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The Midwife of Hope River: A Novel of an American Midwife Paperback – August 28, 2012

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 7,785 ratings

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A remarkable new voice in American fiction enchants readers with a moving and uplifting novel that celebrates the miracle of life. In The Midwife of Hope River, first-time novelist Patricia Harmon transports us to poverty stricken Appalachia during the Great Depression years of the 1930s and introduces us to a truly unforgettable heroine. Patience Murphy, a midwife struggling against disease, poverty, and prejudice—and her own haunting past—is a strong and endearing character that fans of the books of Ami McKay and Diane Chamberlain will take into their hearts, as she courageously attempts to bring new light, and life, into an otherwise cruel world.
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Seeking refuge from the law in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, Patience Murphy sets out as a midwife in the wake of the 1929 stock-market crash. Armed with a birth satchel and what confidence she can muster, she delivers babies for blacks and whites who can no longer afford a doctor, accepting payment in chickens and flour and the occasional coin. Harman, herself a midwife, transports the reader to another time and place in this quiet story of a white woman who fights to usher life into an impoverished, prejudiced world. As Patience struggles to overcome her dark past, she opens her heart to Daniel, a lonely veterinarian, and her home to Bitsy, a black servant who becomes her apprentice and close companion, rousing the attention of the Klan. There’s a whole lot of birthing going on in The Midwife of Hope River, but don’t let that dissuade you from reading it. The author’s love for the profession shines through in this testament to the power of women. A first novel well worth attention. --Diane Holcomb

Review

“The Midwife of Hope River...is still on my mind days after finishing. From start to satisfying conclusion, it is a beautifully imagined novel, a marvel of a debut, rich with fully realized characters and events. This is one I’ll read again, more slowly next time.” — Johanna Moran, author of The Wives of Henry Oades

“As always when writing of birth, the bleakest of times can be transformed by the power and beauty of birth...the moments of joy between new parents and their baby, between the mothers and the midwife, and between the midwife and her young assistant, light up the pages. Amen baby!” — Penny Armstrong, CNM, author of A Midwife's Story and A Wise Birth

“I learned, I laughed, I cried, but most of all I was deeply impressed by the artistry of the midwife and her central role in women’s lives prior to the advent of commercialized, institutionalized medicine. This novel will live in my heart for years to come.” — Amy Hill Hearth, author of Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society: A Novel

“a luminous novel of new beginnings, loss, love…and yes hope! Patricia Harman’s all-too-human stories of birth mingle with the harsh realities of rural life in the 1930s...A thoroughly satisfying read by a talented storyteller.” — Gay Courter, author of the New York Times bestsellers The Midwife and The Midwife's Advice

“Midwives are warriors in this beautifully sweeping tale.” — Kirkus

“...will definitely renew your faith in love, loyalty, forgiveness, understanding and just plain HOPE.” — Fran Lewis

“Memoirist Harman (Arms Open Wide; The Blue Cotton Gown), herself a certified nurse-midwife, takes readers back to hardscrabble times and adds plenty of medical drama and a dash of romance, to offer an uncommonly good piece of American historical fiction.” — Library Journal

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0062198890
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks; Original edition (August 28, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780062198891
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062198891
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.9 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 7,785 ratings

About the author

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Patricia Harman
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Patricia Harman has spent over thirty years caring for women as a midwife, first as a lay-midwife, delivering babies in cabins and on communal farms in West Virginia, and later as a nurse-midwife in teaching hospitals and in a community hospital birthing center.

She spent over a decade in the sixties and seventies in her wild youth living in rural communes in Washington (Tolstoy Farm), Connecticut (The Committee for Non-Violent Action) and Minnesota (Free Folk). During the Vietnam years, she and her husband, Tom Harman, traveled the country, often hitch-hiking, as they looked for a place to settle. In 1974 they purchased a farm with a group of like-minded friends on top of a ridge in Roane County, West Virginia. Here on the commune, they built log houses, dug a pond, grew and preserved their own food and started the Growing Tree Natural Foods Cooperative.

It was during this time that Patsy attended her first home birth, more or less by accident. "Some people are destined," she has written. "I was staying at a woman friend's commune when she went into labor and I ended up delivering my first baby." Soon after, Harman traveled to Austin, Texas to train with a collective of home-birth midwives. When she returned, she became one of the founding members of The West Virginia Cooperative of Midwives. Her passion for caring for women and babies led her to become an RN as the first step in getting licensed as certified nurse midwife. In 1985, with her children, a yowling cat and her husband she traveled north, pulling a broken down trailer to begin her training at the University of Minnesota where she received her MSN in Nurse-Midwifery.

