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emmehooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-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
4.75
I wish this book had a trigger warning for readers. It is historical and beautifully written but it is does not mince words about the experiences and effects of sexual assault.
Overall, wonderful. I loved the feminist lens and disability neutrality (as opposed to inspiration porn or tragedy).
SPOILER <the Justice was a little too poetic, if you know what I mean.>
Overall, wonderful. I loved the feminist lens and disability neutrality (as opposed to inspiration porn or tragedy).
SPOILER <the Justice was a little too poetic, if you know what I mean.>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child death, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, and Sexism
Moderate: Xenophobia and Grief
Minor: War, Slavery, Vomit, and Blood
thrillofthepage's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Rape, Pregnancy, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
amandafitz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Violence, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Genocide, Misogyny, Abortion, Blood, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Child death, Bullying, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, and War
sarahkatereads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
3.0
The Frozen River starts out strong and leads you to believe that solving the murder of a man trapped in a frozen river will be the main focus of the story, but after the prologue, the novel quickly suffers from uneven and slow pacing. The main focus of this novel is not murder, but rather Martha’s relationships with her family and the town, as well as the oppression of women in the 18th century. I believe that The Frozen River’s marketing (and even the book’s blurb) as a mystery novel was a bit misleading, as the mystery aspect of the story tends to exist in the periphery of the main plot and never truly feels as fleshed out as the day to day scenes or the birthing scenes. I definitely consider it to fall squarely in the regular historical fiction/drama category, rather than in the historical mystery category.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Colonisation, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence
inked_in_pages's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Genre: historical fiction, mystery
[TW: graphic depictions of sexual assault, miscarriage, stillborn births]
Ariel Lawhon introduces her readers to a little known American Hero from the 1700s with her novel about Martha Ballard, American Midwife and ultimate badass. I am incredibly grateful to Lawhon for her research as well as her efforts to seek justice, although centuries later and through literature only, for the women in this novel.
This is a book that will live in my heart, and my bones, for years to come - the writing is atmospheric and beautiful, the story is powerful, and Martha Ballard is an unsung hero that deserves to have her time in the spotlight. I binged this novel in less than 2 days - which says a lot for the density of the writing and the difficulty of the story line at times - and cannot wait to talk with everyone and anyone who has also read it.
I believe this will go into the vault of classic and high praised historical fiction as it should be. Ariel Lawhon delivers a true masterpiece for readers, especially those who find themselves drawn to historical fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Murder
booksdanilikes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Child death, Murder, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Sexism, and Sexual assault
clue_2424's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Read as a book that was selected by my book club. It is historical fiction, a genre I like. I thought there were a lot of characters so that when a name came up that had been briefly mentioned before, I had to go back and refresh my memory about the character. The story of a midwife in the 1700's and a mysterious death that she becomes involved in solving.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Rape
mels_reading_log's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Martha Ballard is a badass midwife from the late 1700’s living in the newly settled USA. I am obsessed with her and how strong and opinionated she was for that time period, she was a smart and talented woman and when she spoke people listened. She also has such a loving husband and amazing kids. I didn’t know until I got to the end that she was a real person and this book was based loosely on the actual journals that she kept. I love a book about a strong matriarch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Sexism, Grief, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Medical content, Blood, Sexual violence, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, and Child death
Minor: War
bookishwithhou's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I love historical fiction, especially when it is based around a real person’s life. In real life Martha Ballard was a midwife who caught over 1,000 babies and never lost a mother, as well as the great aunt of Clara Barton. In this novel, she is the same, but also plays a hand in helping unravel a murder and an assault on one of her neighbors. Some of these events are pulled directly from her real diary. I enjoyed the moments of everyday life in 18th century Maine, from candle making to food.
I always love fiction about midwives—however I do feel like the author took liberties, perhaps based on her own experiences in childbirth, instead of consulting a real midwife’s view on women or their headspace during birth. (There is no mention of consulting a midwife in the authors note or acknowledgments, only childbirth practices for this time period.) Ballard’s character at one point says “in birth all women are novice” …or something to that effect. While this may be true for some, I find the birth workers and midwives I know have a bit more respect for the innate wisdom and intuition many women have when it comes to their births. Just a little something to note!
I loved that the author’s note explained certain creative decisions that were made, and I’m excited to read A Midwife’s Tale, which chronicles Martha Ballard’s actual life.
I always love fiction about midwives—however I do feel like the author took liberties, perhaps based on her own experiences in childbirth, instead of consulting a real midwife’s view on women or their headspace during birth. (There is no mention of consulting a midwife in the authors note or acknowledgments, only childbirth practices for this time period.) Ballard’s character at one point says “in birth all women are novice” …or something to that effect. While this may be true for some, I find the birth workers and midwives I know have a bit more respect for the innate wisdom and intuition many women have when it comes to their births. Just a little something to note!
I loved that the author’s note explained certain creative decisions that were made, and I’m excited to read A Midwife’s Tale, which chronicles Martha Ballard’s actual life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Racism, Rape, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
hugsy85's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Medical content, Child death, Misogyny, Sexism, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Murder, Rape, and Sexual violence