Welcome to Litsy!

#CoverStories #River
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#Read2025

Finished this one yesterday, it‘s the 2nd of my March #Roll100 picks (#51 Any Library Book) & the 5th book from my #AuldLangSpine list from @JacqMac & I loved it! A historical mystery centered around a real-life midwife, Martha Ballard. I found the mystery gripping in how it unfolded & the look at midwifery in 1779 in Maine was interesting. The author‘s notes in the back about the choices she made in telling Martha‘s story were also ⬇️

I‘m getting a jump start on next week‘s book club book since Ozzie currently has me trapped on the couch.

My #ChatterDay started late as it was hard to get going this morning because I left my house at 4:15 AM to get to the airport & got back home from Hilo at 10 PM.😵‍💫

So, breakfast, coffee, finishing this book (I‘m at 84%) which is SO GOOD & then finishing my #SpringCardSwap before running errands. (Yes, they‘ll probably be a little late).

How‘s your Saturday/weekend going?

Thanks for the #ChatterDay tag @TheSpineView 🤗 I‘m back at the coffee shop to try to finish up my work project after getting a little reading in while I have breakfast.

I hope to get to addressing my #SpringCardSwap envelopes & catching up on some #LitsyLove mail before I run my errands.

My March #Roll100 picks:

# 9 Any Series or #90 Any Back List: Nettle and Bone (T. Kingfisher backlist)

#51 Any Library Book: The Frozen River (also on my #AuldLangSpine list from @JacqMac )

# 74 Any BOTM: Leather & Lark #SeriesLove2025

Keeps you guessing as the puzzle unfolds.

A mix of history, romance and life lessons during a time when women were expected to be seen and not heard. Really enjoyed it.

This lives up to the hype. Push it to the top of your TBR. Martha Ballard is a strong female character/historical figure who you'll want to meet. This will make me look to read Lawhon's other books. DO NOT skip the author's note at the end!

Based on the actual diary of Martha Ballard, the novel blends historical fiction with mystery, offering a glimpse into the daily life of a midwife in post-Revolutionary America. The historical insight into the justice system—particularly its treatment of women—is fascinating. I didn‘t want the story to end. Don‘t skip the author‘s note at the end—it adds even more depth to an already immersive read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ❤️📚 This was my #bookspin for February.

An appropriate read for this 2degF snowy Kansas day!! ❄️🩵 ❄️
All the schools are closed, but unfortunately, I still have to go to work. I suspect a quiet day, so I‘ll bring my book just in case!! So far, this is a wonderfully written book with a lovely midwife and a mystery. 🩵 ❄️🩵

So good!

11/100📖🎧
#thefrozenriver #ariellawhon #goodreads #goodreadsreadingchallenge #readinggoal #ebook #audiobook

A rather one-dimensional character study based on the real life of healer/midwife, Martha Ballard, in the late 1700s. This story is packaged as a murder mystery but is mostly focused on salivating over how shrewd and steadfast Martha was for a woman of her time. It was fascinating to think about the justice system (or lack thereof) in the 1700s and to examine women‘s lives at the time (we haven‘t come that far…).

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I appreciated the author‘s note, which illuminated the true events and people that inspired this book. I‘m glad it will help Martha Ballard to be remembered, even if a lot was reimagined. It didn‘t always feel authentic to the time period for me, and there were a lot of characters to keep track of. I also had expected the murder mystery element to be more prominent. Still, there were moments when I was lost in the story! 🎧

I‘m certain this will be unpopular, but I just bailed on this book. I‘m really only mentioning it because it‘s my #bookspin book this month. I just found it so slow and boring… to the point that I‘m not looking forward to listening to it in the car tomorrow on the way to work. I‘ll pass my library copy onto the next in line. So- DNF at 31%.

Read for #auldlangspine

Nice historical fiction inspired by a real-life midwife who kept a daybook. I have a hard time with historical fiction because I‘m hyperaware of the modern attitudes that inevitably creep in. Still this was an emotional story and likeable characters, with several powerful storylines that managed to never cross the line to melodrama. Thank you for recommending this, @CBee

Woot, finished! I see why this book is every where right now. It a a nice dive back into some historical fiction and makes me want to read more stuff from the 1700s (although maybe not necessarily about midwifery)
Anyway, I really enjoyed it

I finally spent a gift card someone got me, and I got my first book from abebooks! The other 3 are still on their way, but this was the only book I ordered I haven't read yet 🙂 the others are all books I've read but don't own yet

#weeklyfavorites #January

"It is a pity you hate women so much" I tell him "because you are going to spend the rest of your life pissing like one".

What a line!

One of the things I love about historical fiction is that it introduces you to people we should know and Martha Ballard is one of those people and while this book doesn't stick 100% to the facts, it's pretty close all in all.

I was drawn into this book straightaway and loved every page.