Patricia Harman still lives and works with her husband, Ob/Gyn Thomas Harman, in West Virginia.. Though she no longer attends births, she provides care for women in early pregnancy and through-out the life span. She brings to this work the same dedication and compassion she brought to obstetrics.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
7,785 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the book and find it interesting. They appreciate the well-written story that keeps their interest until the end. The characters are described as rich and believable, with a heroine they love. The story is described as poignant and heartwarming, with an understanding of the human condition.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

988 customers mention "Readability"964 positive24 negative

Customers find the book engaging and interesting. They appreciate the realistic portrayal of birthing stories and the author's skill in balancing them with philosophical insights.

"...It was such an amazing read that I wanted to find out what happened at the end...." Read more

"...I loved this story and what I thought most impressive was the reality portrayed in the pages of this book and then I found out that Patricia Harman..." Read more

"UPDATE November 27, 2014: I just re-read this wonderful book, refreshing my memories of it because I'm getting ready to read the follow-up book [..." Read more

"This was such a beautiful book-- so real and philosophically poignant....the author's word imagery through dialogue and journaling made it feel like..." Read more

468 customers mention "Engrossedness"464 positive4 negative

Customers find the book engaging and informative. They appreciate the historical context and insights into life in the early 1900s. The story immerses readers in the time period, showing how challenging it was. Readers enjoy the simple journal entries about each birth and lyrical descriptions of the scenery.

"...I am very glad that I bought this! This story takes the reader right into that time period, showing the reader how difficult it was during the..." Read more

"...which was narrated by Anne Wittman and oh my she does a good job from the birthing scenes to the highly emotional tone of this novel at times...." Read more

"...November 27, 2014: I just re-read this wonderful book, refreshing my memories of it because I'm getting ready to read the follow-up book [..." Read more

"...is pregnant or contemplating pregnancy, this is an excellent informative piece of literature to give women an idea of the birthing process...." Read more

450 customers mention "Interest"406 positive44 negative

Customers find the book interesting. They say it provides an interesting perspective on many aspects of life in rural America, especially health care. The book keeps readers engaged until the end, with a story of triumph and hope. It depicts the hardships of Patience Murphy's career and the poor families she ministers to.

"...It's also interesting that the author added in stories of young mothers who delivered in hospitals and were placed under twilight sleep and even..." Read more

"...I loved this story and what I thought most impressive was the reality portrayed in the pages of this book and then I found out that Patricia Harman..." Read more

"...I enjoyed it just as much the second time around. What a fascinating, wonderful tale!..." Read more

"This was such a beautiful book-- so real and philosophically poignant....the author's word imagery through dialogue and journaling made it feel like..." Read more

430 customers mention "Story writing"409 positive21 negative

Customers enjoy the well-written story with its realistic dialogue and believable characters. They appreciate the author's vivid imagery and attention to detail, making the historical romance feel like real life.

"...When I picked this book up, I read through it very quickly. It was such an amazing read that I wanted to find out what happened at the end...." Read more

"...She truly does bring this novel alive for the listener. Highly recommended." Read more

"...The story is told by Patience, with narrative and journal entries and it felt like the telling of a true story rather than fiction...." Read more

"...book-- so real and philosophically poignant....the author's word imagery through dialogue and journaling made it feel like I was "there"-- I learned..." Read more

339 customers mention "Character development"330 positive9 negative

Customers find the characters in the book engaging and realistic. They describe the storyline as intricately woven, with a heroine they love. The protagonist portrays the women and their surroundings in a vivid way. The dialogue is also described as realistic.

"...I loved the main character, Patience...." Read more

"...otherwise I might never have, through the lens of the very well developed lead characters and how they interacted with each other across social..." Read more

"...Like I said, I liked the book and development of the characters and none of these things are deal breakers...." Read more

"...It is so well written and loaded with knowledge, and the characters are real. It is a book that transports and informs...." Read more

221 customers mention "Uplifting story"218 positive3 negative

Customers find the story touching, poignant, and heartwarming. They appreciate the author's understanding of the human condition and her insights. The well-crafted way their lives intertwine is believable, with powerful emotions and sweet moments between couples. Readers also mention the book is honest in its depiction of poverty, fear, and prejudice at the time.

