Despite fast forwarding almost 100 years later than the setting for The Birth House, we as a society continue to debate the safety of innate wisdom...wisdom from women themselves as well as her "sisters". Modern medical science frequently looks for the illness, rather than celebrating the wellness.
The Birth House explores these issues and more...a wonderful fictionalized account of Dora, an apprentice lay midwife, and the women who influenced her life. Great discussion for women's book groups.

I enjoyed reading the book and the story of Dora is well written. I found the inclusion of some the character development while entertaining did not necessarily move the story line along.

Ms McKay has a lyrical quality to her writing that gives added enjoyment to the reading. She chose an interesting subject and was able to give voice to women's issues without belabouring them.

I found her ideas very romantic, however I believe it is important to remember that even though midwives are definetly am important part of the society doctors and hospitals also have their place. Many mothers and babies did not survive childbirth during the early part of the 20th century and before. There is a middle line.

I am reading it for the second time and love it even more the second time around. I have also read her most current book The Virgin Cures and it also was excellent

A powerful and engaging novel of the power of women's intuition and the knowledge we pass generation to generation. Also a look at the industrialization of healthcare. Our discussion kept sidetracking from the people to the issues.

This book kept me at home because I enjoyed the story, the theme the characters, THE WOMEN, the scenery so much I could not put it down.