Midwives: Summary and book reviews of Midwives by Chris Bohjalian, plus links to an excerpt from Midwives and a biography of Chris Bohjalian.

On an icy winter night in an isolated house in rural Vermont, a seasoned midwife named Sibyl Danforth takes desperate measures to save a baby's life. She performs an emergency cesarean section on a mother she believes has died of a stroke. But what if Sibyl's patient wasn't dead--and Sibyl inadvertently killed her? As Sibyl faces the antagonism of the law, the hostility of traditional doctors, and the accusations of her own conscience, Midwives engages, moves, and transfixes us as only the very best novels ever do.

Media Reviews

Boston Globe The courtroom settings provide . . . ample suspense, but Bohjalian is equally adept at rendering . . . quieter, individual drama. . . . A writer of unusual heart.   People Superbly crafted and astonishingly powerful. . . . It will thrill readers who cherish their worn copies of To Kill A Mockingbird.   Portland Oregonian A treasure. . . . It is a rare pleasure when a finely written novel also grips us with sheer storytelling power.   Kirkus Reviews A classic coming-of-age story in this To Kill a Mockingbird--like reminiscence...a compelling, complex novel.   Publishers Weekly Readers will find themselves mesmerized by the irresistible momentum of the narrative and by Bohjalian's graceful, lucid, irony-laced prose.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by keilla love
midwives is a nice book!
I really liked the novel midwives. It is really exciting and very breathtaking story.

Rated of 5 by Sandybeach
Book that Can't Make Up It's Mind
At first I thought this was a Young Adult book, being narrated by a teen, but the language didn't ring true for YA. Nor does it fit into Mystery or Adult Fiction because of the teenage narrator. While I agree it's suspenseful, there's a withheld...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Melissa
Did She or Didn't She
I enjoyed this book for so many reasons: It was a courtroom drama not centered in a courtroom; It was narrated by the eavesdropping daughter of the protagonist, which provided a great viewpoint; It was suspenseful and touching and the writing...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Cadi
Midwives
I loved the book. I read it in 2 days on a lovely 18 hour road trip. It was very compelling, so deep. I didn't think the end really changed that lingering doubt. I think just taking that risk of acting on those instincts for what you love...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Shannon
Oooh, this book annoyed me. I felt manipulated, and I don't like that. I don't want to give any plot points away (though this book has been out for ages, but still), but I found myself bothered by the facts surrounding Sybil. Do we root for her...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Nora
The title of the book did not appeal to me, but I had to read it for my group book report. After I read it I just couldn't put the book down. I especially like the ending. I will look for more book written by Chris Bohjalian.

...4 More Reader Reviews

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