Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

64 reviews

maddiet425's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Medical content, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Vomit, and War

Minor: Misogyny

francestea's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow! Even though this book takes place over just three days it’s anything but slow paced. Like Room and The Wonder, the cast of characters is small and somewhat trapped by their circumstances. If you liked her other books then this one holds up. I’d also recommend this if you enjoyed the Call the Midwife series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, and War

Minor: Abortion, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Trafficking

margaretrose's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Abandonment and Confinement

Minor: Domestic abuse

childbirth, maternal death

dianet's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

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

5.0

I can see why this book is not for everyone, but I absolutely loved it. I work in a hospital and a well written medical drama is right up my alley. I don't think I could have read this at the time it was released because everything with COVID was still so new and shocking. But, we have now been dealing with the current pandemic for a year and a half, and I finally felt like I could mentally handle reading this book. 

This book was so well done. I felt as though I was right inside that little room with Nurse Power, Bridie, and the patients. I found it fascinating to read about the actual symptoms of the flu of 1918. It was also so interesting that they were dealing with some of the same issues we have been dealing with in 2020/2021. For example, they were also debating whether or not masks work and people were upset because visitors were not being allowing in the hospital during the pandemic. That part all felt very familiar to current day issues. 

I also appreciated what a good job Donoghue did of seamlessly pulling in other issues - Ireland's fight for independence, the many physical and mental issues of soldiers returning from WWI, the poor social situations in the city of Dublin, and how the church was abusing their authority over those deemed "less worthy". 

The ending was absolutely heartbreaking, but also hopeful in its own way. It felt a bit abrupt because I wanted the story to keep going - I wanted to know more of how it all turned out. But, the entire story takes place in 3 days and that is all you get. A glimpse into the life of an amazing women doing her part to try to make the world a better place.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Child abuse

pipfromspace's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Death

jamesflint's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

libraryghost's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-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

4.75

Broke my "No Pandemic Books During a Pandemic" rule but it was worth it.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Child death, Death, Pregnancy, and Blood

Moderate: Child abuse, Religious bigotry, War, and Grief

Minor: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse

cailinrua's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

oh my god made me cry real tears

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Death

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

carolinebrooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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: Death, Child death, Vomit, Pregnancy, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gore, Excrement, Blood, and Child abuse

beebeereads's review against another edition

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