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The Midwife's Here: The Enchanting True Story of One of Britain's Longest Serving Midwives
Book
The Sunday Times bestseller 'Delivering my first baby is a memory that will stay with me forever....
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated I Couldn't Love You More in Books
Jul 1, 2021
A very confusing book. Timelines all over the place and changing between there different characters meant that I spent most of the first half of the book confused about what was happening and how old certain characters were at that point in the story.
The story follows three women Aoife, Rosaleen and Kate, who are three generations of the same family. Throughout the book Aoife is wondering where her daughter has gone as she seems to have vanished without a trace after coming home one Christmas and then never to be heard from again. Rosaleen has her own secret, that she is pregnant with a married man’s baby and finds herself going to a convent to have her baby, and this book sheds some light on the horrors that unmarried mothers had to suffer before and after giving birth and having their babies taken from them. Kate was adopted and is trying to find out information about her birth mother whilst also trying to cope with her husband who spends most of his time “with the band” and coming back drunk most nights.
The story was an interesting look at how the Catholic Church dealt with expectant mothers who weren’t married, and although you’d think going to a convent for help they would be well looked after, it didn’t work out that way at all. But I did find that it was unnecessarily confusing and jumped around with the timelines quite a lot.
I found myself not wanting to sit down and carry on with the book, but I did persevere with it because I wanted to know how it turned out. The writing was beautiful and some of the descriptions really did make you feel like you were there. The ending seemed quite rushed and after 95% of the book being emotional and there not seeming like there would be a happy ending, the last few pages of the book seemed to solve everything quickly. It would have been nice to have a few more pages around that and questions answered around whether Aoife ever found out what happened to her daughter.
Thank you to Esther and Pigeonhole for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.
The story follows three women Aoife, Rosaleen and Kate, who are three generations of the same family. Throughout the book Aoife is wondering where her daughter has gone as she seems to have vanished without a trace after coming home one Christmas and then never to be heard from again. Rosaleen has her own secret, that she is pregnant with a married man’s baby and finds herself going to a convent to have her baby, and this book sheds some light on the horrors that unmarried mothers had to suffer before and after giving birth and having their babies taken from them. Kate was adopted and is trying to find out information about her birth mother whilst also trying to cope with her husband who spends most of his time “with the band” and coming back drunk most nights.
The story was an interesting look at how the Catholic Church dealt with expectant mothers who weren’t married, and although you’d think going to a convent for help they would be well looked after, it didn’t work out that way at all. But I did find that it was unnecessarily confusing and jumped around with the timelines quite a lot.
I found myself not wanting to sit down and carry on with the book, but I did persevere with it because I wanted to know how it turned out. The writing was beautiful and some of the descriptions really did make you feel like you were there. The ending seemed quite rushed and after 95% of the book being emotional and there not seeming like there would be a happy ending, the last few pages of the book seemed to solve everything quickly. It would have been nice to have a few more pages around that and questions answered around whether Aoife ever found out what happened to her daughter.
Thank you to Esther and Pigeonhole for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Duke and I (Bridgertons, #1) in Books
Nov 26, 2022
212 of 230
Book
The Duke & I ( Bridgertons book 1)
By Julia Quinn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry-though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that is seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever! Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry-though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that is seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever!
I loved it! It was a slow starter but by the end I was quite emotional not sure if that was the book or the fact I’m a sensitive soul 😂. Julia Quinn is one of my favourite writers for these types of books this didn’t disappoint. I have happily avoided the tv series due wanting to read the books first, I may give them a go after I’ve finished this series.
Book
The Duke & I ( Bridgertons book 1)
By Julia Quinn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry-though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that is seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever! Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry-though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that is seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever!
I loved it! It was a slow starter but by the end I was quite emotional not sure if that was the book or the fact I’m a sensitive soul 😂. Julia Quinn is one of my favourite writers for these types of books this didn’t disappoint. I have happily avoided the tv series due wanting to read the books first, I may give them a go after I’ve finished this series.
ClareR (5726 KP) rated The Rules of Magic in Books
Dec 7, 2017
How I loved this book! I’ve read it in completely the wrong order - I know that Practical Magic should have been first, but I got caught up in the heat of the moment, and ordered this from the library when it came out. I’m glad I did though. It’s a lovely story, nothing like how I expected it to be. I expected it to be more stereotypically ‘witchy’, but it was much more subtle. This prequel follows two sisters and their brothers as they grow up and recognise that they are different to their peers - they are witches. Their mother encourages them to hide their abilities, to ignore them, but they know that they can't, and when they spend a summer holiday with their aunt they are encouraged to do the opposite of their mother's instructions. They also don't follow their mothers' instructions when she tells them not to fall in love - because of the family curse they are told that it will end badly.
Well worth a read!!
Well worth a read!!
Rachel King (13 KP) rated Hurry Less, Worry Less for Moms in Books
Feb 11, 2019
This is a short book with only 10 chapters and each chapter reads like a devotional. The chapters each begin with an "Encouraging Word," an "Everyday Step" and "A Mom's Thoughts," and ends with "Mom's Quiet Corner," which contains a summary of the chapter in the form of a "Busy Mom's Tip," "A Mom's Special Scripture," "Mom to Mom," and a "Prayer for the Journey." Peppered throughout each chapter are related verses and useful advice from the author and other anonymous mothers. Each chapter also encourages journaling with appropriate questions, plus the book ends with a Discussion Guide that is meant to be used in a group setting among other moms.
