I read this a couple months ago and it’s so good. Since then I’ve heard it is a BBC hit show (Call the Midwife), which is a bit of torture for me because we can’t (as far as I know?) watch it here. Darn! It is such a good book and since Downton Abbey is finished, a good BBC show is what I’m craving.
The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times
It is about a young nurse training to become a midwife in the poorer docks section of London. I have said before I am terrible at giving synopsis of books so I will stop there, but it is definitely on my favorite list. Quite shocking, but lovely at the same time.
This book is one of my favorites from my childhood. (Remember this Mom? You probably read it to me 1000 times!) Patrick and I listen at the door in the morning and hear the birds saying, “Spring is here! Spring is here!” It is out of print-but they do have cheap used copies. My battered old copy is a treasure to me. I have about a dozen books my mom saved for me, and I just love them so much.
Hamilton Duck’s Springtime Story
Have you read anything good lately?
ah! How wonderful! I have applied to Midwifery school for this upcoming fall and I love reading books about the subject that aren't "technical" thank you for the recommendation!!
I just ordered myself a used copy. I hadn't heard of this one. Becoming a doula is something I dream about one day, maybe when the kids have flown. Because of this and they fact that all three of my kids were delivered by the same midwife, midwifery is intriguing to me. Thanks for sharing.
Love hearing your recommendations. My book club recently read Unbroken. Such a moving story, and gives you so much insight into what those who went to war for our freedom have endured.
I love your book recommendations. We are so much alike. Have you ever read How Do You Tuck in a Superhero: And Other Delightful Mysteries of Raising Boys? It's a humorous book of short essays written by a mother of five boys.
Oh MY I had forgotten that book!! I loved that when I was a kid. Haven't read the other – will add it to my list of to-reads. I started THE PILE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS this evening and it's hilarious – mixed reviews on it but we'll see. I tend to like these real-to life dramas of the mom for some twisted reason. lol
Tanya
I've read that book; it was fantastic! A series could be really good!
I read "wild Swans, Three daughters of China" By Chang Jung recently and LOVED it! It's an autobiography of the author, her mother and grandmother in pre-revolutionary, China up until recently. True stories and reads like a novel. Full of action, suspense, drama, humor and strength. Highly recommend it
I will have you know that I actually just pulled up your blog while at the library so I could check out some of the ones you have listed on your bookshelf! I am reading A Tree Grows In Brooklyn right now and loving it. I wanted The Midwife first but our library didn't have it. I gotta get that one for sure!!!
Oooh! I just finished "The Forgotten Garden" by Kate Morton and I loved it!
I've added the midwife to my reading list! 🙂
Sadly no, although I have books waiting on the Kindle for me. I'm due about a week ahead of you and I've not found the energy to want to concentrate on a book. So tired. I'm not really a regular commenter but wanted to pop in a say that Mad Men starts on Sunday! 2 hours premiere special!
I've had The Midwife on the shelf for over three years, thanks for reminding me. I'm glad to know you liked it. I bought it on a whim. I'm 12 weeks Pregnant and my HG started at 5.5 weeks this time. The isolation is getting to me, but I think I have enough focus now to get thru a book. This one will be god to pass the time in bed.
My library didn't have A Lantern in her Hand, so I read another one of her books, A White Bird Flying. It starts with Abbie Deal's death and is the story of her granddaughter. I enjoyed it and I just got A Lantern in her Hand from interlibrary loan. 🙂
If you want a wonderful BBC show to watch, check out Lark Rise to Candleford. It is, without a doubt, one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE shows. I cannot believe they stopped making it and I wish there were more seasons. As a Downton fan you'll love seeing the actor who plays Mr. Bates. Speaking of that guy, I'd also recommend the BBC movie/miniseries North and South, based on Elizabeth Gaskell's novel. Both of those are wonderful and are ones I can wholeheartedly recommend.
Enjoy and I hope you are feeling good. I love your blog! Reading it provides so much encouragement! 🙂
I just finished the book "Remembering Isaac" by Ben Behunin. It is a sweet, gentle story about a small town potter. I loved it, there are 2 more books in the series and I can't wait to read them.
I live in the UK and can tell you that the BBC series was exceptional! So moving…I cried by the end of each episode. I have the book on my nightstand to read.
I was reading the summaries of some of the author's other books, and the tv series was pulled from stories in several of the books.
Hope it comes to the US!
There's a Sherlock Holmes TV series in England that my sister loves so much that she orders the DVDs, so she doesn't have to wait for it to air here. Perhaps you could do the same with the Midwife.
I just started Molokai– set in Hawaii in the 1890s, about a young girl who contracts leprosy and is made to go live in a leper's colony for the duration of her life. She is a plucky heroine and so far it is really good!!
Also– Julian Fellowes–the guy that did Downton, has a new 4-part miniseries on the Titanic set to view in April on ABC– to mark the 100 year anniversary of the sinking. It looks really good!! I can't wait to see it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjXgM1Eb0tg
I read Shadows of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth last year and could not put it down. I do however know the places she rode her bike as a midwife as I grew up in the East End of London. I received Call the Midwife for Christmas but as yet have not opened the cover. This has prompted me to get reading!
