The Doula

by Bridget Boland

In the powerful tradition of Chris Bohjalian’s Midwives and Jodi Picoult’s Handle With Care comes a riveting debut novel about a doula, trained to support women and their families during childbirth, on trial for her best friend’s death.

When you come from a family of funeral directors, the telephone rings ominously in the middle of the night. For a doula, it resonates with eager anticipation. Either way, it always means lives are about to change. . . .

It might seem like birth and death lie at opposite ends of a spectrum, but to Carolyn Connors, they are mirror images. Caro is no stranger to death, having grown up in a funeral home, but after witnessing her mother’s miscarriage and her brother’s tragic drowning as a child—neither of which she is allowed to discuss—she chooses to become a doula, celebrating the arrival of life rather than its departure.

When her glamorous lifelong best friend, Mary Grace, calls with the exciting news that she is pregnant, Caro packs up her life and leaves home to be MG’s birthing coach. But tension escalates between Caro and MG’s domineering husband, Brad, and the sensitive doula’s advice falls on deaf ears. MG cuts off all contact until complications with her pregnancy leave her with no one else to call. Hurrying to the unborn child’s rescue and watching the life drain from her best friend’s body, Caro thinks the nightmare can’t get any worse. . . .

Until Brad accuses her of medical malpractice. For the first time in her life, Caro must confront the painful guilt, loss, and shame that have trailed her from the past, leading her to the most profound rebirth of all.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Family

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2012

Reviews

[Hannah Beth (Hannah's Book Cafe) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh this book.. where to start?

I've had this on my shelf for a very long time. If I recall correctly I got it for free, somewhere. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I'm glad I didn't have to pay for it. 😬

I truthfully should have DNF'd this one, but for some reason I always force myself to finish books I start. Maybe someday I'll grow out of that. 🤣

First, Caro is very self centered. Everything is about her experiences, her life, her hurts. But for some reason it never seems to be about her dumb decisions, like cheating on her boyfriend. Then she had the audacity to get mad at the guy she cheated on her boyfriend with instead of getting mad at herself. Logic, who are you?

I have to say, I really really liked the natural childbirth approach here because I have similar thoughts on a lot of what was said. But, the spiritual aspects of this story did not do it for me. I'm a Christian, so I definitely am biased on this front. But the story could have been so much better if the main character had some kind of real hope in something truly real instead of the far flung things she decides to believe in instead (energy healing, send good thoughts and vibes). It was honestly just depressing.

There is also a lot of sexualization and language in here as well.

I will be unhauling this book.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me reading and I found that there were a lot of lessons in it for me. Reminds me how someone once told me that you are presented with the books you need when you are ready for them.

There were times I found myself getting frustrated with the main character but not enough that I wanted to give up on it.

There was one subplot I felt didn't resolve itself well or even seem fully developed but that was a minor issue. Overall I very much enjoyed this one.

[Donna Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I won this from the Goodreads First Reads Program I thought it would be an interesting contemporary novel which I suppose it was. It also annoyed me as I read. The main character is whiny, self-pitying, seems to take little or no responsibility for her actions, appears uncaring of the consequences of her actions, sure, the appropriate noises are made, but I just didn't feel it, she just moves on as though her personal tragedy is an excuse for everything. Maybe that's what the author was going for, but I sure wouldn't want this character as my Doula, or friend, or neighbour, or anything. The writing was good and it's worth the patience it takes to put up with all the whiny, nerve-grating characters, maybe.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find the author's story fascinating. A malpractice attorney turned doula, yoga instructor and energy worker? Fabulous.

The story was definitely slow to start and Boland is definitely a first time author in that she wasn't entirely comfortable in the realm of storytelling but her descriptions of birth and the trial scene were spot-on because of her real-life experience in those areas.

I honestly think this book could use a follow-up. A trilogy perhaps for her to perfect her story.

[Marie]

After reading the description of The Doula, I was very intrigued so I decided to enter the first-reads giveaway and to my delight I was a winner! Looking forward to reading this book.

[Nedra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the main character to be whiney and annoying. What she really needed was a good therapist.

