Book Review: In the Midst of Life

In the Midst of Life by Jennifer Worth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is a bit of a change in tone from the others (that I've read so far - I still have Farewell to the East End: The Last Days of the East End Midwives to read). It is more serious and sombre in tone, and the sense of nostalgia and memory is missing. This is not to its detriment however, as the book poses many questions and dilemmas that plague modern society thanks to the advancement of medicine. This is to say though that if you want more Call the Midwife: A True Story of the East End in the 1950s. Jennifer Worth, then I suggest you give it a miss.

Death and dying is hidden away in modern life. We celebrate births and marriages, but is that final milestone that we find so hard to confront (either before it happens, during and after). Obviously, it is not a pleasant experience but does that mean it is something to be hidden? Jennifer Worth writes about those she knew in their last days with great practicality, logic and a firm belief that the way we die and the way we treat the dying has changed dramatically alongside the advancement of medicine. There was once a time where the dead and dying were farewelled by family and friends with grace and quiet reflection, each able to grieve in their own ways. Today however, Grandma and Grandpa are not laid out in the good room to be farewelled by all (from the smallest child to the eldest friend). Children are shielded from something it is perceived they cannot handle, from something that is entirely natural. Worth asks us to question if this is right; she asks us if death is really something to be feared.

There are no real answers (how can their be?), but there is plentiful 'food for thought'. Worth asks the important questions about how we deal with the ending of a life, as we are ourselves "in the midst of life". She asks us if we treat the dying how they may should be treated. And she asks us if modern medicine's ability to extend life is always a good thing - is there dignity and peace in death, do the dying have a right to choose to die, what kind of life is lead after being 'saved'? She asks us: is this all for the best?

Book Review: The Feminine Mistake

The Feminine Mistake: Are We Giving Up Too Much? by Leslie Bennetts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Are you female? Then you need to read this book.

It will tell you many things you feel you already knew, but now you will really know why and you will wholeheartedly believe the things Bennetts is saying. Its irrefutable. And if, full of your knowledge, someone tries to argue with you all you need do is hand them a copy with this simple instruction: read it.

Bennetts does not attack stay-at-home mothers. This book isn't about that, and it certainly isn't a feminist tirade, full of preaching and bra burning mantras. Bennetts presents her case with simple logic, explanation and stories from an incredibly vast variety of women. She doesn't even tell you your making the wrong choice (or considering making), she just presents you with the facts and asks "are you sure"? And I challenge anyone, after reading this book, to say they are truly and fully committed to putting all their eggs in one basket without an ounce of concern about how it will all turn out. You feel as you are reading that Bennetts is on your side: she's like your wise Aunt sharing the wisdom she's gathered from a lifetime of experience, and a little pain.

There is a focus on the family unit, and particular emphasis on how to support a family if you are suddenly left a single mother, but it is a message that is so important to learn before you are faced with actually having to make decisions. And while at times you may find it repetitive, it is written so that all possibilities are covered and that all women will find a woman's story they can identify with.

What Bennetts is doing is finally talking about something that women, when we think about it, are at best trying not to think about, and at worst naively denying. It is unpleasant, and sometimes downright traumatic, to think about the "what ifs", but as Bennetts shows, it is far better to think about then to go in blind if or when the time comes. What this book does is empower women, of any age and in any situation, to make an informed decision. It puts in our hands a wealth of information that may just mean that you are prepared for whatever life may through at you.