think we've all felt like doing that at times.
I had two major issues with this book:
1. The birds. If I never read about birds again, that's just fine with me. Don't know the obsession with them and it took me by surprise, but wow the author is fascinated by all sorts of birds.
2. The heavy-handedness. The author lectures to us. If other authors want to inform, they weave it into the story, but Harman hits us over the head with domestic violence, hippies, suicide, all sorts of topics. It feels like she breaks the fifth wall and starts preaching at us.
I kept reading till the end, so there's that.
February 4, 2017
What an incredible story - really loved the story line and the characters. I caught myself several times trying to give the main character advice out loud. That's how into the book I was. Although the story contained a heartbreaking incident to begin with the plot adds humor and great character interaction as the book develops.
March 6, 2017
A perfect book for a Sunday afternoon by the fire
Really enjoyed this novel of s woman caught in a difficult situation and finding a different life. Beautiful descriptions of Seagull Island made this a pleasure to read, it made me see the cold, storms and ice so vividly
Really enjoyed this novel of s woman caught in a difficult situation and finding a different life. Beautiful descriptions of Seagull Island made this a pleasure to read, it made me see the cold, storms and ice so vividly
February 21, 2017
I enjoyed the Hope River novels much more than this one.
January 17, 2020
This book by Patricia Harman is very different from her prior novels. Firstly, it is not a historical novel and secondly, although the protagonist is a midwife, the storyline is not centred on the series of births that she is involved in, like the previous novels. I have to admit that my first reaction was disappointment but I continued listening and was quickly drawn into the life of the people of Seagull Island, Ontario. I live by a lake in a 2 bedroom log cabin in a small community in Northern Ontario and the author’s descriptions of the island & it’s colourful residents reminded me of my hometown. I’m not convinced that the ending is realistic given current rules & regulations, however, since this is a fictional novel, I certainly enjoyed the how everything played out. I would recommend this novel to those who enjoy contemporary women’s fiction. I enjoyed the narration with the exception of the bird calls. I found the sound of the calls screechy and disruptive. Otherwise the narrator is a seasoned professional who paces herself well and has a good range of voices.
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