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Original poster

Anyone read The Midwifes Confession? POSS SPOILER ALERT I have a question about the plot.

16 replies

spudinvasion · 14/08/2011 20:55

It is a weird question and I think I have missed the whole start of the story!!

Right at the beginning, Noelle sees something on the computer that makes her decide that this is the moment she is going to kill herself.

Is it the email from Grace that was sent accidentally? I am totally confused although I managed to follow the whole of the rest of the complicated plot!!

Was it really just an email saying she was irritating? I can't make sense of it?

OP posts:

pissedrightoff · 14/08/2011 21:00

I have just finished this. I'll go and re-read the first bit and let you know what I think.

What did you think of the story?

pissedrightoff · 14/08/2011 21:08

It could be just that, Reading the next chapter and Grace's remorseful reaction to having sent the email.

But for some reason I think she may have been reading an on-line newspaper article about Anna, something makes me think that an article was published on the day Noelle died. Does that ring a bell with you?

Original poster

spudinvasion · 14/08/2011 21:13

Yes it could be that. I did like the story although I did start to pre empt some of the twists and turns after a while as it got a little bit predictable.

I just thought that the suicide was the catalyst for the entire plot and deserved a more thorough explanation.

I did enjoy the book on the whole. I especially liked the part of the story with the poorly girl and her renewed relationship with her Dad.

OP posts:

Original poster

spudinvasion · 14/08/2011 21:16

I love your name by the way - it perfectly describes my mood today - just back from hols!!!

OP posts:

pissedrightoff · 14/08/2011 21:21

I agree, although I had predicted she was made pregnant by Sam which turned out to be wrong.

My name is very apt some days, but feel I should create an alter ego for when am in a good mood. The post holiday blues suck though, my condolences.

Original poster

spudinvasion · 14/08/2011 21:25

Thanks! I did manage to read 2 and a half books in a week. Just half way through When God was a Rabbit.

OP posts:

pissedrightoff · 14/08/2011 21:29

Ooh that is on my 'to get' list, Just started Karin Slaughter's latest offering. The children are at Nana's for a few nights so should get through it quickly.

Let me know if you think WGWAR is worth getting.

stoppingat3 · 14/08/2011 21:38

I've just read this too but also wondered what the "trigger" to the suicide was.

Don't like the thought of it being Grace's email. Cannot think that anything else would have provided it though?

pissedrightoff · 14/08/2011 21:49

I am going to have to skim through this again and see if I can find where the article on Anna crops up, I think I may have made it up :)

Original poster

spudinvasion · 14/08/2011 21:53

There was definitely an article about Anna because that's how Noelle discovered it was her baby she had snatched.

Its bugging me now that such a pivotal moment in her complicated life is so vague.

Glad I'm not the only one wondering about this. I wondered from early on in the book but kept thinking they would uncover something that explained it.

OP posts:

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 22/08/2011 16:21

I loved that book but I am not sure what made her decide that day to kill herself.........maybe it was the email that Grace sent by mistake but she didnt really say did she...I did think that myself! I didnt even realise it was something on the computer

itstheyearzero · 29/08/2011 20:14

I wondered exactly the same thing. It was never really explained was it? Really enjoyed the book though.

TheOriginalFAB · 29/08/2011 20:16

This wasn't making any sense to me and then it finally came to me my book is called The Midwive's Tale .

greensnail · 29/08/2011 20:29

I think she read an article about anna. Can't remember the details as it is a while since I read it but I think I remember thinking she had read the article they had done about needing a blood marrow donor and she felt guilty about anna going through more tragedy.

CamperFan · 01/09/2011 20:07

Hadn't they announced in the press that Anna was the new head of the Missing Childrens Bureau? It really wasnt my kind of book, but I felt compelled to finish it. The description of the poor baby was horrible . I bought it on my Kindle so couldn't really see the cover. Then I saw it somewhere else and there was a sticker on the cover "as good as Jodi Picoult or your money back!". Then I realised why it wasn't my kind of book.

GretaGarbage · 06/07/2012 17:23

I couldn't work out what the trigger was either, or even if it was ultimately relevant.

I think it is that she had past child bearing age and was no longer able to dramatically atone for her sin, so, the simple email from Grace helped her decide the time was right.

Annoying for it to be left so vague.

I also second guessed a lot towards the end.

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