Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

66 reviews

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

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

claire_builds_a_stair's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content

Moderate: Child abuse and Child death

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, Child abuse, Death, and Blood

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

hbhentschel's review against another edition

dark emotional sad

3.5

It was a bit eerie to read about the last global pandemic while still caught up in the current one. Well-written but difficult to read because of the subject matter.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, Medical content, and Pregnancy

Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

carlybellesbooks's review against another edition

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, Homophobia, Incest, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Religious bigotry

nsfinch's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-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

THE PULL OF THE STARS, by Emma Donoghue, is set during the 1918 flu pandemic, and it was published right at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. I’ve been avoiding reading it for an entire year. Heck, I’ve been avoiding reading anything too sad for an entire year. I finally started it today, and it was so good I finished it today. Content warnings for childbirth, child death, medical trauma, rampant sexism, and the notorious mother and baby homes in Ireland. DESPITE ALL THAT: It filled my heart and I’m so, so glad I read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Terminal illness, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

christinaalex's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Child abuse

eniatea's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

mgraves89's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Vomit