Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
This book was somewhat more uneven than the first in the series. I loved the longer, in depth stories, and the focus on the blight of the workhouses. I wish that everyone who argues with the idea of institutionalized poverty would read this. But there was a section in the middle where she tried to flip into the lighter, sarcastic narration that she wove throughout the first book, and it really didn't fit the overall tone of this volume.
So many tears, so many smiles. The full stories behind some of those featured in the show are amazing.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
For the whole trilogy:
Interesting reads. I liked getting to see what life was like back then in that part of London. The writing, however, didn't really agree with me. Too many times it felt forced and pompous.
I had seen the tv series before reading the books, as well. So I kept having the tv-version of people and events in my head. Overall, I like the tv-version better.
Interesting reads. I liked getting to see what life was like back then in that part of London. The writing, however, didn't really agree with me. Too many times it felt forced and pompous.
I had seen the tv series before reading the books, as well. So I kept having the tv-version of people and events in my head. Overall, I like the tv-version better.
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
Slower than the first and much sadder, but I learned a lot
Not as gripping as the first volume, but more haunting... Frank, Peggy, and Jane were with me for days. Mr Collett, too, although I thought his story dragged at times. Sr Monica Joan's trial was a bit drawn out and even got dull - the BBC handled it better, I thought. Still, I learned a lot and was glad to have read it. Had no idea about workhouses and went online to find more to read about them. As other reviewers have noted, the detail of her memories often feel like a stretch (poetic license anyone?) or like an agenda she wants to present on the social issues the stories bring up. Tiresome.
Like a lot of other people, I really enjoy the TV series Call the Midwife. I also enjoyed the first book by Jennifer Worth – strangely enough, called Call the Midwife. After the second season of the show ended, I was eager for more tales of Jenny, Cynthia, Chummy, Trixie and the nuns.
The book is somewhat different to what I expected - I was looking for more nursing tales, but instead, this book focuses on several people that Jennifer met while she was in Poplar. There are still some good times with the other midwives, but this book belongs to Frank and Peggy, Jane, Sister Monica Joan and Joe Collett. The majority of these stories have also been played out on the show. This didn’t dent my enthusiasm; in fact it was rather nice to have the stories in both written and visual form.
Sister Monica Joan is a comical character in the book and I thoroughly enjoyed Jenny’s story of how she was caught shoplifting and what the nuns did for her. Joe’s story, full of hardship and life in the tenements, was a tearjerker. But the story of Frank, Peggy and Jane was truly heartbreaking. I don’t think I’ve ever read an account of the workhouse so bare, brutal and shocking.
Despite the hardships of these people, the book is a sound read as Jennifer brings to life 1950s London. I only wish there had been a bit more of ‘midwife’ action – births, camaraderie and friendships. However, I do have the television show for that!
I will be continuing to read Jennifer’s next book, Farewell to the East End, for another dose of all things Poplar.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The book is somewhat different to what I expected - I was looking for more nursing tales, but instead, this book focuses on several people that Jennifer met while she was in Poplar. There are still some good times with the other midwives, but this book belongs to Frank and Peggy, Jane, Sister Monica Joan and Joe Collett. The majority of these stories have also been played out on the show. This didn’t dent my enthusiasm; in fact it was rather nice to have the stories in both written and visual form.
Sister Monica Joan is a comical character in the book and I thoroughly enjoyed Jenny’s story of how she was caught shoplifting and what the nuns did for her. Joe’s story, full of hardship and life in the tenements, was a tearjerker. But the story of Frank, Peggy and Jane was truly heartbreaking. I don’t think I’ve ever read an account of the workhouse so bare, brutal and shocking.
Despite the hardships of these people, the book is a sound read as Jennifer brings to life 1950s London. I only wish there had been a bit more of ‘midwife’ action – births, camaraderie and friendships. However, I do have the television show for that!
I will be continuing to read Jennifer’s next book, Farewell to the East End, for another dose of all things Poplar.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
This was very good but different from Worth's first book, which focused more on her own experiences. In this she tells three stories of people who experienced the workhouse or deprivations because of poverty. While I found the license she took in some stories strained credulity, overall this is an important record of the effects of poverty.