TJ J. (CraftyTJ) reviewed on 4/28/2007 + 381 more book reviews

This novel is about Ivy, a midwife from the boondocks of West Virginia who turns up in Colorado with complete amnesia and no ID. She is "adopted" (as an adult) by a midwife named Francesca, who already has a daughter who is a young midwife. This book is the story of Ivy's discovery of her lost identity and reunion with her husband, Cullen, in West Virginia and their 12-year-old daughter, Gabriela. Gabriela starts out committed to becoming a ballerina, but by the end of the book she is considering becoming a midwife someday.
The type of amnesia Ivy (whose original name was Gina) has is defined as utterly, irreversibly permanent. Although Ivy does discover some things about her past, not all of her (and our) questions are answered by the end of the book. Ivy's in-laws are a pack of semi-dysfunctional adults, enmeshed in a variety of relationships to each other. Much of the book deals with their problems and Ivy's attempts to help them make sense of their lives.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details