Call the Midwife: Farewell to the East End

Although there are still some heartwarming moments, this is probably one book too many. Parts of it feel like a reworking of the previous books. Much of it dwells on broader social issues that, while important, are not really why I read the series.

This book was an enjoyable read. The awful poverty was an eye opener for me and the realization of how innocent children were snuffed out when desperate parents reached their physical, emotional, and financial limits was heart breaking. The Hilarity of sister Monica Jane, the sweetness of Cynthia, and the realness of Chummy helped to balance out the hardship of that time.

These memoirs paint a picture of the hard life that was endured by people, not only in the East End of London, but all over England. Starting in Victorian times, and continuing until the social & sexual revolution of the 1960's. Abject poverty was rampant & dictated the standards by which people lived. A must read.

I loved the compassion of the characters and their stories. I was a child of the 50's living in the US in a middle class neighborhood. While not being as poor as the people of Poplar I have seen poverty and understand its impact on families and education. We need to continue our efforts to eliminate poverty.

Book 3 of the midwife trilogy focuses on the author's friend and colleague "Chummy", a girl from the upper classes of English society who chooses to be a nurse and midwife and help the poverty stricken people in the east end of London in the 1950's and 60's. It's hard to believe some of the circumstances that women endure; a rare view of life from the perspective of women and children.

One night, while searching on Netflix for something good to watch, I decided to take a chance on season 1 of Call the Midwife. I really didn't expect much. Still, the positive reviews I read about this show were enough to convince me to try this. Turns out the show far exceeded expectation. One of my favorite tv shows now. Can't wait for season 3's release!.

Reading this trilogy was very moving; provoking thought and sadness for the harsh lives others have lived, but also sharing glimpses of joy in a simple life and an earnestness to experience and love people for their basic humanity, the good & bad that we all carry inside of us. It was thoroughly enjoyable & having seen the TV series I found it complimentary to the characters & stories formed there.

What a lovely stand alone book, and a beautiful series of three. Ms Worth wrote elegantly and conveyed the good, bad and ugly. Well worth the read for the insight to the times that were a raw reality to thousands to whom they ministered.

Watched the show on Pbs, and loved the show. Wanted to read the books. Talked a lot about what happened during WW2 and right after. Gave me a good picture of what was happening in England during this time. Also how hard it was for people who did not have much money at that time. How strong the people were in coping with their lives.

A gripping story of nurses dealing with the post-war conditions of London. I was enthralled with the storylines, the historic details of the characters as they each struggled to cope with their situations. A great book to get lost in!

I really enjoyed this wonderful true story. I could so relate to the women
and their ups and downs. I was in London for a long time. brought back
some fond memories. The Nurses and the Sisters did a great job during and
after the war. I will probably read all the Midwifes books

This book is of particular interest to people of my age who were raised in the 40s/50s and grew up in WWII in London. It is well written, amusing and serious in various sectors. It would also be of interest to anybody interested in how people lived in the U.K in that era - so different to how people live today.

I have enjoyed watching the television series but have enjoyed the books even more. The quiet heroism of the nuns and lay midwives reminds us that service can be rewarding and unappreciated at the same time. It's all part of an unknowable pattern that we can fight in vain but are more happy if we can cooperate. Jennifer Worth did good work as a nurse / midwife and an even better job as a storyteller.

I loved that background and seeing how the story was developed for the screen. It was definitely worth the money to have the book along with viewing the show, though both are equally strong on their own. I was very familiar because I was a young nurse in the 60s and early 70s in the US doing both hospital and home health care.

While the first and second of this series told you about different characters, this third book seemed to teach history through story telling. You learned the time tables and evolutionarily of illnesses and why things happened. Each was taught with a story,making the facts come alive. A wonderful series!

I found this book to be very interesting and some what shocking. I did not realize how things were with regards to nursing and midwifery in the l950's. To me this isn't all that long ago but is some regards it is a lifetime. Jennifer Worth writes just the way things happened and weaves the story with many emotions and always with love and a sense of humour.

A simple and stirring tale which is all the more compelling because it is true. The author talks with a balance of brutal honesty and compassion about the hard lives of those in post war inner city London and those who dedicated their lives to serving them. Yet the shortly never feels heavy or preachy.

All the stories were very interesting. I learned a little about people, and how hard life was in the 1950's for the poor. So much innovation between then and now in the world of medicine. I learned a little history, I did some smiling and some crying. I would recomment this for every age.

