The Midwife's Apprentice

From "Brat" to "Beetle" to "Alyce", this young adult Newberry winner follows the story of a homeless girl in medieval England. Upon finding her in a dung heap to keep herself warm, the local midwife sees an opportunity for an assistant.  Though the midwife's motives are not good, the hardworking assistant learns quickly and find she enjoys the work.  It was very interesting to learn about medieval midwifery which was driven by common sense, herbal remedies and superstition.  There was no formal training and the job was a less than honorable profession.  Of course, germs were unheard of at that time in history.  The infant mortality rate was high and many mothers lost their lives in the process of giving birth.  Though her situation seemed grim, Alyce made the most of her situation.  The book also has touches of humor scattered throughout.  A quick and enjoyable read.

Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Just finished a delightful book.  I was checking out some of the old Costco recommendations and came across this one.  “We had been so close to missing each other, he and I. He had turned out to be the greatest gift of all.” - one of the last quotes in the book which describes a girl's new found relationship with her grandfather, a grizzled Civil War veteran.  The story takes place in Texas in 1899, ending at the turn of the century.  Calpurnia is the only daughter in a family of seven children.  While spending time with her grandfather, a whole new world of scientific wonders is open to her.  I was certain the book was going to end a certain way and was pleasantly surprised when it took a different turn. 

Summer Reads

What is summertime without a good book or two?  I just finished this one.  It was a very interesting and thought-provoking book.  Very compelling.  It is the true story about a Lutheran minister who enlists, at the age of 50, as a chaplain in World War II.  After the war is over he is assigned to administer to Nazi high ranking officials at the Nuremberg Trials.  Their crime - conspiring to commit crimes against humanity.  Pastor Henry Gerecke was asked to do something that had never been done in the history of the Chaplain Corps - to provide religious counseling to enemies of our country.  As I read about how he cared and administered to these men who had committed such heinous crimes, I was touched by this man's Christian discipleship as found in Matthew 25: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat:  I was thirsty, and he gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and he visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.