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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated This Much is True in Books
Aug 22, 2022
151 of 230
Book
This Much is True
By Miriam Margoyles
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
From Blackadder to Call the Midwife, from PG Tips to Harry Potter, Miriam Margolyes is Britain's favourite national treasure -- this is (at last) her extraordinary life story and it's well worth the wait.
She is a true gem a British treasure. I loved reading this her life is full of funny stories and such a beautiful memories. She has always been an honest open person when we watch her interviews I absolutely love watching her on Graham Norton. Such a genuinely beautiful woman.
Book
This Much is True
By Miriam Margoyles
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
From Blackadder to Call the Midwife, from PG Tips to Harry Potter, Miriam Margolyes is Britain's favourite national treasure -- this is (at last) her extraordinary life story and it's well worth the wait.
She is a true gem a British treasure. I loved reading this her life is full of funny stories and such a beautiful memories. She has always been an honest open person when we watch her interviews I absolutely love watching her on Graham Norton. Such a genuinely beautiful woman.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Midwives in Books
May 10, 2018
Sibyl Danforth is not licensed to deliver babies, but it was her calling. Being a lay midwife she gets no greater joy than bringing children in the world for women who want to have them at home. But one home birth goes horribly wrong and despite every effort to save the mother she has to do what she can to save the baby. The next thing she knows she is on trial for involuntary manslaughter. Midwives is told from the point of view of Danforth's 14 year old daughter. Will she escape the charge or be forced to give up the job she loves so much.
Dean (6921 KP) rated Eastern Promises (2007) in Movies
Feb 25, 2018
This is very similar to A Histroy of Violence with the same director (David Cronenberg) and Viggo Mortensen teaming up again. It is just as violent and possibly more bloody and graphic. The acting is of a very good standard and although it is a bit slow at times you are likely to be engrossed in the story too much to notice.
A midwife delivers the child of a young Russian girl who dies at birth. Trying to trace her relatives she gets her Russian uncle to translate her diary which only uncovers a look into the life of the Russian mafia in London. If you liked A History of Violence, The Godfather you should really like this film.
A midwife delivers the child of a young Russian girl who dies at birth. Trying to trace her relatives she gets her Russian uncle to translate her diary which only uncovers a look into the life of the Russian mafia in London. If you liked A History of Violence, The Godfather you should really like this film.
ClareR (5577 KP) rated Once Upon a River in Books
Mar 27, 2019
A beautiful story of the Thames
It’s really hard to read through tears, you know. And that’s just what I had to do through the last chapters of this book. This book held my attention throughout. Its beautifully, lyrically written - it has a real feel of the fairytale and supernatural about it (Quietly, the Ferryman), set alongside the practical and realistic (Rita, the nurse/ midwife).
This is a story that follows several characters who come together because of a drowned child who comes back to life. The fantastical runs alongside the everyday, and the Thames runs alongside all of it.
I loved this book, it’s gentle pace (like the Thames on a good day, perhaps!), and the people who populated its pages. It really is a gorgeous book and well worth reading.
This is a story that follows several characters who come together because of a drowned child who comes back to life. The fantastical runs alongside the everyday, and the Thames runs alongside all of it.
I loved this book, it’s gentle pace (like the Thames on a good day, perhaps!), and the people who populated its pages. It really is a gorgeous book and well worth reading.
Lindsay (1693 KP) rated The Amish Midwife in Books
Feb 15, 2018
This was about Lexie finding her biological family. She is searching for her Identity. Her father died and told her about a box that came and when she finds it set her on mission to find her birth parents. She goes to Pennsylvania to help a midwife in trouble. Though she was to start working in Philly.
She learns some Amish words though her patients that she learns with some true meaning. People in her family are hiding information about her. She arrives at Marta Bayer home and Marta get angry at her. If you want to read more about the surprise or not for she finds a surprise that will be quite suprising to find out. Does Lexie get her Story. You need to read to find out.
She learns some Amish words though her patients that she learns with some true meaning. People in her family are hiding information about her. She arrives at Marta Bayer home and Marta get angry at her. If you want to read more about the surprise or not for she finds a surprise that will be quite suprising to find out. Does Lexie get her Story. You need to read to find out.
Amy Wolfs (521 KP) rated The Familiars in Books
Oct 6, 2019
Historically accurate (1 more)
Overall plot
Some character development a bit lacking (1 more)
Verbiage hard to grasp
It's a good book, but a bit of a struggle
The book is set in the 1600’s and depicts a young lady, Fleetwood, who has had the misfortune of loosing 3 pregnancies, and is pregnant with her third. Worried she is unable to sustain a pregnancy, after finding a letter to her husband stating it could kill her, she turns to a mysterious stranger for support.
Although not historically accurate in terms of the characters story, the book is set around the time of the Pendle Witch Trials in 1612. Some of the characters themselves are named after real people of historical significance. The relevance of this, is that her mysterious stranger / employed midwife becomes an object of suspicion herself.
Although not historically accurate in terms of the characters story, the book is set around the time of the Pendle Witch Trials in 1612. Some of the characters themselves are named after real people of historical significance. The relevance of this, is that her mysterious stranger / employed midwife becomes an object of suspicion herself.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2072 KP) rated Delivering the Truth (Quaker Midwife Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Rose Carroll is a Quaker Midwife in Amesbury, Massachusetts, in 1888. The small town is usually quiet until a fire destroys some of the factories in town, killing employees. Rumors circulate that it was caused by arson. Will her connections in town help Rose figure out what is happening?
