Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

10 reviews

brdgtc's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Blood, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Child death, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, War, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Religious bigotry

wonderforehead's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I don’t even know where to start. Much like what the narrator says at one point, what happens in this book is like a fever dream. What felt like a slow start was slowly eclipsed by the struggles that just kept coming, one after another, in that makeshift maternity ward. At the same time, I wished the book was longer, much as it made me feel all sorts of things. But then again, I think I just wish that because of at the end of the day, this book just breaks my heart. It’s hopeful in some ways, but bitter in others. I’m rambling now but basically, I think I’m gonna remember this book for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Medical trauma

Moderate: War

Minor: Physical abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Child abuse

joey_marie05's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Child death, Death, Gore, and Miscarriage

alisonmac86's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Blood, Child death, Death, Grief, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Physical abuse and Vomit

archaicrobin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is the second book by Emma Donoghue I’ve read and the first that I actually really enjoyed. Set during the flu pandemic of 1918, you follow Nurse Power as she takes control of the pregnant flu ward and does her best to keep her patients alive. To assist her is young Bride Sweeney and the first female doctor to set foot on the ward, Dr. Lynn. 

Historical fiction is always interesting to read and The Pull of The Stars grabbed me right away. The book describes the current state of Ireland and immerses you in Nurse Power’s life. There is a lot of medical content and it’s graphic at points, so if births or medical content makes you uncomfortable this one might be rough. 

If you’re interested in historical fiction or want to read a strong feminist tale of how three women work together to save lives then read this one! I would highly recommend the audiobook as well. It was so hard to even put it down, I listened to it for 3 hours straight one day!

The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5, is the ending for this novel. I felt like it escalated very quickly and it was abrupt for me as a reader, since the novel seems to hold a study pace until that point. Despite the ending I still greatly enjoyed this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, and Death

beebeereads's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.75

 I will not recommend this book to a sensitive reader.  The detailed descriptions of a maternity ward during the 1918 Influenza pandemic were very tough.  Poverty, war and illness were overwhelming, and the author portrayed that in her style and her words.  Pacing played a huge role in this novel.  Donoghue takes the reader through harrowing days and restless nights describing the duties of one nurse in minute detail. I appreciated the glimpse into the medical world of 1918 Dublin sometimes highlighting almost barbaric procedures, but also the inventiveness of a war-like environment. She includes commentary on political conflict and describes the way post war stress (now PTSD) played out in different ways.    I did feel that the ending was rushed.  I would have preferred to spend more time with the characters, but I understand the author’s intent and appreciated that she stayed true to that design. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

katie_biggs7's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Child abuse, and Blood

Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide

carlybellesbooks's review

dark emotional informative inspiring sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Religious bigotry

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Incest, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Vomit

unphilosophize's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I Cannot currently express to you how much I loved this book. 
It is tragic and emotional. 
I really enjoyed all the obstetrics in the book, especially as my mum was a nurse in the nicu 
Great characters
I’ll think about this book a lot 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Child death, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Vomit, Homophobia, and Gore

Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry

veeronald's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative sad fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Medical content, Death, and Child death

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Toxic relationship and Suicide