Sibyl Danforth is a midwife in rural Vermont, delivering babies in the homes of their mothers. She loves her work and her life. Then she attends the labour of a mother who aparently dies before the delivery, so Sibyl decides to save the unborn child by performing a caesarian on the body of the mother. Anne, the assistant midwife present, later reports her doubts that the mother was indeed dead and alleges that she saw blood spurt from the site of the incision. This results in a criminal investigation and trial for murder. The story is told through the eyes of Connie, Sibyl's daughter.
This is a book that will stay with you. The accounts of the labour are very well written, perhaps surprisingly so as it is written by a man. I found the courtroom scenes rivetting, all the more so because they are seen from the point of view of a fourteen year old who is afraid for the fate of her mother and her entire family life. Right to the end of the court case I was unable to guess the outcome.
I have not read anything else by this author, but would be interested in doing so.
Thursday 25 February 2010
Mr Commitment by Mike Gayle
Duffy and Mel have been together for four years when she proposes to him, but Duffy isn't sure whether he's ready to commit. After a disastrous shopping trip to IKEA they split up, but find they cannot move on from the life they shared together.
What do you call chicklit for men? Whatever it is, this is it. Well written, well plotted but a bit predictable. I used to read chicklit (for women and men) a lot, but this convinved me that I've moved on from there. Enjoyable enough, the literary equivelant of a snack but I would rather have a meal.
What do you call chicklit for men? Whatever it is, this is it. Well written, well plotted but a bit predictable. I used to read chicklit (for women and men) a lot, but this convinved me that I've moved on from there. Enjoyable enough, the literary equivelant of a snack but I would rather have a meal.
Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult
This was our bookgroup selection for February.
Would you take the heart of the man who murdered your husband and daughter for your younger daughter, who is seriously ill and waiting for a transplant heart? If you do accept the heart, is it because you want to or because he wants to donate it? Shay is on death row waiting to be executed for a double murder, but when he hears that the daughter / sister of his victims needs a heart transplant he decides that he wants to donate his. This book covers his legal battle to change the method of his execution to enable his heart to be usable, and his battle to persuade the mother of the girl to accept his offer.
One thing picked up by the group is that after reading other books by Picoult it seems that she has a number of common elements that feature throughout her work. These include an ethical dilema, a close family facing a hugely life changing event, a medical problem and a legal battle. I myself found that many of the coincidences were just a little too far fetched, such as the idea that a grown man would have a heart the correct size to transplant into an eleven year old girl.
I don't know whether I believed in the aparent miracles performed by Shay but I could understand why people would be prepared to suspend their natural scepticism in the face of the miraculous, after all look at all the reported "faces of Jesus" found on slices of toast!
Would you take the heart of the man who murdered your husband and daughter for your younger daughter, who is seriously ill and waiting for a transplant heart? If you do accept the heart, is it because you want to or because he wants to donate it? Shay is on death row waiting to be executed for a double murder, but when he hears that the daughter / sister of his victims needs a heart transplant he decides that he wants to donate his. This book covers his legal battle to change the method of his execution to enable his heart to be usable, and his battle to persuade the mother of the girl to accept his offer.
One thing picked up by the group is that after reading other books by Picoult it seems that she has a number of common elements that feature throughout her work. These include an ethical dilema, a close family facing a hugely life changing event, a medical problem and a legal battle. I myself found that many of the coincidences were just a little too far fetched, such as the idea that a grown man would have a heart the correct size to transplant into an eleven year old girl.
I don't know whether I believed in the aparent miracles performed by Shay but I could understand why people would be prepared to suspend their natural scepticism in the face of the miraculous, after all look at all the reported "faces of Jesus" found on slices of toast!
Some members of the group failed to finish the book, finding it not to be to their taste but I enjoyed it. Picoult's books always provide the reader with plenty of food for thought, good characterisation and in this case a good twist at the end - I really didn't guess this one!
Monday 8 February 2010
Return to Cold Sassy by Olive Ann Burns
This is the sequel to Cold Sassy Tree, the story of Will Tweedy and his family, living in a small town in Georgia at the turn of the twentieth century. In Leaving Cold Sassy Will has grown up and working in a nearby town. Whenhe returns to Cold Sassy he meets Sanna Reid, a young teacher about to start work at Will's old school. Has Will met the love of his life?
Sadly the author died before completing this book, but dictated the plot for the remaining chapters to a neighbour from her sick bed, enabling the book to be completed after a fashion after her death. The book also contains much writing about the author and her fight against the illness that finally claimed her life, giving valuable insight into the character and influences behind the book.
I enjoyed this book (as I did Cold Sassy Tree) because despite its old world charm it doesn't gloss over the failings of the characters, even the "heroes" have their faults just as in real life. Will is shown as being an imperfect husband, despite his love for Sanna, and Sanna's faults are also apparent. In fact, the faults make the characters all the more likeable and believable. It's just a shame Burns didn't live long enough to take Will into old age!
