Book Notes | ‘The Frozen River’
The Frozen River is a book of historical fiction based on the real life of Martha Ballard, a midwife and healer in 1789 colonial Maine. Seventy-five percent of the story follows history and the rest is "what could have happened," author Ariel Lawhon has noted. She refers readers to A Midwife's Tale, the biography of Ballard by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.
All 12 members of the UMRA Book Club really enjoyed reading The Frozen River. Members described the main character as a “trailblazer,” a “real life heroine,” and “ahead of her time.” One liked Martha as a person as well as for her work, both midwifing and as a healer.
Women at the time had no rights and sexism was rampant. The character Rebecca, who was raped by two prominent men and pregnant, had no justice. The court system, such as it was, was corrupt. Women who had babies “out of wedlock” were fined. Martha could only testify for Rebecca in court (held in a tavern) if her husband, Ephraim, was present. We agreed Ephraim was a really good man, in contrast to some others in this story. A couple members of the book club felt there were too many characters.
We discussed the challenging births Martha assisted. Arrogant Dr. Benjamin Page from Harvard sometimes took over and caused harm. Women wanted Martha for their birthing, and for healing. One member of our group, a doctor, commented on some aspects that weren't quite correct.
Couples had many children, all of them needed from an early age to help farm and in other ways. Often, children died from diseases. One of Martha's own sons became mute after he had diphtheria.
Joseph North, a lead character and one of the men who raped Rebecca, sat on the court and worked to take over the land where Ephraim and Martha farmed. He had a sordid past. His wealth came from bounties for scalping Indians. Near the end of the story, Martha does “justice” on Joseph in a fictionalized scene.
We liked the first-person narrative with Martha telling the story. Also, the descriptions of the woods and landscape, the Ballard mill, and the Kennebec River. It is a good read.
—Judy Helgen, UMRA Book Club I
Book Club I May 16
Fri, May 16, 2025, 2pm
The UMRA Book Club will discuss The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon when it meets via Zoom on May 16.
The main character, Martha Ballard, is an 18th century midwife who investigates a rape and murder that threatens her entire community. She keeps a diary that contains many of the town’s secrets and is used in a trial causing much grief throughout the community.
Email Pat Tollefson for more information.
Upcoming Events
Meeting to plan books for next year.
There has been a lot in the news recently about the University of Minnesota Medical School, University of Minnesota Physicians, and Fairview Health Services. Please join us at breakfast on January 8 for a respectful and engaging discussion of their relationship.
The theme for January is great MN views.
52 Loaves: One Man's Relentless Pursuit of Truth, Meaning, and a Perfect Crust by William Alexander will be the selection for discussion when the UMRA Book Club gathers via Zoom for its first monthly meeting of 2026.
Developing a sense of identity is a central psychological task of the lifespan. Memories and stories from our personal past, as well as cultural memories and stories in society play key roles in how we develop our identities. This presentation will discuss psychological theory and research on how memories and stories make us who we are.
When you are of Icelandic descent you can trace your ancestors back to around 1200 and sometimes further.
Bleak House by Charles Dickens.
Here’s another great opportunity to buy discounted tickets and join your UMRA friends to cheer for the Gophers when the Women’s Basketball team hosts the Purdue Boilermakers at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on February 1.
Join fellow UMRA members for a morning hike in Theodore Wirth Park to celebrate Groundhog Day on Monday, February 2.
UMRA’s special event for this winter will again be a celebration of brighter days and the approaching end of winter. We’ll have food, fellowship, and music provided by Urban Sound, one of the University’s premier student a cappella ensembles.
Family history with Jim Kurle. A tale of Swedish emigration to Dunn County, North Dakota, including my grandfather whose unusual relationship to several churches and religion in general was one of the reasons for his emigrating.
UMRA’s Cabinets of Curiosity tour on Thursday, February 12, will offer an inside look into the rich resources of the University Libraries Borchert Map Library. Map Librarian Ryan Mattke will showcase the treasures and innovations of one of the largest map libraries in the U.S.
Growing Up by Russell Baker.