Reviews tagging 'Miscarriage'

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

45 reviews

leahgustafson's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 

I could not wait to read this one when I first heard about it at the end of 2023. I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve read a good historical fiction, and this one is fantastic! 

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This book is based on the life of Martha Ballard, an 18th century midwife living in Maine. Martha is such an inspiring person, and I love her dedication to women, mothers, and justice. I have not read much set in this time period which also added to my excitement about this one. This story highlights various ways women were treated as second class citizens and their dependence on the men in their lives. I loved Martha’s husband, Ephriam, but it’s apparent that this was not the norm. 

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This story has also a mystery/thriller woven throughout. This storyline gives insight into the justice system in early America. 

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The author’s note at the end of this book is fantastic! I appreciate the extra details about Martha’s life and how it shaped the ideas for this books. I look forward to digging into some of Ariel Lawhon‘s backlist! 

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 ⚠️There are some significant trigger warnings in this book so make sure you check those out before reading! 

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Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Miscarriage, Child death, and Murder

anninerie's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Child death, Rape, and Violence

jobradley's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Somewhat sad & tense but satisfying at the end. A bit of a mystery as well. Loved the perspective of a late 1700s forward-thinking midwife. Very strong female characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Rape

Moderate: Murder, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse

marekcornett's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Despite some major content warnings, this book was absolutely wonderful. Based on a true story of a midwife, Lawhon spun the story around 18th century laws, courts, challenges, misogyny, even modes of transportation. I learned a ton about the time period, and felt myself cheering for Martha the whole way through. Great read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Murder, Miscarriage, and Rape

Moderate: Racism

celery's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Ableism, Classism, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Medical content, Animal death, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Grief, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Vomit, Cursing, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Rape, War, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Sexual content

bookstagramjo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Miscarriage

juanat77's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Violence, Death, Murder, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Blood, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Vomit, Cursing, Grief, Sexism, Sexual content, Bullying, Medical content, Miscarriage, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail

ashleyhatton's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Child death, and Miscarriage

cydneydaniel's review

emotional informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I enjoyed this novel, and then I got to the author’s note at the end and realized all of this was based on true events and I loved it even MORE. 

This book gives Call the Midwife vibes, if Call the Midwife took place in colonial America. Martha Ballard is mother of 9 children and a midwife in Maine in 1789. This story follows her for about 6 months (with some flashbacks to significant moments of her life), where she does her work delivering babies and taking care of pregnant women and also serves as a witness in a suit about an assault committed against a friend and patient. 

There are a ton of trigger warnings to be aware of, but I thought this was an excellent story. 

If you do read this, make sure to read the author’s note at the end for more historical information about the real Martha Ballard!

A quote I enjoyed from the author’s note:

“Martha Ballard is the great-aunt of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. She is also the great-great-grandmother of Mary Hobart, one of the first female physicians in the United States. She left a medical legacy in this country that is unmatched.“

The real Martha Ballard sounds like an incredible woman, and an incredible woman for her time. So glad I read this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Child death, and Rape

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Miscarriage

kateclancy's review against another edition

challenging inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I put it down a few times to finish other books because the early pacing was slow - I think the fact that I read it on audio helped propel me forward. Once I was in though I was IN. I found the author's note really helpful to contextualize her decisions around how she engaged with issues of race, colonialism, and the medical turn of birth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Child death, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Murder, Animal cruelty, Rape, Vomit, Violence, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Racism, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Medical trauma, and Grief