Brainstorm

While never drawn to fiction writing, I suddenly have a new idea for a book in mind. I'm going to use this space to work through the beginning stages, to see if it's really something I should spend time on. If you read this, thank you! I hope it's not too journal-ly for a blog. Also, please give me feedback if you have any.

After reading two wonderful books - Year of Wonders and The Red Tent - and watching a lot of episodes of a Discovery Health show - House of Babies - during my recovery, I am intrigued by midwifery. Thus, the subject of my book was sparked.

So, a book about midwives. I was thinking it could be a little like The Hours meets As I Lay Dying. It would move from character to character every chapter, with each character coming from a different period in time. They could all face different problems, both social problems and difficult childbirths. They would all, obviously, have different personalities.

One midwife could be working around the time of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), a la the Red Tent. Or maybe it should be in a little bit different time period to distinguish itself. Anyway, it'd be a long time ago. I think this would be a good way to show how women have had to face similar struggles for thousands of years.

The second midwife could be from the seventeenth century, perhaps living with the first English settlers in Plymouth. I recently read a little blurb about Puritans and sex (yes, they can coexist in the same sentence!) that talked about how they were not quite as prude as we think they were.

I'd also love, for similar reasons, to bring in a midwife from the Victorian era. Although, maybe I should focus on another part of the world instead of the West. India perhaps? This reminds me of another favorite book, Holder of the World. Again, this could help show similarities between women from different places and times.

Finally, to connect this story to modern women, I'd like to have one of my midwives living within the last fifty years. It could sort of tie the whole thing together.

So, what do you think? Would it be something you'd like to read?

Cheers.