BOOK CLUB | AUGUST
August 5, 2025: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. Carroll Shannon will lead the discussion for the August meeting.
The Frozen River is a historical fiction thriller by Ariel Lawhon. It is based on Martha Ballard, a 54-year-old 18th-century midwife in Maine, as she leverages her standing as a medical professional to investigate two crimes: a murder and a rape. The novel fictionalizes some events and timelines for narrative purposes, but it draws heavily from Martha Ballard's real-life diary entries and experiences, as well as the biography written by Laura Thatcher Ulrich: A Midwife’s Tale (1990) . Lawhon explores themes of Puritan culture and gender oppression of that era. Hallowell, Maine, 1789: the story begins when the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice,and Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. The book exploresseveral key themes, including the power of community, the strength and resilience of women, the pursuit of justice, and the clash between societal expectations and individual truths. The novel focuses on the complexities of human nature, noting both the good and bad within individuals and communities, and the impact of secrets and lies. Martha Ballard kept a detailed daily account of her activities as a midwife from 1785 until a few months before her death in 1812. Over those twenty- seven years she delivered 814 babies. Her mortality rate (excluding stillbirths) was 2.5 per 100—very impressive for that time. Ariel Lawhon is known for writing stories that adhere closely to the truth of her heroines’ lives. She is an award-winning, critically acclaimed, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. The Frozen River is Lawhon’s sixth book. Previously, she wrote The Wife, The Maid, and The Mistress; Flight of Dreams; I Was Anastasia; Code Name Helene; and When We Had Wings . Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have been Good Morning America, Library Reads, Indie Next, One Book One County, Amazon Spotlight, Costco, and Book of the Month Club selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and four sons.
AUGUST 5, 2025 The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. A thrilling and tense mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18 century midwife, who refused to accept anything less than justice when women were considered best seen and not heard. Carroll Shannon will lead the discussion for the August meeting. th
SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 James by Percival Everett. The adventures of Huck Finn, reimagined – but told through the voice of “Jim”. Janet Robinson will lead the discussion for the September meeting.
Please join us on August 5, 2025, at 4:00 pm in the Women’s Lounge as we discuss The Frozen River.
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