Monday, September 24, 2012

The Doula-Bridget Boland

The Doula


Bridget Boland

Gallery, Sep 4 2012, $15.00

ISBN: 9781451641516



Though she comes from a family of funeral directors, Carolyn Connors goes in the complete opposite direction as she becomes a doula. Used to death, her influences in becoming a birthing coach are personal; her mom miscarried and her brother drowned. Ironically in spite of her family working with the deceased, her parents forbid Carolyn mentioning either tragedy.



In Milwaukee, Carolyn’s best friend Mary “MG” Grace tells her she is pregnant. Caro quickly heads to her BFF to serve as her birthing coach. However, MG’s husband Brad objects as he insists on a hospital delivery and isolates his wife from her childhood friend. When complications occur, MG has no one to turn to except Carol who arrives in time to save the unborn while the mom dies. Brad holds Carolyn responsible for his wife’s death and takes her to court accusing her of medical malpractice. Still grieving her BFF’s death, a guilt-ridden Carolyn struggles to defend herself.



The Doula is a fascinating look at motherhood as Kahil Gibran stated “On Children” in the Prophet: “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth." Carolyn is a terrific protagonist as she holds the engaging storyline together. While MG’s character abruptly does a 180 degree turn around (perhaps caused by hormones running wild), fans will enjoy this deep look at birth and death.



Harriet Klausner



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