Just sent my mother "A lantern in her hand" on your recommendation – I am sure she will like it.
I loved the television series, I hope it makes it over to you. As a former nurse and midwife I could relate to a lot of it and it brought back happy memories.
You must read The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton – Absolutely one of my favorites!!!!
Have you read the book that Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs was supposedly based on? I was wondering if it was worth ordering as I can't imagine my library will have it.
I always love your book recommendations so I will definitely read this one. I have been reading a lot, but nothing to rave about – decent reads, but nothing overwhelming great. Right now, I'm reading the Mother Daughter Book club series with my 12 yr old daughter – she has been begging me to read them so I started and am on the 2nd one in the series – cute YA books and they reference good old classics like Anne of Green Gables and Little Women, so can't be too bad right?
Everyone is talking about Downtown Abbey and I really want to find the old episodes and start from the beginning. I have been watching The Waltons on DVD with the kids–they don't make shows like that anymore! Such good values!!
I am reading "Deep Down True" by Janette Fay and loving it!!
I just finished reading Ellis Island per your recommendation and absolutely adored it. I was excited to find that it is part of a trilogy and the second book comes out next week! Although it's being released across the pond in the UK…so I still need to figure out how to get my hands on a copy. Thanks for your recommendations!
I read that book a few years ago and loved it! I am having serious Downton Abbey withdrawals. I have found the British series, "Larkrise to Candleford" and have been enjoying that very much – through Netflix. Have you seen that series? Very sweet. It also stars Brandon Coyle (Mr. Bates).
I read that book several years ago, as I wanted to be a midwife, and its fantastic, the series is absolutely brilliant! I'm sure you'll get it over there soon, they have already commissioned a second series, just as good as downton!
I didn't remember that children's book until you opened to the 'Spring Is Here!!' page. That story was read to me countless times as a little girl, too. I'm going to go call my mom now and see what she did with all of our old books. I know there's bound to be some treasures in there!
You have got to read the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon! It's soooo good, especially if you like historical fiction with very real characters.
I wish I had more time to read, and it seems like when I get the chance I fall asleep! The most recent book I read for myself was The Help. I was on a plane without children and had 2.5 hours, I loved it so much. I recently started reading chapter books with my 5 year old. We just finished Charlotte's Web. I love that book so much. SO many good lessons learned from that book.
I'm reading, The Tale of Despereaux, with my kids. It might just be my new favorite. SO good.
Have you read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane? It's also by Kate dicamillo and we loved it even more than the tale of despereaux!
'The Forgotten Garden' is a great one and I loved it, but 'The Robe' was life changing for me. Those are my favorite kinds of books.
Love the book recs! I just read The Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park – have you or your kids read it? For me, it really personalised the lives of kids in a complicated part of Africa and through all of the challenges celebrates perseverance. I think again again when I turn on that shiny water tap!
I think you might be able to get the midwife series on DVD at amazon.co.uk, though I'm not sure they ship to the US….Miranda Hart is marvellous! Let me know if I can send it to you (a shred of the thanks you deserve) zuzunev at gmail……
I just read The Midwife last week! Before that one I read Baby Catcher, which was a modern day memoir of another midwife. She worked mainly in Berkley, CA. If you haven't read it before, check it out.
I'm so happy about all these book recommendations! I gotta write them all down.
To go along with your children's book pick- I love "Summer" and "Snow". Just bought your rec.- thanks. 🙂
I love the Midwife.. I read it twice..
I read this book last summer and loved it! My favorite family was the family with twenty something children. The husband and wife had a wonderful marriage because they couldn't speak the same language! It also reminded me how truly fortunate we are to live in this day and age .
I ditto the recommendation of North and South and Candleford to Lake Rise. North and South is a BBC mini series based on Edith Wharton's book. Candleford to Lake Rise was a BBC show with four seasons (around 40 episodes). I was missing Downton Abbey also and found these videos. If you use Amazon a lot, Amazon Prime is well worth the $79 (or so) a year. Both of these BBC shows are free to Amazon Prime members. You can watch them on a Kindle Fire or transfer them to your television.
Unfortunately it looks like Call the Midwife is very new and not yet available to us here in the USA.
I also recommend the Downton Abbey Book. Very enjoyable with info about the show and time period.
As for other books – loved the recent book Behind The Beautiful Forevers.
You have yet to steer me badly with a book recommendation! I loved The Midwife. I'm tracking down used versions of her other tow books. Thanks you so much for sharing the book you love 🙂
This book is now a tv series here in Ireland. It is on the network bbc1. It is a weekly must see.
Call theMidwives is available on Netflix streaming. 🙂 You can also check out the BBC website, they often have the current episodes available for a short period of time (like 4-6 weeks).
I will have to add the book to my list to rent from library. The show is wonderful!