The Birth House by Ami McKay

The Birth House by Ami McKay was the selection for the 2011 "Canada Reads" contest/thing run by the CBC. It tells of life in the small town of Scot's Bay, Nova Scotia as old by resident Dora Rare.

The book reads as diary entries and it documents her life both before and after she was apprenticed to the town midwife, Miss B. When trouble comes to town what will become of the traditions of town, specifically the ones regarding childbirth? Will this spell the end for the 2 midwives? You'll have to read to find out won't you.

This book was beautifully written, the way Ami McKay wrote the diary entries, it didn't feel as though you were reading a diary, it was told as if it was a story. The life of Scot's Bay residents through Dora's eyes and the things that go on in her life. It felt, at some points, as though you were watching the story unfold with your own two eyes.

Ami McKay is a Canadian journalist, and novelist (part of the reason she was nominated for the "Canada Reads" thing). She grew up in Indiana but moved to Scot's Bay later in life.

Back to the book, Dora goes through many ups and downs in her life as a resident of Scot's Bay (who doesn't, both human and book character alike (you know what I mean))

As I mentioned it is beautifully well written with famous quotes and such woven in to the text.

How does everything turn out for Dora and the residents of Scot's Bay you ask? Well...no spoilers...at all...none whatsoever!!! You have to read to read the book.