"...than just birthing babies – it’s about struggling in hard times, friendship, heartbreak, and above all hope in new life, whether it be a birth or a..." Read more

"This was such a beautiful book-- so real and philosophically poignant....the author's word imagery through dialogue and journaling made it feel like..." Read more

"...I did not expect this and it was very sweet to read about couples that came together through birth...." Read more

"...race issues and in the midst of all this are several private and personal lives and stories...." Read more

66 customers mention "Midwifery"66 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights into the lives of midwives and early American women. They find the book interesting and respectful, praising the courage and perseverance of the women. Readers also mention that the author is knowledgeable about midwifery and the world of Patience Murphy.

"...ignore racial slurs from the town's residents and capably perform their duties as midwives...." Read more

"...This story was wonderfully written and the interwoven lives of those women she helped give birth to their infants was such a great read...." Read more

"...The main characters are strong, independent women who are midwives delivering babies for white and black families. One woman is white, one black...." Read more

"...a home to a young black woman who becomes not only an invaluable assistant in midwifery but a dear, devoted friend and companion...." Read more

58 customers mention "Pacing"40 positive18 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing. Some find it enjoyable and easy to read, reading fairly quickly. They appreciate the strong will, quick thinking, and kind nature of the main character. Others feel the story starts slowly and had difficulty getting into it until around chapter 10.

"...Well, it being an easy read, I read it fairly quickly. I thought it was very entertaining and it kept my interest!..." Read more

"...This book is unique and "un-put-down-able." It was riveting from start to finish...." Read more

"...The pacing is a bit slow, but so was the pace of 1930s life in the hills. I feel the narrative style and pacing suits the story...." Read more

"...It started fast and kept you going. It did not take forever to set the scene. I really felt like in was inside every little house she went to...." Read more

A great book to read on vacation!
5 out of 5 stars
A great book to read on vacation!
Enjoyed this one and another one from this author while sitting on the beach relaxing! A great read!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2013
    When I came across this book for the Kindle, I went out on a limb and bought the book to read more stories about midwives back in the Depression. I am very glad that I bought this! This story takes the reader right into that time period, showing the reader how difficult it was during the depression and how if you have hope, you will still find the beauty in everything. I loved the main character, Patience. Her story, while a sad one, shows that if you have enough hope and courage to keep moving forward, one day you'll achieve your dreams.

    I love reading novels that are set back in the 1920 and 1930s because it's interesting to read how people lived back in those days and how doctors and hospitals were starting to come around. It's also interesting that the author added in stories of young mothers who delivered in hospitals and were placed under twilight sleep and even hear the story of one mother who remembered everything while she was supposed to be in a twilight sleep. I also greatly enjoyed the friendship that developed between Patience and her young black lodger, Bitsy. It shows that skin color even back then could not stop two people from becoming friends.

    When I picked this book up, I read through it very quickly. It was such an amazing read that I wanted to find out what happened at the end. I do plan on picking this book back up and reading it slowly like it should be so I can thoroughly savor the author's descriptive and very pleasant prose. This makes my top 20 list of favorite books I have. I'll be recommending this book to friends and family who wish for something special to read.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2015
    The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman has been out for ages and I’ve even owned the audiobook for a lot of that time but despite wanting to read it I never found the time to. Well when the chance to review the sequel for a book tour came up I knew it was time because you can’t read the sequel without having read the first book and I’m so glad I did. Besides that I have a fascination with all things to do with midwifery especially pertaining to long ago times such as the 1930’s when this book takes place. The Midwife of Hope River is about so much more than just birthing babies – it’s about struggling in hard times, friendship, heartbreak, and above all hope in new life, whether it be a birth or a rediscovery of one’s self.

    Taking place in the 1930’s we meet Patience Murphy who is an Appalachian midwife. Patience came to Hope River to escape her own haunting past. Patience, being new to the community, doesn’t turn anyone in need away. She births babies for everyone – the rich, the poor, the black, the white. Along the way she makes some good friends like Bitsy who ends up being her assistant. I loved Bitsy who was a strong, intelligent black woman with a wit that often had me smiling. As they attend births and experience both joy and sadness Patience finds herself reflecting on her own past and all that has happened to bring her to where she is now. As the two women become closer Patience is given a first hand look at what it is like to be a black woman in the 1930’s. People look down on Patience for having Bitsy living with her and assisting her but Patience doesn’t budge. She isn’t going to have anyone tell her who she can be friends with or work with for that matter. As tensions rise though Patience wonders if she will be able to keep the both of them safe.