An engrossing listen from beginning to end. Loved Martha‘s strength and determination. Highly recommend! 5🌟

@Chrissyreadit My sweet friend…you are always so kind and generous. Thank you so much. Where did you find the time to send me such a lovely gift. I am thrilled about the books and my husband is thrilled about the treats! 🤣 Sending you hugs and gratitude. I will write tou back soon. I think I may have bronchitis 😬

This book was based on a real person, Martha Ballard, a midwife and healer in the late 18th century. There is a murder mystery and rape, but also relationships of family and small community. This is the best kind of historical fiction: complete immersion into a historical setting and a protagonist that refuses to look the other way and approaches her life with honesty and conviction. Strong women has always appealed to me. Highly recommend.

The body floats downstream.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

This is my first Ariel Lawhon title and it is riveting! 🎧📚💕❄️

It is winter in Hallowell,Maine,a community on the Kennebunk River.Beautiful,lyrical writing,historical fiction at its best.A local midwife,Martha Ballard,becomes involved in a rape trial because she treated the battered & bruised woman who was raped by 2 men.Martha remains steadfast & true to her daily medicinal diary observations & her voice,despite some peoples efforts to silence her.Murder,deception, & dissension follow.#auldlangspine

Thank you @bookbrowse and @penguinrandomhouse for a copy of this book for discussion on https://www.bookbrowse.com/

I just love this image of a meandering mind. 🩵🩵
#auldlangspine

The body floats downstream.

#firstlinefriday

So good! Captivating and powerful, Lawhon‘s novel is a gripping read that you won‘t want to put down. Based on a true story of a midwife in 18th century America, I loved this strong, courageous woman who was fighting for justice and truth, no matter what it takes. This is a story of resilience, compassion, family, and the relentless pursuit of equality. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Great read, I love a good historical fiction.

#12Booksof2024

Hard to believe we‘re already up to November with our list—so fun sorting through everything I read and picking favorites. Hard too, but this month was an easy one. Loved this story about a midwife in late 18th c. Maine. Once I started I found it impossible to put down. Setting and characters—with plenty of people to love and/or hate—were fantastic. A great high stakes story that keeps you engaged from page one.

@Andrew65

I received this as a Christmas gift this year. Book number one of 2025. The reading year has started off strong.

Started this yesterday and it‘s gripping so far. But I‘m only on p.24 and already distracted by historical details. A character shows up in a small Maine village claiming to be “a licensed physician and recent graduate of Harvard Medical School,” which is … weird. Medical licensing wasn‘t a widespread practice until the 1800s, and the book takes place in 1789. Plus, a “recent graduate” would have to do an apprenticeship before being licensed.

January Bookspinbingo board is complete! Bookspin is also my #readordonate and my Doublespin will be a new book, likely The Will of the Many, my #jolabokaflod gift from @Gissy So many litsy connections this month! @TheAromaofBooks @julieclair

I haven't finished The Main Character yet but I may not finish today (stupid job 😄) and I can tell it isn't going to knock The Most Wonderful Crime Of The Year off the podium so I'm calling it and finishing my bracket. As I've suspected all year, nothing was able to top my very first read of 2024- though Greta & Valdin came very close.
Bring on 2025 🎉

Martha Ballard is an 18th Century midwife living in Hallowell, Maine. Lawhon has written a fictional account of a harrowing winter in the life of Mrs. Ballard, a real woman known to us through her diary and a Pulitzer winning biography. The novel is driven on its‘ arc through the account of a horrific rape and Martha‘s quest for justice for the female victim.

Exceptionally researched, and well written. The characters will be hard to forget.

#12booksof2024 January favorite
@Andrew65

Last week I forgot to post, so this week I‘m doing my #hyggehourreadathon a little early. I‘m tucked away in a corner of the cafe at a little local shopping area. I just had a yummy chicken and avocado sandwich, and I‘m nursing a raspberry mocha latte. There‘s Christmas music softly playing. And across the cafe a family is conversing in what I think is Italian. I just have one more gift to buy before I go home to wrap. But first, latte and book!

1. After Libby said it would be two more weeks, I got a notification that I could check out the tagged book.
2. The Crime Writers of Color podcast is back after a long hiatus.
3. I got together with a friend for dinner and a movie.
4. We enjoyed War of the Rohirrim!
5. I bought a new wet-dry floor cleaner.
#5joysfriday

Absolutely brilliant. I‘ll always love a story about a badass female heroine, but Martha Ballard is more than that and the author‘s love for her emanates from every page. It isn‘t an easy book to read, but seems necessary, especially considering the state of women‘s rights today. The fact that events in 1790 could parallel anything in 2024 - baffling. Anyway, read this, y‘all!

@AmyG have you read this?

This is a January selection for book club. #sundayfunday

For some reason the start of this book was slow for me. I knew I had to finish it and once you do ..😳😢 Loved the authors notes on the real life midwife Martha Ballard and the story she wrote based on her daily diaries in 1789. Women were always strong and continue to fight.

Excellent historical fiction inspired by the life of a very interesting woman—a great story made all that much more meaningful by the author‘s note at the end. The story is set in 1789 and is about a death with far reaching consequences for many of the residents in the town of Hallowell. When midwife Martha Ballard‘s determination it is in fact murder is disregarded, she sets out to find the truth. Great character, setting, mystery. Loved it.

A mystery that kept me on my toes to the very end .I enjoyed it

Mornings are just better when I can find a few minutes for coffee and a book. Started this one last night and I really like it so far.