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The Amish Midwife (2011)

by Mindy Starns Clark(Favorite Author)

4.1 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0736937986 (ISBN13: 9780736937986)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Harvest House Publishers

series

Women of Lancaster County

review 1: I think a lot of the reviewers were pretty spot-on about the protagonist being quite flawed. She was fairly immature, pushy and I didn't really understand what felt like ingratitude to her adopted parents. However, I wasn't adopted so I don't know what that's like. But there were definitely times when I wanted Lexie to be a little more gracious and a little less entitled. I still really liked this book though. I felt compelled to get through and solve the mystery. I didn't have expectations based on the title and enjoyed the story. While some of the plot was a little predictable, I did find myself somewhat surprised in the end.One thing I did appreciate about this story was that it was a Christian fiction without being so over the top obvious and tacked on. A story ... moreabout personal discovery is the perfect setting for a "returning to God" story line and Lexie's progression felt natural without being forced.Good book. Wish my friends had read it so we could discuss!
review 2: maybe 3.5 starsMy first comment [other than noting the myriad reviews of this book span the range from one to five stars] is that the cover is misleading and so is the title. The two midwives in this story are NOT Amish, but Mennonite. Many of the mothers whose babies they deliver in Lancaster County, PA, are Amish.As for the positives I drew from this book, I think there are two major topics:1) I learned some more about Mennonite history, especially a connection between Switzerland as one place of origins, apparently different from other subgroups of this faith community. There also seems to be a history of the migration of Mennonites from the East and/or Midwest to the Northwest United States, and I knew nothing about this either. Since one of my great-grandmothers was a Mennonite in Ohio, I would like to know more about this part of my family tree and might have to try some serious research.2) The main character, Lexie (Alexandra) has lost both of her adoptive parents to death and she is wracked with pain by her father's deathbed apology for not telling her more about her past. He then dies before he discloses more than a carved box and key with some items inside -- these influence Lexie to go to PA when her mentor in Oregon lets her know that a midwife there needs some temporary help. Some of the reviewers on this site really criticize Lexie for being so determined to find out more about her family of origin, in spite of the fact that no one in the Lancaster area wants to help her. It seems to me that several positive changes came together when so many destructive secrets that had been kept for so long were brought to light, not only for Lexie, but for all the main characters in the story.There are faith components present to different degrees among these Amish, Mennonite, and Englischers. How does God figure in human events? -- a question with a variety of answers for readers as well as for the characters.At the end of the book is a list of questions for discussion by a Book Group; it looks to be a helpful way for people to work their way through the issues in this story and to relate parts of it to their lives. Listening to one another in such a discussion might be very illuminating and would definitely draw people together in a part of the search for meaning in what some might view as "happenstance."I am glad I read this book. less

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