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What Members Thought
I really enjoyed this book. The writing was so good I found myself wanting to read slowly so I could really pay attention to her descriptions and use of language. The book is set in the early 1900s in Canada during WWI. The main character, Dora is an apprentice midwife during a time when an obstetrical center has just opened nearby and the big push is for the end of home births and midwives. The women of the town fight for their right to be involved in the birthing process. The book also has a s
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I liked this book. If you don't dissect it too much, it is a pleasant little tale of a woman who triumphs over both a philandering husband and the medical establishment in the form of a complete prat of a male doctor. And given that I've delivered many babies and am actually a doctor, that's high praise. Dora learns her craft from an older woman, who has her own ways and herbal remedies- she's all about low-tech medicine and has earned the respect of her community for her healing over many years
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I saw in some of the reviews that people thought there was too much feminism written in this book. I didn't see that at all. Midwives were definately not uncommon in the 1900's and surely not in such a small rural town.
Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed the tale especially with all the myths laid out about potions and Old Wives' Tales. ...more
Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed the tale especially with all the myths laid out about potions and Old Wives' Tales. ...more
Jun 30, 2008
Candace
marked it as to-read
Dec 07, 2008
Kathy
marked it as to-read
Jan 20, 2010
Sue
marked it as to-read
Apr 24, 2010
Midnightrider
marked it as to-read
Nov 28, 2010
Angela Randall
marked it as to-read
Mar 09, 2011
Hege
marked it as to-read
Jun 19, 2011
Rebekah
marked it as wishlist
Sep 28, 2011
Kathy
marked it as to-read
Oct 03, 2011
Christy
marked it as to-read
May 07, 2012
Natalya
marked it as to-read
Feb 28, 2013
Kate
marked it as to-read
Mar 11, 2013
Eden
marked it as to-read
Apr 14, 2015
Mmars
marked it as under-consideration
