A review by vk124
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

This is a contemporary take on a historical woman who was all but lost to memory, except for her faithful keeping of a shorthand journal. The woman is real, as is the rape and the dead man encased in ice. There is a great deal of literary license to fill in the blanks and create a novel.

I skipped through various scenes where sexual acts/thoughts were described. I found the book triggering due to the rape(s), as well as the injustices and prejudices of that time.

I do think it's quite impressive that Martha Ballard was able to deliver so many babies without loss of life either to the infant or the mother.
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