My Notorious Life: A Novel
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
3 journalers for this copy...
Arrived some time in the last ten days or so, when I was out of town.
The book is fiction but is based in part on the life of a real midwife, who experienced some of the same things. Some of the characters are historical figures.
Axie is sent to an orphanage with her two siblings when her mother becomes very sick, and eventually the three land on an orphan train. The three end up in different homes, and Axie, the oldest, vows to find her brother and sister.
In the meantime she works in the house of a midwife, and becomes her assistant. She seems to have a gift for the work and continues it as an adult. She does more than help deliver babies, however. She compounds pills to help various "female troubles", including the trouble of being pregnant. Sales of the medicines are successful, and he life becomes easier. At least financially.
However, a physician, who wants all mothers to see a doctor for deliveries, goes on the attack and Axie (then calling herself by her middle name, Annie) is hauled to court. It won't be the last time.
Annie has the character to go against convention in her efforts to ease women's pains. She stands up for her own rights and for those of others. She never fully leaves behind her coarse beginnings, so we are treated to her outbursts and lack of gentlewomanly manners.
The book seems accurate in its description of the times. I am guessing that a midwife during those times might need the strength of character to do what needs to be done (as she would now, too). Descriptions of pregnancy complications include enough details to be believable, and the acknowledgements indicate that Manning had medical help in this area.
Axie is sent to an orphanage with her two siblings when her mother becomes very sick, and eventually the three land on an orphan train. The three end up in different homes, and Axie, the oldest, vows to find her brother and sister.
In the meantime she works in the house of a midwife, and becomes her assistant. She seems to have a gift for the work and continues it as an adult. She does more than help deliver babies, however. She compounds pills to help various "female troubles", including the trouble of being pregnant. Sales of the medicines are successful, and he life becomes easier. At least financially.
However, a physician, who wants all mothers to see a doctor for deliveries, goes on the attack and Axie (then calling herself by her middle name, Annie) is hauled to court. It won't be the last time.
Annie has the character to go against convention in her efforts to ease women's pains. She stands up for her own rights and for those of others. She never fully leaves behind her coarse beginnings, so we are treated to her outbursts and lack of gentlewomanly manners.
The book seems accurate in its description of the times. I am guessing that a midwife during those times might need the strength of character to do what needs to be done (as she would now, too). Descriptions of pregnancy complications include enough details to be believable, and the acknowledgements indicate that Manning had medical help in this area.
Added to General Lit VBB.
Sent to bookcrossing member of general lit book box.
Thank you for offering this book to the Gen/Lit VBB and sending to me, jlautner! It sounds like it will be an interesting book!
Released 3 yrs ago (4/21/2020 UTC) at Book Box, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Added to the Bookbox of Surprisingly Good Books.
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Picked it up from the Bookbox of Surprisingly Good Books. Thanks to Spatial And jlautner for sharing.
Journal Entry 8 by Barcino at Little Free Library at 1518 Bonita Ave. in Berkeley, California USA on Sunday, March 31, 2024
Released 2 wks ago (3/31/2024 UTC) at Little Free Library at 1518 Bonita Ave. in Berkeley, California USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Happy Easter!
Leaving it in this Little Free Library for others to enjoy. (I hadn't realised I'd had this copy for 4 years now!)
Leaving it in this Little Free Library for others to enjoy. (I hadn't realised I'd had this copy for 4 years now!)
