Patricia Harman’s Book, The Blue Cotton Gown immediately made me laugh. Not long into it she also had me in tears. I was drawn to review this book mostly by its simple title and that it was written by a midwife. She was telling stories shared from her confessional or exam room, no doubt while her patients were wearing their blue gowns. Having a midwife attend my second birth I felt I wanted to hear her journey. While I expected to be pulled in, I didn’t expect the stories to be so incredibly rich, warm or personal. Obviously her book was about the lives she helped along the way but it was a memoir as well. Patsy immediately struck me as authentic, prior to reading her book we had a phone conversation. A truly real gal.
In The Blue Cotton Gown you experience much more, you are told a story, and then you are told the thoughts rambling in Patsy’s mind in the midst of the story. At times I completely laughed out loud. Patsy chose several particular patients and their stories and wove them into a tapestry of time. She mentions a favorite blue quilt in her home, to me its as if each story was a quilt square, hand sewn with love and care. I felt like I was completely entrenched in these woman’s lives. I wanted their babies to be well, the goofy men in their lives to get a clue, I wanted Patsy to triumph over her own personal turmoils. I felt like I was part of it all. I was especially touched by the tender relationship she has with her husband. Envious actually, she shared so intimately about the two of them, and that too made me cry.
I admit the weekend I read this book was an especially emotional one for me, truth is I wasn’t in a very good place and I needed to cry. The reading was a much needed distraction that filled my heart. I wrote to Patsy when I finished and said that her book was like a friend. As woman we know how ridiculous our lives get to be, what I welcomed was the reminder of how truly courageous we all are.
I’d totally recommend The Blue Cotton Gown
3 Comments
Sounds like an amazing book. I hope that the book made you feel like you are in a better place now. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Keep going forward my friend.
Oh Anna it DID help, sure appreciate your comment here! Perhaps you know of folks who might appreciate Patsy’s wisdom and stories!
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