Book Review: 
The Midwife of Hope River: A Novel of an American Midwife
By Patricia Harman
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Original edition (August 28, 2012)
ISBN-13:978-0062198891
Reviewed by Molly Remer, Talk Birth
Already a fan of CNM Patsy Harman’s lyrical writing style and understated prose, I was eager to read her first foray into historical fiction. The Midwife of Hope River: A Novel of an American Midwife
The Midwife of Hope River is set in a small mining town in West Virginia during the Great Depression and follows the story of Patience Murphy, a midwife with some secrets, as she attends births in desperately poverty-stricken conditions. The story also explores the race relations of the time, with Patience developing a close and mutually supportive relationship with a young black woman who becomes her apprentice—a friendship that raises the hackles of the emerging KKK members in the region.
Harman’s writing reminds me of that of Catherine Cookson or Anne Tyler in the simple elegance with which she writes about normal people experiencing normal lives. Low key and plainspoken without unnecessary drama or angst, the result is a realistic story that speaks to the heart and to the common human experience.
I kept expecting something bad to happen in this book, and while there were definitely some bad events in the story, there was a wonderfully empowering scene towards the end, rather than the victimization or attack I was fearing. I simply can’t think of any type of historical fiction that could be better than a novel about a midwife!
Read my reviews of Patsy’s two memoirs here:
Book Review: Arms Wide Open: A Midwife’s Journey
Book Review: The Blue Cotton Gown
Disclosures:
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.
Amazon affiliate link included above (in title)
**Also, make sure to check out the companion book giveaway as part of the virtual book tour of Harman’s novel.**
Patricia Harman is also on a physical tour for her book (schedule here) and you can also check our her website, Facebook page, and Twitter account.
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This one does sound wonderful, and now I’ll know to look forward to an empowering scene toward the end!
Thanks for being on the tour.
That’s a good point about the story being low key. But, as with the other authors you compared her to, it doesn’t make the story any less interesting or touching. I’m so glad you liked it!
I was in the South book touring when this came out, so just catching up. Interesting about the writing being low key….I guess a midwife has to be that way. Don’t you think? Emergencies happens, you don’t get all hysterical. Remember in my other books, the line, “I go very still…” and try to figure out what to do. Mmmmm. thanks for the great review. xoxox.
Patricia (Patsy) Harman.
Great observation about the relationship between the role of the midwife and your own writing style. I’ve read other midwifery memoirs that have a more hysterical–“savior” type tone to them and prefer your low-key, contemplative style 🙂
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