Editorial Review:

An arresting portrait of the struggles that women faced for control of their own bodies, The Birth House is the story of Dora Rare--the first daughter in five generations of Rares.

As apprentice to the outspoken Acadian midwife Miss Babineau, Dora learns to assist the women of an isolated Nova Scotian village through infertility, difficult labors, breech births, unwanted pregnancies, and unfulfilling sex lives. During the turbulent World War I era, uncertainty and upheaval accompany the arrival of a brash new medical doctor and his promises of progress and fast, painless childbirth. In a clash between tradition and science, Dora finds herself fighting to protect the rights of women as well as the wisdom that has been put into her care.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

Transistor radios?:

A minor quibble: For a novel set in and about the time of the 1st World War (1914ish), what's with the reference (p. 276 of hardback edition) to transistor radios? The transistor wasn't even invented until about 1947, well after the end of the 2nd World War.

Very Good First Novel:

I found this a compelling first novel about a subject I didn't think I'd care much about. Dora Rare is a young woman growing up in a family of brothers in Nova Scotia. She begins to spend her time with an older woman in town who is the local midwife and takes Dora under her wing as an apprentice of sorts. What unfolds is an unsentimental story about a woman growing up among the pain, joy, and danger of birthing children while attempting to find herself.

Great Read:

This book is my next recommendation for our September book club meeting. It is filled with historical information about the role of midwives in the early part of 20th century; before, during, and after WWI. This book also focuses on the varied roles of women during this time period. The plot is fast paced and the characters well-developed. The setting of the book takes place in rural Nova Scotia, Canada. If you enjoy historical fiction - this is a wonderful book.

A journey:

What an exceptional book! With vivid imagery and powerful prose the story of all women kind unfolds in a small town.
The stark picture she paints of "modern medicine" and the overriding economic interests of physicians holds true today. Perhaps even more so. An excellent cautionary tale regarding that issue.
Well worth the reading.

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