The Frozen River: A GMA Book Club Pick

This is not the type of book I would ordinarily read, but a couple of outstanding reviews and recommendations convinced me to try it. So glad I did. This is the best book I have read in a long time. It is historical fiction, family and community drama, thriller, mystery, crime drama, feminist manifesto, love story, and a lot more. The writing is superb and the post-Revolutionary War life and details struck me as very well researched and authentic. The narrator and hero Martha Ballard is a literary icon in my opinion—brave, wise, funny, loving, smart, ambitious and, of course, way ahead of her time ( the latter at times seemed a bit over the top, but I loved the book too much to quibble,). Ariel Lawhon has woven together a great story with memorable characters

I hardly have the words to say how interesting this book was, particularly because it was based on the journal of a real woman who lived in those times. The plot was interesting, it was very educational about that time period, and all the characters were so well described that I easily thought of them as living, breathing people. Even the author's notes at the end were compelling to read. Excellent, excellent!

This was a great read! The author lent a convincing voice to Martha, inspired by her real life. Very interesting indeed to read about all Martha achieved as a midwife ( not one mother she delivered died ). In this fictional novel though, she is also investigating a murder.... Her story reveals a woman very much aware of the low consideration of women even in case of rapes.... Even though she clearly and loudly dared testify in court, her testimony was not taken seriously....The author painted a warm picture of a very lively Martha. I liked her immensely straight from the beginning of the novel! I loved her courage, resilience, her sense of duty and deep love for her family. Martha is also witty and brought a smile to my face many times! Through Martha's story, the legal and social historical background is meticulously revealed. Highly recommended!

Really enjoyed this novel. It was a chosen novel for our bookclub, and it was enjoyed by us all. Can really recommend it.

I thought this was well written and presented interesting moral dilemmas for the characters. I enjoyed the time period - late 1700s. The setting felt vivid to me and the characters were believable. The plot moved along for the most part. While I enjoyed what happened to North, it was a little too ‘perfect.’ Overall a good book.