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barrh's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
allysonhannagen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
ashleereadsbooks692's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Gore, Sexual assault, Medical content, Death, Cursing, Sexual violence, Rape, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Emotional abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Violence, Sexual content, and Miscarriage
maddiet425's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, and Blood
bendercath's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.75
Wow. This book blew me right out of a deep reading slump … I even lost some sleep to listen to this book. Btw, the audiobook is excellent.
I have rarely read works about the Revolutionary era … and at times, I wondered how accurately the female-male relationships were portrayed … but I found all of it to be fascinating. I felt that I was in the Hook, on Mill Creek, in this book.
The writing is explicit at times … shockingly at points and enjoyably at others (you know what I mean!) … but it all serves to create a Martha Ballard that you will feel like you know personally. And that ending … 💪
The author’s note at the end is fascinating. Beautiful work, Ms. Lawhon.
I have rarely read works about the Revolutionary era … and at times, I wondered how accurately the female-male relationships were portrayed … but I found all of it to be fascinating. I felt that I was in the Hook, on Mill Creek, in this book.
The writing is explicit at times … shockingly at points and enjoyably at others (you know what I mean!) … but it all serves to create a Martha Ballard that you will feel like you know personally. And that ending … 💪
The author’s note at the end is fascinating. Beautiful work, Ms. Lawhon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Sexism
thebookwormkatie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Child death
Moderate: Violence
cmower's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
kbookish's review
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Pregnancy
Moderate: Rape, Medical trauma, Child death, and Miscarriage
Minor: Murder
nataliebootlah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Book club pick of the month! This one was definitely a slooooow burn, but in the end, it burned bright. 🔥
Martha Ballard is the town of Hallowell’s midwife and healer. In a place full of secrets, gossip, and drama, Martha knows everyone and knows a little bit about everyone too. She keeps her diary in meticulous order, noting births, deaths, and general happenings in the town. So when a body is found on the frozen river, Martha is called to examine it and provide the cause of death in court, and her diary is at the center of it all.
I love a ‘based on true events’ story where the author takes some liberties here and there. Martha really was a renowned 1700s midwife whose diary was passed down for generations. As mentioned in the author’s note, Martha Ballard is the great-aunt of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, and great-great-grandmother of Mary Hobart, one of the first female physicians in the United States. She is an outstanding woman in America’s history, but one we rarely, if ever, learn about. Will we ever know what really happened in the town of Hallowell? Probably not. But we do get to see Lawhon’s version. And it’s a damn good rendition. What a story.
“Memory is a wicked thing that warps and twists. But paper and ink receive the truth without emotion, and they read it back without partiality. That, I believe, is why so few women are taught to read and write.”
Martha Ballard is the town of Hallowell’s midwife and healer. In a place full of secrets, gossip, and drama, Martha knows everyone and knows a little bit about everyone too. She keeps her diary in meticulous order, noting births, deaths, and general happenings in the town. So when a body is found on the frozen river, Martha is called to examine it and provide the cause of death in court, and her diary is at the center of it all.
I love a ‘based on true events’ story where the author takes some liberties here and there. Martha really was a renowned 1700s midwife whose diary was passed down for generations. As mentioned in the author’s note, Martha Ballard is the great-aunt of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, and great-great-grandmother of Mary Hobart, one of the first female physicians in the United States. She is an outstanding woman in America’s history, but one we rarely, if ever, learn about. Will we ever know what really happened in the town of Hallowell? Probably not. But we do get to see Lawhon’s version. And it’s a damn good rendition. What a story.
“Memory is a wicked thing that warps and twists. But paper and ink receive the truth without emotion, and they read it back without partiality. That, I believe, is why so few women are taught to read and write.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Pregnancy
Moderate: Grief, Child death, Miscarriage, and Death
Minor: Murder, Sexual content, Blood, and Medical content
sarahs9's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, and Rape