The Book of the Unnamed Midwife

Title: The Book of the Unnamed Midwife

Author: Meg Elison

Genre: dystopian

Finding a dystopian novel I haven’t read is a challenge. So, when I stumble upon one, I’m delighted. Even better, finding a one that’s well-written and interesting is a needle in a haystack. And I’m so happy to report that this one was fantastic. I enjoyed it so much that I already requested the next books in the series from my library before I had even finished this one.

From Goodreads: In the wake of a fever that decimated the earth’s population—killing women and children and making childbirth deadly for the mother and infant—the midwife must pick her way through the bones of the world she once knew to find her place in this dangerous new one. Gone are the pillars of civilization. All that remains is power—and the strong who possess it.

A few women like her survived, though they are scarce. Even fewer are safe from the clans of men, who, driven by fear, seek to control those remaining. To preserve her freedom, she dons men’s clothing, goes by false names, and avoids as many people as possible. But as the world continues to grapple with its terrible circumstances, she’ll discover a role greater than chasing a pale imitation of independence. After all, if humanity is to be reborn, someone must be its guide.

We never learn the midwife’s name, but I’ll call her Jane, as she is referred to for part of the book. Mostly men survived, but a handful of women did as well. But, men being men, they rape and enslave many of the women. As Jane navigates the world as a man, she has to learn to trust people at times. She spends a chunk of the book with another woman who happens to be pregnant. A lot of women die in childbirth, and if they live, their babies always die. Survival isn’t impossible. There are so few people that supplies aren’t hard to come by, but simply surviving other humans is the hardest part. Jane was a great, strong character who made solid decisions, given her circumstances. I really thought this book was great and can’t wait to dig into the next one.