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jovienna's review against another edition
emotional
informative
tense
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? Yes
4.5
"The Pull of the Stars" by Emma Donoghue is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel that takes place during the 1918 flu pandemic in Dublin, Ireland. The story follows Nurse Julia Power, who is tasked with caring for pregnant women who have contracted the deadly virus and have been quarantined in a small ward.
I picked this book up after a reading a novel I very much HATED. pretty much anything that I would read afterwards was golden in comparison because my standards had gone LOOOOOWWW.
I really liked the main character, Julia Powers, a 30 year old nurse living with her brother, Tim. Tim is a WW1 veteran who was rendered mute after his time in the trenches —- and like .. damn … he’s not the same anymore 😭😭 he’ll never be the same anymore … he deserves the world omg
Julia’s an incredibly resilient character, and that must come from her 8 years of nursing experience. The way she powers through and commits to her patients, putting them before herself —damn !! good for u girl
However, as many pandemic-themed works, The Pull Of The Stars lacks conflict. There is barely any tension apart from dangers of the Great Flu—including the romantic attraction between Julia and Bridie! Their dialogue feels natural, mind you, and I found myself completely immersed within scenes of action and high emotion, I found it hard to connect with the characters and their interactions because I didn’t feel like I was supposed to CARE about them.
The Pull Of The Stars was a great book, and I breezed through it within a matter of hours. But overall I felt like it had a lot of potential to go further in depth about certain characters and their relationships in the novel — particularly Tim! I simply feel like there’s so much about him that (for lack of a better word) goes unsaid. His role in the novel as a reminder of the toll that war has on those who fought was SO interesting to me especially because of how it demonstrated the impact that war had on soldiers when they returned home to their families to resume civilian life. And I would’ve loved if the book went further into that. Tim feels like a prop in some ways, just so that Julia can point and go ‘yes we are in a war and that is what happens in war he is an example that is it’ — perhaps it’d make for a more impactful read if there were flashback scenes to before the war, to contrast the past v present and portray a heartbreaking theme of trauma and loss experienced by the characters— both in the context of the pandemic and the first world war. Perhaps I’d feel more engaged with this book if it delved deeper into Julia and Tim’s respective backgrounds—Who were they, before the War? How did Julia react when her brother returned, unable to utter a single word? What can they do to move forward, in a time of drastic change and industrialisation, when their very lives were so shaken by a horrifying World War, followed by an even more brutal pandemic?
Overall, The Pull Of The Stars was an interesting read and I’ll definitely keep it on my list of rereads. I loved the scenes where Julia and Bridie were alone together to banter on their own, and I adored anything to do with Tim because I think he deserves the world. But the lack of conflict and feelings of urgency in this novel is definitely what made me drop this down from a 5 star rating.
I picked this book up after a reading a novel I very much HATED. pretty much anything that I would read afterwards was golden in comparison because my standards had gone LOOOOOWWW.
I really liked the main character, Julia Powers, a 30 year old nurse living with her brother, Tim.
Julia’s an incredibly resilient character, and that must come from her 8 years of nursing experience. The way she powers through and commits to her patients, putting them before herself —damn !! good for u girl
However, as many pandemic-themed works, The Pull Of The Stars lacks conflict. There is barely any tension apart from dangers of the Great Flu—including the romantic attraction between Julia and Bridie! Their dialogue feels natural, mind you, and I found myself completely immersed within scenes of action and high emotion, I found it hard to connect with the characters and their interactions because I didn’t feel like I was supposed to CARE about them.
The Pull Of The Stars was a great book, and I breezed through it within a matter of hours. But overall I felt like it had a lot of potential to go further in depth about certain characters and their relationships in the novel — particularly Tim! I simply feel like there’s so much about him that (for lack of a better word) goes unsaid. His role in the novel as a reminder of the toll that war has on those who fought was SO interesting to me especially because of how it demonstrated the impact that war had on soldiers when they returned home to their families to resume civilian life. And I would’ve loved if the book went further into that. Tim feels like a prop in some ways, just so that Julia can point and go ‘yes we are in a war and that is what happens in war he is an example that is it’ — perhaps it’d make for a more impactful read if there were flashback scenes to before the war, to contrast the past v present and portray a heartbreaking theme of trauma and loss experienced by the characters— both in the context of the pandemic and the first world war. Perhaps I’d feel more engaged with this book if it delved deeper into Julia and Tim’s respective backgrounds—Who were they, before the War? How did Julia react when her brother returned, unable to utter a single word? What can they do to move forward, in a time of drastic change and industrialisation, when their very lives were so shaken by a horrifying World War, followed by an even more brutal pandemic?
Overall, The Pull Of The Stars was an interesting read and I’ll definitely keep it on my list of rereads. I loved the scenes where Julia and Bridie were alone together to banter on their own, and I adored anything to do with Tim because I think he deserves the world. But the lack of conflict and feelings of urgency in this novel is definitely what made me drop this down from a 5 star rating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexism, Pregnancy, 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.
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
natashaball's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse
clemrain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Misogyny, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Child abuse, Classism, Gore, Violence, War, and Death of parent
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Drug abuse, Excrement, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Rape, and Sexual violence
This shattering story takes place over three strenuous days of a nurse and runner in a maternity ward during the influenza pandemic. It’s a difficult, slow read that dives into the little hours of horrors experienced by the most vulnerable. I don’t really have the words for this book. I had a very vague knowledge of the influenza pandemic. But academic readings don’t do the justice to this tragic period of time. This book does and I think it’s because it’s takes a very small real part of the pandemic and focuses on it. The world is so much more than just the grand scheme of things. I don’t know much about Ireland’s history past the famine most of us are taught about. But of course just like any country, Ireland had its l share of religious trauma. I wanted to scream and yell and cry. The romance was so fleeting but it was impactful. I wish it had been woven into the plot a bit earlier butkitkatkick's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
In The Pull of the Stars, Emma Donoghue shows off a masterful understanding of early 1900s society and the women that lived and worked within it, and of the one thread that ties women of every race, class, and nation together: the concept of motherhood.