Sadly the author died before completing this book, but dictated the plot for the remaining chapters to a neighbour from her sick bed, enabling the book to be completed after a fashion after her death. The book also contains much writing about the author and her fight against the illness that finally claimed her life, giving valuable insight into the character and influences behind the book.
I enjoyed this book (as I did Cold Sassy Tree) because despite its old world charm it doesn't gloss over the failings of the characters, even the "heroes" have their faults just as in real life. Will is shown as being an imperfect husband, despite his love for Sanna, and Sanna's faults are also apparent. In fact, the faults make the characters all the more likeable and believable. It's just a shame Burns didn't live long enough to take Will into old age!
Saturday 6 February 2010
3/50 project
Too many of our local independant retailer have closed their doors over the last few years. Our town has lost its only independant bookshop, our scrapbook store, our only retailer of sewing machines and there are constant rumours about the future of our art shop. One of them was more down to failing to keep up with the curent trends and carrying outdated, tired stock than with problems with the economy, but it was sad to see them all go.
I live in a smallish market town and the local independent retailers could make our town a really special place. We have a new, modern mall, recently built, and full of chain stores, you know the kind of thing, same shops as every other largish town or city in the UK. Much of the money we spend with these big retailers goes straight back to the shareholders rather than staying in our local communities and I often feel that the money I spend does not really matter to anyone but me.
Recently I have been reading about a movement that started in the US called 3/50 project. The idea is that the comsumer picks three local independent businesses that really matter to them and pledge to spend $50 per month with these three businesses. Pick businesses that would make your area feel less of a good place to live if they were gone, not just retailers, perhaps a locally owned restaurant where you get good food and a welcoming atmosphere.
I feel that I cannot be aware of the issues raised by this campaign and not put my money where my mouth is any more. If the current trend continues we are going to find our choices of what and where we buy eroded until we are left with the same few multiple retailers stocked with the product their buyers decide that we want. We will all become faceless purchasers rather than valued customers.
Although my purchasing power is slightly curtailled until I am back in paid employment I hereby state my intention to support my chosen three local retailers by making regular purchases from them. First is a local coffee shop / cafe run by a very friendly team of people, it is run by a charity and provides work for people with mental health needs. The food is good, the prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is very welcoming. My second choice is Wool Mountain, our local yarn store. They have a great selection of yarns and patterns and the staff are very helpful. Thirdly I have chosen our only remaining scrapbooking retailer. They are having a tough time competing with online retailers but I love the chance to see the papers in person before I make a purchasing decision. They also support local charities through events held throughout the year.
Read more about the campaign at http://the3/50project.net
I live in a smallish market town and the local independent retailers could make our town a really special place. We have a new, modern mall, recently built, and full of chain stores, you know the kind of thing, same shops as every other largish town or city in the UK. Much of the money we spend with these big retailers goes straight back to the shareholders rather than staying in our local communities and I often feel that the money I spend does not really matter to anyone but me.
Recently I have been reading about a movement that started in the US called 3/50 project. The idea is that the comsumer picks three local independent businesses that really matter to them and pledge to spend $50 per month with these three businesses. Pick businesses that would make your area feel less of a good place to live if they were gone, not just retailers, perhaps a locally owned restaurant where you get good food and a welcoming atmosphere.
I feel that I cannot be aware of the issues raised by this campaign and not put my money where my mouth is any more. If the current trend continues we are going to find our choices of what and where we buy eroded until we are left with the same few multiple retailers stocked with the product their buyers decide that we want. We will all become faceless purchasers rather than valued customers.
Although my purchasing power is slightly curtailled until I am back in paid employment I hereby state my intention to support my chosen three local retailers by making regular purchases from them. First is a local coffee shop / cafe run by a very friendly team of people, it is run by a charity and provides work for people with mental health needs. The food is good, the prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is very welcoming. My second choice is Wool Mountain, our local yarn store. They have a great selection of yarns and patterns and the staff are very helpful. Thirdly I have chosen our only remaining scrapbooking retailer. They are having a tough time competing with online retailers but I love the chance to see the papers in person before I make a purchasing decision. They also support local charities through events held throughout the year.
Read more about the campaign at http://the3/50project.net
Thursday 4 February 2010
This week...
I've been knitting poppies to be sold in aid of charity as requested by the wonderful people on http://www.lovinghands.org/ . They are a friendly group who try to make life better for those less fortunate by making and donating a variety of things in accordance with the seasonal challenges set. I am not doing this for totally altruistic reasons although it does give a warm glow to be doing something good for people I will never meet or whose names I will never know. Over the years I have amassed a lot of possessions, and I mean a lot. Much of this is crafting materials which I buy fully intending to use but don't always manage to. Most of it has no monetary value (half a ball of grey acrylic yarn anyone?) but I really want to get the full use out of it. I could give it away but I genuinely do get pelasure out of crafting and want to use it all. So this is part of the huge clear out of my home. Also I can't eat and knit at the same time so as I have a pound or two (or more) to lose I have another good reason to knit. The picture really doesn't do them justice!
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