I enjoyed reading this book slowly, savoring the words and advice from so many other moms. With three daughters of my own, all under the age of five, I can use all of the tips on less hurry and worry I can get. I may even pass this book on to other moms who need the same kind of encouragement that I got from reading this lovely book.
I enjoyed reading this book slowly, savoring the words and advice from so many other moms. With three daughters of my own, all under the age of five, I can use all of the tips on less hurry and worry I can get. I may even pass this book on to other moms who need the same kind of encouragement that I got from reading this lovely book.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Mirror (Zerkalo) (1975) in Movies
Mar 24, 2019 (Updated Mar 24, 2019)
Autobiographical art-house excursion into who-knows-what is less well-known than the same director's adaptation of Solaris but equally obscure, if you're not in the know anyway (and I'm not). A man shares his dream-like reflections of his life and that of his father (the same actor plays them both; the same actress plays both mothers - see how this could be a bit mystifying?) and the parallels between them.
One of those films which is so revered you really do want to like it, but it's also one of those films which is so oblique and impenetrable that you kind of slip into a zen trance while watching it: there isn't a moment of it which doesn't make a sort of sense at the time it's on screen (well, maybe there are a few), but there's very little sense of a conventional narrative. Mesmerising more than anything else, with some truly beautiful sequences and images on the screen; a technically brilliant work of art but only marginally a piece of narrative cinema.
One of those films which is so revered you really do want to like it, but it's also one of those films which is so oblique and impenetrable that you kind of slip into a zen trance while watching it: there isn't a moment of it which doesn't make a sort of sense at the time it's on screen (well, maybe there are a few), but there's very little sense of a conventional narrative. Mesmerising more than anything else, with some truly beautiful sequences and images on the screen; a technically brilliant work of art but only marginally a piece of narrative cinema.
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated Visiting The Sins in Books
Apr 9, 2019
This book is best on different then any other. Though there seems to be a secret that no one seem to know about Rebanelle and her husband and father to Curtis Jean.
There seems to be a story about mothers and daughters. You see them struggle and what they decide to do what best for their loves ones. It seem to be a story about Curtis Jean mostly.
Curtis Jean does she accept and change the life with her husband and her two daughters. Does she fall backwards? What the legacy of this family and what could destroy everything in it path. There seems to be death around the corner. That it mean to them do they pray to god in one way or not.
I advise that you watch with your children who reads this book. For there is some things that are said that is only meant for adults. I say though of ages of 13 plus would be a good idea to read this book. It seem to be about men and drinking and all that kind of things.
There seems to be a story about mothers and daughters. You see them struggle and what they decide to do what best for their loves ones. It seem to be a story about Curtis Jean mostly.
Curtis Jean does she accept and change the life with her husband and her two daughters. Does she fall backwards? What the legacy of this family and what could destroy everything in it path. There seems to be death around the corner. That it mean to them do they pray to god in one way or not.
I advise that you watch with your children who reads this book. For there is some things that are said that is only meant for adults. I say though of ages of 13 plus would be a good idea to read this book. It seem to be about men and drinking and all that kind of things.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Where Trust Lies (Return to the Canadian West, #2) in Books
Jun 18, 2018
I received this book from the publishing company through Goodreads for free in return for an honest review.
As a person who loves historical fiction I was excited to et my hand on a new book that was within a genre I enjoy.I have read previous books that Janette Oke wrote which I enjoyed immensely. At the core, Where Trust Lies, is about relationships. Relationships between mothers and daughters and sisters.
In general the character, Elizabeth, was boring but she made up for it with her kind and loving heart. I like seeing the relationships between the different characters and how their choices effected their life. At the end of the story the plot changed and not for the good but even still the family held on their strong faith in God.
One of my biggest frustrations in a book is when it is predictable. When a book is predictable I am easily distractible and do not want to finish the book. Oke did a great job of ending the book, especially is a nice romantic way.
As a person who loves historical fiction I was excited to et my hand on a new book that was within a genre I enjoy.I have read previous books that Janette Oke wrote which I enjoyed immensely. At the core, Where Trust Lies, is about relationships. Relationships between mothers and daughters and sisters.
In general the character, Elizabeth, was boring but she made up for it with her kind and loving heart. I like seeing the relationships between the different characters and how their choices effected their life. At the end of the story the plot changed and not for the good but even still the family held on their strong faith in God.
One of my biggest frustrations in a book is when it is predictable. When a book is predictable I am easily distractible and do not want to finish the book. Oke did a great job of ending the book, especially is a nice romantic way.
Three Women of Herat: A Memoir of Life, Love and Friendship in Afghanistan
Book
In the years before the communist coup and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Veronica Doubleday...
Yorkshire's War: Voices of the First World War
Book
At 7.30 a.m. on Saturday 1 July 1916, the British Expeditionary Force rose from its trenches and...