pickThis lives up to the hype. Push it to the top of your TBR. Martha Ballard is a strong female character/historical figure who you'll want to meet. This will make me look to read Lawhon's other books. DO NOT skip the author's note at the end!
pickBased on the actual diary of Martha Ballard, the novel blends historical fiction with mystery, offering a glimpse into the daily life of a midwife in post-Revolutionary America. The historical insight into the justice system—particularly its treatment of women—is fascinating. I didn‘t want the story to end. Don‘t skip the author‘s note at the end—it adds even more depth to an already immersive read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ❤️📚 This was my #bookspin for February.
An appropriate read for this 2degF snowy Kansas day!! ❄️🩵 ❄️
All the schools are closed, but unfortunately, I still have to go to work. I suspect a quiet day, so I‘ll bring my book just in case!! So far, this is a wonderfully written book with a lovely midwife and a mystery. 🩵 ❄️🩵
so-soA rather one-dimensional character study based on the real life of healer/midwife, Martha Ballard, in the late 1700s. This story is packaged as a murder mystery but is mostly focused on salivating over how shrewd and steadfast Martha was for a woman of her time. It was fascinating to think about the justice system (or lack thereof) in the 1700s and to examine women‘s lives at the time (we haven‘t come that far…).
so-so⭐️⭐️⭐️
I appreciated the author‘s note, which illuminated the true events and people that inspired this book. I‘m glad it will help Martha Ballard to be remembered, even if a lot was reimagined. It didn‘t always feel authentic to the time period for me, and there were a lot of characters to keep track of. I also had expected the murder mystery element to be more prominent. Still, there were moments when I was lost in the story! 🎧
bailedI‘m certain this will be unpopular, but I just bailed on this book. I‘m really only mentioning it because it‘s my #bookspin book this month. I just found it so slow and boring… to the point that I‘m not looking forward to listening to it in the car tomorrow on the way to work. I‘ll pass my library copy onto the next in line. So- DNF at 31%.
pickRead for #auldlangspine
Nice historical fiction inspired by a real-life midwife who kept a daybook. I have a hard time with historical fiction because I‘m hyperaware of the modern attitudes that inevitably creep in. Still this was an emotional story and likeable characters, with several powerful storylines that managed to never cross the line to melodrama. Thank you for recommending this, @CBee
pickWoot, finished! I see why this book is every where right now. It a a nice dive back into some historical fiction and makes me want to read more stuff from the 1700s (although maybe not necessarily about midwifery)
Anyway, I really enjoyed it
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