This is a good series debut. I had a little trouble keeping track of the characters at the beginning, but I quickly got them all straight, and I grew to care for them by the end. The plot is good with some nice complications and a creative climax. I’m looking forward to visiting Rose again in more books.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-delivering-truth-by-edith.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a good series debut. I had a little trouble keeping track of the characters at the beginning, but I quickly got them all straight, and I grew to care for them by the end. The plot is good with some nice complications and a creative climax. I’m looking forward to visiting Rose again in more books.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-delivering-truth-by-edith.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Book of the Unnamed Midwife in Books
Oct 24, 2017 (Updated Oct 24, 2017)
A dark dystopian tale about prejudice
This is a pretty excellent dystopian novel, almost like an amalgamation of The Road and The Handmaid's Tale, exploring women's role in an apocalyptic setting.
After a fever kills most of the Earth's population, specifically women and children, making childbirth deadly, a midwife attempts to survive an extremely precarious situation for her gender. In the new world, women are routinely raped and sold, used as baby making machines and commodified as a bartering tool.
Her only option is to disguise herself as a man and attempt to make her way across the country in search for a beacon of hope. She faces age-old prejudices, such as religion and patriarchy, while trying to be a guide to humanity.
No doubt, it is extremely dark, and some of it is very disturbing, so brace yourself for feeling a little queasy.
After a fever kills most of the Earth's population, specifically women and children, making childbirth deadly, a midwife attempts to survive an extremely precarious situation for her gender. In the new world, women are routinely raped and sold, used as baby making machines and commodified as a bartering tool.
Her only option is to disguise herself as a man and attempt to make her way across the country in search for a beacon of hope. She faces age-old prejudices, such as religion and patriarchy, while trying to be a guide to humanity.
No doubt, it is extremely dark, and some of it is very disturbing, so brace yourself for feeling a little queasy.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2072 KP) rated Murder on Astor Place (Gaslight Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Midwife Sarah Brandt is returning to visit a mother and newborn when she learns there has been a death at the home. A boarder was strangled during the night, and it turns out this is the younger sister of someone she knew years ago. Determined to see justice done, Sarah teams up with the very reluctant Frank Malloy, the detective assigned to the case, to find the killer.
This book really does feature two detectives as both Sarah and Frank are active contributers to seeing justice done. The hopping back and forth between them only enhances the story and gives us more twists. All the characters are strong as well, and I truly liked spending time with them, especially the leads. I did feel the climax was over the top, but that is my only complaint with this mystery.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-murder-on-astor-place-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book really does feature two detectives as both Sarah and Frank are active contributers to seeing justice done. The hopping back and forth between them only enhances the story and gives us more twists. All the characters are strong as well, and I truly liked spending time with them, especially the leads. I did feel the climax was over the top, but that is my only complaint with this mystery.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-murder-on-astor-place-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
ClareR (5577 KP) rated The Familiars in Books
Jul 14, 2019 (Updated Jul 14, 2019)
The fact that this book is based on true events makes it all the more harrowing, in my opinion. When people ask “What era would you like to visit or live in?”, I pretty much always answer “I’m fine just where I am. I rather like the antibiotics, general freedom and option not to be hung and/ or burned as a witch, thanks very much”. I do however, very much like reading about the past, and this gives a fascinating insight to the Pendle Hill Witch Trials.
Fleetwood is seventeen years old and pregnant for the fourth time. Her three previous pregnancies have all resulted in stillbirth or miscarriage, and she has found letters from a doctor to her husband, saying that she will not survive another. She meets Alice Grey, who is a midwife, by chance. Alice promises to help her give birth to a living child, and assures her that she will survive the birth.
The fact that Alice is a midwife leaves her vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft, and accused she is. Fleetwood is adamant that she will save her as she is her friend and the only person who will be able to save hers and her baby’s lives. No one takes Fleetwood seriously though; when they do take her seriously, they expect her to go home and knuckle down to the more womanly pursuits of child bearing and being a wife.
Fleetwoods frustration is described so well - no one will listen, and no one will help. It’s such a tense atmosphere - Fleetwood just wants to help,her friend, and there are so many obstacles in the way. Even her social standing is no deterrent if someone were to accuse her of witchcraft if she becomes too troublesome (there’s the example of Margaret Pearson in the story, whose maid accused her of having a toad as a familiar, and spent time in the stocks before being imprisoned)
I really enjoyed this book, and I’ll be waiting for whatever the author writes next (I’m on the mailing list!).
Many thanks to Readers First for my copy of this book.
Fleetwood is seventeen years old and pregnant for the fourth time. Her three previous pregnancies have all resulted in stillbirth or miscarriage, and she has found letters from a doctor to her husband, saying that she will not survive another. She meets Alice Grey, who is a midwife, by chance. Alice promises to help her give birth to a living child, and assures her that she will survive the birth.
The fact that Alice is a midwife leaves her vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft, and accused she is. Fleetwood is adamant that she will save her as she is her friend and the only person who will be able to save hers and her baby’s lives. No one takes Fleetwood seriously though; when they do take her seriously, they expect her to go home and knuckle down to the more womanly pursuits of child bearing and being a wife.
Fleetwoods frustration is described so well - no one will listen, and no one will help. It’s such a tense atmosphere - Fleetwood just wants to help,her friend, and there are so many obstacles in the way. Even her social standing is no deterrent if someone were to accuse her of witchcraft if she becomes too troublesome (there’s the example of Margaret Pearson in the story, whose maid accused her of having a toad as a familiar, and spent time in the stocks before being imprisoned)
I really enjoyed this book, and I’ll be waiting for whatever the author writes next (I’m on the mailing list!).
Many thanks to Readers First for my copy of this book.