Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

10 reviews

dkamada's review against another edition

hopeful informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Martha reminds me of Claire from the Outlander series

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Pregnancy, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Murder, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Medical content, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Child death, Misogyny, and Rape

silverhill's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Blood, Misogyny, and Rape

Moderate: Child death, Murder, Gore, Sexism, and Sexual violence

Minor: Chronic illness, Ableism, Abortion, Animal death, Classism, Incest, Grief, Racism, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Bullying

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

In Maine, 1789, Martha Ballard, a midwife, is called to examine a dead man who was found in the frozen river. Martha immediately recognizes him as one of the men accused of raping a local woman. She's certain the two crimes are connected.

This an incredibly intriguing and thought provoking story. The author blends fact and fiction to bring this historical fiction to life. This is a heartbreaking story, and caution should be given as there is much discussion of rape. 

Maine acts as its own character in this book, with its difficult winters and beautiful landscape as a backdrop. I loved the vivid descriptions of the landscape throughout the story. 

During a time when women had no rights or freedoms, Martha was an outspoken advocate for her patients. She's a strong, empathetic, and courageous woman who goes to extreme lengths to protect and care for the women in her community. 

This book does a really great job at exploring the role and treatment of women at this time. Martha lived in a time when women were seen as less than. You could be charged for having a baby out of wedlock, but of course there were no repercussions for the man. Martha fought for justice even when all odds are against her. Even as a midwife, she was looked down upon by the male doctors. 

The murder mystery element within the story was very compelling.

We were given some clues that pointed to Sam as the murderer earlier on. So I had an idea that it may have been him, but I couldn't figure out his motivation. That came as a surprise.

 

I'm really happy that North got what he was due.

I actually burst out laughing when Martha cut off his *appendage*. As she said, he can't hurt any women now.

I felt as though the story could have been a little shorter, there were some scenes that didn't really add to the book. Also, there are a lot of characters who I lost track of and had to go back and figure out how they fit in the story.

The Frozen River was inspired by Martha Ballard (February 9, 1735 – June 9, 1812), a midwife who delivered hundreds of babies and never once lost a mother during birth. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Abandonment, Infidelity, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Blood, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

celery's review

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

kimveach's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

This year is getting off to a great start, as this is another five-star read!  This book had so many intriguing elements of life in 1790s Maine.  The story of the midwife, her family, her community, the early justice system, and the murder mystery that opens the book makes for a compelling book— I loved it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual violence, Classism, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Colonisation, Animal death, Chronic illness, Gore, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Abortion, and Sexual assault

torturedreadersdept's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Classism, Death, Miscarriage, Murder, Racism, Child death, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Bullying, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual assault, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexism

Minor: Sexual content, Grief, Excrement, Infidelity, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Abortion, Confinement, Cursing, and War

kjgould's review

adventurous emotional informative mysterious fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Rape

Moderate: Child death, Violence, Murder, and Chronic illness

Minor: Abortion and Colonisation

mdavis26's review

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Murder, Medical content, Incest, Grief, Sexual violence, Bullying, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Miscarriage, War, and Medical trauma

ashleyj_reads's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

Author's Craft is some of the best I've seen in a LONG time. Great character development and relationships!! Plot and unfolding of events is all clever, beautiful, and very well-timed.
A couple small minor character plot holes I wish had been given closure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Blood, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Rape

Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Child death, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Chronic illness, and Misogyny

Minor: Sexual content and Emotional abuse

mtnest's review

challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Sexual assault, Child death, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Grief, Toxic relationship, Pandemic/Epidemic, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Classism, and Chronic illness

Minor: Sexual content, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, and War