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Get your tissues ready

If you pick up this book expecting to read about the lives of the Nonartus nuns’ and midwives’ adventures in delivering babies, you will be disappointed.

This memoir is filled with 3 stories of people affected by their experiences living in the workhouses of London or the people they loved. Reading these made my heart ache for the human suffering that occurred. It is a glimpse into a way of life that has passed, but that we can learn from.

Do not read this book if you are looking for something fun and lighthearted. This is a somber tale.
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Expand filter menu Content Warnings

In this second installment of her memoirs, Worth focuses on three stories. The combined tale of Jane, Frank, and Peggy; the trials and history of Sister Monica Joan, and the military history of Joe Collett. All of these characters appear in the TV series, but here they get a depth of attention not possible in an hour or two of edited film. Worth's love and respect for their histories just radiates throughout the entire tale, and each person's backstory is just full of tragedy and heartbreak. And yet none of them ever gave up hope.

I think what really gets me is how Worth portrays herself. She doesn’t shy away from describing her own narrow-minded judgment or the condescension she feels for some of the people she encounters. But she also doesn’t hesitate to dramatically show how wrong she was, and how by listening with compassion she is able to interact with rich and complex people.
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Wasn't as cohesive as the first one, but some really fascinating true stories in here. Gotta be honest here, I was kind of hoping Sister Monica Joan would have to face the consequences for her actions. I'm still a little confused whether she got off justly or not.
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