In November, we will be reading The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon.
This book has everything, love, loss, rape, lies, family, women’s careers, prejudice, mystery, bad weather, horses, falcons, watermills, frozen river, legal property issues, real estate fraud, sleep deprivation and the tough life in the New American colony. I loved this book. When a man accused of rape turns up dead, an Early American town seeks justice amid rumors and controversy.
Lawhon’s fifth work of historical fiction is inspired by the true story and diaries of midwife Martha Ballard of Hallowell, Maine, a character she brings to life brilliantly here. As Martha tells her patient in an opening chapter set in 1789, “You need not fear….In all my years attending women in childbirth, I have never lost a mother.”
There are compelling scenes of labor and delivery, particularly one in which Martha has to clean up after the mistakes of a pompous doctor educated at Harvard, one of her nemeses in a town that roils with gossip and disrespect for women’s abilities.
Lawhon weaves all this into a richly satisfying drama that moves suspensefully between childbed, courtroom, and the banks of the Kennebec River. The undimmed romance between 40-something Martha and her husband, Ephraim, adds a racy flair to the proceedings. (Outlander, anyone?) Knowing how rare the quality of their relationship is sharpens the intensity of Martha’s gaze as she watches the romantic lives of her grown children unfold.
WCV Book Club Schedule: Meets the 3rd Wednesday, monthly from 6 pm to 8 pm at Rancho Grande El Toro Restaurant, 825 Williamston St, Vista, C
November 19, 2025 Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
December 17, 2025 Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver and Book Share (Bring a copy of a favorite book wrapped in plain with a written comment why it is a favorite, and we draw names to chose a book – you can swap your book).
January 2026 How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
What is ESO?
ESO stands for Epsilon Sigma Omicron. It is a special reading program encouraging education and literacy. ESO requires a free membership at the CFWC (state) level. To join, complete a pledge form and have it signed by your club ESO Chairman (Susan D.) and your District ESO Chairman. Then you can forward it to the CFWC Chairman, Reggie Mattox. For more information go here: https://thewomansclubofvista.org/eso/.