[Lisa of Hopewell · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is an "agenda" book. If you buy into actress Ricki Lake's view of birth you'll love this. Otherwise you'll find much of this just plain annoying. There is some excellent writing in here, but also one clanger of a grammatical error that a summer intern should have caught. Before your book club rushes out for this I recommend a counter-balance of the blog the SKEPTICAL OB by a Harvard educated OB-GYN to counter birth guru Lake's film.

This book is mostly about privilege--women with great insurance and great bank accounts who can choose not only the scent of the candles in the birth room, but have what ever insane "comfort" measures they need. I've lived in 3rd world and seen "traditional birth" up close and personal. It isn't what this book purports it to be. It's a lot of infections and needless death.

This book neglects the fact that the others who choose such births are usually uninsured or far-right far-left. Yes, many births can safely take place away from a hospital and yes the hospital is very impersonal. But isn't a live baby and a live mother the outcome of choice? Too many times that isn't the result of foolish all-about-Mommy-birth choices.

I would sincerely hope anyone who blows about "unnecessary" caesarians never needs one. I also notice women who've given birth rarely yammer on about stupidity like giving "energy" to a baby or what the scent of the sheets will be..........

[Natasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just an ok read. I picked it up because of it's title. A friend of mine is a doula and when she first mentioned it I had no idea what it was. Then after, I thought it was something like a mid-wife. This book was good in that it has clarified to me what a doula actually is (in layman's terms, a birth coach). What a rewarding job. Although you have to be available at odd hours and for possibly long periods! Anyways, other than that the book was kind of boring and it took me forever to finish it. I didn't really like any of the characters so that made it hard. And the main character was always trying to find somebody or something to blame her problems on. That type of victimhood just drives me up a wall. Had it not been for my friend being a doula, I may not have even tried to finish this book.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an emotional roller coaster. One minute I am feeling so bad for this girl that I want to hug her, and the next I want to shake her! Towards the end, I mostly wanted to shake her. I felt like this book was a good, even-paced read that kept me thinking about it long after I put out it down. I was really anticipating the ending and thought that I had it all figured it out. Was I wrong! That's one of the great things about this book, it is not as predictable as one would think. I was satisfied, for the most part, by the ending. However, I feel like there was one BIG issue left unaddressed and this kind of miffed me. So as not to spoil it, I will leave it at that. All in all, I really liked this book and look forward to reading more of her work.

[Raven · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stumbled across this book and forced myself to read it through to the end. As a doula and childbirth educator, I felt like I had to read it. The protagonist has no redeeming qualities. The author depends on others characters telling Caro how great she is to convince the reader that Caro is wonderful, but nothing Caro does or says proves that point. The book spends pages and pages describing a summer when Caro is 12 and then you turn the page and she's 32. The main action of this book (a birth scene and a court trial), aren't given nearly enough time. The author tosses is random details and subplots (energy healing! kidnapping! a person with a PhD in Spanish guitar!), but her lack of focus on character development leaves the book lacking any emotional foundation. And if you want to read about Ina May Gaskin and her midwifery work on The Farm, go straight to the source. Boland tries to model one of her characters after Gaskin, but she tries too hard and it's just too obvious. Finally, Caro centers herself in her work as a doula when she should be centering her clients. Everything comes back to her, she laps up praise from others who tell her how wonderful she is during births, and she decides she has no interest in supporting families who birth in hospitals. As the book makes clear, Caro wants to hear that clients couldn't have done it without her. The best doulas are so invested in decentering themselves that they know the best feedback is, "I did it! And while I know I could have done it without you, I'm so glad you were there."

[Vivian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but I kept feeling irritated with the main character and her mother. Neither one seemed to have a spine. Also was turned off by the new age spiritual stuff with Ruby and Pixie. Can’t figure out why writers seem to think that midwives and doulas have to be hippie/new age connected. And yet another book about a really good friend who marries a total jerk...what is it with that theme??

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure this was the best book to read given that I am about to have a baby in the next few weeks. I found the book had a slow start and I didn't really start getting into the plot until Caro had moved to Milwaukie. I loved that Caro's character had huge development over the course of the book. I always love seeing a dynamic character, even if that change only happens at the end of a book.

