What did you think of “The Frozen River” and why?

I very much enjoyed The Frozen River because the first person narration gave an intimacy and immediacy to the story, drawing the reader into Martha’s life. I enjoyed the rich character portrayals, especially Martha Ballard as a leader and healer in a male dominant society where women were supposed to be subservient. Even though it is set in the 1700s, the novel has a contemporary feel. I also enjoyed the novel’s structure with the flashbacks to Martha’s earlier life showing parallels to women with whom Martha worked, especially Rebecca Foster. Martha is also remarkable for her relationship with her husband where they seem more like partners and coequals, contrary to the time. Martha isn’t afraid to take on challenges, even learning to read and write. What Martha reads ties thematically to The Frozen River. Emmeline has a Cinderella theme and seems to color Marth’s hopes of finding that happy ending for her son Cyrus and Sarah White. That book also criticizes the traditional marriage arrangements of the 18th century which allowed women little choice and prioritized the needs of the family. When Martha suggests that Sarah learn to read and write, Sarah White’s mother doesn’t see that there is any point because her job is to be a good mother, not have other opportunities and “a source of income and a viable way to provide for her daughter on her own.” The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne is a story of feuding families, reflecting the feuds of Martha and Dr. Page and Joseph North, i.e. the establishment. In many ways, Martha is reminiscent of so many unsung women in history.

I never thought a book written about women in 1789 would seem so timely but The Frozen River does. Ariel Lawhon’s writing style, the way she wrapped the painful facts of that era and women’s lives with an engaging story line and characters, was enjoyable to read even though the content was disturbing. Through Martha’s diary we learn what it was like to be a woman during the late 1700s. We are faced with the fact we have not progressed very far in the last two hundred years when it comes to the treatment and lack of respect for women. We realize that in today’s world we may need to return, more than we are at this time, to the practice of having midwifes care for women’s reproductive health needs and child birth. This is especially true in the United States right now. This book speaks to the perseverance of women throughout the decades. How we continue to carry the heavy loads regardless of the attitude of men and the society they so desperately try to control. And, we are reminded that we need to be mindful of how easily we could lose what rights we have.

I found the book intriguing because of its unique time period and setting – 18th century America, a backdrop I haven’t often encountered in other stories. Knowing that Martha was based on a real person and that the narrative drew inspiration from actual events made it even more compelling. Ariel Lawhon did an excellent job of bringing the people and daily life of The Hook to life. I was pretty fascinated by her descriptions of the social history, including the judicial system, prejudices, hardships, and the resilience of the people. Overall, it offered a fascinating look at what life might have been like during that era, especially for the women.

Great points, Nancy and Libby! And all spot-on.
There were many themes that resonated with me in this book, and you have neatly summarized so many of them. I was immediately drawn into this book by its narrative; the initial prologue of the murder, with its 3rd person narration, put me in a certain mind frame as an observer (like the fox!) but then switching into the mind and thoughts of Martha afterwards really pulled me in. I was drawn to her character for many reasons; she’s a woman in a medical profession, capable and knowledgeable yet constantly being undervalued and dismissed, merely because of her sex (very relatable to me!); I was rooting for her right from the beginning. I enjoyed the well-drawn details and atmosphere that AL created, immersing me into that era, without jarring anachronisms that might pull me out of the story. The murder mystery was intriguing, the characters well-drawn and many were totally endearing, and the book was hard to put down. Once finished, it led me to research further about the real Martha, and that enhanced my enjoyment of this marvelous story even further.

Wonderfully said Nancy, Libby, and Susan. You all describe the overall themes so well! I liked the book very much. I think it had a strong opening and I was immediately intrigued by the murder, Martha and her family. I admit my interest waned a little bit midway through because I found all the deliveries (births) got a bit repetitive and because it pulled me out of the main mystery. But that’s a minor point as the story picked back up again in the second half, and it ended as strongly as it began. I enjoyed many of the characters, even the villains. They are all well balanced and each unique in their own way. I also think Martha is a complex, interesting protagonist. I didn’t always like her, finding her sometimes too haughty, but at the same time she is also so wonderfully pragmatic. Her “don’t suffer fools” philosophy and her strength and courage make her a very interesting character to follow. Just like you Susan, I was rooting for her.

Downloaded the free sample on my Kindle, thinking that if I didn’t like it, nothing lost. Well, I found myself staying up until the wee hours still reading. I almost forgot that Martha was looking for a murderer, so engrossed was I in the characters and the intimacy of their relationships- Martha and Ephraim, Martha and her children, especially her sons, Martha and the women she assists in childbirth and the women who help her, Martha and Mr. Coleman, Martha and Sam and Martha and Rebecca Foster.

After reading “The Frozen River,” I am now reading “The Midwife’s Tale.” It is also fascinating and engrossing but serves to show just how much Ariel Lawhon developed complex and relatable characters and a riveting story from Martha’s diary.

I am looking forward to every one of the discussion questions and the different perspectives every comment provides.

I thought Lawhon conveyed the realities of the time period in a way that was entertaining and educational. It’s easy to forget how exposed people were back then to the elements and how vulnerable they were to injury or illness. And without hospitals and medical care readily available, they were susceptible and could easily die. Just think of all the medical-care infrastructure (as imperfect as it is sometimes) that we take for granted nowadays. The folks in Hallowell also had to be hardworking and rely on their neighbours to survive. I can’t help but think of the current natural disasters people are experiencing all over the world right now and how again and again people emphasize it’s the help from friends and strangers that has pulled them through the crises. I also thought she highlighted the misogyny, social pressures, financial hardships, and other facets of the times really well. It fascinated me how I could draw parallels to the current day and what is going on in America right now.

I had only the audiobook available to borrow from the library, so I listened to The Frozen River. The narrator was excellent and I enjoyed her storytelling. But if I am honest, I will say that I didn’t enjoy the book completely and I suspect it might be because I am not a very good listener. When I read The Grey Wolf, I thoroughly enjoyed it, but when I went for a second “read”, I listened to it to hear Jean Brassard’s narration, and I could not finish TGW. So I suspect that the problem is me and my inability to focus when listening to books.

I enjoyed the first and last parts of The Frozen River most; the book was immediately interesting and captivating. I enjoyed the relationships in the book, especially Martha and her son Cyrus. The love between family members and sincere hopes for their happiness really touches my heart and I found Martha’s journey in understanding and fully appreciating her son to be very satisfying.

After reading all the wonderful comments here, I feel like I have missed out a little bit in fully appreciating this book. But I am grateful for all of you to share your thoughts and help me realize what I missed. It says quite a lot if you weren’t even sure that you would even like to read this book and are now reading a second book by this author, Jane. I think I would like to read The Frozen River again, but I will go for a text version next time.

I have to agree with Mei Lan. I too think the comments here are insightful and helpful in further enhancing my enjoyment of The Frozen River. Thank you all.

Similar to Libby’s excellent point regarding the timeliness of this book with respect to women’s rights, this book also speaks to the importance of literacy and the documentation of facts. We again come back to “knowledge is power”, as we discussed for The Grey Wolf. Here in The Frozen River, it is striking to me how one woman’s diary was taken as proof and fact. Knowledge that had great impact in trials and changed lives. And today, we see how issues of disinformation, manipulation and literacy are used to gain and hold power and will ultimately impact us all.