Monday 27 February 2012

Book Journey

I haven't taken part in the Book Journey for a long time. I saw a post by a friend this morning so thought I would head back over there and find some inspiration. I was drawn to the Call The Midwife book by Jennifer Worth after seeing the advert on TV for the series. I read it more or less alongside watching the TV series as I had to order it into the library which at the time was being relocated so took a while to arrive. Anyway it is one of those can't put down sort of books but when I finished it before the series ended I realised some of the stories that had been televised weren't actually in the book. I checked out the author and there is actually more than one book which explains the extra stories so I ordered the next one which is the book I am currently engrossed in - Shadows Of The Workhouse


The stories are based in the East End of London in the 1950s.  Jennifer Worth wrote them from her own experiences and the recounts of her patients.  Obviously over time those memories may not be totally accurate but I've read enough to want to look further into that time period. 

The tenements people lived in sound horrendous.  I can only imagine them to be like the high rise flats we are used to seeing in densely populated areas in modern day life but without sanitary facilities.  Families in those days had lots of children so there were as many as ten or more people living in one room. Unthinkable now but the norm then.




4 comments:

Lizzie said...

Yes I read the first book - Call in the Midwife. My friend gave it to me. I have always enjoyed reading social history - you learn a lot from reading novels! - so this was really interesting, as well as being well written.
I think I might try the second volume too - thanks for the information!

brandileigh2003 said...

Love the cover. hope you enjoy.
Check out what I am reading here

Hettie said...

Thanks for the heads up on this book Kerry. I will pop over and see if I can get it for my Sony Reader.
Also, thanks for your visit last week! Liking your stuff.

Emilie said...

Thank you for letting us know about this book! I do read a lot and was currently looking for my next read! Looks like this will be it!