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great example of the highs and lows of being a doula. You may never imagine yourself being put on trial when you decide to dedicate your life to the birthing experience. It may be the furthest thing from your mind when making this decision. However, it happens and we are walked through that experience. It is a story about ones passion and relationship with themselves.

[Isabella Aguirre · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really really wanted to like this book and at moments it had good momentum but would suddenly drop a plot or go on at length about something that would never be brought up again. Midwives is one of my favorite novels and I was excited to find something similar but ultimately I didn’t like any of the characters- which is hard to spend 30+ chapters with.

[Mary Leves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a hidden Gem ! I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end . It kept me wanting to read until I was done ! Im not sure why it was given bad reviews . I almost never read it because of that , but boy am I happy I did . Don’t let the reviews deter you from reading this excellent book . It should be a New York times bestseller for sure !!

[Dehlia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Beachy read with too many indulgent plot twists. Lots of strong and (apparently) desirable female characters but felt contrived - how do you instantly admire your med mal attorney? And how do so many insta-friendships form?

[Kaelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inside look at what it might be like to be a doula- someone who's responsible for taking care of the family during a difficult, but hopefully rewarding, process. This book also examines how one's personal life may impact thoughts and actions in the workplace.

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing for a contemporary story-the main character too weak and I do not know why but her as an adult calling her mother "mama" was annoying in this book. Like she needed her mother asa child would. Of course it could be just how I heard the narrator tell the story.

[Diane Zikowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the exception of needing some editing and being a little predictable at times, I very much enjoyed the story and the emotions.

[Read Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was immediately hooked. The story of Caro's childhood was wonderful and clear and made you understand her actions and emotions throughout the rest of the book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just an okay read. I enjoyed many parts of it, but some things were overly explained. It dragged in many places.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although there are many interesting aspects to this story, it goes off in too many directions and stretches credulity a few times too often.

[Jamee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many interesting moments

[Amina]

DNF-ed.

[DiddlySquat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to absolutely love this book! I can't though. On approximately page 203 I just lost interest. I did not care anymore.

[Helene]

Felt like a biography

[Hilary "Fox" · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book through the GoodReads first reads program...

This is another book that in normal circumstances I wouldn't much look twice at. The premise is good, intriguing even, but just not something I'd seek out or generally consider. A doula (best described as a mother to a mother, serving as emotional comfort and support through a birth) is put on trial after a mother dies during childbirth and it's said she intervenes. Intriguing? Sure. Sounds good to me. Unfortunately, the presentation didn't quite do it for me.

For one, childbirth makes me queasy to think about. I've had to watch videos of it during sex ed, biology, and first responder courses and.. well, if you're primarily exposed to the potentiality of what could go wrong during it you're bound to feel weird about the process. Then you read a book that nearly fetishizes the process such as this and you're made doubly uncomfortable. Well, I was at least.

My own problems aside, I do agree with a lot of the case the book was making. There is a bit of a problem in Western culture where childbirth is made out to be a very sterile clinical thing. We emphasize the negatives of it, therefore creating a preconceived disgust and overall.. problem within women when it comes to the process. If we change our conceptions then the actual outcome wouldn't necessarily be as negative all the time. Maybe.

Anyway, my issues with the book that ended up in the rating were primarily in terms of presentation. I feel the book would have been paced better had the trial been more of the focus, as it was in the synopsis, than Caro's journey. The ideas in the book were overall rather good, and the trial scenes were rather exciting. While the metaphor of birth and birthing and Caro finding her place in life works well, it was stressed rather a bit too much for my liking. By changing the order of events in the book (i.e. not starting with the bathtub scene/lake scene and instead interspersing those throughout the book) I feel it would have flowed better. Everything the book needed was there, it was just paced too slowly for my taste.

The writing is lovely, the characters (while a bit too all self pity and no action for my taste.. but that's kind of the point of the book in a way) understandable and overall fine, and the message of the book positive.. well, everything was there for it to be great. It's a promising first effort, and I do hope the author continues honing her trade and espousing her opinions. The best thing to do is to create a conversation, and I feel that this book will create plenty!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raw, soul-seeking and poignant; The Doula will stay with you long after you've set it down.


