Author: Ami McKay

I loved this book. If you follow CBC Canada Reads, this was a finalist in the Book of a Decade debate. It’s Canadian and it will stay on my bookshelf. The story of the author is almost as interesting as the book. It wasn’t until Ami McKay was pregnant and looking for a midwife that she learned that in the past, her house had been used by a midwife.

Dora lives in the remote Nova Scotia community of Scots Bay, the only daughter in five generations of the Rare family. At a young age she aids the local midwife and soon begins helping at births. When the midwife dies it is Dora that the women of the community come to for help. But a new doctor has come to the area and is encouraging women to give birth at a maternity hospital. The opinions as to which is better, midwife or doctor, splits the community. An early and unhappy marriage inspires Dora to continue her work but when she is accused of murder she leaves Scots Bay for a period of time. Will she return?

Goodreads Rating * * * * * (I recommend you read it; this book will stay on my shelf)