Wednesday, September 10, 2014

What I Read Wednesday

The Midwife of Hope River: A Novel of an American Midwife
I don't usually read books like this, but I didn't have any books to read… and desperate times and all that. Patience Murphy is a midwife during the Depression area. Most of her patients cannot pay, or if they do, they pay in the form of a chicken or some firewood. Patience is also on the run from an incident that happened during a union strike. The author of this book was a midwife for many years and her insertion of birth facts got a little heavy-handed. Example: a woman refuses to leave the bathtub while birthing, Patience muses afterward that her patient seemed so calm and that of course it's good for the baby because they spend nine months in water. I get it. Water birth is safe and healthy for both mom and baby. If I wanted the specific details on why, I would probably read an actual birthing book. It's really, truly okay to allow your readers to make inferences.

The Magician King: A Novel (Magicians Trilogy)
The second book in the Magician trilogy, taking Quentin and others back to the magical world of Fillory. It's hard to review second books, but I enjoyed this--especially the end.

A Man Called Ove: A Novel
Everyone keeps talking about this book! Ove is a grumpy old man who doesn't hold back on telling people how he feels. I definitely respect and admire this position. But Ove, as we learn, has many reasons for his grumpiness, following a life of being dealt a bad hand. Why should Ove trust life? Then one morning, his new neighbors flatten his mailbox--forcing Ove to begrudgingly allow people into his life. I tried to separate myself from this book because it had a lot of feels. And then, I read the last few pages and burst into an ugly cry. So much for separating myself. This is good. You'll fall in love with Ove and his people (and his cat).

What are you reading?

7 comments:

Barb Ruess said...

A Man Called Ove is on my hold list!

This week I read One Plus One... it was a light, enjoyable read. Felt far more like typical chick lit to me than Me Before You.

And I just finished (as in minutes ago so I can turn it in bf the library opens) Summer House with a Swimming Pool. Herman Koch does an amazing job making despicable people and their decisions compelling reading. I didn't like it quite as much The Dinner but still really liked it.

One crazed mommy said...

Finished Loyalty - I was mixed on this book - it was good, but it was weird - like Stephen King meets Dean Koontz weird. The first half of the book was amazing and had me hooked - the second half was good, but it was different...still a good read though. There is a sequel, and it was good enough that I will check it out.
Currently reading Mindy Hayes last book in the Faylinn Series - Luminary. Her books are YA, and would be great for middle school aged kids.

Stephanie Wilson she/her @babysteph said...

Total ugly cry in Man Called Ove! I'm glad you liked it!! I finally read The Alchemist- good timing on that one for me and then The Man In The Window by Jon Cohen (did you recommend that one here? Not sure how I came upon it?)... SO very very surprisingly good.

Steph

InTheFastLane said...

Currently Reading California....it is a little too preachy for me when I would just like to hear a good story. But, I will keep reading.

Finished The Steady Running of the Hour. Liked it a lot - but still didn't like ambiguous endings. I want to know what he found out! I don't want to make my own story or guess, or think about his reasons for doing what he did. I want answers.

Heather said...

Hi Erin! I'm Heather and I was just wondering if you would willing to answer a quick question about your blog! Please email me back at Lifesabanquet1(at)gmail(dot)com :-)

Theresa Mahoney said...

I finally had time to start The Mortal Instruments series. I completed The Infernal Devices a few weeks back and have been itching to continue with the series. So far, so good.

My sister used a mid-wife with her son. She wasn't the friendlies lady, but she did get the job done.

Unknown said...

I've been wanting to read The Silent Wife for a while and finally got it from the library. I am liking it so far.