The Birth House
Ratings21
Average rating3.9
An arresting portrait of the struggles that women faced for control of their own bodies, The Birth House is the story of Dora Rare—the first daughter in five generations of Rares.As apprentice to the outspoken Acadian midwife Miss Babineau, Dora learns to assist the women of an isolated Nova Scotian village through infertility, difficult labors, breech births, unwanted pregnancies, and unfulfilling sex lives. During the turbulent World War I era, uncertainty and upheaval accompany the arrival of a brash new medical doctor and his promises of progress and fast, painless childbirth. In a clash between tradition and science, Dora finds herself fighting to protect the rights of women as well as the wisdom that has been put into her care.
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A unique story about midwifing in Nova Scotia in the late 1800-early 1900s. A fascinating look at Nova Scotia during that time and how the war, the changing times in medicine and the Halifax Explosion affected families. It's a work of fiction, however, the author did a great job with the local areas she covered and her character description, making them feel real and authentic.
I am continuing on with the Canadian theme today with this fabulous novel I just finished! I am especially drawn to novels set in Canada and this one was just amazing. The author has a way with her writing that just pulls you in from the get go and weaves this wonderful spell making you forget you have to make dinner or do the laundry. LOL A very well written, poignant and empowering look at the battles women had for the rights over their own bodies
Very underwhelmed with this read. It's hard to sympathize with something you don't really agree with (home births). It's a great feminist read though. Just hard to enjoy the book when you side with the antagonist
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