Through the eyes of Nurse Julia Powers, we see the comings and goings of Irish women in a maternity ward for patients infected with the “Great Flu” of the 1910s. Donoghue skillfully captures the fast-paced and borderline frantic setting of a hospital, especially one cripplingly overwhelmed with patients. Reading her description of a past pandemic in a post-COVID world was an experience in itself. Julia over time is joined by our two other female leads: Birdie Sweeney, a sweet young volunteer with a troubled past, and Dr. Kathleen Lynne, a real-life doctor with ties to the revolutionary movement in Ireland. The relationships between the three are deeply complex as their worldviews collide and occasionally clash. Secondary to them falls a rotating cast of patients in the ward, pregnant mothers from all classes and social standings whose own stories deepen the overall story when they’re all brought into such close comparison.
Donoghue takes on a wide variety of social issues throughout the book- the effects of war, class divisions, poverty, religion, sexism, and the Irish revolutionary movement- and while none are portrayed poorly, it does occasionally feel as though discussions are rife Ed because there is so much to fit in. But one of the main themes of the book, the concept of motherhood and how it applies differently to every woman on Earth, is addressed incredibly. It is never outright glorified or discredited, and Donoghue gives us examples of a wide variety of viewpoints: Julia, with no intention of having her own children but with a deep respect for childbirth and the “blood tax” that women have been paying since the beginning of time; experienced mothers with multiple children already; a first-time mother and a young girl both finding out the details of pregnancy and childbirth in real-time; mothers in a social position stable enough to provide for children and those in a position where neither they nor their child could ever hope to thrive; those who do and don’t want the babies they’ve been given; those that do or don’t support the then-popular Irish saying of “If she loves him, she’ll give him twelve;” and the contrast of those who gave birth successfully and those who did not. No one experience is shown as better than another. The story will leave the reader deeply moved on the subject, no matter the opinion they hold when turning the first page.
Deeply moving is the best phrase I have to describe this book. To address a few smaller details, from a technical perspective the book is unique in that it does not place quotations around dialogue, which does occasionally make that dialogue hard to follow. It is a very poor audiobook in my opinion, due to the graphic depictions of childbirth and other medical practices. To me, any cries or yelling are better read than heard, but others’ mileage may vary. Those graphic depictions may make the book difficult or even inaccessible to more hemophobic readers- I personally had to put it down or pause it several times for that reason, but inevitably I had to pick it up again because I was so ensnared by the story. None of these make the book impossible to read, but they are worth mentioning.
The Pull of the Stars is a deeply-moving and thoughtful read that I would recommend to just about anyone with a soul, and anyone who has ever interacted with a mother or a child.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Child death, Classism, Death, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Miscarriage
Minor: Suicide, Dementia, and War
avisreadsandreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical trauma, Medical content, Blood, Classism, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Moderate: Child abuse and Mental illness
Minor: War, Confinement, and Domestic abuse
annat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Domestic abuse
alexa_gee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I suppose the only way to put it is that this book is about humanity in the face of hardship and just how cruel fate can be. What I found interesting while reading was - and this is quite bizzare, I think - how I loved the title more and more and how it perfectly encapsulates this book about fate and how people are drawn to each other in difficult times.
I don't normally like books about "friendship" but this was beautiful and it really touched my heart. Bridie and Julia latch onto each other from the minute they meet- they just have this beautiful bond and mutual respect for one another that neither appeared to have really experienced before which was interesting to read about.
I just have to include a quote (for my old English teachers, of course). "I had this peculiar conviction that she'd want me to keep Barnabas White out of the pipe." I include it because I cannot get it out of my head. I'm not sure what it is that sticks it in my mind. I believe it is that the quote directly links to every theme in this book: duty before self, friendship, fate, how people are drawn to each other.
I just wanted to mention also that this book is full of nice little historical details and fun facts that are certainly not out of place but are a nice way to learn a bit of medical history.
I had to deduct half a star just because I found it quite hard to get into, but once I was in it, I was in it.
That blurb is a bit ranty, but I hope you can bear with me on that front (I'm trying to write more reviews to improve my analysing and writing skills so they should improve over time?). I hope your heart breaks as much as mine does. This book is painful, there is no pretending it isn't, but it is beautiful and inspiring because of the pain.
I don't normally like books about "friendship" but this was beautiful and it really touched my heart. Bridie and Julia latch onto each other from the minute they meet- they just have this beautiful bond and mutual respect for one another that neither appeared to have really experienced before which was interesting to read about.
I just have to include a quote (for my old English teachers, of course).
I just wanted to mention also that this book is full of nice little historical details and fun facts that are certainly not out of place but are a nice way to learn a bit of medical history.
I had to deduct half a star just because I found it quite hard to get into, but once I was in it, I was in it.
That blurb is a bit ranty, but I hope you can bear with me on that front (I'm trying to write more reviews to improve my analysing and writing skills so they should improve over time?). I hope your heart breaks as much as mine does. This book is painful, there is no pretending it isn't, but it is beautiful and inspiring because of the pain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Vomit, Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
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!
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!
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
kaarna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual violence, Vomit, and Domestic abuse