Customer Rating: 
Summary: Bittersweet memories
Comment: This is a brilliant book that at times made me cry, and at others, laugh out loud. My own mother was a Cockney, born in the East End in 1920, and reading this book brought back bitter sweet memories of the way that she was, and the wonderful stories that she used to tell. It has helped me to appreciate her humour much more and understand where some of my own ways have come from. I particularly enjoyed the stories of Sister Evangelina and her escapades across the Thames, jumping from barge to barge and the obsession with bodily functions, and also Sister Monica Joan with her knitting needles. As for the ordinary women, what happened to Mary once she left prison, how did Mrs Jenkins' children die, and how many more children did Conchita have. One of my aunts had 22 of them, but 25?
Most of us cannot imagine the conditions that these women lived and worked in, and the daily struggle for survival. The modern existence is pampered in comparison. We complain about not having two bathrooms, while these women had one communal tap to each floor of the flats that they lived in and one shared toilet. Times may have been hard, and money tight, but they had more balls and more grit than anything you would see today, with no counsellors in sight!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very good read!
Comment: This is an excellent book! The way how Jennifer Worth describes life (hers) as a midwife in the 50's East End is just so real you can almost see it in front of your eyes! Great book!
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing read
Comment: I only persevered to finish this book as it had been lent to me by a friend who rated it highly. It is a cross between a midwife's manual and an historical account of the East End in the fifties. It may have been of interest to midwives of that era or people living in the East End of London at that time but it certainly didn't give me any pleasure. As the book proceeded I found I liked the author less and less and wondered why she stuck with her vocation and could well believe that she eventually gave it up for her real love - music. I was nursing in the sixties, not I may add in the East End, and could well picture Ms. Worth as the feared Matron of that time. A little humour thrown in at some point would have made the book more enjoyable and also maybe a little humility from the author. The "story" of Conchita and her family was the one redeeming factor in this book. If you have no attachment to the East End or midwifery in the fifties give this book a wide berth.
Customer Rating:
Summary: An insipring read
Comment: Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. I'm currently training as a midwife and read the book with awe and fascination. It's amazing to think how much things have changed in 50 years (I'm glad I don't have to boil urine in a test tube!), but also to see how much is still the same. Not wanting to spoil the book for those who haven't read it, I'll only say that there are situations that she was in that we hopefully will never face, for which I'm glad, but it only makes my respect for her, and any others working in obstetrics at the time, increase. Her dediation to the job was inspirational and I look forward to reading the next two installments.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Comment: I loved this book. Jennifer Worth brought history to life for me and now I can't wait to read the next part of her story. The book is full of interesting characters and gritty stories and you're hooked from page one. As a result of this book I wanted to find out more about Father Joe Williamson who is mentioned in 'Call the Midwife' and I managed to track down his autobigraphy on Amazon. (once I've read it I'll submit my review. First impressions are favourable!) Anyway, read this book, you won't regret it if you're interested in social history, or like me, the history of the East End of London. It's a real eye opener, makes you realise the kind of lives many of our Grandparents would have lived. I highly recommend this book.
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