Reviews

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

jenmangler's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed Emma Lowe's narration and I'm glad I chose to listen to the audiobook. I think it made me appreciate the book more than I would have otherwise. I loved Julia and Dr. Lynn (a real person, BTW) and I LOVED Bridie. The book is beautiful and heartbreaking.

stephltorres's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

4.5

lauracooleyjohnson's review against another edition

4.0

4-stars! I recommend this book. It was well-researched, and centers on a nurse in a maternity ward in Ireland during the 1918 flu. Given that we are in the midst of COVID-19, the publishers must have been giddy with excitement over the timing coincidence. Our main character is hardworking and lovable, and as a reader, I really felt the urgency and hecticness of the tasks on her ward, her helplessness and frustration in the face of poverty and corruption in church leaders, and her love, heartbreak and resolve in the end.

And yet I have a quibble. My quibble is that the book felt like the author didn’t quite know what she wanted to achieve, so she did it all, and separated each focus area with chapter headings that made the choppiness seem more seamless: Red, Brown, Blue and Black. These represent the progression of the skin tone when someone has the flu. So Maternity and midwifery detail (warning, gets a bit graphic/gory)? Historical commentary on social and political Ireland? The war and its impact? Forbidden love that seems a bit out of place from the rest of the book? Check, check, check and check. These are well done, and each packed tidily in their little labeled section, but I think the book could have been improved with a little more focus. I’m stingy with my 5-star ratings, so I’m withholding a star for that!

justajs's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

loxodonta's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.0

ninasbooks57's review against another edition

5.0

What an amazing book. Being an OB nurse myself I could totally feel what Julia was going through. Hard to believe the barbaric interventions yet some of the treatments we still use in some form today! What a “hit the wall” ending! There has to be a sequel/ please!!

bibi003's review against another edition

4.0

I read the synopsis for this novel over and over as it came across different goodreads lists the past few years and I discarded it every time. War and pandemic are two topics I haven't been reading much of lately. I've preferred to escape into more fantastical worlds when I have the opportunity to read. BUT, it was picked for my book club so I borrowed it from the library and decided to give it a go.

And guess what? It was great. I was riveted by this small hospital ward and the people within it. It was not a pleasant book. Much of it was actually very distressing (hence my usual avoidance of the aforementioned topics). But I loved the characters and was delighted by the relationships they formed and was left feeling like I'd learned something. The character of Dr Lynn was especially interesting and I will make a point to watch the documentary film about her life because she seems like an incredible woman.

elliejmatthews's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

threegoodrats's review against another edition

5.0

I loved everything about this book. The detailed account of everything Nurse Power did during the 3 days of caring for pregnant women with flu - I love historical novels, but I’m especially fascinated about health/medical topics. The way her friendship with Bridie grew over the 3 days working together. The fact that the book starts at the beginning and moves in a linear fashion towards the end and is only narrated by one person, a refreshing change from pretty much everything else these days. I became fully immersed in this story and read it very quickly. I don’t know why I don’t read more of Emma Donoghue’s books - I love every one I’ve read. I have also read Room and Slammerkin, and I’m sure I’ll read more of them.

lgordon006's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0