Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Thoughtful and memorable look at the impact of poverty on generations, and a glimps of tenacity and resiliency of the human spirit.
Read August 2014: I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the first because the first focused more on midwife stories (which I love) but this one was more about the people Jenny Lee knew and took care of.
In the second of Jennifer Worth's memoirs of working in post war London, you are not getting the same as her first book Call the Midwife. This is a good thing.
We have moved on from the stories of births and babies, though they are still present but onto three main tales all related in some way to the Workhouse. If you know very little about workhouses and your only experience of them is seeing Oliver Twist asking 'for more' then this book will give you all the grim details, descriptions and stories about what went on. Remember they were there to help people, a very primitive form of social care.
These three tales are interspersed with the lives of the Nuns at Nonnatus House as well as the other trainee nurses, Trixie, Chummy and Cynthia and they inject reality and humour into. One section is given over to Sister Monica Joan and her appearance in High Court. Worth seems to make this experience funny and sad at the same time, and all the residences of Nonnatus House are affected in some way.
You may need a strong stomach and tissues for the other two stories of local Poplar folk. The first Jane, Peggy and Frank takes us the reader through Worth's recollections of these characters back into the grim time of the workhouse and how three young people got to be in there but also how they raised themselves to get out as well. What happens is perhaps the right thing for all three of the characters, and I could sense what was going to happen with Peggy and Frank but somehow it just seemed right and I did not think less of them because of it. Worth even comments as such. Jane becomes the victim of some very canny, devious Nuns who actually are doing the right thing by interfering and looking after Jane and her life. These Nuns are doing God's work however they see fit.
The third recollection is of Joe Collet, an old soldier who has led a tragic life brought on my loneliness because his family had been the victim of war. He arrives into the nurses and nuns lives as they call round to dress his ulcers. Worth effectively describes the smells and sights of the wound and also the living space of Joe Collett. A building which houses memories, smells and far too many people but when they decide to condemn it (something that takes years to actually bring into place) then their lives change and all his life Joe has worked hard to avoid the workhouse but somehow finds himself back in there.
A great second book, and so good to know the characters and place but to have a completely take on life there in nineteen fifties and before. Three stories that make you realise what has changed and also what has not, you learn something along the way.
We have moved on from the stories of births and babies, though they are still present but onto three main tales all related in some way to the Workhouse. If you know very little about workhouses and your only experience of them is seeing Oliver Twist asking 'for more' then this book will give you all the grim details, descriptions and stories about what went on. Remember they were there to help people, a very primitive form of social care.
These three tales are interspersed with the lives of the Nuns at Nonnatus House as well as the other trainee nurses, Trixie, Chummy and Cynthia and they inject reality and humour into. One section is given over to Sister Monica Joan and her appearance in High Court. Worth seems to make this experience funny and sad at the same time, and all the residences of Nonnatus House are affected in some way.
You may need a strong stomach and tissues for the other two stories of local Poplar folk. The first Jane, Peggy and Frank takes us the reader through Worth's recollections of these characters back into the grim time of the workhouse and how three young people got to be in there but also how they raised themselves to get out as well. What happens is perhaps the right thing for all three of the characters, and I could sense what was going to happen with Peggy and Frank but somehow it just seemed right and I did not think less of them because of it. Worth even comments as such. Jane becomes the victim of some very canny, devious Nuns who actually are doing the right thing by interfering and looking after Jane and her life. These Nuns are doing God's work however they see fit.
The third recollection is of Joe Collet, an old soldier who has led a tragic life brought on my loneliness because his family had been the victim of war. He arrives into the nurses and nuns lives as they call round to dress his ulcers. Worth effectively describes the smells and sights of the wound and also the living space of Joe Collett. A building which houses memories, smells and far too many people but when they decide to condemn it (something that takes years to actually bring into place) then their lives change and all his life Joe has worked hard to avoid the workhouse but somehow finds himself back in there.
A great second book, and so good to know the characters and place but to have a completely take on life there in nineteen fifties and before. Three stories that make you realise what has changed and also what has not, you learn something along the way.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Absolutely heartbreaking, but very fine. It's something of a shock to think that if my paternal great-grandparents had ended up in England, rather than North America, that they too might have known the shadow of the workhouse.
Portions of this book are heartbreakingly sad. I had to stop and gather myself at one point before I could continue. I think this is wonderful book because it captures first hand memories of life in England for the less fortunate. Of course, it is a great understatement to call these people less fortunate. They were people without any resources or family to fall back on. When disaster struck, the only recourse was a dismal and brutal social system.
While this is not an easy book to read or listen to because of the great sorrow shared, I would highly recommend it.
While this is not an easy book to read or listen to because of the great sorrow shared, I would highly recommend it.
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
These books have some serious dept to them, at one hand it's very enjoyable to read about the midwives life but at the other hand it's a gut punch following the horrors and strugles of people knowing full well that people actually had it like that.
Quite good. The old soldier story at the end is the best by far. Had me weeping.
3.5 stars, but rounding up.
The second volume of Jennifer Worth's midwife/nursing memoirs is incredibly readable and very personable. I just didn't love it as much as the first installment. Maybe it was the lack of nursing and birthing stories, this book was more about a few, interesting minor characters rather than a true memoir. Still, I enjoyed the view into history and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
The second volume of Jennifer Worth's midwife/nursing memoirs is incredibly readable and very personable. I just didn't love it as much as the first installment. Maybe it was the lack of nursing and birthing stories, this book was more about a few, interesting minor characters rather than a true memoir. Still, I enjoyed the view into history and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.