    I loved this story and what I thought most impressive was the reality portrayed in the pages of this book and then I found out that Patricia Harman is herself a certified midwife and it all made sense. When you read a book like this you thank your lucky stars that you live in the times of modern medicine. As Harman describes the births and how harrowing they could be with babies or mothers dying you can understand how hard it was for women back then. Some women could afford to go to a hospital but a great majority and especially the ones that Patience administered to could not. More than that most couldn’t pay for the services either. They paid in food or whatever they could and Patience accepted that as well because more often than not she needed what they were offering as payment. I loved the author’s writing as well. She so vividly describes the sights, sounds, and smells of the births that I felt I was in those homes with those country folk just praying all would go well. What I feel most thankful for is that nowadays with modern medicine many more women and children make it even through the most harrowing of circumstances.

    For fans of historical fiction and novels on midwifery I think The Midwife of Hope River is one of the best I’ve read. I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Anne Wittman and oh my she does a good job from the birthing scenes to the highly emotional tone of this novel at times. She truly does bring this novel alive for the listener. Highly recommended.
    28 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2013
    UPDATE November 27, 2014: I just re-read this wonderful book, refreshing my memories of it because I'm getting ready to read the follow-up book The Reluctant Midwife. I enjoyed it just as much the second time around.

    What a fascinating, wonderful tale! From the first pages to the very end, "The Midwife of Hope River" caught my imagination and took me to the Depression times of the 1930s. The times are tough, hardscrabble but the miracle of "birthing babies" shines a light all around.

    Patience Murphy, midwife, and Bitsy Proudfoot, her helper (and really just as much a midwife as Patience) are there for all the pregnant women, white or black, in the West Virginia coal mining communities of Union County. The story is told by Patience, with narrative and journal entries and it felt like the telling of a true story rather than fiction. Plus I felt like I knew, really knew, both women but especially Patience, by the end of the book.

    I learned a lot about this era as far as midwivery techniques and since one of the other main characters in the novel is veterinarian Daniel Hester, I learned a lot about animal deliveries and care, too.

    Lack of money, life, death, babies and more babies, domestic abuse, race issues, union history - there's a lot packed into this one book. There are hard times shown in the book but mainly it's a story of overcoming obstacles and celebrating life.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Nana
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in Canada on October 9, 2016
    This is an engaging story set in the time of the depression. The characters are believable and the story engaging. I couldn't put it down.
  • JennyFM301044
    5.0 out of 5 stars great story!!!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2014
    I loved this book, but I am interested in the topics this story is about. I have had 3 pregnancies , one which was a home birth in 1966, which was lovely and relaxed. Just me ,the midwife and my Mum. Nothing much is said about pain relief, but my mum had 4 babies with no pain relief,so I expect the depictions in the book are correct.
    The way people lived in this era outside the towns and cities is something we cannot envisaged now but they get through and have good levels of life and the comparisons with today are very stark. It is unimaginable that today's young people would be able to cope with life as it was then. A good, interesting and lovely story.
  • AnneM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous ! read it and tell your friends about it...
    Reviewed in France on May 25, 2013
    It's a real joy when, by chance, the book nobody speaks of just happens to be a true jewel... I hope this one will have as much success as "The help". I don't know why but I can't help compare them and I have as much pleasure reading it and as much difficulty to shut it....
  • fragmentage
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read !
    Reviewed in Germany on April 6, 2013
    I picked this up as a Kindle deal and couldn't put it down! The author manages to tell a captivating (though sometimes slightly predictable) story set during the depression that reminded me of The Help (which I loved) while weaving in intriguing episodes right out of the midwive's practice. I wasn't surprised to read in the appendix that the author's an experienced midwife herself: Her birth scenes are described in high professional detail but at the same time never bored me. All in all a great debut novel!
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Read
    Reviewed in Australia on March 11, 2014
    This was a most enjoyable book. The way the author portrayed every scene was memorable. I laughed, got angry and cried with her, it felt as if you were with her all the way her writing is superb. Patience was the midwife and the many situations that she got into with deliveries and personal situations were exciting, sad, joyous and what makes us human caring for other people. I would certainly recommend this book I just could not put it down. Thank you so much, I will certainly be reading more from this exceptional writer Patricia Harman.