I loved reading about nursing in another country. The responsibility and endurance those nurses had to have was incredible. I find myself in awe of them. I also see something interesting in the fact that many of these types of situations can be found in my country. Thank you for this excellent book.

loved the series on PBS found it most most enjoyable to be with the "midwife" ladies again. nice to learn the TV story closely followed the real life story. also the book gives a true depiction of life in London in the 50's.wonderful reading

This whole series is marvelous...a fascinating look at the history of England (especially its poverty) from the 1770s onward in a readable way...because in context it's all stories about people you care about! Plus unlike the series (as good as the series is), it touches a bit on the faith of the author. Rich and rewarding.

I really enjoyed all three books. The characters are so well developed you feel as if you know them. The East end of the 1950's was certainly an interesting place to be. The author had so many experiences that would never be possible today. These people and their experiences make great reading.

Fascinating look at mid - century home nursing. The characters are raw and real, their stories depressing and shockingly common for the times. My heart breaks for the courage it took to just survive. This book does not stand alone, but should be read as I t was written, the last of a trilogy, all of which are remarkable reading.

What a wonderful set of three books. Every evening I so looked forward to reading Call the Midwife. The words painted such a clear picture of a time and place in history. I know I will be 're reading these books again. I am sorry to have read the last words I wanted the story to continue forever!

This is an excellent series and this was a wonderful season. The account of life in that part of London is probably spot on and to see the conditions people lived and worked in was amazing. To understand the attitude of the time gives us all a lot of hope.

All three books in the series are wonderful, but the first and third books are outstanding. The historical setting is painted beautifully and the stories are equally humorous and painful. Certainly, these are must-read books for nurses!

An excellent series, Jennifer Worth describes life in the old East End clearly and without sentiment. Anyone interested in how people lived will find these books fascinating, while at the,same time feeling horror at the lives people had in years gone by-

A lesson in history of religion and nursing. oh what we never knew or forgot from our hard working ancestors. A must read for high schoolers and beyond. Thank you so much for taking time out of your life to enrich my own life.

Great reading, and obviously thoroughly historically researched. A great review of British history in the periods of WWI and WWII, within the context of the lives of common people. Wonderful development of various characters, especially the nuns and the midwives.

I have loved watching the midwife series on PBS and wondered how the book would compare.. It did not disappoint..the details were such that I went back and re watched some of the episodes again to get the full impact of what was really happening in the scenes.. Love love

This is a beautifully written book of a time and place. The time is post war Britain and the simplicity of the East End London. A place where money is scarce but families are all important. The author writes so well of her particular situation, a convent within a family orientated yet poor area of London. Midwives played such an important role in this time of evolving heath care and therefore had unique perspectives of the families they served. The book is spiritual in the insights and observations within the convent and the community.

This is a beautifully written book of a time and place. The time is post war Britain and the simplicity of the East End London. A place where money is scarce but families are all important. The author writes so well of her particular situation, a convent within a family orientated yet poor area of London. Midwives played such an important role in this time of evolving heath care and therefore had unique perspectives of the families they served. The book is spiritual in the insights and observations within the convent and the community.

I would have preferred the Audible version since the narration adds greatly to the story. But the Kindle version still has the great insights into the life and history of the times and the amusing incidents encountered by it's endearing cast of characters.

This book and the two previous volumes are a terrific memoir and chronicle of time when more compassionate attitudes were just beginning to break through a way of life that punished the poor, broke their spirit, and blocked their chances for success. These books are beautifully written by a marvelous story teller.

I have really enjoyed reading all of the "Call the Midwife" series. I used a midwife to deliver my daughter and have grown to admire midwives even more through this series and tv show. Worth does a wonderful job bringing the reader into the story. You really begin to connect with the characters and laugh and cry with them. Read the entire series...I wish there were more!

I love these stories. They are so engaging, gritty, and thought provoking. My teenage daughter has also picked up the trilogy and we have had some great discussions about how women's lives have changed. I have enjoyed the PBS series.

In this final book of Jennifer Worth's memoire, she fills us in on the final days of the midwife program. Even though she has left the program herself, she has stayed in touch with the Sisters and the other midwifes in the program.

Loved this whole series of books. They are well written and cover a period of time and a group of people rarely written about. Rich lives of the Nuns, Midwives and people of Popular were a pleasure to share.

I have now read all three books in this wonderful trilogy, and I only regret that there are no more. I learned so much about life and poverty. I am a strong Catholic and grew up with the nuns in our tiny town in New Hampshire, USA, and I loved and learned much from those dear sisters and those who replaced them in later years. Thank you for such wonderful reading.

My wife read these very quickly. I bought her all 3 for Christmas and she had them read within a 2 weeks. She had watched the BBC production of the same name and then wanted to read the books. She thoroughly enjoyed them.

I think someone in the nursing profession would appreciate this series of books more than the average person, or anyone who delivered a baby by a midwife. The series were easy and fast reads. I enjoyed them, but I'm a nurse.