Caroline's life was finally getting back on track after years of bumps and obstacles when Mary Grace asks her to move to Milwaukee to help with the birth of her child. Caro packs everything and starts her new life over. While I has some trouble with certain decisions Caro made, I still think she was a very realistic character. She doesn't live a charmed life and, in fact, had a pretty dramatic and scaring childhood that has affected many of her life choices. This definitely shaped her life and maybe the flaws make her more beautiful and real.


I love that the setting takes place in my city. It made me feel more connected to the story and helped me visualize everything in more detail. The story itself was filled with hope and pain. Child birth is a very personal experience and many people have passionate feelings about how they want their children brought into this world. I loved that Bridget Boland explored them all, from the formal hospital, to a birthing center, to a spiritual/commune-type location. It was so interesting learning how each doctor/midwife had their own style and feel to them. It opened my eyes to all the different options pregnant women have depending on their styles and comforts.


As for the lawsuit against Caro, it brings up emotions and past circumstances that many people don't want to face. Mary Grace's husband was completely ridiculous. I didn't like him from the first time he was introduced in the story all the way through the end. I thought he was a jerk and that Mary Grace deserved someone better than him. The one thing that bothered me with the trial is that all the blame was all pushed on Mary Grace. Especially after events that happen later in the story I think the hospital should have been investigated in greater detail in accordance to Mary Grace's death and her daughter's birthing complications. I thought something was definately suspect with the hospital and yet it seemed nothing fell on the doctors or nurses.


While listening to the audio I immediately recognized the narrator's voice. I had just finished another book that she narrates where she is a teenager, so it took me a couple of chapters to fit her voice into this new role. But after that was figured out, the narration was wonderful. I felt she really captured who Caro was and her struggling emotions through the entire ordeal.


The Doula is a novel that unexpectedly touched me and I think it will be one that I re-read often in future years.

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway and was super excited to read it. The story sounded interesting and unique. The book was not a heavy read - though longer than I thought it needed to be as some parts do drag a little.

The novel is about a girl named Caro and starts in her rather traumatic childhood where she witnesses her mother's miscarriage, followed closely by the death of her little brother - both events leading to her mother's dehabilitating depression. As Caro grows she decided to become a nurse to help people, but soon quits after a baby dies due to her error and becomes a doula. After her best friend announces she is pregnant Caro uproots her life and moves to support her in her childbirth.

This has many turns and changes - each interesting in it's own right - but over shadowed by the number of things the author tries to cover or convey. By trying to squeeze so much into this novel it feels a little ADHD but without the level of emotion you would expect to find associated with the many sad events which take place. I am rarely not teary in a book which involves the death of a child but in this case I found myself dry-eyed. Furthermore, I wanted more from Caro she could say it was devastating to her but you couldn't feel it.

The book has a lot of information on doulas and alternative childbirth - I almost felt like the book should have been split into a few different books to fit all of the topics and messages between these covers. I have a few friends who I think will like this book very much due to this type of information. Those who are looking for depth and emotion will, however, be disappointed.

[Krista-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really really enjoyed this book. I've read quite a few negative reviews on it and quite frankly, I don't understand it. Regardless of if some of the characters weren't likeable, the story is beautifully written. The whole book has this really nice flow to it - I never once felt like I was missing a detail, never once needed more description and never once felt like I was missing something.

I think many people read a book and expect everything to be peachy and happy, but to me this book is about reality. Caro had to grow up before she was done being a kid and I really connect to that (very similar to myself). The main story of the book is her relationship with her mother and not every child has a perfect relationship with their parents. I really commend the author for bringing so many different "touchy" topics to the book and being able to tie them up so beautifully in the end. The book is Caro's journey and it wouldn't be a journey without the hiccups. Caro wouldn't be Caro if it weren't for her life experiences.

I also read some reviews that were stating that if you didn't share Caro's views on birth that you wouldn't like this book. I also don't understand that. I've always thought if I had a baby it would be in a hospital and this book opened my eyes to the many different ways a baby could be born. I'm not saying it changed my opinion, but I think learning something new was one of the fun parts of reading the book.

If a book can touch me emotionally, teach me something about myself and also educate me on something I've never thought about before, it's a damn good book to me!