Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

28 reviews

rosalind's review against another edition

emotional informative 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

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Grief

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

marieketron's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I listened to the audiobook for this and the narrator had a great voice and rhythm, but there were two moments I noted where she very suddenly increased in volume which gave me a small jump scare. The story on covers three days, which I didn’t realise at the start and is probably why the ending felt a bit sudden to me. The characters all are distinct and reflect a variety of backgrounds. I could really relate with the main character second guessing herself as she is left in a position of responsibility and authority. She is occasionally overwhelmed but often managed to rally. I’m not sure if I wish we had more of her approach in the current pandemic, but she does bring a human touch. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Medical content

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Gore

Minor: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Vomit

annabunce's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

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

2.75

 You definitely got the feeling editing on this book was rushed to get it out the door given the topic's relevance. I think about 12 people "shrugged" in response to a question which was painful. This book would be great if you're someone who loves a medical drama or find medical procedures fascinating but honestly I got a bit squeamish while reading all the graphic details. Like other books of Emma Donoghue the pacing of this book was a bit frustrating -sllloooowww build for 3/4 of the book and then all the action right at the end. Overall still interesting - Emma does a good job of researching and the information on Dr. Lynn, residential boarding homes, the 1918 flu and a window into 1918 Ireland was all really interesting but if you're squeamish I'd pass on this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Medical content, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Death

Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

bookishbrittany's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

 This story hit hard.

I listened to it on audiobook so I didn't experience the lack of punctuation in the text and I think because of that I was about to take in the story more. I appreciate the unapologetic truth that giving birth is not pretty. Even more so at the height of the Spanish Flu/the end of World War I in Ireland.

This book is not for the faint of heart, but wow does it pack a punch and it hits close to home.

This is my first book by Donoghue and I think I may pick up her other books now because I enjoyed her writing style and they way she crafts a story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Religious bigotry, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Medical content, Gore, and Sexism

Minor: Death and Misogyny

tashab's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Medical trauma, and Vomit

jourdanicus's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-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: Medical trauma

Moderate: Death and Gore

Regarding the medical trauma/childbirth scene(s) - there is one scene in which Julia must

reach into one pregnant patient's uterus which involves a graphic description of the medical procedure

. I had to pause the audiobook and breathe for a bit. Anyone squeamish about medical/reproductive procedures may want to take great caution.