Continuing the countdown of my books, from 1st to 25th, THE JACKAL‘S MISTRESS. Today it‘s my 5th novel, a 1997 story about a midwife on trial for manslaughter -- and the novel that would become my second movie (starring Sissy Spacek and Alison Pill), an Oprah's Book Club selection, and a #1 New York Times bestseller.
Having read a record 23 books in December, I had a lot of excellent books. I‘ve chosen the tagged book for its message of female empowerment about childbirth during another misogynistic time period—when men imposed their will on women and thought they knew more about birthing a child and women‘s illnesses than the women themselves. A timely book it seems. #12booksin2024 @Andrew65
pickWhat an excellent book—a huge shoutout to the power of women over misogyny early last century, mostly set in #Canada but a few important moments in #Boston. The main character was raised to be a midwife. When a male doctor comes to town, he insists the old ways are dangerous and his newfangled ways (including forceps) are safer. There is so much to unpack about this book a short review cannot do it justice. In general, it speaks to the power ⬇️
“when the reading of such literature is associated with idleness…a woman‘s thoughts and feelings cannot be other than impure and sensual…novel-reading causes, at the very least, fretting, nightmares and a bad complexion.”
That explains so much! 😂
#foodandlit #Canada @Catsandbooks
The winner of a signed first edition of MIDWIVES is Marianne Fokas! She subscribed to my newsletter and her name was randomly drawn from the new subscribers. Sign up at www.ChrisBohjalian.com . (Scroll to the bottom of the home page). I‘ll have more giveaways (plural!) in October and EVERYONE who is a subscriber — new and current subscribers — will be eligible. Thanks, friends!
Want to be the first to know what I‘m reading? Writing? The first to win free galleys, books, and swag? The first to know where I‘m appearing? The first to read original essays? Subscribe to my newsletter by visiting ChrisBohjalian.com, scrolling to the bottom, and signing up. Sign up between now and 11:59 pm edt on September 21 and be entered to win a signed first edition of MIDWIVES. (No purchase necssary, U.S. only, must be 18 or older.)
It's so crazy how fast this pregnancy has flown by! She's almost here, and I can't wait. I just wish my mama was here to see this. It's been one year without her, and it hurts so bad, especially because I knew she wanted to have a granddaughter so badly.
On a lighter note, here are some of the books that my fiancée and I read to babygirl. Definitely not all of them, but some of them.
