Call the Midwife (2002)

Perfection. I loved every minute of the audiobook. Well done. ( )

A memoir about midwifery in 1950 slums of London. While describing distressing living conditions the book has a live affirming tone to it. It's easy to see why it was made into a TV series. ( )

now on PBS; London East End postwar

For someone who loves historical memoirs, this one was a delight to read. My mother-in-law was training to be a nurse and midwife at the same time as Jenny Lee was and I felt like I got to know my mother-in-law a little bit better!

The writing is beautifully descriptive and made me feel like I was in the East End of London. The characters and their stories are described quirkily and yet with understanding and compassion.

My only disappointment was a little too much spirituality shared in last chapter, but other than that I look forward to reading more of her memoirs.

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I have had this series by Jennifer Worth sitting on my bookshelves for a year. My sister in law let me borrow the five books -- Call the Midwife, Farewell to East End, In the Midst of Life, Shadows of the Workhouse and Letters to the Midwife -- because I enjoy the PBS television show. I got so tied up in adulting, working, reading new releases for review and other books on my TBR stack, that the books sat there on the shelf. Then I signed up for a 2018 reading challenge.....Beat the Backlist.....that challenges readers to enjoy books published before 2018. I started looking at my shelves....seeing all the lovely books I had intended to read....some have been on my shelves for years waiting for their chance! Since I borrowed the series by Jennifer Worth, I decided Call the Midwife would be first! Knowing how busy the holidays are and to squash any excuses, I found the audiobook version from my local library's digital site. I listened while wrapping presents, putting up the tree, travelling to family's homes, running errands....it all worked out perfectly! The book is just as enjoyable as the PBS show! And the show actually follows the book very closely! Excellent!!

Jennifer Worth was a midwife in the East end of London in the 1950s. She and the other midwives rode bicycles to prenatal exams, deliveries and other midwife duties, providing care for the poor women that lived there. The book has tales about problem deliveries, dealing with STDs, vermin and other concerns, domestic violence, large families and antiquated opinions about childbirth and women. The book is heart-warming, alarming and nostaligic, all at the same time. Just a lovely read! I don't know how women survived before modern medical care, birth control and increased opportunities that we have now. Plus, changes in public opinion on some things -- like teenage and single mothers. Unwed mothers are no longer shunned in our western culture and left with nothing, their babies sometimes adopted out without consent. I hope that sort of horror never comes back!

The audiobook I listened to (HighBridge Company) is just over 12 hours long & unabridged. Nicola Barber narrates. Because of my hearing loss, I sometimes have problems hearing and understanding female voices, but I was able to completely understand Barber's narration. She reads at an even pace with great tone and animation in her voice. I loved the audiobook! I kept seeing Chummy wrecking her bicycle, Fred with his pigs and all the action from the TV series in my head as I listened. :)

I will definitely be reading (or listening) to the rest of the series! Especially since my reading goal for the new year is to read more books off my shelves. The Midwife series might be a bit of a cheat.... I borrowed the books months ago. And I hate hate hate it when people borrow my books and take ages to bring them back. So, I am going to return my SIL's books.....and borrow the books online to read. I'm still counting them as backlist off my shelf, but giving them back immediately because they belong to someone else. :) Sort of a cheat -- but not really. :)

Given the subject matter....this book does talk a lot about child birth, vaginas, STDs, medical procedures, family problems, etc.....and might not be something to listen to in front of very young children, unless you want to be answering questions. lol. My son is 13...walked into the room, listened for a moment and ducked out of the kitchen. I heard him telling his dad "Oh mom is doing the dishes and listening to some book about vaginas.'' LOLOLOL If all it takes to keep the men out of my kitchen when I'm working is to listen to books on vaginas.....I'm going to find more! ha ha

All in all, a great book! I will definitely be reading/listening to the rest of the series!



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