As my fellow Calgarians all know, this week was our first glimpse at winter. The cold, the snow, and the darkness setting in just a little earlier every day... I don't know about you guys, but to me, there is nothing better than curling up by the fire with a good book when faced with these conditions!
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| A reminder of the beauty of our Canadian winters. |
Here are my thoughts (warning contains spoilers):
Amy McKay's novel 'The Birth House' is set in the small village of Scots Bay, Nova Scotia. It is during the first world war and the villagers are struggling with poverty and adapting to major changes in society.
The story is told from the point of view of Dora Rare, who is the first female born into the Rare family in five generations. She develops a relationship with the village's midwife and healer, Miss Babineau, as a little girl ,and eventually becomes her apprentice.
Dora's many life experiences throughout the book threaten to forsake the practices and traditions Miss B has taught her. However, she always seems to find herself in situations where her knowledge and compassion as a midwife, healer and friend, are required. The arrival of an out of touch doctor to Scots Bay, and his efforts to abolish the traditions of their village, threaten what is destined to be her calling. Yet through perseverance, her dedication, and the support and love of others, she manages to continue to practice and teach what she has learned.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of the setting of the story. I love to read about parts of Canada I have yet to visit. The beautiful hills, the sea, and the vibrant descriptions of the colour green made me feel so grateful for the beautiful and diverse country I live in.
Parts of the book consist of correspondences between the characters, excerpts from the local newspaper, as well as pages of Dora's diary. I love the variety! From one chapter to the next you never know what to expect and you get such interesting and varied perspectives of the same story.
The part I enjoyed the most about the book were all the heartwarming, and sometimes heartbreaking, circumstances of people's lives. You read about everything from physical abuse, poverty, loneliness, and the hardships many of the villagers were faced with on a daily basis. But among all of these things you also find friendship, trust, generosity, love and a positive outlook on life. I felt happy when I finished reading this book and more than anything, grateful.
So often, we focus on the terrible things we constantly hear in the news, or read about in books and newspapers. It becomes difficult to remember the good there is in the world. I believe Amy McKay did a beautiful job of reminding the readers about the beauty that can be found in people, and about the impact that even small actions can have on the lives of those around you.
I hope you enjoyed my first book review, and for those of you looking for a very interesting, heartwarming read, I highly recommend this novel by Amy McKay.
Happy reading!
Domi
I love this blog!!! It's amazing!
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