Book Clubs and Midwifery? A Great Combo!

I have always, always, wanted to be a part of a book club. What isn't great about reading thought-provoking and soul-satisfying books and then discussing them with other people? Book clubs are plentiful, you say. So why didn't I just join one? Because like with anything, there has to be that perfect time, and that perfect forum set up by the Universe just for me. And dare I say this...I think I may have found one.
It came in the form of a facebook message by the South Delta midwifery group of which I am a member. This group is a network of women with varied backgrounds, beliefs, and life paths but with one common denominator: we share the same midwife. www.southdeltamidwifery.ca
Jane is a lovely woman with a great sense of humour. She makes a woman feel like pregnancy and childbirth are rites of passage, spiritual journeys really, and not a medical condition or disease as imposed by some other types of practitioners. While I was in her prenatal care, I truly felt like an empowered woman; my body knew what it was doing and I trusted my femininity. Post-partum, however, brought more than just sleepless nights and breast-feeding difficulties!
After my daughter was born, I suddenly found myself bombarded with decisions, contradictions and anxiety. I lost that trust in myself as an intuitive. That is easy to do in this society whose goal it is to sell you products to make you a better person/mother/woman.
Lately, though, I have become aware of how misled I have been. As the Earth is resurrecting from its winter slumber, so is the intuitive woman in me. And voila, the Universe says, great realization, Taslim! Now We will introduce you to a group of women who are also interested in books and who value the beauty and power of the female!
Our first book choice is The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. Here's the description from the Chapters Indigo site:
"A New York Times Bestseller A decade after the publication of this hugely popular international bestseller, Picador releases the tenth anniversary edition of The Red Tent . Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that tell of her father, Jacob, and his twelve sons. Told in Dinah''s voice, Anita Diamant imagines the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood--the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of the mothers--Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah--the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through childhood, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah''s story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate connection with the past. Deeply affecting, The Red Tent combines rich storytelling with a valuable achievement in modern fiction: a new view of biblical women''s lives."
I've heard and read great reviews on this book and I'm looking forward to diving into it!
Thanks for reading...